Alberto Baldovino Ramento (August 9, 1936, in Guimba, Nueva Ecija – October 3, 2006, in Tarlac City) was the ninth supreme bishop (Obispo Máximo) and a former chairperson of the Supreme Council of Bishops of the Philippine Independent Church or Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI). He was known by the moniker, "The Bishop of the Poor Peasants and Workers". A known vocal critic against human rights abuses in the Philippines, he was murdered by unknown assailants in 2006, with his case currently remains unsolved.[2]
Alberto Ramento, Obispo Maximo IX | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Ninth Supreme Bishop of the Philippine Independent Church | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Bishop Alberto Ramento, c. 1993 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Church | Philippine Independent Church | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| See | Manila | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Installed | 10 May 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Term ended | 10 May 1999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Tito Pasco | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Successor | Tomás Millamena | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other post(s) |
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| Previous post(s) |
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| Orders | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ordination | 8 April 1958 (Diaconate) 28 April 1958 (Priesthood) by Isabelo L. de los Reyes Jr. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Consecration | 9 May 1969 (Episcopate) by Isabelo L. de los Reyes Jr., Thaddeus Zielinski, Philip Strong, and Gilbert Baker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Alberto Baldovino Ramento August 9, 1936 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | October 3, 2006 (aged 70) (Assassinated) Tarlac City, Philippines | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Buried | Church of Saint Anthony of Padua, Cavite City, Philippines | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Filipino | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Denomination | Aglipayan (Philippine Independent Church/Iglesia Filipina Independiente) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence | Tarlac City | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parents | Felipe Ramento y Curpoz (father) Margarita Baldovino y Bermudez (mother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Celerina Mendoza (m. 1963) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education |
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| Sainthood | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Feast day | October 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Venerated in | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Title as Saint | Bishop and Martyr | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canonized | October 3, 2010 Mainz, Germany by the Catholic Diocese of the Old Catholics in Germany[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Attributes | Episcopal vestments Crown of martyrdom Martyr's palm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Patronage | Human rights Persecuted Christians | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shrines |
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Ordination history | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Styles of Alberto Ramento | |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Religious style | Obispo Máximo IX The Most Reverend |
| Posthumous style | Venerable Martyr |
Life
editRamento was born in an affluent family to Felipe Ramento y Curpoz and Margarita Baldovino y Bermudez. His grandfather Don Felix Ramento was Guimba's town mayor from 1922 to 1925 and Alberto had three uncles who were pioneer priests in the Iglesia Filipina Independiente. His father Felipe was also the chief of police in Guimba. The Ramento family owned several large plots of land inherited from the Baldovino clan, Alberto's mother's side. Ramento was a Freemason. He was married to Celerina Mendoza of Hermosa, Bataan and had children namely: Alberto II (Aldos), Aleli, Alberto III (Altres), and Liezel.[3]
Prior to his election as Supreme Bishop, Ramento was the Diocesan Bishop of Cavite from 1970 to 1993. He was co-chair of the Ecumenical Bishops' Forum, chaired the Promotion of Church People's Response–Central Luzon and human rights group Karapatan–Tarlac, and chaired other various church and cause-oriented organizations. He was an ardent supporter of the Hacienda Luisita strikers. As the chairman of the Workers Assistance Center, Inc. (WAC), he also supported the struggle of the workers in Cavite, Philippines. He was also a vocal and influential critic of the Gloria Arroyo administration. He was also very vocal about the murder of IFI priest and fellow human rights advocate William Tadena, believed to be murdered by the Cojuangco family, for his support of the Hacienda Luisita farmers.
In September 1998, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Negotiating Panel nominated him as an Independent Observer in the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).
He served as the Diocesan Bishop of Tarlac after his term as Supreme Bishop ended.
Death
editRamento was stabbed to death by unknown assailants. He was found dead with multiple stab wounds inside his rectory at the Church of Saint Sebastian in Tarlac City in the early morning of October 3, 2006.[4] His remains were cremated 10 days after his death and viewing.[5][6] His ashes were interred at the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua in Cavite City.[7]
Prior to his death, Ramento had been actively involved in various organizations and movements advocating human rights, social justice (especially for the working class), civil liberties, and genuine peace, to which he had received death threats from. Initial police findings ruled his death as robbery with homicide, but IFI church officials, his family, followers and supporters were not convinced. A local court later dismissed the case against the then-robbery suspects because police failed to attend court hearings. His case remains unsolved.[8]
The Church of Saint Sebastian was once temporarily closed for a number of years after Ramento's death but has since re-opened.
IFI created the "Ramento Project for Rights Defenders" (RPRD), the IFI's human rights advocacy and service arm, in his honor.[9]
Veneration
edit-
Alberto Ramento commemorative plaque at the Church of Saint Sebastian in Tarlac City where he was assassinated. -
Commemorative portrait of Alberto Ramento displayed at the Aglipay Central Theological Seminary (ACTS) in Urdaneta, Pangasinan.
On October 3, 2010, the Catholic Diocese of the Old Catholics in Germany of the Union of Utrecht canonized Ramento and commemorated him as a martyr in a liturgical service in Mainz, as approved by the International Old Catholic Bishops' Conference. His commemoration/feast day is included in the liturgical calendar of the Union of Utrecht of the Old Catholic Churches.[1][10][11]
Ramento is venerated as a venerable and martyr both in the Union of Utrecht and the Philippine Independent Church. His commemoration/feast day is celebrated on October 3 every year.
References
edit- ^ a b "Feast of Alberto Ramento (October 3)" (PDF). Katholisches Bistum der Alt-Katholiken in Deutschland. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 12, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
- ^ "THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF OBISPO MAXIMO ALBERTO RAMENTO". Issuu. United Society Partners in the Gospel. October 15, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
- ^ Gealogo, Francis (October 3, 2020). "Target: Obispo Ramento". Bulatlat. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ "Filipino bishop Alberto Ramento found stabbed to death". Anglican Communion News Service. October 4, 2006. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
- ^ "Slain Aglipayan bishop to get hero's burial on Tuesday". GMA News Online. GMA Integrated News. October 6, 2006.
- ^ "Slain Aglipayan bishop buried". GMA News Online. GMA Integrated News. October 13, 2006.
- ^ Punay, Edu (October 13, 2006). "Slain IFI bishop laid to rest today". The Philippine Star. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
- ^ "Justice remains elusive eight years after bishop's murder". Union of Catholic Asian News. October 24, 2017. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
- ^ Ellao, Janess Ann J. (April 2, 2015). "'To live simply', A tale of 3 Aglipayan priests". Bulatlat. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- ^ "ECUMENISM In community: Philippine Independent Church – Alberto Ramento". Katholisches Bistum der Alt-Katholiken in Deutschland (in German). Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
- ^ "OUR FAITH – Frequently asked questions: Do Old Catholics venerate Mary or other saints?". Katholisches Bistum der Alt-Katholiken in Deutschland (in German). Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
External links
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