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Former Caritas Manila director dies at 75


Msgr. Francisco Tantoco Jr., the former executive director of Caritas Manila, died Friday after a long fight with Parkinson’s disease, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said Saturday.

The CBCP said Tantoco, who died at 6:45 a.m. Friday at age 75, was brought to the San Juan De Dios Hospital in Pasay City on Thursday night when his condition worsened.

As per his wishes, he was buried within 24 hours of his death, with Manila Archbihsop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle leading funeral services for him.

“We are respecting his will,” Tagle said of Tantoco's wish to be buried within 24 hours. Tantoco was buried at the La Loma cemetery in Manila.

Achiever, diligent, talented

Tagle said that while Tantoco was shy, he was an “achiever, diligent, and talented”.

“He has a lot of incomparable accomplishments... I thank his immediate family for sharing his life to the church and to the community,” Tagle said.

Tantoco was ordained for the Diocese of Borongan in Eastern Samar on December 27, 1969 at the Holy Redeemer Church in Quezon City.

He was incardinated to the Archdiocese of Manila in 1985, and was appointed to head Caritas Manila until 2004.

During his work at Caritas, he expanded his work beyond feeding the poor, boosting their dignity as children of God.

Also, he worked with international agencies to beef up resources for the poor. Under his watch, Caritas Manila was awarded Ora et Labora Award by the San Beda College in 2003.

He also contributed to the growth of Knights of Columbus, one the biggest Catholic organizations in the Philippines. He served as the national secretary from 1968 to 1984.

For several years, he also served as the National Chaplain of the Catholic Youth Organization in the Philippines. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News

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