Duriquez, Loreto Desquitado (1909–1985)

By Benedicto R. Borja, and Ma. Venus F. Borja

Benedicto R. Borja, Ph.D. in educational administration (Central Mindanao University, Musuan, Bukidnon, Philippines), is a licensed professional teacher (LPT) and a professor in the School of Theology of Mountain View College, Mt. Nebo, Valencia City, Bukidnon. Philippines Borja is an ordained minister born in Pastrana, Leyte. He worked as a district pastor in the Negros Oriental-Siquijor Mission prior to his current teaching assignment in the School of Theology at Mountain View College (MVC). He is married to Maria Venus F. Borja and they have three children.

Ma. Venus F. Borja (nee Fernandez), Ph.D. in nursing (Silliman University located in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, Philippines), is a registered nurse and an assistant professor in the College of Nursing of Ha’il University, Ha’il Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She is an active member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Borja has a B.S. in nursing from Mountain View College (MVC), Mt. Nebo, Valencia City, Philippines, and an M.S. in medical/surgical nursing from Silliman University, Dumaguete City, Philippines. She had served as nursing theories teacher for 16 years and as a research coordinator in the School of Nursing at Mountain View College, Mt. Nebo, Valencia City, Bukidnon, Philippines. She is married to Benedicto R. Borja and they have three children.

First Published: January 29, 2020

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Loreto Desquitado Duriquez was an Adventist minister and administrator from the Philippines.

Early Life

Loreto D. Duriquez was born in Dumangas, Iloilo, Philippines, on December 10, 1909. His parents, Serapio Duriquez and Genoveva Desquitado, were both Seventh-day Adventists. He was baptized in Dumangas, Iloilo, on September 8, 1927, by Pastor A. C. Same.¹

Education and Marriage

Duriquez attended Dumangas Elementary School for seven years, then spent one year at Dumangas Private School before completing his secondary education at Philippine Union College (now Adventist University of the Philippines). He spent a year at Philippine Union College for his undergraduate education.

Six years after finishing high school, Duriquez married Modesta Miraflores of Ilog, Negros Occidental, on April 8, 1938. Their marriage was blessed with four children: Priscilla, born on October 22, 1939; Rambie, born on June 19, 1942; Donnah, born on May 25, 1946; and Nora Jean, born on March 25, 1956. The older two siblings were both born in Ilog, Negros Occidental, while the younger two were born in Jaro, Iloilo City, on Panay Island.²

Career/Ministry (1932-1971)

Duriquez began his denominational work as a colporteur in 1932. After seven months of canvassing work in West Visayan Mission territory, the mission leadership asked him to teach at West Visayan Academy. Seven and a half years later, in 1940, he was elected as secretary of the Missionary Volunteer and education departments. However, after two years of departmental work, Duriquez was called to work as a district leader from January 1942 to December 1945. After World War II, he was again elected as Missionary Volunteer and education secretary, serving from 1946 to 1950.

In January 1951, the South Mindanao Mission called Duriquez to serve as both secretary of the Missionary Volunteer and education departments, and as a district leader of the same mission field.³ Duriquez’s dedicated service was recognized on March 24, 1951, the last Sabbath of the biennial session, which started on March 14 held at the Manila Rizal Stadium. He was ordained, along with ten others, during a ceremony where Elder V. T. Armstrong, the Far Eastern Division President spoke.⁴^,⁵

After his ordination, Pastor Duriquez continued to work as a district pastor in the South Mindanao Mission for twelve years, concluding in December 1963. For the next two years he utilized his expertise as a pastor in the Negros Mission located in Negros Occidental. In 1966, Pastor Duriquez was called to work in the Western Mindanao Mission as secretary of the Sabbath School and lay activities departments. During the final four years before his retirement in December 1971, Duriquez served as president of the Western Mindanao Mission.⁶

Later Life (1971- 1985)

Duriquez served the Seventh-day Adventist Church for a total of forty years and one month in such capacities as colporteur, teacher, district pastor, director, and administrator.⁷ He died on June 24, 1985, and was buried at Bacolod Memorial Park, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines.⁸

Contribution/Legacy

Duriquez’s ministry was notable for encouraging church members to remain faithful to biblical teachings, particularly in giving tithe. During a time when southern Mindanao was suffering famine due to a plague of rats, Duriquez wrote, “The curse is proving a great blessing to many of our people, for God is fulfilling His promise of deliverance to those who are faithful in tithe-paying.”⁹

Notes

Central Philippine Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, CPUC Secretariat, Worker’s Record of Loreto D. Duriquez, April 1932 (Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City, Philippines: Central Philippine Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists), 1.↩
Ibid.↩
Ibid.↩
E. M. Adams, ed., “Called and Set Apart,” Far Eastern Division Outlook, August 1951, 2-3.↩
Roy Allan Anderson, ed., “1950-1951 Overseas Ordination,” The Ministry for World Evangelism, August 1952, 38.↩
Central Philippine Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, CPUC Secretariat, Worker’s Record of Loreto D. Duriquez, April 1932 (Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City, Philippines: Central Philippine Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists), 2-3.↩
Central Philippine Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, CPUC Secretariat, Far Eastern Division Sustentation Fund Application of Loreto D. Duriquez, February 17, 1972 (Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City, Philippines: Central Philippine Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists), 1↩
Tombstone, Bacolod Memorial Park, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines.↩
A. Z. Roda, “God Stays Plague for Faithful Tithe-Payers,” Southern Asia Tidings, March 1, 1955, 14.

Sources

Adams, E. M. “Called and Set Apart.” Far Eastern Division Outlook, August 1951.

Anderson, Roy Allan, ed. “1950-1951 Overseas Ordination.” The Ministry for World Evangelism, August 1952.

Central Philippine Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, CPUC Secretariat, Far Eastern Division Sustentation Fund Application of Loreto D. Duriquez, 17 February 17, 1972. Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City, Philippines: Central Philippine Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

Central Philippine Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, CPUC Secretariat, Worker’s Record of Loreto D. Duriquez, April 1932. Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City, Philippines: Central Philippine Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

Roda, A. Z. “God Stays Plague for Faithful Tithe-Payers.” Southern Asia Tidings, March 1,

1955, 14.↩