Leonardo Legaspi

Leonardo Zamora Legaspi, O.P. (25 November 1935 – 8 August 2014) was the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Caceres and president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (1988–1991). He was appointed as the first Filipino Rector Magnificus of the University of Santo Tomas in 1970. On September 8, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI accepted his retirement as Metropolitan Archbishop of Caceres, and named Bishop Rolando Joven Tria Tirona, O.C.D., as Archbishop-elect. Archbishop Tirona, who until then had been the Bishop-Prelate of the Roman Catholic Territorial Prelature of Infanta in the Philippines, immediately succeeded to the see upon the acceptance of his appointment and was formally installed as Metropolitan Archbishop of Caceres on 14 November 2012.[1]

The Most Reverend Leonardo Z. Legaspi O.P., D.D., S.Th.D, Ph.D.
Archbishop of Caceres
Province	Camarines Sur
See	Caceres
Installed	January 18, 1984
Term ended	September 8, 2012
Predecessor	The Most Rev. Teopisto Valderrama Alberto
Successor	The Most Rev. Rolando Joven Tria Tirona, O.C.D.
Other posts	Auxiliary Bishop of Manila
Orders
Ordination	December 17, 1960
Consecration	August 8, 1977 by Bruno Torpigliani
Personal details
Born	25 November 1935 Meycauayan, Commonwealth of the Philippines
Died	8 August 2014 (aged 78) Manila, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Residence	Naga City
Alma mater	University of Hong Kong, University of Santo Tomas
Motto	"Illuminare Omnes", "A Light to All"
Signature

Styles of Leonardo Z. Legaspi, O.P.
Reference style	The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Archbishop

Ordination history of Leonardo Legaspi
History Episcopal consecration Consecrated by Bruno Torpigliani Date August 8, 1977
Episcopal succession Bishops consecrated by Leonardo Legaspi as principal consecrator Bishop Gilbert Garcera June 29, 2007

Early life and education

Legaspi was born in Meycauayan, Bulacan on November 25, 1935. After his high School education at St. Mary's Academy in Meycauayan, he went to the University of Hong Kong where he obtained an A.B. degree in Philosophy in 1955. In 1960, he joined the Dominican Order, and in the following year he received a Licentiate of Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) from the University of Santo Tomas in 1962, and subsequently a S.T.D. degree the same year. After receiving his B.S. degree in Educational Management at the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration in 1971, he again studied at the University of Santo Tomas and earned his Ph.D. degree in 1975.[2]

Career

In 1968 he served as the first Filipino Rector Magnificus of the University Of Santo Tomas Central Seminary, and in 1970, he was appointed as the first Filipino Rector Magnificus of the University of Santo Tomas. On June 30, 1977, he was designated as Titular Bishop of Elefantaria in Mauritania and Auxiliary Bishop of Manila. Later, he was installed in Solemn Ceremonies as the 33rd Bishop and 3rd Archbishop of the Caceres at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist, Naga City, on January 18, 1984. He also served as the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) from 1988–1991 and President of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines in 1991.[3]

Death

On his 37th episcopal anniversary and Feast of Saint Dominic, 8 August 2014, Legaspi died at 5:00 a.m. at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital of lung cancer.[4][5]

Honors and awards[3]

• Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines Award for Education (1974)
• Grand Cross, Order of Alfonso X the Wise (1974)
• Tanglaw Awards (1974)
• Kyung Hee University's Highest (Golden) Award (1974)
• Rizal Pro Patria Award (1975)
• International Association of University Presidents Award (1976)

Honorary degrees[2]

• Doctor of Education Honoris Causa, National University, Manila
• Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa, Angeles University, Pampanga
• Doctor of Humanities, University of Northeastern Philippines

References

1. Tirona takes possession of Caceres, Bicolandia Regional Newspaper, January 1, 2014. ,
2. CBCP Online Archived May 4, 2012, at the Wayback Machine CBCP Website May 14, 2012
3. UST 400 UST 400 Website May 14, 2012
4. "Archbishop Legazpi dies at 78". CBCP News. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
5. "Unang Pilipinong rektor ng UST, pumanaw na". The Varsitarian. Retrieved August 10, 2014.