Pope Francis formally recognized the heroic virtues of the Filipina founder of a religious congregation for women by declaring her a Servant of God, says a report from the Vatican News.
Maria Beatrice Rosario Arroyo is known to many by her chosen religious name of Rosario of the Visitation.
She was born in Molo district in Iloilo was born on February 17, 1884 and died on June 14, 1957.
Earlier, another Filipino was declared a Servant of God, teenager Darwin Ramos who was diagnosed with diagnosed with having Duchenne muscular dystrophy but continued to work with street children.
The next step to sainthood is the approval of a miracle, the process of beatification.
Finally, canonization or sainthood requires the approval of a second miracle.