BISHOP Mylo Hubert Vergara of Pasig and 16 other Thomasian bishops were among the new officers of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) elected on July 8.
Vergara is the new vice president of the CBCP. He will succeed Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, who was elected president, replacing Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao.
Vergara, 58, obtained his doctorate in sacred theology, summa cum laude, from the Ecclesiastical Faculties in 2001.
He is a member of the CBCP Permanent Council and formerly chaired the CBCP Commission on Social Communications.
Malolos Bishop Dennis Villarojo will serve as the new representative of Southwest Luzon, succeeding Vergara.
Villarojo studied theology and obtained his licentiate at UST. He finished his doctorate in philosophy at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome in 2001.
Maasin Bishop Precioso Cantillas will serve as the new chairman of the CBCP Office on Bioethics.
Cantillas finished his bachelor’s degree in sacred theology at UST in 1980.
Newly installed Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula was re-elected as chairman of the CBCP Permanent Committee on International Eucharistic Congresses.
Advincula finished his bachelor’s degree in theology at UST and earned his licentiate degree in canon law at the Pontificia Università San Tommaso D’Aquino or the Angelicum in Rome.
Msgr. Bernardo Pantin will serve a second term as CBCP secretary general.
Pantin is the president of the UST Alumni Priests Association and a professor at the UST Faculty of Canon Law.
He finished his bachelor’s degree in sacred theology in 1984 and licentiate degree in canon law in 1986 at UST.
In 1990, he earned his doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
CBCP assistant secretary general Fr. Carlo Del Rosario was also re-elected to a second term.
Del Rosario took his theological studies at the UST Central Seminary.
Tuguegarao Archbishop Ricardo Baccay was re-elected as representative of north Luzon.
Baccay completed his philosophy and theological studies at UST in 1986.
Bishop Louie Galbines of Kabankalan in Negros Occidental was named representative of Southwest Visayas anew.
He completed his philosophical and theological studies at the University. In 2001, he earned his doctorate in theology at Angelicum in Rome.
Antipolo Auxiliary Bishop Nolly Buco was named chairman of the CBCP Commission on Canon Law.
Buco completed his doctorate degree in canon law from UST in 2004.
Dumaguete Bishop Julito Cortes was re-elected chairman of the CBCP Commission on Cultural Heritage of the Church
Cortes earned his licentiate in sacred theology and master of arts in higher religious studies in the University.
He also holds a doctorate in theology from the Angelicum in Rome.
Bishop Jose Rojas, Jr. of Libmanan in Camarines Sur was re-elected chairman of the CBCP Commission on Doctrine of the Faith.
Rojas completed his bachelor’s degree in sacred theology, master’s degree in religious education and licentiate in sacred theology at UST.
Baguio Bishop Victor Bendico was re-elected chairman of the CBCP Commission on Liturgy.
Bendico took his philosophical and theological studies at UST.
Bishop Rex Andrew Alarcon of Daet in Camarines Norte was re-elected chairman of the CBCP Commission on Youth.
Alarcon obtained his master’s and licentiate degrees in theology at UST.
Tarlac Bishop Enrique Macaraeg was appointed chairman of the CBCP Commission on Laity.
He will succeed the new apostolic vicar of Taytay, Palawan, Bishop Broderick Pabillo.
Macaraeg obtained his master’s degree in oriental religions and cultures at the UST Central Seminary.
Laoag Bishop Renato Mayugba was elected chairman of the CBCP Commission on Biblical Apostolate.
He studied a doctorate program under the College of Science of UST from 1993 to 1995 and earned his licentiate in sacred theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo was named chairman of the CBCP Commission on Social Action, Justice and peace.
He studied general science at the University from 1970 to 1972.
Bagaforo is currently the national chairman of Caritas Philippines.
Though not a Thomasian himself, David, the new CBCP president is close to Dominicans and UST, having studied at the École Biblique et Archéologique Française (French School of Biblical and Archeological Research) in Jerusalem, an institution run by the Order of Preachers.
The newly elected officials will formally assume their posts on Dec. 1, 2021. They will serve two-year terms.
The plenary assembly is considered the highest decision-making body of CBCP. It meets in regular sessions twice a year: in January and in July.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the plenary assembly was held virtually.
CBCP is composed of 87 active bishops, two diocesan administrators and 41 honorary members.
