Antonio Fortich

Antonio Fortich

Antonio Fortich, (August 11, 1913 - July 2, 2003) was a Catholic bishop and social activist who lived in Bacolod City in Negros Occidental in the Philippines.

Antonio Yapsutco Fortich was born on August 11, 1913 in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental. He attended elementary and high school in Dumaguete, going on to the Ateneo de Manila for college and theological studies (San Jose Minor and San Jose Major seminaries). His parents, Ignacio and Rosalia Yapsutco Fortich, were well-to-do farmers and he was the elder and only son in their family of two.

Bishop Fortich was known to his followers as "Commander Tony". Like his superior, Jaime Cardinal Sin, the Archbishop of Manila, he was an ardent opponent of Ferdinand Marcos. Bishop Fortich spoke against the hanging judges of Manila known as the Guillotine Club. He was one of the first people to alert the government to the illegal activities of timber poachers, who had stripped hundreds of acres of forest in Negros. He supported the election of Joseph Estrada as president of the Philippines, and when it became clear that Estrada was using his position to accumulate personal wealth, the bishop withdrew his support.

Bishop Fortich set up co-operatives composed of small landowners and sugar workers, in order to break the debt cycle suffered by Filipino sugar workers. In doing so, the bishop antagonised large landowners, who at one stage tried to intimidate him by lobbing a hand grenade into his house.

Bishop Fortich was praised by Pope John Paul II for his efforts in social activism.

Fortich died on July 2, 2003, aged 89.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Dumaguete — City of Dumaguete Dakbayan sa Dumaguete Lungsod ng Dumaguete Seal …   Wikipedia

  • Negros Occidental —   Province   Seal …   Wikipedia

  • Ramon-Magsaysay-Preis — Der Ramon Magsaysay Preis (Ramon Magsaysay Award) gilt als der asiatische Friedensnobelpreis und wurde nach dem philippinischen Präsidenten Ramon Magsaysay benannt. Er wird in den Kategorien Government Service , Public Service , Community… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • List of Magsaysay awardees — The following is a complete list of the awardees of the Ramon Magsaysay Award. Awardees individual nationality are mentioned, or country of origin and citizenship.Government Service*1958 Chiang Mon Lin Taiwan *1959 C D Deshmukh India, Jose… …   Wikipedia

  • Prix Ramon Magsaysay — Le prix Ramon Magsaysay a été établi en avril 1957 par les administrateurs du Rockefeller Brothers Fund basé à New York. Créé conjointement avec le gouvernement phillipin, le nom du prix commémore la vertu de Ramon Magsaysay, ancien… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ramon Magsaysay Award — Prix Ramon Magsaysay Le prix Ramon Magsaysay a été établi en avril 1957 par les administrateurs du Rockefeller Brothers Fund basé à New York. Créé conjointement avec le gouvernement phillipin, le nom du prix comémore la vertu de Ramon… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ramon Magsaysay Award — Der Ramon Magsaysay Award gilt als der asiatische Friedensnobelpreis und wurde nach dem philippinischen Präsidenten Ramon Magsaysay benannt. Er wird in den Kategorien Government Service , Public Service , Community Leadership , Journalism,… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Colegio San Miguel del Rosario — Este artículo o sección necesita referencias que aparezcan en una publicación acreditada, como revistas especializadas, monografías, prensa diaria o páginas de Internet fidedignas. Puedes añadirlas así o avisar …   Wikipedia Español

  • Don Carlos, Bukidnon — Municipality of Don Carlos Map of Bukidnon showing the location of Don Carlos, Bukidnon Country Philippines Region Region …   Wikipedia

  • Discos Qualiton — Argentina Parent company Fonema S.A. Founded 1961 Founder Nelson Montes Bradley, Ivan Cosentino, Nora Raffo …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”