Mariano Sevilla (Manila, 12 November 1839 - 23 November 1923) was a Filipino priest, theologian and writer.

Mariano Sevilla
Born(1839-11-12)November 12, 1839
DiedNovember 23, 1923(1923-11-23) (aged 84)
Burial placeBulacan
NationalityFilipino
EducationPhilosophy and Theology
Alma materUniversity of Santo Tomas
Organizations
  • Hijas y Caballeros de Maria (founder)
  • Colegio de la Sagrada Familia (founder)
  • Instituto de Mujeres, 1900, (co-founder)

Biography edit

Mariano Sevilla was born on November 12, 1839 in Tondo, Manila.[1] His parents were Tomas Sevilla and Paula Villena.[2] Sevilla was educated at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran[3] and received a Bachelor of Philosophy degree from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in 1857.[4]

On 1863, Sevilla was ordained as a priest.[1] This was followed by an appointment as coadjutor of the church in San Rafael.[4]

From 1867, he taught at the Real Colegio de San Jose in Manila.[5] He was also secretary of the institution led by Rector Mariano Garcia[6] and he was chaplain of the Beaterio de Santa Rosa.[7]

He continued his studies at the UST, where he obtained his doctorate in theology in 1871.[3]

In 1872, Sevilla was accused of involved in the Cavite Mutiny.[6] He was exiled to the Mariana Islands along with several other priests.[1] He returned to the Philippines in 1877, and worked as a priest and started writing religious literatures in Tagalog.[3]

In 1879 he founded the Colegio de La Sagrada Familia[5] and in 1881 he was appointed chaplain of the military hospital in Manila.[7] Sevilla was arrested and imprisoned after the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution in 1896.[6] He was released in 1898.[4]

Sevilla advocated for unity of state and religion.[7] To express his views on this matter, he founded the daily newspaper El Catolico Filipino, which was circulated in Malolos from 1898 to 1899.[3]

Under the American colinization period, Sevilla co-founded Instituto de Mujeros in 1900, a women's school in Manila.[4] A year later, he was appointed as a priest in Hagonoy.[3]

Sevilla wrote and translated religious literature.[4] For example, he wrote a collection of prayers and chants in Tagalog that are still used today during Flores de Mayo.[6]

Sevilla died in Manila in 1923 at the age of 84,[7] and buried in Bulacan.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Unveiling the "Mariano V. Sevilla" historical marker". nhcp.gov.ph. November 22, 2023.
  2. ^ "Sandigang Kasaysayan: 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH. MSGR. MARIANO VILLENA SEVILLA, D.P., PROMOTER OF THE DEVOTION "FLORES DE MAYO" IN THE TAGALOG REGION November 10, 1839 - November 24, 1923 (11.25.23)". ANG SANDIGAN. 2023-11-25. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  3. ^ a b c d e Paular, Regino (1996). Filipinos in History (2nd ed.). National Historical Institute. pp. 208–210.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Sandigang Kasaysayan: 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH. MSGR. MARIANO VILLENA SEVILLA, D.P., PROMOTER OF THE DEVOTION "FLORES DE MAYO" IN THE TAGALOG REGION November 10, 1839 - November 24, 1923 (11.25.23)". ANG SANDIGAN. 2023-11-25. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  5. ^ a b Resurreccion, Lyn (2023-11-21). "Bulacan to mark death centenary of Padre Mariano Sevilla, father of 'Flores de Mayo,' nationalist, religious writer | Lyn Resurreccion". BusinessMirror. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  6. ^ a b c d Inquirer, Philippine Daily (2023-11-27). "Bulacan honors priest who started 'Flores de Mayo'". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  7. ^ a b c d Agbayani, Eufemio III (February 16, 2023). "Remember That They Suffered". nhcp.gov.ph.
  8. ^ Reyes-Estrope, Carmela (2022-10-29). "Preservation of old cemetery arches in Bulacan has to wait". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2024-01-21.