Dr. José María Delgado (June 20, 1887, Malolos - December 24, 1978) was the first Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican.
He married Felisa Concepción by whom he has four boys: Jose, Jesus, Francisco, Antonio and four girls: Milagros, Pilar, Filomena, Teresita.
It was during this period of his life that he began teaching obstetrics, pediatrics and gynecology at the University of Santo Tomas, while lecturing on medical ethics, sociology, anthropology, apologetics and religion.
Written about Ambassador Delgado in a special issue of the Manila Chronicle, January 31, 1969 by Francisco De Leon: “Pope pius XII had assured him that the Philippines would finally get her due recognition with the appointment of the first Filipino cardinal...Pope Pius XII died a few months later.
Justice may be delayed but it does not perish...in less than three years of serving as the country's Ambassador to the Vatican, the Philippines finally got her first cardinal with the appointment by Pope John XXIII of Manila archbishop Rufino Jiao Santos.”In 1966, he authored a book "Fe Y Patria," Discursos, conferencias y articulos.