Diocese of Kalibo, Philippines 🇵🇭

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Kalibo / Kaliben(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Capiz

Neighbouring Dioceses: San Jose de Antique (↙), Romblon (↑), Capiz (→)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint John the Baptist (June 24), Santo Niño, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary (October 7)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: March 18

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1976.01.17: Established as Diocese of Kalibo / Kaliben(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Capiz and became suffragan of Capiz)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2026.01.24 – ...):

Bishop-elect Cyril Buhayan Villareal (52)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Kalibo (Roman Rite)

Bishop-elect Cyril Buhayan Villareal (52)
(2026.01.24 – ...)

Bishop of Kalibo (Philippines)

Born:	1974.03.01 (Mambusao, Capiz, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	2001.03.25
Consecrated Bishop:	2026.04.23

Bishop of Kalibo (Philippines) (2026.01.24 – ...)

Archbishop Victor Barnuevo Bendico (66)
(Apostolic Administrator 2025.06.16 – 2026.01.24)

Bishop Jose Corazon Tumbagahan Tala-oc (75)
(2011.05.25 – 2025.06.16)

Bishop emeritus of Kalibo (Philippines)

Ut omnes unum sint

Born:	1950.06.16 (Tagas, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1979.04.09
Consecrated Bishop:	2003.07.30

Priest of Kalibo (Philippines) (1979.04.09 – 2003.06.11)

Bishop of Romblon (Philippines) (2003.06.11 – 2011.05.25)

Bishop of Kalibo (Philippines) (2011.05.25 – 2025.06.16)

Bishop Jose Romeo Juanito Orquejo Lazo (77) (later Archbishop)
(2003.11.15 – 2009.07.21)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Jaro (Philippines)

Vobiscum ambulæ

Born:	1949.01.23 (San Jose de Buenavista, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1975.04.01
Consecrated Bishop:	2003.12.29

Priest of San Jose de Antique (Philippines) (1975.04.01 – 2003.11.15)

Bishop of Kalibo (Philippines) (2003.11.15 – 2009.07.21)

Bishop of San Jose de Antique (Philippines) (2009.07.21 – 2018.02.14)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Jaro (Philippines) (2018.02.14 – 2025.02.02)

Bishop Gabriel Villaruz Reyes (84)
(1992.11.21 – 2002.12.07)

Bishop emeritus of Antipolo (Philippines)

Ora et labora

Born:	1941.08.03 (Kalibo, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1968.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1981.04.03

Priest of Manila (Philippines) (1968.12.21 – 1981.01.20)

Titular Bishop of Selsey (1981.01.20 – 1992.11.21)

Auxiliary Bishop of Manila (Philippines) (1981.01.20 – 1992.11.21)

Bishop of Kalibo (Philippines) (1992.11.21 – 2002.12.07)

Bishop of Antipolo (Philippines) (2002.12.07 – 2016.09.09)

Bishop Juan Nicolasora Nilmar
(1976.06.03 – 1992.11.21)

Born:	1916.08.24 (Miag-ao, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1942.06.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1959.05.11
Died:	2007.10.18 (Miag-ao, Philippines † 91)

Auxiliary Bishop of Jaro (Philippines) (1959.02.20 – 1967.01.03)

Titular Bishop of Zapara (1959.02.20 – 1976.06.03)

Coadjutor Bishop of Davao (Philippines) (1967.01.03 – 1970.04.18)

Auxiliary Bishop of Tagbilaran (Philippines) (1970.04.18 – 1976.06.03)

Bishop of Kalibo (Philippines) (1976.06.03 – 1992.11.21)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Kalibo, Aklan, Western Visayas
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (24)

San Jose de Antique (↙), Romblon (↑), Capiz (→)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 1,818 km²

Population: 679,400 Catholics (74.7% of 909,900 total)

Pastoral Centres: 24 parishes

Personnel: 77 priests (diocesan), 62 religious (3 brothers, 59 sisters), 45 seminarians