Agerico Muñoz Orbos (born October 7, 1953), is a Filipino Roman Catholic priest, missionary, and author affiliated with the

Society of the Divine Word The Society of the Divine Word (), abbreviated SVD and popularly called the Verbites or the Divine Word Missionaries, and sometimes the Steyler Missionaries, is a Catholic clerical religious congregation of Pontifical Right for men. As of 2020, i ...

(SVD). He is known for his missionary work, inspirational writing, and public speaking, as well as for advocating cancer awareness following his recovery from lung cancer.

Early life and education

Orbos was born in

San Carlos, Pangasinan San Carlos, officially the City of San Carlos (; ; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, component city in the Provinces of the Philippines, province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a populati ...

, Philippines. He entered the Society of the Divine Word and studied for the priesthood at the Divine Word Seminary in

Tagaytay Tagaytay (), officially the City of Tagaytay (), is a component city in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 85,330 people. It is one of the country's most popular destinations for domestic ...

. He was ordained a priest on October 25, 1980.

Ministry and missionary work

After ordination, Orbos served in the Tingguian Missions in La Paz, Abra. He later worked at the Divine Word College in

Urdaneta, Pangasinan Urdaneta, officially the City of Urdaneta (; ; ), is a component city in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 144,577 people. History Urdaneta City was founded on January 8, 1858, by P ...

, where he became director of the Junior College, Seminary, and Associate Program. In 1984, he was assigned as a missionary in

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...

. Upon returning to the Philippines in 1989, he was appointed as Vocation Director and Mission Promoter. He later became Director of the SVD Mission Office (1990–2013), where he coordinated mission promotion and support activities.

Media presence and publications

Orbos has written several inspirational books, including ''Treasured Moments'', ''Simple Moments'', and ''Meaningful Moments''. He contributes regularly to a Sunday column in a national newspaper. His televised Sunday Masses have also reached a broad Filipino audience.

Health and advocacy

In 2018, Orbos was diagnosed with stage 2 lung cancer following a CT scan prompted by a minor car accident. He underwent chemotherapy and immunotherapy and was declared cancer-free in January 2019. He has since become an advocate for cancer awareness, supporting initiatives such as "Voices of Hope" for survivors.

Community engagement

Orbos has led scholarship programs and organized disaster response activities. His charitable efforts extend to outreach programs for marginalized communities.

Recent activities

In 2024, he celebrated his birthday with a Mass at the New Bilibid Prison, delivering messages of hope and rehabilitation. He also addressed the Rotary Club of Manila during Lent, sharing reflections on spiritual renewal.

Legacy

Orbos is widely regarded for his service as a missionary priest and communicator of faith. His resilience in the face of illness and his continued outreach have made him a prominent figure in Filipino Catholic life.

References

{{reflist 1953 births Living people Filipino Roman Catholic priests People from Pangasinan Roman Catholic missionaries Filipino expatriates in South Korea Divine Word Missionaries Order