Fr. Pedro Melecio Manilag, Jr., O.Carm.
July 5, 1971 – May 20, 2021
Rev. Fr. Pedro Melecio Manilag, Jr., O.Carm. was born on July 5, 1971 in Corte-Baud, Getafe, Bohol, the youngest of three children of spouses Pedro T. Manilag Sr. and Salome A. Melecio. He was baptized on August 1, 1971 and confirmed on October 29, 1971 at the Sto. Niño Parish in his hometown, where later served as an altar boy.
After completing his basic education the Campao Elementary School (1978-1984) and the Santo Niño Institute (1984-1988) in Bohol, he joined the Carmelite formation program in 1988 and entered the Mount Carmel Seminary in Escalante, Negros Occidental. He also pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Mount Carmel College and graduated in 1992.
He joined the Carmelites’ Postulancy (Pre-Novitiate) program in May 1992 and the Novitiate in June 1993. He professed his Simple Vows on June 7, 1994, and later, his Solemn Profession of Vows on July 8, 1998, at the Titus Brandsma Center in Quezon City.
He was ordained a Deacon on December 9, 1999, at the Spring of Carmel Novitiate House by Bishop Rolando Tria Tirona, OCD, after receiving his Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Ministry from the Inter-Congregational Theological Center, the Graduate School of the Our Lady of the Angels Seminary (ICTC-OLAS) that same year.
Fr. Manilag was ordained a Priest on June 1, 2000 at the Carmelite Monastery of Discalced Nuns in Mandaue City, Cebu, by Bishop John Du, DD.
He also attended specialization training in Clinical Pastoral Education and Pastoral Care Program at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in 1996, and a graduate certificate program on Carmelite Studies from the Washington Theological Union in Washington, DC, USA from 2004 to 2005.
Fr. Manilag served the Order and the Church in various capacities. Among his previous assignments were the following:
- Rector and Seminary Formator, San Alberto Carmelite Formation Center, Cebu City (2002- 2003)
- Director, Saints Elijah and Elisha Student Friary/ Carmelite Theologate Formation Program, Quezon City (2003-2009)
- National Spiritual Director and Delegate to the Third Order Carmelites (2006- 2008)
- Director for Finance and Administration, Institute of Spirituality in Asia-Manila, Diocese of Cubao, (2005-2008)
- Postulancy Director, Assistant National Vocation Director, and Prior of the San Alberto Carmelite Community of Cebu, Archdiocese of Cebu (2008 to 2012)
- Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, Fairfield, California, Diocese of Sacramento, USA (2012-2018)
- Assisting Pastor, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, Escalante City, Negros Occidental, Diocese of San Carlos (2019-2020)
At the 2020 Chapter of the Philippine Carmelite Province of Blessed Titus Brandsma, Fr. Manilag was elected to the Provincial Council as Third Councilor for the 2020-2023 Triennium. Concurrently, he was assigned Director of the Carmelite Mission and Development Office and Chair of the Board of Trustees of Batang Pinangga Foundation, an orphanage located in Carmen, Cebu.
At the same time, he also served as Parish Priest of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, Diocese of Butuan, and Prior of the Carmelite Community at San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, until his untimely demise.
Fr. Manilag died in the grace of our Lord on May 20, 2021 at 7:45 p.m. at the Democrito Plaza Provincial Hostpital, Patin-ay, Prosperidad. Agusan del Sur, due to pneumonia and heart failure. He was 49 years old.
May he rest in peace and be raised in glory.
May YHWH grant Fr. Pete Manilag, Jr. eternal peace in the bosom of Abraham.
May YHSWH the Messiah open the door to the Eternal Home for him.
May RUAH guide his eternal homecoming.
My condolences and prayers to the Manilag Family.
May YHWH grant Fr. Pete Manilag, Jr. eternal peace in the bosom of Abraham.
May YHSWH the Messiah open the door to the Eternal Home for him.
May RUAH guide his eternal homecoming.
My condolences and prayers to the Manilag Family.
May YHWH grant Fr. Pete Manilag, Jr. eternal peace in the bosom of Abraham.
May YHSWH the Messiah open the door to the Eternal Home for him.
May RUAH guide his eternal homecoming to the abode of Elijah, Elisha and Miriam, our Mother.
My condolences and prayers to the Manilag Family.
I may not have the opportunity to know you personally Fr. Pete, but when you officiated a mass in our chapel, I know for sure your homily touched the parishioners of San Ignacio de Loyola Chapel. May you rest in eternal peace and be welcomed in God’s promised paradise for you. Please include us in your prayer as face our Lord Almighty.
You will be dearly missed, my formator and a good brother. Rest in the bosom of Abraham forever.
Rest in Christ Love Fr. Pete.