
Capiznon Bishop Midyphil “Dodong” Bermejo Billones has been appointed by Pope Francis as the new archbishop of the Archdiocese of Jaro in Iloilo.
The 55-year-old bishop hails from the Municipality of Panay.
The announcement came less than 12 hours after Bishop Billones presided over the morning Solemn Pontifical Mass to celebrate the feast of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of Candles) at the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral in Iloilo City last February 2.
Bishop Billones was stunned upon hearing the announcement after the evening mass presided by Cardinal Jose Advincula Jr., a fellow Capiznon.
Upon hearing the announcement, the two Capiznon prelates—Cardinal Advincula and Bishop Billones—hugged each other at altar of the cathedral.
Before he knew he was appointed by Pope Francis, Bishop Billones had an enlightening homily on what Our Lady of Candles mean to the people of Western Visayas as their patroness saint.
“She is our Lady of Hope … Our Mother, our sweetness, and our Hope. When you lose hope, look up and gaze upon our Mother—the Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria. She carries the Light, Christ, the Light of the World,” Billones said in his homily.
Bishop Billones succeeds Archbishop Jose Romeo Lazo, who undertook mandatory retirement.
Prior to his February 2 appointment, Bishop Billones took on the role of auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Cebu. (KJ)