Pope Francis has appointed Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Midyphil Billones as the new Archbishop of Jaro, succeeding the retired Archbishop Most Reverend Jose Romeo O. Lazo, D.D.
The announcement was made at 12:00 noon Vatican time (7:00 PM Philippine time) on Saturday, coinciding with the Mass at Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral, which also marked the feast of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of Candles).
At 55 years old, Bishop Billones will be the 14th Archbishop of Jaro, an archdiocese that covers the city and province of Iloilo, as well as the province of Guimaras.
Born in Panay, Capiz, Bishop Billones pursued his philosophy studies at St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary in Iloilo City and later completed his theology studies at Loyola School of Theology in Quezon City, where he earned a master’s degree in the same field.
He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Jaro on October 2, 1995, marking nearly three decades of service to the Church. Throughout his career, Bishop Billones held various positions, including serving as personal secretary to both Archbishop Alberto Piamonte and Archbishop Angel Lagdameo.
In 2011, Bishop Billones earned a Doctorate in Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
Before his appointment as Archbishop of Jaro, he served as rector of St. Joseph Regional Seminary of Jaro. In July 2019, Pope Francis named him as the Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu, and he was consecrated as a bishop on August 27, 2019, at Jaro Cathedral.
As he steps into this new role, Archbishop Billones takes on a significant leadership position in the Church, continuing to guide the faithful in the Archdiocese of Jaro.
