Jose Maria Delgado
Encyclopedia
Dr. Jose Maria Delgado was the first Philippine Ambassador
to the Vatican
. He was the cousin of Francisco Afan Delgado
, descendant of General Martin Delgado.
He attended and received the Award of Excellence (Valedictorian) from the Ateneo de Manila University
and Magna Cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas
for his Doctor in Medicine and Surgery. Graduating in 1912, Dr. Delgado joined the San Juan de Dios hospital for a brief period before putting up his own clinic in San Pablo
. In 1917, Dr. Delgado founded Council 1900 of the Knights of Columbus. This was the first Filipino council of the K of C and he would eventually hold the position of Grand Knight.
and resumed his practice with old friends and classmates, establishing his own clinic in the city. It was during this period of his life that he began teaching obstetrics
, pediatrics
and gynecology at the University of Santo Tomas, while lecturing on medical ethics, sociology, anthropology
, apologetics
and religion. This would be a career path that would continue for 27 years and would earn him the distinction of being the only layman teaching theology.
Delgado was appointed as the first resident ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines
to the Holy See in 1957. A post that his son Antonio C. Delgado
would also hold. Written about Ambassador Delgado in a special issue of the Manila Chronicle, January 31, 1969 by Francisco De Leon:
In 1966, he authored a book "Fe Y Patria," Discursos, conferencias y articulos.
Among some of the awards received through the life of Dr. Jose Maria Delgado:
When asked about his passions, Dr. Delgado is remembered as saying: “I have three loves in this life, God, Country and Culture. Upon his passing at the age of 91 on December 24, 1978, one might say that his life was an embodiment of these passions.
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. He was the cousin of Francisco Afan Delgado
Francisco Afan Delgado
Francisco Afan Delgado, a Resident Commissioner from the Philippine Islands; born in Bulacan Province, Philippine Islands, January 25, 1886. Delagado were cousins to Jose Maria Delgado and uncle to Antonio C...
, descendant of General Martin Delgado.
Early life
Delgado was born on 20 June 1887 in the Philippine city of Malolos. He was the fourth child of Juan Fausto Delgado and Eustaquia Salcedo y Concepcion. He married Felisa Concepcion by whom he has four boys: Jose, Jesus, Francisco, Antonio and four girls: Milagros, Pilar, Filomena, Teresita.He attended and received the Award of Excellence (Valedictorian) from the Ateneo de Manila University
Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
and Magna Cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas
University of Santo Tomas
The Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines , is a private Roman Catholic university run by the Order of Preachers in Manila. Founded on April 28, 1611 by archbishop of Manila Miguel de Benavides, it has the oldest extant university charter in the...
for his Doctor in Medicine and Surgery. Graduating in 1912, Dr. Delgado joined the San Juan de Dios hospital for a brief period before putting up his own clinic in San Pablo
San Pablo
-Geography:San Pablo is a common toponym in parts of the world where the Spanish language is or was spoken.Towns, cities, and counties called San Pablo:*Argentina**San Pablo , Catamarca Province...
. In 1917, Dr. Delgado founded Council 1900 of the Knights of Columbus. This was the first Filipino council of the K of C and he would eventually hold the position of Grand Knight.
Career
In 1923, he returned to ManilaManila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
and resumed his practice with old friends and classmates, establishing his own clinic in the city. It was during this period of his life that he began teaching obstetrics
Obstetrics
Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
, pediatrics
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
and gynecology at the University of Santo Tomas, while lecturing on medical ethics, sociology, anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
, apologetics
Apologetics
Apologetics is the discipline of defending a position through the systematic use of reason. Early Christian writers Apologetics (from Greek ἀπολογία, "speaking in defense") is the discipline of defending a position (often religious) through the systematic use of reason. Early Christian writers...
and religion. This would be a career path that would continue for 27 years and would earn him the distinction of being the only layman teaching theology.
Delgado was appointed as the first resident ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
to the Holy See in 1957. A post that his son Antonio C. Delgado
Antonio C. Delgado
Antonio C. Delgado of the Philippines served as Philippine ambassador to the Vatican from 1975 to 1985, as well as chairman of the World Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement from 1971 to 1973....
would also hold. Written about Ambassador Delgado in a special issue of the Manila Chronicle, January 31, 1969 by Francisco De Leon:
In 1966, he authored a book "Fe Y Patria," Discursos, conferencias y articulos.
Among some of the awards received through the life of Dr. Jose Maria Delgado:
- Most Outstanding Physician by the Philippine Federation of Private Medical Practitioners
- Medal of Catholic Action of the Philippines, Pope Pius XIPope Pius XIPope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
(1939) - Medal of the Pilgrims to Jerusalem
- Papal Knight with decoration “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” (1927)
- Knight of the Grand Cross
- Order of Pius IXOrder of Pius IXThe Order of Pius IX , also referred as the Pian Order , is a Papal order of knighthood founded on 17 June 1847 by Pope Pius IX.-Classes:The Order comprises five classes:...
- Golden Cross Award by The University of Santo Tomas
When asked about his passions, Dr. Delgado is remembered as saying: “I have three loves in this life, God, Country and Culture. Upon his passing at the age of 91 on December 24, 1978, one might say that his life was an embodiment of these passions.
See also
- Rufino Jiao Santos, First Cardinal of The Republic of The Philippines
- Antonio C. DelgadoAntonio C. DelgadoAntonio C. Delgado of the Philippines served as Philippine ambassador to the Vatican from 1975 to 1985, as well as chairman of the World Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement from 1971 to 1973....
, Philippine Ambassador to The Vatican - Lorenzo RuizLorenzo RuizSaint Lorenzo Ruiz , also known as San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila, is the first Filipino saint venerated in the Roman Catholic Church...
, Filipino Saint