Pedro Bantigue y Natividad

Pedro Natividad Bantigue (January 31, 1920 – November 20, 2012) was a Filipino prelate of the Catholic Church. He is notably the first bishop in the Philippines to come from Hagonoy, as well as the Province of Bulacan.

Early life and education Bantigue was born in Barrio Santa Monica, Hagonoy, Bulacan on January 31, 1920. As a young child, he was already serving their local parish, prompting him eventually to pursue priesthood. He entered the San Carlos Seminary of the Archdiocese of Manila, where he studied philosophy and theology under the Vincentians. He later studied education at the University of Santo Tomas and received his Bachelor of Science in Education in 1948.

Presbyteral ministry Bantigue was ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Manila by Archbishop Michael O'Doherty on May 31, 1945. He was appointed as parish priest of San Jose de Trozo Parish in Santa Cruz, Manila, serving from 1945 to 1947. In 1947, he was appointed vicar econome of the San Miguel Pro-Cathedral and concurrent prefect of discipline of the Manila Cathedral School. In 1949, he became the private secretary to the Archbishop of Manila, serving under Archbishops O'Doherty, Gabriel M. Reyes and Rufino Cardinal Santos until 1954. As auxiliary bishop, he assisted in the governance of the Archdiocese of Manila through his appointment as its vicar general. He also served as parish priest of Quiapo Church from 1961 to 1967.

Bantigue formed several new parishes in response to the increasing population of Catholics in Laguna. He invited numerous religious congregations to help in taking care the pastoral needs of the faithful of the new diocese. He established parochial schools across the diocese, and in response to the decision of the Supreme Ecclesiastical Tribunal in Rome, they took over the Ateneo de San Pablo and transformed it as the present-day Liceo de San Pablo.

Beyond his diocese, he served in various capacities at the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, such as CBCP treasurer, chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commissions on the Clergy and on Prisoners' Welfare, and member of the CBCP Matrimonial Tribunal, Episcopal Commissions on Family and Life, Clergy, and Pontifico Collegio Filippino. He was also the chairman of the Finance Committee for the 1981 papal visit and the National Catholic Committee on Scouting. He also became president of the Kapisanan ng Kapariang Taga-Hagonoy (KAKATHA), an association of Roman Catholic priests who came from Hagonoy, Bulacan.

Retirement and death Bantigue remained in office until his retirement on July 12, 1995. He was succeeded in office by Palawan Apostolic Vicar Francisco San Diego. He died on November 20, 2012, at the age of 92.