Manila might be considered the Philippines’ capital on paper, but it has far fewer Catholics than Cebu, the capital of Central Visayas, located in the center of our 7,000-island archipelago. Cebu has twice as many baptized Filipinos as Manila: approximately 4.8 million Catholics.
The first Spanish explorers and missionaries landed on its shores in 1521, making it the oldest city in the country. Despite this long history, it has only had five Filipino archbishops. The most recent is Archbishop-elect Alberto Uy, whom Pope Leo XIV appointed last month.
Before him, Cardinal Ricardo Vidal+ (1982-2010) and Archbishop Jose Palma (2010-2025) played significant roles in keeping Cebu's faith fervent.
Cardinal Vidal also stood out for his Marian devotion and Eucharistic spirituality. Under his watch, Cebu’s clergy remained focused on their pastoral and sacramental duties in contrast to Manila's clergy in the 1980s, who were more visible in public life, especially in the years leading up to the 1986 EdSA revolution.
Archbishop Jose Palma succeeded Cardinal Vidal in 2010. He was the first native Visayan to lead the archdiocese and become well-loved for his humility and cheerfulness. He submitted his resignation in March of this year, when he turned 75 years old.
Pope Leo XIV accepted his resignation and assigned Archbishop Alberto Uy to replace him. The new archbishop remains in the Diocese of Tagbilaran until the date of his installation, which has yet to be announced.
Bishop Abet’s biography
Archbishop Abet, as he is called in his former diocese, was previously bishop of Tagbilaran, Bohol. He is of Filipino-Chinese descent, like Cardinal Tagle, the well-known Filipino serving at the Vatican's dicastery for Evangelization.
Archbishop Abet was born on October 18, 1966, in Ubay, Bohol. He becomes Cebu's archbishop at 59 years old, five years younger than when Archbishop Palma began in the same archdiocese.
Archbishop Abet studied philosophy at the Tagbilaran seminary and theology at the St. John Marie Vianney seminary in Cagayan de Oro. He was ordained a priest in 1993 and consecrated a bishop in 2017.
He completed a Licentiate in Sacred Theology in Manila at the Loyola School of Theology of the Jesuit Fathers and then received a doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
He turns 60 next year but looks far younger than his age. He is usually smiling in photos and videos. He also keeps an active Facebook page with posts featuring cartoon caricatures of himself or clips of him singing with his guitar. If he were not wearing his miter and staff, one could mistake him for a young influencer.
“I am not worthy”
When Archbishop Abet received news of his Cebu assignment, he told the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown, “I am not worthy.”
Archbishop Brown replied encouragingly, “I am happy you said that. If not, I would be worried."
Reflecting on their exchange at a later homily, Archbishop Abet said, "Many people congratulate me on this new appointment. That’s not wrong, but it would be more meaningful if you say, ‘I pray for you,’ or ‘We are praying for you, Bishop.'”
He also shared that this appointment makes him aware of his great need for God because he is not enough to fulfill this "greater mission."
Since this assignment takes him outside his home province of Bohol, he expressed some sadness at leaving Tagbilaran. He reassured his fellow Boholanos that they would see each other again. He hopes the Holy Father will appoint a new bishop for his home diocese soon.
Archbishop Abet will help strengthen the faith of Cebu's youth
Archbishop Abet's youthful energy will be a blessing to Cebu’s Catholics as it has been to the faithful of Tagbilaran, especially to the 8.4 million young Cebuanos.
Hopefully, Archbishop Abet’s warmth and commitment to evangelize, especially using digital media, will help keep the fervor alive among Cebu’s youth. His cheerful witness might encourage more young men and women to respond to God’s call to the priesthood or religious life.
