October 16, 2018
This is to inform you that FR. ANTONIO B. BAUTISTA, S. J. died on 16 October 2018 at The Medical City.
Wake: Starting this evening till Thursday morning, 18 October in Loyola House of Studies. Daily wake Masses at 8 p.m.
Funeral Mass: At 8 a.m. on Thursday, 18 October in the Oratory of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Loyola House of Studies, Quezon City. Interment follows in the Jesuit Cemetery at Sacred Heart Novitiate.
BIOGRAPHY OF FR. Antonio B. Bautista, SJ (1924-2018)
By Sch. Amado T. Tumbali, S.J.
Assistant Province Archivist
Fr. Antonio Buencamino Bautista, S.J. was born on 13 June 1924 in Manila. He first studied in De la Salle Elementary School, Taft, Manila (1935-1937), then in San Juan de Letran High School, Intramuros, Manila (1937-1939), and finished secondary education in Immaculate Conception Institute, Vigan (1939-1942) as class valedictorian.
He entered the Jesuits on 30 July 1942. Some of his co-novices were Frs. Jose Blanco, Jose Martinez, Alfonso Flores, Vitaliano Gorospe, Miguel Varela, Luis Candelaria, Jose A. Cruz, Benigno Mayo, Teodoro Arvisu, and Enrique Victoriano, and Br. Luis Batin. However, due to the Second World War, the Sacred Heart Novitiate, where he spent his Noviceship (1942-1944) and Juniorate (1944-1946) moved about in Ateneo in Padre Faura, La Ignaciana in Sta. Ana, and Novaliches. He continued his Philosophy at St. Robert Bellarmine College in Novaliches (1946-1949) and got Bachelor and Masters degrees. During Regency, he was first assigned to Ateneo de Cagayan (1949-1951) as Instructor of Religion, English, and Latin; then in Ateneo de Naga (1951-1952) to teach Religion, English, and Latin. He studied Theology at Woodstock College, Maryland, USA (1952-1956) and received Licentiate in Sacred Theology. Then, back to the Philippines, he taught Religion in Ateneo de Manila (1956-57). A school year after, he was sent to do Tertianship in Palacio del Santo Duque, Gandia, Spain where he was also ordained to the Diaconate on 11 June 1958 and to the Presbyterate on 12 June 1958 by the Most Rev. Zenon Aramburu Urquiola, S.J., Bishop of Wuhu, China. He took his final vows on 15 August 1960 in Ateneo de Naga.
Fr. Tony’s first assignment as a priest was in Ateneo de Davao as Professor of Theology (1958-1960) and Moderator of ROTC and athletics in the College (1959-1960). His next assignment was in Ateneo de Naga where he served as Professor of Theology and Librarian both for the school and in the Jesuit Residence during his entire stay. He was also Chair of Philosophy Department (1966-1975). His next and longest assignment was in Loyola House of Studies (1977-2013) where he stayed while being Assistant Professor of Theology in Ateneo de Manila University (1978-1998), doing pastoral ministry (1998-2007), and retiring while praying for the Church and the Society of Jesus (2007-2013).
Declining with Dementia, Coronary Artery Disease, and Hypoxic Metabolic Encephalopathy, Fr Tony’s final years were spent in the Jesuit Residence Infirmary, Ateneo de Manila (2013-2016) and in the Jesuit Health and Wellness Center, Ateneo de Manila Campus since 2016 until he died of multi-organ failure due to sepsis or severe systemic infection as a consequence of aspiration pneumonia on 16 October 2018 at 7:05 AM at the Medical City, Ortigas ave, Quezon City.
Of his 94 years of age, Fr. Tony spent 76 as a Jesuit, and 44 as Professor of Theology.
Er San on October 18, 2018 AT 09 am
May you rest in peace, Fr Tony!
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