Fr. Richard L. Pido, OSA was born in Cebu City at Chong Hua Hospital on October 17, 1961. He was the only child of his parents + Ramon Chavero Pido and Esmeraluna Fontanosa Lepasana. Nevertheless, he was the youngest in a brood of four sisters and four brothers from his biological parents + Jesus Abad Escobar, Sr. and + Natividad Fontanosa Lepasana. He was baptized on November 3, 1961 in Tubod, Lanao del Norte and confirmed on July 16, 1963 in Ozamis City. From 1968 to 1978, he took up his elementary and secondary education at Western Mindanao State University in Zamboanga City. From 1978 until 1982, he pursued his tertiary education at the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) in Fort Bonifacio earning the degree Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation, Major in Navigation and Seamanship. Upon graduation, he received his Third Mate License from the Professional Regulation Commission and was commissioned as an officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines with the rank of an Ensign or 2nd Lieutenant. Then he joined the Discalced Carmelites (OCD) from 1983 to 1984. He worked for sometime until he joined the Order in June 1986 as an Aspirant at San Agustin Center of Studies (SACS) in Quezon City under the Late Vocations Program.
The following year 1987, he was accepted as a Postulant. On June 13, 1988, together with other five batchmates he was accepted as a novice at the Augustinian Novitiate and Prayer House in Barangay Mojon, Talisay City, Cebu. On June 2, 1989 his first profession of vows was received by + Fr. Bernardino R. Ricafrente, OSA at the Basilica del Santo Niño in Cebu City. He then took up his theological studies at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila from 1988 to 1992. It was also in UST that he took up his philosophical studies. On June 15, 1993 he solemnly professed his vows at San Agustin Center of Studies in Quezon City before + Fr. Bernardino R. Ricafrente, OSA during the term of Fr. Miguel Angel Orcasitas Gomez as Prior General. His first assignment as a new solemnly professed friar was at the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City where he was the Campus Minister from 1992 to 1994.
Fr. Pido was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons on August 21, 1993 by + His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, Archbishop of Cebu at the Basilica del Santo Niño. Three months later on November 25, 1993, he was ordained to the Sacred Order of Presbyters by His Excellency Alberto J. Piamonte, Archbishop of Jaro at the chapel of the University of San Agustin. The following year, in 1994, he was transferred to Monasterio de Guadalupe Community and was assigned as Parish Priest of Nuestra Señora de Gracia in Guadalupe Viejo where he became the Parish Priest of Guadalupe Viejo for two years (April 1994 to June 1996). In 1996, he was sent to Villanova University in Pennsylvania, USA where he obtained his Master of Arts, Major in Religious Studies after two years (1998).
Upon his return from the United States, Fr. Pido was assigned as Prior of San Jose Community in Iloilo City. He was also the Director of San Jose Catholic School from April 1998 to May 1999. Then on June 1, 1999, he was assigned as Prior of Colegio San Agustin – Bacolod (CSA – B) Community and President of CSA – B. Then the following year, he was elected as Prior Provincial for the term 2000 to 2004. It was during his term as Prior Provincial that the Augustinians accepted the mission in Socorro, Surigao del Norte. During the same period, he was also the Prior of Santo Niño Pilgrim Center (Provincialate) Community in Cebu City. After his term as Prior Provincial, he was assigned to Biñan Community as its Prior from April 2004 to April 2008. For the term 2008 – 2012, he was elected Provincial Counselor and was assigned for a second term to Biñan Community as Prior. At the same time he also served as the President of Colegio San Agustin – Biñan.
For the term 2012 – 2016, Fr. Pido was assigned as Prior of Basilica del Santo Niño Community in Cebu City. On June 7, 2014, together with his batchmates Frs. Armando M. Dayao, OSA and Agustin S. Ty, OSA, he celebrated his 25th Anniversary of First Profession of Vows at the Basilica del Santo Niño in Cebu City. The next term, 2016 – 2020, he was transferred to the Mother of Good Counsel Parish (MGCP) Community in Chrysanthemum Village, San Pedro, Laguna as Treasurer and as Parochial Vicar of MGCP. On November 24, 2018, he celebrated the Silver Anniversary of his Presbyteral Ordination at MGCP with the presence of his Augustinian confreres, close friends and family.
However, on October 2019, he was diagnosed with colon cancer. On November 2019, he underwent an operation to remove a part of his colon. The disease quickly spread to his body and the cancer cells metastasized to his liver.
On January 16, 2020, Fr. Pido was admitted to Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. However after a week of hospitalization and fighting the dreaded disease, Fr. Pido breathed his last on January 23, 2020 at 1:47 in the morning. The Lord called him to his eternal reward at the age of 58 after serving the Lord, his Church and the Order for 30 years as a professed Augustinian friar and 26 years as a priest.