Pasig’s first bishop passes away

MANILA, Philippines - The first bishop of the diocese of Pasig died at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center yesterday morning. He was 79.

Emeritus Bishop Francisco San Diego died of cardiac arrest in his sleep at 4:49 a.m., said Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara.

San Diego was born on Oct. 10, 1935.  He was installed as Pasig’s first bishop on Aug. 21, 2003. After serving the diocese of Pasig for more than seven years, he retired on Dec. 21, 2010 at the age of 75.

San Diego, a native of Obando, Bulacan, was ordained a priest on Dec. 21, 1963 in Manila and first served as coadjutor vicar apostolic of Palawan from 1983 to 1987 and as vicar apostolic of Palawan from 1987 to 1995.

San Diego became the bishop of San Pablo from 1995 to 2003 before serving as the first bishop of the diocese of Pasig.

His remains lie in state at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral at the diocese of Pasig.