Former Letran rector dies, 88

Former Colegio de San Juan de Letran rector and Dominican Provincial Fr. Thomas Lopez Francisco passed away Sunday at age 88.

 

In an announcement on its Facebook page, Colegio de San Juan de Letran said Francisco died at 11:55 a.m.

 

The former rector's remains lie in state at the college's chapel in Intramuros.

 

His remains will be brought to the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City on Thursday, Nov. 20, and buried at the Santuario de Santo Domingo after a 2 p.m. funeral Mass.

 

Francisco, born Oct. 27, 1926, served as Dominican provincial from 1980 to 1984.

 

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said Francisco served as Letran's rector from 1986 to 1989.

 

He had celebrated his 60th sacerdotal anniversary last March 25.

 

"Father Thom, as he was affectionately called, was born on Oct. 27, 1926 in Suátao, China, from a Peruvian mother and a Filipino father from Baras, Rizal," the CBCP said. —Joel Locsin/KG, GMA News