►In four centuries of Christianity, the Philippines — the largest Catholic nation in Asia and the third largest in the world — has produced TWO SAINTS – San Lorenzo Ruiz (martyred 1637) and San Pedro Calungsod (martyred 1672).

The Martyr Church of Japan has 42 Saints and 394 “Beati” (Blessed) — the latest being Blessed Justo Ukon Takayama Ukon (beatified 2017).

All 436 venerated Catholics were Martyrs – processed in five batches by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

Only Blessed Takayama was processed individually – meaning, he stood solo on the dock when the Congregation examined his heroic virtues — earning the title “Servant of God” (as a Confessor) on June 8, 1994, and “Blessed“ (as a Martyr) on Feb. 7, 2017.◘

Dr. Ernesto A. de Pedro
Takayama Trustee