The book “Was COVID-19 the Will of God?,” written by Fr. Ramon Echica, has been named the winner of the Theology Category of the 20th Cardinal Sin Catholic Book Awards.

The awarding ceremony was held during the Manila International Book Fair at the SMX Convention Center Manila.

At the book’s launch, Cebu Archbishop Alberto “Abet” Uy described the work as timely amid a new global crisis, expressing hope that it would help readers find meaning in difficult times, deepen their faith, and rediscover God not as distant, but as Emmanuel—God with us.

Fr. Ramon Echica is a theology professor at the Seminario Mayor de San Carlos and currently serves as a team member of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe de Cebu. He obtained his licentiate and doctoral degrees in theology from the Catholic University of Leuven and his master’s degree from Ateneo de Manila University.

His first book, Jesus for Filipinos, also received the 18th Cardinal Sin Catholic Book Award in the Spirituality category last 2024.

Congratulations, Fr. Echica!