Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Louie Galbines as the new spiritual leader of the Diocese of Bacolod, marking a return to his roots.
Galbines, who has been serving as the bishop of Kabankalan, takes over from Bishop Patricio Buzon, who retired after nearly a decade of service due to the mandatory retirement age for Catholic bishops.
At 59, Galbines brings a wealth of experience from his time in the diocese where he was born and ordained, and where he held various leadership roles before becoming a bishop.
Buzon, who devoted 23 years to his role as a bishop and was particularly noted for his 13-year term as bishop of Kabankalan before his time in Bacolod, submitted his resignation at age 76, in accordance with church regulations.
Galbines’ journey in the church began in Aliwanag, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, where he was born in 1966.
He pursued his studies in philosophy and theology at the University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary in Manila, leading to his ordination as a priest for Bacolod in 1994.
His early career included roles such as deputy dean and spiritual director at Sacred Heart Seminary, as well as chancellor and secretary of the diocesan curia.
Furthering his education, Galbines achieved his licentiate and doctoral degrees in sacred theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome in 2001.
After returning to the Philippines, he contributed to the bishops’ conference. He held various leadership positions, such as rector of Sacred Heart Seminary and vicar general of the Diocese of Bacolod.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.