Negros remembers ‘bishop of the poor’ Antonio Fortich
BACOLOD CITY—Two books honoring the life and legacy of the late Bacolod Bishop Antonio Fortich, widely hailed in Negros as a champion of the poor, were launched this week at a hall at the Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Barangay Bata here named after the prelate.
“Today marks the 59th anniversary of his appointment as bishop … that most opportune moment in the destiny of Negros Occidental, when a champion of the poor, a man devoted to justice and peace, became a beacon of hope for us all,” said Fr. Aniceto “Mao” Buenafe, Bata parish priest, during the event on Tuesday.
Fortich led the Bacolod diocese from Jan. 13, 1967, until his retirement on Jan. 31, 1989.
“I see Bishop Fortich not only as a figure of the past, but as a compass for the present. In a time marked by deepening poverty, ecological degradation, persistent violence, and a crisis of governance, his life reminds us that the Church must remain credible, compassionate and courageous,” San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said.
“May the Fortich Hall become a place where consciences are formed, dialogue is nurtured, and commitment to justice and peace is renewed. And may these books continue to accompany us as we carry forward the journey of faith and service that Bishop Fortich so faithfully lived,” he added.
The Fortich Hall was originally constructed in 1984 under Bata’s first parish priest, Fr. Greg Patiño, and was blessed by Fortich himself.
The renovated hall was blessed by Patiño and the inaugural ribbon was cut by Buenafe, and Parish Pastoral Council leaders Ernesto Salcedo, Millie Kilayko and Ulysses Primacio.
Also launched at the event were the books “Vir Fortis” and “A Shepherd’s Journey.”
“Vir Fortis” (Latin for “a man of strength and courage”) is authored by four diocesan priests who were proteges of Fortich—Fr. Dimitri Gatia, Msgr. Rufino “Toto” Suplido, and the late Msgr. Victorino Rivas and Fr. Romeo Empestan.
Walk with communities
The other book, “Shepherd’s Journey,” is a compilation of messages, letters and articles contributed by individuals from diverse backgrounds shortly after the bishop’s passing on July 2, 2003, at the age of 89.
“These books remind us that Bishop Fortich’s legacy is not confined to history. ‘Vir Fortis’ and ‘A Shepherd’s Journey’ speak powerfully to our present moment—calling us to a Church that walks with suffering communities, speaks truth to power, defends human dignity and refuses to remain silent in the face of injustice,” Alminaza said.
All proceeds from the sale of these books will go to the Bata parish.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said the books do more than just recount history—they preserve a legacy that shaped the soul of the province.
Lacson said Fortich served the Diocese of Bacolod during one of the most difficult periods in the history of the province.
“He chose to stand with the poor, the farmers, the workers and the marginalized, not from a distance, but in genuine solidarity. Under his leadership, the Church in Negros Occidental became a living presence among the people,” Lacson said.
“He strengthened social action, encouraged communities, and spoke clearly and fearlessly for justice and human dignity,” the governor added.
Lacson said the books would help the community to remember not only the man but the true meaning of his mission.
“For Bishop Fortich, peace was never abstract. It was inseparable from justice. It meant addressing hunger, inequality and exclusion. It meant ensuring that development did not leave the most vulnerable behind,” the governor noted.
Fortich’s life serves as a reminder that leadership—whether in the Church or in government—is about service at its core, he added.
“His life reminds us that faith finds its fullest meaning when it is lived in solidarity with the people—especially the forgotten and the vulnerable,” Lacson said.
