Bishop Elenito Galido (Photo from the Facebook page of Diocese of Iligan)
ILIGAN CITY, Philippines – Elenito Galido, the bishop of a diocese that welcomed thousands of evacuees from the war-torn city of Marawi, passed away on Tuesday, December 5.
Galido died in a hospital here at 10:11 p.m. of December 5, after a long battle with liver cancer and diabetes. He was 63.
“He had been in bad shape for quite a while, but still he continued to serve the Iligan Diocese,” said Iligan City Vice Mayor Jemar Vera Cruz.
Vera Cruz, who is a priest-on-leave, described Galido as a very “good man” who had a very warm relationship with the people, especially to the elderly.
Apart from serving the Catholic church, Galido was a staunch advocate of organic agriculture, said Vera Cruz.
In late 1980s, the late bishop started his own reforestation project in Mt. Capistrano, Managok, Malaybalay City, where he first served as priest following his ordination in 1979.
Galido was appointed as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Iligan on March 25, 2006.
In July this year, Galido spoke on the Marawi conflict in a three-day plenary assembly of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.
Since the war broke out in Marawi, his diocese became active in “restoring broken lives” by welcoming thousands of evacuees.(davaotoday.com)
