Jerry Bitoon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jerry V. Bitoon | |
|---|---|
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Province | Manila |
| Diocese | San Pablo |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 24, 1979 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1954-05-16) May 16, 1954 (age 71) |
Jerry Veluz Bitoon (born May 16, 1954) is a Filipino Catholic priest and activist.
Bitoon received a doctorate in sacred theology (SThD) from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, Italy in 1990.[1][2]
Ministry
Bitoon was ordained as a priest by San Pablo Bishop Pedro Bantigue on May 24, 1979.[3]
As a priest, Jerry Bitoon has advocated for better treatment of the environment.[4][5][6][7] He has served as rector of the St. Peter's College Seminary in San Pablo City, Laguna; in the early to mid-2000s, Bitoon and other priests in the seminary also served as caregivers of Quirino "Lolo" G. Glorioso, who was then the oldest active priest in the Philippines at over 100 years old.[8][9][10][11][12] In late 2000, Bitoon began serving as a convenor of the Laguna chapter of Kongreso ng Mamamayang Pilipino II (KOMPIL II), which held rallies against corruption in President Joseph Estrada's administration.[13][14][15][16]
During the election season in 2001, Bitoon took part in an initiative by civic groups to improve voter education in both San Pablo City and the province of Laguna.[17] In 2002, Bitoon headed the Krusadang Bayan in San Pablo, which campaigned against the illegal gambling game of jueteng.[18] As head of Krusadang Bayan, Bitoon denounced the assassination of San Pablo-based journalist Sonny Alcantara, stating that it "gives a chilling message to media men and to anyone who would like to denounce evil."[19][20] On February 1, 2003, the Laguna chapter of the Alas Dose y Medya (lit. '12:30') Movement was launched with Bitoon as overall convenor, aiming to support the government in identifying issues and supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to enhance economic growth.[21] As parish priest of the Parish of Santo Sepulcro in San Pedro, Laguna, he led the submission of a document ("The Parish Profile"), containing the official history of the "Lolo Uweng" image in the parish, to the Diocese of San Pablo, which later became the basis of the parish's shrinehood proclamation in 2006.[citation needed] In May 2004, he was appointed Vicar General of the Diocese of San Pablo.[22][better source needed] In August 2004, he denounced the assassination of Radio Veritas journalist Fernando Consignado within the latter's home in Nagcarlan, Laguna, stating that "We are angered by the series of killings of media people for this means that democracy is under siege.... Organized moves of the dark forces in our society must be matched with organized forces of the citizenry.[23] During the Hello Garci electoral scandal in 2005, Bitoon expressed disappointment in President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's apology: "It was not worth the long wait. It was utterly devoid of spontaneity and candidness, traits that normally show innocence and sincerity. It did not come from the heart."[24]
In September 2005, he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to be an officer of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith (now the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples) in Rome, Italy.[1][25] He later began serving as a parish priest at the Gesù Nuovo in Naples, Italy by 2008.[26] After Pope Francis' pastoral visit to the Philippines in January 2015, Bitoon helped organized the gathering of overseas Filipino workers at the Vatican upon the pope's return.[27]
On November 7, 2025, Bitoon gathered with Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David and other church leaders and members of civic organizations at the Villa San Miguel in Mandaluyong City, where they signed a petition calling on President Bongbong Marcos to create a truth commission to investigate the crimes committed during the Philippine drug war under President Rodrigo Duterte.[28][29]
Bitoon currently serves as the rector and parish priest of the Cathedral Parish of Saint Paul the First Hermit (commonly known as the San Pablo Cathedral) in San Pablo; he concurrently serves as a chaplain to Liceo de San Pablo, a parochial school operated by the Diocese of San Pablo, located beside the cathedral.[30][31]
References
- 1 2 Ponte, Romulo (September 22, 2005). "Pope summons San Pablo priest to work in Vatican". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Vol. 20, no. 286. San Pablo City. p. A14. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ↑ "Reliving our university years in Rome, "ubi Petrus, ibi Ecclesia"". Opus Dei. September 15, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
After the recollection and the Opening Mass, we formally established our alumni association. [...] Msgr. Jerry Bitoon also brought the famous lechon.
- ↑ Diocese of San Pablo (May 24, 2021). "Happy 42nd Sacerdotal Anniversary Msgr. Jerry Bitoon!". Facebook. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
- ↑ Dennen, Rusty (October 31, 2003). "Asian conservationists get pointers". The Free Lance-Star. Vol. 119, no. 304. p. A1. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ↑ Mallari Jr., Delfin T. (February 9, 2004). "Group saves wounded eagle from captivity". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Vol. 19, no. 63. p. A18. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
Janet Geneblazo-Buelo, staff member of Tanggol Kalikasan-Southern Tagalog, [...] said Luisiana priest Monsignor Jerry Bitoon last Wednesday [February 4] asked her group for emergency assistance for a wounded eagle[...]
- ↑ Macairan, Evelyn (March 31, 2016). "Church to campaign vs Laguna Lakeshore". Philstar.com. Manila, Philippines. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ↑ Cinco, Maricar (October 11, 2016). "In lake cleanup, San Pablo folk join hands to find long-term solution". Inquirer.net. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
'We are looking at not only short-term solutions,' said [Jerry] Bitoon, director of the ministry on ecology of the Diocese of San Pablo.
- ↑ Enerio, Butch D. (October 10, 2001). "Maranaos: We're willing to go to Afghanistan". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Vol. 16, no. 304. Marawi City. p. A18. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
- ↑ Ponte, Romulo O. (June 20, 2002). "Veteran priest extols virtue of obedience to superiors". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Vol. 17, no. 192. San Pablo City. p. A14. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
- ↑ Ponte, Romulo (November 5, 2002). "Priesthood in crisis". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Vol. 17, no. 330. San Pablo City. p. A16. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
- ↑ Ponte, Romulo (March 31, 2005). "RP's oldest priest not ready to retire". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Vol. 20, no. 111. San Pablo City. p. A16. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ↑ Esguerra, Christian V. (June 16, 2005). "Father Lolo dies amid turmoil". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Vol. 20, no. 188. p. A8. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ↑ Esguerra, Christian V.; Canuday, Jowel F.; Arguillas, Carolyn O.; Ponte, Romulo O. (November 7, 2000). "Anti-Erap rallies set in 41 provinces". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Vol. 15, no. 333. p. A2. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
- ↑ Esguerra, Christian V.; Tubeza, Philip C.; Lacuarta, Gerald G.; Bordadora, Norman; Herrera, Christine; Marfil, Martin P.; Javellana, Juliet L.; Ponte, Romulo O. (December 7, 2000). "No stopping 'Jericho March' today, say organizers". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Vol. 15, no. 363. p. A21. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ↑ Nocum, Armand N. (August 2, 2001). "From 'Guns of August' to 'Gums of...'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Vol. 16, no. 235. p. A14. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
In Laguna, an organizer [Bitoon] of the Kongreso ng Mamamayang Pilipino (Kompil) said it was premature to mobilize protest actions against the administration at this time.
- ↑ Pablo, Carlito; Javellana, Juliet L. (February 27, 2002). "Palace: Take Sin's advice seriously". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Vol. 17, no. 81. p. A18. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
Msgr. Jerry Bitoon, co-convenor of Kompil-Laguna, said Estrada's plan to go abroad was 'another dubious move' to evade justice.
- ↑ Ponte, Romulo O. (March 25, 2001). "Church leads campaign for voters' education". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Vol. 16, no. 107. Calauan, Laguna. p. A17. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
- ↑ Sotelo-Fuertes, Yolanda (November 6, 2002). "Can the gov't really stop jueteng?". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Vol. 17, no. 331. Dagupan City. p. A16. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
- ↑ De la Cruz, Hernan; Ponte, Romulo (August 28, 2002). "Journalist's slay witness harassed". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Vol. 17, no. 261. Pagadian City. p. A18. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
- ↑ AP (August 23, 2002). "Newscaster killed". Manila Standard. Vol. XVI, no. 190. p. 4. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
- ↑ "12:30 movement". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Vol. 18, no. 57. Los Baños, Laguna. February 3, 2003. p. A16. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
- ↑ "Diocese of San Pablo". Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
Vicariate of San Pablo[...] Parish Priest/Rector: Msgr. Jerry V. Bitoon
- ↑ Labog-Javellana, Juliet; Esguerra, Christian V. (August 17, 2004). "GMA ups bounty to ₱3M for info on media killers". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Vol. 19, no. 251. Los Baños, Laguna. p. A6. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
- ↑ Bitoon, Jerry V. (July 7, 2005). "GMA needs a spiritual retreat". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Vol. 20, no. 209. p. A14. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
Maybe, [[[Joseph Estrada|Erap]]'s] lack of higher learning was partly to be blamed for his bad governance. GMA, on the other hand, with her degree in economics, was supposed to rekindle our flickering hopes of a brighter future.
- ↑ "March 2007: The Holy Father's missionary prayer intention for March: That those responsible for the young Churches may give ongoing attention to the training of catechists and lay mission animators for the service of the Gospel". Agenzia Fides. February 24, 2007. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ↑ "Pontificio Collegio Filippino". Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
- ↑ De Vega, Jackie (January 26, 2015). "Thousands of Filipinos in Vatican welcome Pope Francis home". Rappler. Vatican City. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
- ↑ Sampang, Dianne (November 8, 2025). "Cardinal David, kin of drug war victims want truth body". Inquirer.net. Manila, Philippines. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
- ↑ Sampang, Dianne (November 7, 2025). "Cardinal Pablo David, and families of victims of extrajudicial killings[...]". Inquirer.net. Retrieved January 27, 2026 – via Facebook.
- ↑ Ferreras, Vince Angelo (August 22, 2025). "Protesters vs. anomalies in flood control projects stranded in Pasay flood". GMA News Online. Retrieved January 27, 2026.
- ↑ Añonuevo, Michael (September 2, 2025). "Mga gawain sa Season of Creation 2025, inilatag ng Diocese of San Pablo". VeritasPH (in Filipino). Retrieved January 27, 2026.