THOMASIAN Bishop Broderick Pabillo, one of the most vocal critics of President Rodrigo Duterte, vowed to remain outspoken despite his departure from Manila, during his installation as apostolic vicar of Taytay, Palawan on Thursday, Aug. 19.
“Para sa inyo na ako ngayon. Sisikapin kong ibuhos ang aking sarili sa inyo. Hindi ako pipigil na magsasalita at kikilos upang iligtas kayo sa panganib at sa mga panlilinlang,” Pabillo said during his first homily on his new post.
Pabillo had opposed Duterte’s bloody war on drugs and other authoritarian policies. During the imposition of strict community quarantines in Metro Manila last year, Pabillo protested restrictions on religious gatherings.
“Ang aking magiging layunin lamang ay liwanagan ang mga tao sa katotohanan, isulong ang katarungan, pangalagaan ang kalikasan na biyaya ng Manlilikha para sa lahat at hindi lang sa iilan, at panindigan ang karapatan ng bawat isang tao sapagkat ang bawat isa ay mahalaga,” Pabillo said.
Established on May 26, 2002, the Apostolic Vicariate of Taytay is considered by the Vatican as a “mission territory.”
The vicariate had been without a bishop for three years after the resignation of Bishop Edgardo Juanich in 2018 due to health reasons.
Pabillo is not new to Palawan. Pabillo is a former Salesian priest who was incardinated to the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa.
“Fides in caritate” or “faith in love” is Pabillo’s episcopal motto, which was derived from Galatians 5:6: “The only thing that counts is faith working through love.”
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, prayed for Pabillo’s new Palawan mission.
“God will show His faithfulness to His people through you, and you will see God’s grandeur through them,” Tagle said in a text message, which was read by Fr. Reynante Aguanta, the vicariate’s administrator.
Pabillo formally assumed his new post in a ceremony led by Juanich and Bishop Socrates Mesiona of Puerto Princesa at St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral.
Only a few people were allowed inside the cathedral in accordance with Covid-19 protocols.
Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula was supposed to lead Pabillo’s installation, but was unable to due to travel restrictions. The apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, Archbishop Charles Brown, also missed the event.
Pabillo was appointed apostolic vicar of Taytay by Pope Francis on June 29. He served the Archdiocese of Manila as auxiliary bishop for 15 years.
Palawan falls under the ecclesiastical province of Manila but is under the jurisdiction of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, which Tagle heads.
The installation coincides with Pabillo’s 15th episcopal ordination anniversary and the feast of St. Ezequiel Moreno, an Augustinian Recollect missionary who was the first parish priest of Palawan. Ma. Alena O. Castillo
