Arturo Bastes

Arturo Mandin Bastes was a Filipino Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Sorsogon from 2003 to 2019.

Ministry

He was first ordained a priest of Society of the Divine Word on November 28, 1970, in Rizal Park.
Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Romblon on July 3, 1997. His episcopal ordination was on August 21, 1997, in Cebu City. The pope nominated him Coadjutor Bishop in the Diocese of Sorsogon on July 25, 2002. On April 17, 2003, he succeeded as Bishop of Sorsogon. He also served as chairman and president of the Philippine Bible Society in 2008. In 2016, Bishop Bastes initiated the launch of a campaign in a bid to allot 20% of government resources to an anti-poverty fund or Serendipity fund, according to the CBCP.

Later life and death

Pope Francis accepted his retirement as Bishop of Sorsogon on October 15, 2019, and appointed as his Jose Alan Dialogo successor.
Bastes died on October 20, 2024, at the age of 80.