A Tribute To Bishop Fortich at Diocese of Bacolod, Philippines, Bacolod City, Philippines 6100 PH - Burial is July 15, 2003

Msgr. Vic watching the Bishop

Bishops attending Fortich's funeral BY CARLA GOMEZ Bishops from Western Visayas and other parts of the country are expected to attend the funeral of Bishop Emeritus Antonio Y. Fortich Tuesday at the San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City, Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra said yesterday. Cardinal Ricardo Vidal is expected to arrive earlier to pay respects to Fortich as he will be unable to attend the funeral, Navarra said. Papal Nuncio Antonio Franco, who will be at the ordination of a bishop in the Mt. Province, is sending one of his secretaries to represent the office of the Nuncio at the funeral, Navarra said. The advance party of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who is attending the funeral, is arriving today. All the parishes of the Diocese of Bacolod, and neighboring dioceses have been informed and invited to the funeral, Navarra said. Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Negros yesterday issued a statement expressing its deepest grief at the passing away of Fortich, whom it called "a great leader of the church", and a "defender of the poor and oppressed." Despite his landed origin, Fortich "transcended his class biases by having close links with the masses and recognized that the oppressive and exploitative social structures in Negros and the whole country is the root cause of mass poverty and hopelessness in Negros," Bayan said.*CPG CATHEDRAL BURIAL JULY 15 Rivas said Fortich's remains will lie in state at the San Sebastian Cathedral where he will be buried on July 15 after an 8 a.m. mass. Two other Bishops of Bacolod, Msgrs. Casimiro Lladoc and Emmanuel Yap, are also buried at the San Sebastian Cathedral. Rivas said that, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Bishop Antonio Y. Fortich Peace Foundation that sends scholars from poor families to school and the Priests Care Foundation Inc. Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra, who was in Manila yesterday for a meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, told Rivas that many bishops have signified their intention to attend the funeral. Navarra told the DAILY STAR he condoles with the family of Fortich and has already spoken to Msgr. Rivas on arrangements for the wake and funeral of Fortich. Fortich's death is a great loss for the Diocese of Bacolod, Navarra said.

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