Statue of Cardinal Santos Unveils in Pampanga

The late Cardinal served as the Archbishop of Manila from 1953, succeeding Archbishop Reyes then on March 31, 1960, he was named cardinal, the first Filipino to receive the distinction by Pope John Paul XXIII.

Cardinal Santos paved the way for the founding of Catholic Charities (Caritas Manila) and the reconstruction of St. Paul Hospital (Cardinal Santos Medical Center). Established by MaryKnoll Sisters, St. Paul Hospital was damaged by heavy American artillery during World War II.

He also re-instituted the Philippine trust company and the Catholic Travel Office. He rebuilt the Manila Cathedral which was also damaged during the World War II and dedicated it to the patronage of the Immaculate Conception on December 10, 1958.

It was during his time as Archbishop of Manila that Pope Paul VI made a pastoral visit to the Philippines, the first ever by a Supreme Pontiff in the history of the Philippine Church.

The statue of the late Cardinal, which was crafted by Edillardo Paras, a Kapampangan, sited atop a seven-foot concrete pedestal outside the Rufino J. Cardinal Santos convention hall adjacent to the Parish Church. [via PIA]