𝗜𝗟𝗢𝗜𝗟𝗢 𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗬 – Most Rev. Midyphil Bermejo Billones, D.D., has been formally installed as the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Jaro.
The Solemn Pontifical Mass with the Rite of Canonical Installation was held today at the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral to mark his official assumption of the role.
Billones succeeds Most Rev. Jose Romeo O. Lazo, D.D., the Archbishop-emeritus of Jaro.
The event was attended by approximately 40 bishops and over 300 priests, along with distinguished guests, including Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles John Brown and Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula.
Billones was appointed as the 7th Archbishop of Jaro by Pope Francis on February 2, coinciding with the feast of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria.
In an interview with Bombo Radyo, Rev. Fr. Angelo Colada, head of the Social Communications Office, detailed the liturgical schedule, which included the vesting of bishops and priests at the Archbishop’s Residence, followed by a procession to the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral.
𝗔 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵
Born in Panay, Capiz, 55-year-old Archbishop Billones, also known as “Dodong,” studied Philosophy at St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary in Iloilo City and earned his Master’s degree in Theology at Loyola School of Theology in Quezon City.
He was ordained as a priest for the Archdiocese of Jaro on October 2, 1995, serving the Church for nearly three decades.
Over the years, he held various positions, including serving as the personal secretary to Archbishops Alberto Piamonte and Angel Lagdameo.
In 2011, he obtained a Doctorate in Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
Before his appointment as Archbishop, Billones served as the rector of St. Joseph Regional Seminary of Jaro. In July 2019, Pope Francis appointed him as Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu, and he was consecrated as a bishop on August 27, 2019, at the Jaro Cathedral.
