Beatification process for first Ilocano bishop on

MANILA, Philippines - A cause for beatification and canonization has been opened for the first Ilocano bishop, Alfredo Florentin Verzosa (1877-1954).

The process of documenting Verzosa’s life and virtues was initiated at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Paul in Vigan, Ilocos Sur on Jan. 11, 2013 and will close in 2015.

The records will then be brought to Rome for the next phase of the process, the Missionary Catechists of the Sacred Heart of Lipa, Batangas said in a statement.

As a young priest assigned to Nueva Segovia, Verzosa worked hard to protect, revive and strengthen Catholicism in Ilocos Norte at a time when there was a dearth of priests due to the shift of most of the local clergy to the new church established by Gregorio Aglipay.

Regarded as one of the most trusted priests of his time, Verzosa was appointed as a consultor in the Synod of Nueva Segovia and worked as secretary of the bishops during their pastoral visits.

In 1916, Pope Benedict XV named Verzosa, then 39, the second bishop of Lipa, the first Ilocano and the fourth Filipino to be elevated to the bishopric.

To celebrate his life, a musical play titled “Ang Pasyon ni Obispo Alfredo Verzosa ng Nueva Segovia at Lipa” was written by Palanca awardee Franck Rivera.

Produced by the Bishop Alfredo Florentin Verzosa Foundation Inc. and directed by Joey Nombres, the gala will be held on July 6 at SM Aura in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, with members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines attending.