Cotabato Archbishop Is First Filipino Cardinal Named by Pope Francis

Gma News
January 12, 2014

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/343517/news/nation/cotabato-archbishop-is-first-filipino-cardinal-named-by-pope-francis

A Mindanao archbishop and former president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines will join the elite group of advisors of Pope Francis as he and 15 other bishops and archbishops were named cardinals by Pope Francis on Sunday.

Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo was among the prelates who will be created Cardinals at the upcoming situation, Vatican Radio reported.

"As was previously announced, on February 22, the Feast of the Chair of Peter, I will have the joy of holding a Consistory, during which I will name 16 new Cardinals, who, coming from 12 countries from every part of the world, represent the deep ecclesial relationship between the Church of Rome and the other Churches throughout the world," the Pope said in his announcement.

"Let us pray for the new Cardinals, that vested in the virtues and the sentiments of the Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd, they might be able to help more effectively the Bishop of Rome in his service to the universal Church," he added.

Quevedo will be the first cardinal created by Pope Francis. The most recently created cardinal was Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle, created by Pope Benedict XVI.

He served as CBCP president from 1999 to 2003.

Quevedo was one of the bishops who reports said were allegedly granted sport utility vehicles (SUVs) by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office in 2011. He denied the allegation.

The CBCP Online site indicated Quevedo was born on March 11, 1939 in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, and was ordained on June 5, 1964 in Washington D.C.

His episcopal ordination was on Oct. 28, 1980 in Kidapawan, Cotabato.

Quevedo received his basic education at Laoag Shamrock School and Marbel Central Elementary School, and Notre Dame of Marbel High School.

He attended San Jose Seminary from 1954 to 1956, and St. Peter's Novitiate in Texas from 1956 to 1957. He took Philosophy at San Jose Seminary from 1957 to 1960.

The prelate also attended Oblate College (Catholic University of America) and took postgraduate studies in educational management at the University of Santo Tomas, and took Theology of Religious Life at St. Louis University in Missouri from 1976 to 1977.

Among the highlights of his career are:

• 1970: Received Ford Foundation Travel and Study Grant to Indonesia
• 1972: Invited to participate at OMI (Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate) General Chapter, Rome
• 1973: One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines
• 1973-1977: Set up Colleges of Nursing, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Socio-Economic Research Center at Notre Dame University
• 1980-1986: Defended and promoted justice and peace issues, grassroots empowerment, and Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC) during Martial Law Years, Diocese of Kidapawan
• 1983: Provided the idea to create the CBCP Public Affairs Committee
• Since 1983: Principal drafter of several CBCP Pastoral Letters and Statements
• 1987: Initiated the pastoral vision-mission statement of the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia – to build BEC
• 1991: Given Award of Appreciation at the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Acts and Decrees
• 1992: Initiated a modified tithing system and abolished the arancel system in the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia
• 1993: Convoked and presided over the First Nueva Segovia Pastoral Assembly to renew the Church in Nueva Segovia
• 1994: Elected with the highest vote to membership in the General Council of the Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, Rome