Rev. Fr. Roque Aristotle Bustria Padama is a servant of faith and wisdom who has wholeheartedly dedicated his life to the service of God and His people. As one of the Superiors of the Capuchin Friars Minor in the Philippines, he is currently assigned to the Parish and National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Retiro, Quezon City, where he fulfills his role as Attached Priest and Superior of the Local Fraternity, guiding not only the spiritual life but also the communal life of the faithful.

His journey of excellence began at the Philippine Normal University, where he graduated cum laude in 1998 with a Bachelor of Secondary Education degree, majoring in Physics. In the same year, he ranked 4th in the Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers. Soon after, he was recognized as Most Outstanding Teacher of the Year at Dasol Catholic School in Pangasinan, where he taught Physics and General Science.

Yet beyond the promise of a flourishing teaching career, he heeded the call of God. In 2000, he entered the seminary and later obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Education. His academic pursuit did not end there—he earned a Master of Arts in Applied Psychology from Centro Escolar University in 2006, graduating with the Highest Academic Distinction and receiving the Excellence in Research Award. He would go on to devote himself to the human formation of Capuchins and seminarians from various countries. In 2021, he was appointed Director of the Capuchin Human Formation Office (CHFO), tasked with providing psychological services to seminarians across the globe.

In 2014, he was ordained a priest after graduating summa cum laude in both his Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Master of Arts in Theology at the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay. His formation was enriched by pastoral immersion with Lumad, Muslim, and Christian communities in Zamboanga Sibugay, as well as participation in the Franciscan Dialogue Program in North Cotabato.

As a Capuchin priest, he assumed key leadership roles at Lourdes School of Mandaluyong (2014 – 2021) and Lourdes School Quezon City (2021 – 2024), where he served as Campus Minister, Vice Rector, High School Principal, and Rector. His leadership extended far beyond the pursuit of academic excellence—it was anchored in service to the community. He reached out to orphans, the elderly, and prisoners, and actively joined coastal clean-ups and medical missions, ensuring that faith was not confined within school walls but translated into concrete acts of compassion.

Rev. Fr. Padama is a leader close to the hearts of students, parents, teachers, and parishioners alike. His presence and attentiveness have greatly contributed to the spiritual and intellectual growth of the communities he serves. Beyond his pastoral and academic work, he continues to strengthen Philippine education as an accreditor-member of the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU) since 2019.

Ultimately, Rev. Fr. Padama is not merely a priest, teacher, or administrator. He is a living testament that true service is not measured by titles or honors, but by the depth of one’s commitment to God and to others. In his life shines the enduring Franciscan values of humility, compassion, and selfless service—values that continue to illuminate the lives of those he touches.