The Rev. Leonard B Oakes Biography

 

Born in the Cordillera region, City of Tabuk in the Province of Kalinga, Philippines. His mother Teresa is from Dagami, Guinarona, Leyte, Philippines. His father Benedicto Sr. is from Bontoc, Mt Province, Philippines. He speaks Ilocano, Igorot, and Bisaya.  He took his Bachelor’s in Philosophy at the University of Baguio, Philippines prior to his entrance to seminary. He graduated Bachelors in Theology in 1993 at St Andrew’s Theological Seminary, an Episcopal Seminary in Quezon City, Philippines.  He was ordained to the Sacred Orders of Deacons in 1994 and the Sacred Orders of Priests in 1997.

 

He migrated to the U.S. in August of 1997 and was licensed to officiate in the Episcopal Diocese of California in June of 2000 by The Rt. Rev. William Swing. He was received to The Episcopal Church U.S.A. in 1997 by the Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus.  He served as Vicar of Holy Child and St Martin Episcopal Church in Daly City California from 2008-2021. He started a community health center and became the Administrator for Holy Child and St Martin Health and Wellness Center in Daly City collaborating with other community allies to provide Free Vital signs assessments and Health education drive among Asians and Latinos in the area.  He served as member of the Commission on Ministry in the Diocese of California in 2014  and subsequently served as member of the Standing Committee of the same Diocese in 2016.

 

He was a past Filipino Convenor for the Episcopal Asia Ministry (EAM) under the leadership of The Rev. Bayani Rico, EAM Council President, and The Rev. Dr. Fred Vergara, EAM Missioner. He led a cultural instrument workshop for the 2015 Episcopal Youth Event (EYE) in Philadelphia.  A former member of Community Local Governing Board Advisory Committee for Seton Medical Center in Daly City California from 2010 to 2020.  A past President of BIBAK of Northern California, an Indigenous organization with members living in the Bay Area originating from Cordillera Region of the Igorot tribes in Northern Luzon Philippines.  Served two terms as Master of Mission Masonic Lodge 169 in San Francisco and a former Grand Chaplain of Freemasons in the state of California in 2014.

 

A past President of SF Host Lions Club, a charitable organization with global service. Served as Co-Chaplain. He successfully launched a collaborative medical, dental and vision mission in the Philippines in 2025.  He is currently working as full time Home Health visiting Nurse at New Haven Home Health, healing people both in health and in spirit.  He retired as Vicar in 2021, and was called back to ministry in 2023 to serve as Vicar of St Edmund’s Episcopal Church in Pacifica California working as part time.  He plays guitar and other indigenous instruments.

 

Leonard is married to Haidee Oakes and have three children: Joshua (25); Heather (23); and Hailey (19). They currently reside in South San Francisco CA.

 

April 2025