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Requiescat in Pace Bishop Buhain

by Joel V. Ocampo

photos from Manila Cathedral Facebook page


On November 13, 2024, the Most Rev. Teodoro Javier Buhain, Jr., D.D., Auxiliary Bishop-Emeritus of Manila, passed to his eternal reward at 11:00 in the morning at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center.



Early Life of Bishop Buhain

Bishop Buhain was born in August. 4, 1937. He received his Ordination to the Sacred Order of Presbyters on December 21, 1960, as a priest for the Archdiocese of Manila. He was then assigned as Assistant Parish Priest in San Miguel Manila (1961). Then, he continued his studies at the Pontificio Collegio Filippino (PCF) from 1961-1963.


According to records, the then Fr. Buhain also served in the following ministries:

  • Chaplain, Manila Central University (1963),

  • Parish Priest, Holy Family Parish, Las Piñas (1972),

  • Spiritual Director, Cursillos in Christianity (1977),

  • Secretary, CBCP Commission on Migration and Tourism (1976-1977; 1980-1981),

  • Assistant Secretary General, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (1977),

  • Vicar General, Archdiocese of Manila, (1981),

  • Member, Executive Board Archdiocesan Pastoral Council (1981),

  • Member, Investment Committee and Board of Temporalities and Finances (1982).


Ministry as a Bishop

On January 5, 1983, Saint Pope John Paul II appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of Manila, Philippines, and Titular Bishop of Bacanaria. The then Apostolic Nuncio to Philippines, †Archbishop Bruno Torpigliani ordained him bishop on February 21 of the same year, at the Immaculate Conception, Cathedral, Manila; with †Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz (the then Archbishop of San Fernando), and †Bishop Amado Paulino y Hernandez (Titular Bishop of Carinola) as Principal Co-Consecrators.


As a bishop, he served in the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines in the following ministries:

  1. Chairman, Episcopal Commission on Mass Media (1984-1985),

  2. Chairman, Episcopal Commission on Social Communications and Mass Media (1986-1987; 1991-1993),

  3. Member, Episcopal Commission on Pontificio Collegio Filippino (1991-1993), and

  4. Member, Episcopal Commission on Social Communications and Mass Media (1996-1997).


In the Archdiocese of Manila, some of his ministries include the following:

  1. Auxiliary Bishop and District Bishop of South Manila (1983),

  2. Vice Chairman, Archdiocesan Pastoral Council (1983),

  3. Director, Ministry of Clergy and Religious Personnel (1983),

  4. Director, Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission,

  5. Chairman, Commission on Preservation of the Historical and Aesthetic Value of Church Building (1988),

  6. Chairman, Permanent Commission for the Implementation of the PCP-II in the Archdiocese of Manila (1991),

  7. Chairman, School Administrative Board, Sto. Niño Parochial School (1994),

  8. Director, Quiapo Parochial School [now known as The Nazarene Catholic School] (1999),

  9. Rector, Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene – Quiapo Church (1999-2004).


On September 23, 2003, he resigned as the Auxiliary Bishop of Manila.


On September 03, 2023, Bishop Buhain celebrated a Mass at the Manila Cathedral, on the 50th Death Anniversary of Rufino J. Cardinal Santos. In his homily, he said, “Today, I would like to say thank you publicly, to God who has used Cardinal Santos to bless me in very many ways. Cardinal Santos was a special man. It wasn’t easy to understand him; but he knew, he willed, and he wanted what is best for everyone. So, in front of you, I would like to say ‘Thank you Cardinal Santos. Thank God for you.’”


Finally, Bishop Buhain died peacefully after serving the Lord and His people for almost 64 years as priest, and 41 years as bishop.


Let us pray.

O God, who chose your servant, Bishop Teodoro Javier Buhain from among your priests, and endowed him with pontifical dignity in the apostolic priesthood, grant, we pray, that he may also be admitted to their company for ever. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

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