Five Capiznons have been honored by Pope Leo XIV with the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (For Church and Pope) Award for their dedicated service to the Roman Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of Capiz.
“This is joy and gratitude for the Archdiocese of Capiz. We gather not only to confer honors, but to celebrate faith lived in action,” said Archbishop Victor B. Bendico during the November 12, 2025 conferment of the papal award at the Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral in Roxas City.
The Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice is considered as one of the highest distinctions bestowed by the Vatican and the Pope.
The five papal awardees are Lady Guia Corazon “Cora” Gamboa Ortiz, Lady Fe Gomez Villaruz, Lady Violeta Benliro Jalea, Lord Nery Joachim Anthony “Dandy” Dioso Ong, and Lord Adolfo Blanco Bellosillo (posthumous).
Fr. Freddie Billanes noted how Lady Cora, one of the co-founders of The Capiz Times, is a gift to the people of Capiz even though she is a native of Pampanga.
During the conferment rites, Fr. Billanes read a message of the late Atty. Antonio Ortiz. The message is intended for his wife Lady Cora:
“Everyday, I am thankful to God for a wonderful wife destined to me—a loving and faithful wife, a caring loving mother to our children, the best homemaker for a family, a devoted grandmother to our grandchildren, and the most wonderful person in my life. I could not have imagined life without you.”
Lady Cora’s son Mark Anthony shared how she started the Christian Family Movement and even initiated a drug rehabilitation and home wellness movement.
Lady Fe is honored for over 60 years as a teacher, of which she spent 33 years teaching seminarians at St. Pius X Seminary. She is also a pioneering lector at the Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish Church in Roxas City.
Lady Violeta is also a retired educator in Pilar. After retiring as a public school teacher, she became the teacher-in-charge at Nuestra Señora del Pilar Parochial School. Her catechist work involved becoming head of the Committee on Worship and the coordinator for the Parish Catechetical Ministry.
Lord Dandy is a former seminarian who co-founded the Holy Trinity Divine Healing Ministry. He contributed to the growth of local community by providing catechist and prayer services to the poor and the sick.
Lord Adolfo was a respected cardiologist and philanthropist who greatly contributed to health, education and community development. (With reports from the Archdiocese of Capiz)
Caption
The November 12, 2025 conferment of the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (For Church and Pope) Award at the Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral in Roxas City. (Photos from Pamati-Archdiocese of Capiz and Ortiz family)
