Federico O. Escaler

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Prelate of Kidapawan (1976–1980)
Coat of arms

Federico O. Escaler,

Roman Catholic Church. He served as the founding Prelate of Kidapawan (1976–1980) and Ipil (1980–1997), and President of Ateneo de Davao University (1962–1966) and Xavier University
(1973–1976).

Early Life and Education

Known as "Freddy," Escaler was born to an affluent family in San Rafael Street,

San Beda College.[2]

He took his pre-school education at the nearby Holy Ghost College, and after his second grade, joined his elder brothers at

Jaime Bulatao, Fr. Eduardo Hontiveros, Fr. Emmanuel Gopengco, and future Central Bank of the Philippines Governor Jose B. Fernandez Jr.. One of his classmates, Justice Ricardo Puno Sr., described Escaler as "...a regular guy. We were normal teenagers, with interests centered mostly on girls. And he was certainly one of us as far as that natural inclination was concerned. In fact he had many girl friends. Many girls really admired him…." He likewise narrated that when some of his girl admirers learned that Escaler will join the Jesuits, they visited him a day before he entered the seminary.[4]

Despite initial hesitation from his mother,

Sta. Ana, Manila, and eventually returning to Novaliches.[1]

While staying in Ateneo, in 1943, he and his batchmates began their Juniorate. From 1945 to 1948, he took and finished his MA in Philosophy at St. Robert Bellarmine College. During his novitiate, their Novice Master was then-Fr.

Valencia, Spain and stayed until 1956.[1]

Pastoral Ministry

He was ordained

New York Archbishop Francis Cardinal Spellman.[7]

Upon returning to the Philippines, he was reassigned to San Jose Seminary as Minister, and a year later became the Archivist of the then-Vice Province of the Philippines and Socius to the Vice Provincial.[1] He also served as Director of Retreats of the Jesuit Philippine Province from 1957 to 1961, thus enabling him to give retreats in the different parts of the country.[3] In 1961, he became Superior and Minister of the La Ignaciana Retreat House in Sta. Ana, and from 1962 to 1966, he was the Rector and President of Ateneo de Davao. In 1966, he returned to Xavier House to be the Province Treasurer and Chaplain of the Christian Family Movement. In 1973, he became the Rector and President of Xavier University, serving until his appointment to the episcopate in 1976.[1]

Episcopate

On June 12, 1976, Escaler was appointed by

Jaime Cardinal Sin on July 31, 1976, with Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Patrick Cronin and Cotabato Bishop Gerard Mongeau as co-consecrators, and installed to his new see on September 6, 1976. Escaler would resign as titular bishop of Girus Tarasil on February 18, 1978. On February 23, 1980, Escaler was appointed by Pope John Paul II as Prelate of the newly-established Prelature of Ipil and would remain in the post until his retirement in 1997.[8]

Escaler became prelate of

Diocese of Bacolod) and Orlando Quevedo (his successor in Kidapawan), he was among the so-called "Magnificent Seven," a group of progressive bishops who criticized the Marcos regime during Martial Law. Their open letter discussing the atrocities committed under Martial Law became one of the first instances where the Filipino Catholic hierarchy spoke against Martial Law.[10]

Escaler opted to serve the poor during those times, and advanced the cause of human rights. This made him a target of some reprisals. In February 1985, he and some of his companions were kidnapped by armed men for four days.[11] Years later, he witnessed the 1995 Ipil massacre, where Abu Sayyaf militants stormed the town of Ipil, Zamboanga del Sur, burned the town center, and took hostages.[12]

Retirement and Death

He retired as Bishop of Ipil on June 28, 1997, in accordance to the

Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro) Antonio Ledesma.[13] He then spent his retirement years in his ancestral house in San Miguel, Manila, living with his relatives who fondly called him as "Bish."[14] He became the Spiritual Director of Buklod ng Pag-Ibig, Chaplain of the Asian Institute of Management and the Cenacle Prayer Group. In the latter part of 2015, doctors discovered a mass in his liver which he declined further intervention.[1] Weeks before his death, it was said that during the visit of the new parish priest of the nearby National Shrine of St. Michael and the Archangels, Fr. Genaro Diwa, Escaler told Diwa to call him if he needs any help.[15]

He died on November 28, 2015, in his house in San Miguel, Manila.[16] After his wake in the Ateneo de Manila University Campus, he was buried together with his other departed Jesuit brothers at the Sacred Heart Novitiate, Quezon City.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Tumbali, Amado. "Biography of Bishop Federico O. Escaler, S.J., D.D. (1922-2015)". Philippine Jesuits. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  2. ^ Yuson, Alfred (June 27, 2016). "To love and serve, the Jesuit way". Philippine Star. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b Yuson, Alfred (August 27, 2017). "The life of an outstanding Jesuit". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  4. ^ Yuson, Alfred (June 27, 2016). "To love and serve, the Jesuit way". Philippine Star. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  5. ^ Yuson, Alfred (June 27, 2016). "To love and serve, the Jesuit way". Philippine Star. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  6. ^ Tumbali, Amado. "Biography of Fr. Jesus A. Diaz, SJ". Philippine Jesuits. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Bishop Federico Ocampo Escaler, S.J. †". Catholic-Hierarchy.Org. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Bishop Federico Ocampo Escaler, S.J. †". Catholic-Hierarchy.Org. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  9. ^ Arevalo, Catalino (December 1, 2015). "En Todo Amar y Servir". Philippine Jesuits. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Labayen, Julio Xavier Lizares". Bantayog ng mga Bayani. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Filipinos Try to Rescue A Kidnapped Bishop". The New York Times. February 24, 1985. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  12. ^ Spaeth, Anthony (April 17, 1995). "Death in the Afternoon: A Raid by Separatist Muslims Leaves a Provincial Town in Ruins". Time. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Bishop Federico Ocampo Escaler, S.J. †". Catholic-Hierarchy.Org. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  14. ^ Yuson, Alfred (June 27, 2016). "To love and serve, the Jesuit way". Philippine Star. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  15. ^ Arevalo, Catalino (December 1, 2015). "En Todo Amar y Servir". Philippine Jesuits. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  16. ^ Former Kidapawan bishop dies

External links

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