Rufino Santos - Biography

Biography

Born in Sto. Niño, Guagua, Pampanga, Santos is 4th of 7 children of Gaudencio Santos, an overseer of some farmlands near Mount Arayat, and Rosalia Jiao. Rufino's 3 elder brothers were Manuel, Emiliano and Quirino; his three sisters were Clara, Jovita, and Exequiela. Santos grew up in a house located 30 meters from what is now the Immaculate Conception Parish, the venue of the centennial event. Rufino was active in church activities as "acolyte," and choir member of the Manila Cathedral School. 2 factors influenced his priestly vocation: his stint as an altar server, and the encouragement of Father Jose Tahon, Manila Cathedral parish priest.

He entered San Carlos Seminary on July 25, 1921, and earned a Baccalaureate in Canon Law in 1929 and a Doctorate in Sacred Theology in July 1931 at Pontificia Universita Gregoriana. In 1927, 19-year-old Pinong and Leopoldo A. Arcaira, 24, both outstanding students of San Carlos Seminary, were the first recipients of the scholarships at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy.

Pinong was granted a Papal dispensation to be ordained below the canonical age of 24. Thus, on Oct. 25, 1931, two months shy of his 23rd birthday, Rufino J. Santos was ordained priest at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome. He then served as assistant parish priest in Imus, Cavite and as parish priest in Marilao, Bulacan.

Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales said during World War II "Santos saved the life of Manila Archbishop Michael O'Doherty by admitting to the Japanese Army that it was he, as a secretary of the archbishop, who donated food to the poor, including Filipino guerrillas. Refusing to collaborate with the Japanese Army, Santos was sentenced to death but was plucked out by the Combined American and Filipino liberation forces on the night of his execution."