Fr. Rodolfo P. Sicio, OSA was born on November 28, 1936 to Vicente Soriaso Sicio and Quirina Pasman Pingol in Barangay Alibunan, Calinog, Iloilo. Three days later, he was baptized at the Immaculate Conception Parish in Calinog on December 1, 1936. From 1943 – 1951, he attended Dawis Elementary School in Zarraga, Iloilo. He finished his secondary education (1951 – 1955) at the Our Lady of Peace Academy in New Lucena, Iloilo.
In 1956, he was accepted as an aspirant and entered the Order at the Convento de San Pablo de Manila in Intramuros where he studied Latin and Spanish for two years from 1956 – 1958. Three years later, in 1959, he was accepted as a postulant. He spent his canonical novitiate year also in Intramuros from July 1962 to July 1963. His first profession of vows was held at San Agustin on July 25, 1963. After three years, he solemnly professed his vows as an Augustinian friar on July 25, 1966. On May 20, 1967 at the Manila Cathedral, he was ordained as deacon by Manila Archbishop Rufino J. Cardinal Santos who also ordained him to the presbyterate on December 23, 1967 at the same church.
The entirety of Fr. Sicio’s academic formation was spent at the University of Santo Tomas where he finished his Bachelor of Arts, Major in Philosophy (1958 – 1962), Bachelor of Sacred Theology (1963 – 1967) and Licentiate in Sacred Theology (1968). In 1981, he received from the same university his M.A. in Oriental Religions and Culture and in 1983 his PhD. in Educational Management. In 1975, he received his M.A. in Education from the University of San Agustin in Iloilo. In 1987, he received from Coady International Institute of the Saint Francis University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada his diploma in Social Developments.
Fr. Sicio held several important positions and assignments throughout his many years of ministry in the Province. His first assignment was an Assistant Parish Priest of San Jose Parish in Iloilo City from 1967 – 1969. He was then transferred to the University of San Agustin in 1969 where he served as university chaplain and Dean of Theology until 1972. In November of 1972, he was transferred to the Monasterio de Guadalupe in Makati City and was later assigned as Procurator of the community. In 1976, he was Assistant Parish Priest of Nuestra Señora de Gracia Parish in Guadalupe Viejo, Makati. For 3 years (July 1979 – 1982), he was Master of College Students at San Agustin Seminary also in Makati. Fr. Sicio was also assigned as Vice Rector for Academic Affairs at the Colegio San Agustin – Bacolod from 1982 – 1983. This was the last post he held as a friar affiliated to the then Augustinian Vicariate of the Philippines.
In 1983, upon the canonical foundation of the new Augustinian Province of Santo Niño de Cebu – Philippines, Fr. Sicio together with many of the Filipino Augustinian friars chose to be affiliated to the newly created Province. He was elected to the Provincial Council for the quadrennium 1984 to 1988 and served as the 1st Augustinian Parish Priest of the Saint Jerome Emiliani Parish (now Mother of Good Counsel Parish) in Chrysanthemum Village, San Pedro, Laguna. During this time, Fr. Sicio was also the Prior and Treasurer of the Augustinian Community of San Agustin – Biñan and the Director of Colegio San Agustin – Biñan. In 1986, he was assigned as Parish Priest of Santo Niño de Cebu Parish in Biñan City, Laguna. He stayed in Biñan until 1990. It is good to note that Fr. Sicio was very instrumental in the foundation and growth of Colegio San Agustin –Biñan and of the two parishes of the Province in the Diocese of San Pablo: the Santo Niño de Cebu Parish and the Mother of Good Counsel Parish.
From May 1990 to 1993, Fr. Sicio was assigned at San Jose Community in Iloilo City. It was here that he celebrated his Silver Presbyteral Ordination Anniversary on December 23, 1992. After toying with the idea of becoming a monk (Servants of God of Saint Augustine in Maine, USA) and a diocesan priest for a time, Fr. Sicio returned to the Province in 1996 and served as Parish Priest of Santo Niño de Cebu Parish in Mohon, Talisay City, Cebu for three years. For the next quadrennium 2000 – 2004, Fr. Sicio was transferred to the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City. From 2004 – 2016, Fr. Sicio was the Director of San Jose Catholic School in Iloilo City. From 2004 – 2012, he was also assigned as Member of the Provincial Commission on Educational Apostolate. In 2016, Fr. Sicio was transferred to Sambag Residence in Barangay Sambag, Jaro, Iloilo City. It was in Sambag that he celebrated his Golden Presbyteral Ordination Anniversary on December 23, 2017.
Fr. Sicio will be remembered as an indefatigable friar who has pioneered many new frontiers for the then young Province of Santo Niño de Cebu – Philippines. He was also a beloved formator and vocation director to so many generations of Filipino Augustinians.
At around 9:30 in the evening of June 22, 2021, Fr. Sicio breathed his last. The Lord called him to his eternal reward at the ripe old age of 84 after serving the Lord as a humble and simple Augustinian friar for 57 years and a priest for 53 years. Fr. Sicio’s remains were cremated on June 23, 2021 and inurned at Forest Lake Memorial Park in Mandurriao, Iloilo City on the afternoon of June 26, 2021 after a Funeral Mass was offered for the eternal repose of his soul at the chapel of the said memorial park. May his soul rest in peace!