RENOWNED priest-architect Fr. Alex Bautista died on July 9. He was 50 years old.
Bautista succumbed to an underlying neuromuscular ailment at the Cardinal Santos Hospital in San Juan City, according to a post from Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news service.
Bautista, who is from the Diocese of Tarlac, finished his bachelor’s degree in architecture at the University in 1990 and theology in 2001 at the University of Navarra in Spain.
He taught at the UST College of Fine Arts and Design and College of Architecture. Bautista also taught humanities courses at Our Lady of Peace College Seminary in Tarlac.
Vylon Balintag, Bautista’s former student, described him as an outgoing and caring mentor who was “very close” to their batch.
“He always reminded our class to strive for the church and always hope for God’s mercy and compassion,” Balintag told the Varsitarian.
Bautista is known for designing churches and buildings in the country and abroad, such as La Sagrada Familia and the Shrine of San Josemaria Escriva in Tarlac.
He designed the altar and the papal chair used by Pope Francis during his Mass at the Quirino Grandstand in January 2015.
Bautista served as architectural consultant to the Episcopal Commission on Cultural Heritage of the CBCP. He also served as consultant to many church projects in several archdioceses and dioceses.
Fr. Gerry Perez, Bautista’s friend, told the Varsitarian: “Fr. Alex was gentle and humble in his ways, always paying close attention to the details of the architectural plans that he beautifully and expertly designed, thus showing his deep love for liturgy and the Church.”
He served as parish priest of La Sagrada Familia at Gerona town in Tarlac before his death.with reports from Mariel Celine L. Serquiña
