Fray Arturo P. Adalim, OSA was born in Barangay Tuyon, Cauayan, Negros Occidental on May 7, 1937 to Cenen Gayona Adalim and Macaria Salazar Palmos. He entered the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) at San Agustin in Manila and received his first profession of vows on November 2, 1963 by the then Vicario Provincial Fr. Santos Abia Polvorosa, OSA at the Convento de San Pablo de Manila (San Agustin in Intramuros, Manila). After four years, on November 2, 1967 he solemnly professed his vows in San Agustin.
Fray Adalim was affiliated to the Vicariate of the Philippines for quite a number of years. When the new Province of Santo Niño de Cebu – Philippines was instituted in 1983, Fray Adalim together with the majority of Filipino Augustinian friars chose to be affiliated to the new Province.
Fray Adalim or better known as “Fray Ada” served the Province in various capacities through the years. Aside from his usual assignments in the community, he also served as a religion teacher at the Colegio del Santo Niño in Cebu City as well as in San Jose Catholic School in Iloilo City. During the first quadrennium of the new Province (years 1984 – 1988), Fray Ada was assigned as Member of the Colegio San Agustin – Bacolod Community in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. Then in 1988 – 1992, he served as the Community Procurator of the same community. In 1992, he was transferred to San Jose Community in Iloilo City where he was assigned as Community Member. From 1994 to 1996, he served as Community Treasurer of San Jose and Community Procurator from 1996 – 2000. For the term 2000 – 2004, he was retained in San Jose and was reassigned as Procurator. From 2004 – 2012, Fray Ada was assigned at Santo Niño de Cebu Parish Community in Barangay Mohon, Talisay City, Cebu. He served the community as Procurator from 2004 – 2008 and as Treasurer from 2008 – 2012. After 8 years in Cebu, Fray Ada was transferred to Iloilo in May 2012 and was assigned as Procurator of San Jose Community for three years. He remained in San Jose for six more years as community member until the day of his death on the evening of June 8, 2021.
In 2013, Fray Ada celebrated the 50th anniversary of his first profession of vows. And in November 2017, he also celebrated the 50th anniversary of his solemn profession of vows.
The Lord called Fray Ada 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. Fray Adalim’s remains were interred at Forest Lake Memorial Park in Mandurriao, Iloilo City on the afternoon of June 11, 2021 after a Funeral Mass was offered for the eternal repose of his soul at San Jose Parish Church in Iloilo City.