First Ilocano Cardinal’s homecoming

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff Reporter

HE WAS ONLY eight years old when his parents decided to move to Cotabato for good; but for Orlando “Orly” Beltran Quevedo, his heart has always known Ilocos Norte as home.

Sixty seven years later, Quevedo returns to his home province, this time as the first Ilocano cardinal.

Wearing a red hat and the ring of a Roman Catholic prince and on board a white Toyota Grandia, he passed by unnoticed along the national highway from Metro Manila. But at the breaking of dawn at Badoc, the first town in Ilocos Norte, the cardinal inside the vehicle was greeted by huge posters and streamers: “Welcome His Eminence Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, first Ilocano Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church.”

On his way to Plaza del Norte, where a brief welcome party was prepared for him by the Laoag City Government led by Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas, he told the driver to stop by for a while to say a prayer at the St. John the Baptist church in Badoc town.

Drums and lyre corps of young boys and girls greeted the first Ilocano cardinal as his vehicle, followed by a police patrol entered the gates of the hotel and convention center.

Quevedo meets IP

After a short rest at the Plaza del Norte here in Laoag City, hundreds of Ilocanos along with the Indigenous Peoples (IP) of the tribal communities of Adams, Dumalneg, Carasi, Vintar and Nueva Era slept at the church compound and waited for him at the Holy Spirit Academy of Laoag, for a dialogue with the IP community.

Cardinal Quevedo met with the IP community here to listen to their concerns and issues which he says are almost similar to the IP concerns in Mindanao.

“I am aware of the issues of the IP community and I know well the IP situation in Cotabato. There is governmental neglect, lack of livelihood and the IPs are some of the poorest of the poor in Mindanao. There are biases and prejudices between the lowlanders and highlanders. And I say to you, you are from the highlands, the lowlands must look up to you,” Quevedo said.

Led by Laoag Bishop Renato Mayugba and Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda R. Marcos, Ilocanos and the IP community welcomed him with cheers.

Attended by thousands of Ilocanos from the various parishes of Ilocos Norte including Bishops Jack Jose of Urdaneta City and Sergio Utleg of Tuguegarao, a thanksgiving mass was held at 10:30a.m. at the St. William Cathedral with indigenous songs and dances, including the first communion of selected children.

In his homily, Quevedo said, “A cardinal is not simply called a prince but a shepherd that rules and serves the flock. And it is by serving unselfishly that he reigns over the flock in humility and simplicity.”

According to Quevedo, a prince belongs to those in middle ages and he belongs in post-modern times. “If I am called as the prince of the church, I have to realize that I am a shepherd to become a prince.”

Sarrat homecoming

After the mass, Quevedo was led to a float filled with fresh white flowers on his way to his hometown in Sarrat. Several young boys and girls waving mini Philippine flags waited along the highway amidst the scorching heat of the sun.

At the church garden of Sta. Monica Parish where a luncheon and formal reception is waiting for him, Sarrat residents serenaded him with Ilocano folk songs.

According to Sarrat Mayor Editor Alberto Balintona, Sarrat residents along with Quevedo’s relatives were excited to see the new cardinal as they helped in cleaning the streets and prepared plans for his grand homecoming.

Several friends and relatives from Cagayan de Oro and Cotabato including his eldest sister Nellie Quevedo-Bassig, 84, now living in Metro Manila arrived earlier in Sarrat town to witness Quevedo’s paternal visit and formal reception organized by the community for him so far.

“We are very much thankful for the warm welcome and reception dedicated for my youngest brother,” Bassig said with a smile.

As a young boy, Melchora Ver Dragon, a first degree cousin of Quevedo said he was an ordinary kid who used to play with fellow children at home. “He was very respectful and obedient.”

She narrated that when his dad, a principal at the Shamrock Elementary School in Laoag City arrived from work, the young Orly already knows what to do. “He goes to his dad and brings him his favorite basi (sugarcane wine).” His mom was also teaching in the same school when the family decided to move to South Cotabato, joining other relatives there.

Dragon said that like a typical Ilocano family searching for a greener pasture, most of the Quevedos known with very close family ties, are now in Mindanao, some have already migrated abroad.

But on several occasions, they come to Ilocos to attend family reunions and gatherings.

Another relative, Maximo Edralin described him as a “precautious child” apparently because he grew inside the church.

Family of achievers

Like his two elder brothers and sister, he belongs to a family of achievers as two his siblings graduated as magna cum laude in prominent schools in Metro Manila. “He is also a loving son and brother,” he said.

Father Joey Ranjo from the Diocese of Laoag who personally accompanied the Cardinal on his travel by land to Laoag City said, “He’s brilliant and a very simple man.” He said that when he was still at the Nueva Segovia, he used to ride on a tricycle or walk along the highway with an umbrella in his hand.

Order of Lam-ang

In Laoag City, the new cardinal was also conferred the “Order of Lam-ang, the highest award given to an outstanding Laoagueño for giving honor to the country. The Order of Lam-ang award was sponsored by Laoag City councilor Joseph Tamayo through a resolution and it was unanimously approved by the city council.

After a state dinner at the Malacañang of the North courtesy of the Ilocos Norte government and Governor Marcos, he will be off to Vigan for the installation of the new archbishop of Nueva Segovia Marlo Peralta.

On February 22, Ilocanos in this northern Philippine province joined the nation in celebrating the first Ilocano Cardinal officially declared by Pope Francis at the Vatican.

The occasion was also attended by Governor Marcos in Rome, Italy.

According to Fr. Ericson Josue, a historian and spiritual director of the Immaculate Concepcion Major Seminary in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, Quevedo has an Edralin blood. Therefore, he is related to the late President Marcos. 

Early years

During his formative years, Quevedo spent his elementary years (Grade 1-3) at the Shamrock Elementary School in Laoag City before his family moved to Marbel, South Cotabato in 1945. He then continued his primary schooling there (Grade 4-6) and graduated in secondary at the Notre Dame School.

He was ordained as a priest in June 5, 1964.

After 16 years or on July 23, 1980, Pope John Paul II appointed him as prelature bishop of Kidapawan. Three months later, he became a full pledged bishop after his ordination on October 28, 1980 in Kidapawan, Cotabato.

Prior to that, he studied Philosophy in San Jose Seminary and started as “novitiate” at the St. Peter's Novitiate Mission in Texas. He finished his masters in Religious Education in Oblate College at the Catholic University of America in Washington DC, USA then when he went back to the Philippines, he took post graduate studies in education management at the University of Sto. Tomas. 

Also, he took Theology of Religious Life in St. Louis University in Missouri.

In 1973, he became one of the 10 Most Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines.

On March 22, 1986, Pope John Paul II appointed him as Archbishop of Nueva Segovia in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Then on September 8, 1998, he was seated as the Archbishop of Cotabato and he was chosen as secretary general of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conference. 

From 1999 to 2003, Quevedo served as President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. 

Through his dedication and willingness to serve the conflict-stricken region of Mindanao, Quevedo became an advocate for peace, making him the only church figure present during the recent signing of the Bangsamoro peace agreement.