A book titled “The Beloved: Journals, Diaries and Letters of a Priest,” written by Fr. Amado “Picx” Picardal, will be launched on his first death anniversary, May 29, at the Holy Redeemer Provincial Center of the Redemptorists in Cebu City. The event follows the inauguration of “Capella del Amado,” a hermitage Picardal was building using stone, cordwood, and wine bottles, located across the Redemptorists’ retreat center in Busay, Cebu City. Picardal, a Redemptorist priest and staunch critic of former President Rodrigo Duterte, died of cardiac arrest at 69 on May 27, 2023, shortly after working on the hermitage. The book, an abridged version of a 779-page manuscript, chronicles his life, including his advocacy against extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during Duterte’s war on drugs, his missionary work, and his spiritual journey. Picardal’s manuscript, initially rejected by publishers, was later edited by Redemptorist Brother Karl Gaspar and published posthumously by the Redemptorist Province of Cebu and the Institute of Spirituality in Asia. The book also includes his last poem, written hours before his death, and tributes from friends. Picardal’s life story spans his formation years, theological studies, and his active opposition to Duterte’s policies, which led to death threats and his temporary relocation to Rome. The book will also be launched in Iligan and Davao City in July.
