Federico O. Escaler

Federico O. Escaler, S.J. (June 28, 1922 – November 28, 2015) was a Filipino bishop of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the founding prelate of Kidapawan (1976–1980) and Ipil (1980–1997), and president of Ateneo de Davao University (1962–1966) and Xavier University (1973–1976).

Early life and education Known as "Freddy," Escaler was born to an affluent family in San Rafael Street, San Miguel, Manila on June 28, 1922. The third youngest in their brood, he grew up living near the Malacañang Palace, and going to church with his family in either the Augustinian Recollect-run San Sebastian Church or at the Benedictine-run Our Lady of Montserrat Abbey of San Beda College.

He took his pre-school education at the nearby Holy Ghost College, and after his second grade, joined his elder brothers at Ateneo de Manila. Among his teachers in Ateneo was the prolific Jesuit writer and historian, Fr. Horacio de la Costa, who would later deliver the homily during his episcopal consecration. He was a grade school student of Ateneo when their old campus in Intramuros was razed to the ground, promopting the school to move to its Padre Faura campus. During high school, his batchmates include his fellow Jesuits Fr. Jaime Bulatao, Fr. Eduardo Hontiveros, Fr. Emmanuel Gopengco, and future Central Bank of the Philippines Governor Jose B. Fernandez Jr. One of his classmates, Minister of Justice Ricardo Puno Sr., described Escaler as "...a regular guy. We were normal teenagers, with interests centered mostly on girls. And he was certainly one of us as far as that natural inclination was concerned. In fact he had many girl friends. Many girls really admired him…." He likewise narrated that when some of his girl admirers learned that Escaler will join the Jesuits, they visited him a day before he entered the seminary. The outbreak of World War II prompted them to move to different locations, first at the Ateneo de Manila campus in Padre Faura, then at the La Ignaciana estate in Sta. Ana, Manila, and eventually returning to Novaliches.

Upon returning to the Philippines, he was reassigned to San Jose Seminary as minister, and a year later became the archivist of the then-vice province of the Philippines and Socius to the vice provincial. In 1961, he became superior and minister of the La Ignaciana Retreat House in Sta. Ana, and from 1962 to 1966, he was the rector and president of Ateneo de Davao. In 1966, he returned to Xavier House to be the province treasurer and chaplain of the Christian Family Movement. In 1973, he became the rector and president of Xavier University, serving until his appointment to the episcopate in 1976. Together with bishops Julio X. Labayen (Prelature of Infanta), Felix Perez (Diocese of Imus), Jesus Varela (Diocese of Sorsogon), Francisco Claver (Diocese of Malaybalay), Antonio Fortich (Diocese of Bacolod) and Orlando Quevedo (his successor in Kidapawan), he was among the so-called "Magnificent Seven," a group of progressive bishops who criticized the Marcos regime during Martial Law. Their open letter discussing the atrocities committed under Martial Law became one of the first instances where the Filipino Catholic hierarchy spoke against Martial Law.

Escaler opted to serve the poor during those times, and advanced the cause of human rights. This made him a target of some reprisals. In February 1985, he and some of his companions were kidnapped by armed men for four days. Years later, he witnessed the 1995 Ipil massacre, where Abu Sayyaf militants stormed the town of Ipil, Zamboanga del Sur, burned the town center, and took hostages.

Retirement and death He retired as Bishop of Ipil on June 28, 1997, in accordance to the 1983 Code of Canon Law. He was succeeded by his Coadjutor Prelate, then-Bishop (later Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro) Antonio Ledesma. After his wake in the Ateneo de Manila University Campus, he was buried together with his other departed Jesuit brothers at the Sacred Heart Novitiate, Quezon City.