MANILA — Governor Edwin Ongchuan condoled with the immediate family, friends and the religious community earlier today, Sunday, March 12, as he visited the wake of Catarman Bishop Emeritus Angel Hobayan at the Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, in Pasay City.

In his statement yesterday, March 11, Governor Ongchuan said that “The Provincial Government is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Monsignor Angel T. Hobayan, our Bishop-Emeritus in the Diocese of Catarman.”

He extended his sincere condolences to the clergy, religious and lay faithful of the Diocese of Catarman on behalf of the Provincial Government.

“The people of Northern Samar will always be thankful to God for sending us a teacher of peace and humility. We trust that the merciful Lord would grant him eternal rewards in His presence”, Governor Ongchuan said in his statement.

Bishop Angel Hobayan, was a member of the presbyterium of the Diocese of Borongan when he was appointed first Bishop of the Diocese of Catarman. He was born in Taft, Eastern Samar on December 11, 1929, although the Hobayan family were residents of Dolores, Eastern Samar.

He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Calbayog on March 25, 1955. Immediately after ordination, he was assigned assistant parish priest in Catubig, Northern Samar in 1955-1956.

Pope Paul VI appointed him first Bishop of Catarman on December 12, 1974. Archbishop Bruno Torpigliani, Papal Nuncio to the Philippines, ordained him bishop at the Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady in Borongan on March 5, 1975. On March 11, the Papal Nuncio installed him as the first Residential Bishop of the Diocese of Catarman.

On March 10, 2005, he retired as Bishop of Catarman after reaching the compulsory age of retirement of 75.

Bishop Angel Hobayan, the oldest Filipino bishop, passed away on Saturday, March 11. He was 93.