San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila

Life

c. 1600 (Manila)  - September 29, 1637

Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino Saint, is born to a Filipino (Indio) Mother and a Chinese Mother. Raised as a Catholic and his father taught him Chinese and his mother taught him Tagalog.

He served as an altar boy in the Tutelage of the Dominicans at the convent of the Domincan Church. He became an escriba (calligrapher) because of his skill in handwriting. He is also a member of the Confradia del Santissimo Rosario.

He married a Filipina and had two sons and a daughter. They lived in peace.

However, while working as a clerk in the Binondo Church, he is falsely accused of killing a Spaniard. He sought asylum on a missionary ship to Japan along with three Dominican Priests.

Upon landing in Okinawa, Japan, they were arrested and persecuted because of the Catholic Religion.

They have to endure several methods of torture like hanging by feet, submerging the whole body with water, water torture.

Finally, when these methods couldn't make them recant their Christian Faith, they have to endure horca y hoya or trurushi. He died at September 29, 1637. He was cremated and the ashes thrown to the sea.

Sainthood

St. Lorenzo Ruiz was beatified by Pope John Paul II February 18, 1981 at Manila, this is the First beatification ceremony outside the Vatican. Finally, He was canonized October 18, 1987 in Vatican.

Tributes

Statue in Front of the Binondo Church, also called Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz.

Statue Marking the Beatification of San Lorenzo Ruiz here in Luneta, Manila.

Marker inscribed at the foot of the Statue in Luneta.