A THOMASIAN prelate from Negros Occidental has been appointed by the Vatican as the new bishop of the Diocese of Bacolod, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has announced.
Bishop Louie Patalinghug Galbines was designated as the seventh bishop of the diocese on Thursday, May 14.
The appointment brings Galbines back to his home diocese, where he previously served in various leadership and seminary formation roles before becoming bishop of Kabankalan.
Born in Aliwanag, Saay City, Negros Occidental, Galbines studied philosophy and theology at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila before pursuing his licentiate and doctorate in sacred theology at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas “Angelicum” in Rome from 1997 to 2001.
He was ordained to priesthood on April 29, 1994.
Shortly after his ordination, Galbines served as vice dean and spiritual director of the Sacred Heart Seminary in Bacolod City and later became chancellor and secretary of the diocesan curia from 1994 to 1996.
Following his studies in Rome, the bishop held several roles in ecclesiastical administration and clergy formation, including treasurer and collaborator of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines from 2001 to 2006.
Galbines also served as vice president and later president of the diocesan Commission for the Clergy while concurrently working as parish vicar of Saint Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City from 2007 to 2012.
In 2012, he was appointed rector of the Sacred Heart Seminary in Bacolod City before becoming vicar general of the diocese in 2013.
The prelate was named bishop of Kabankalan in March 2018 and received episcopal ordination on May 28 of the same year.
Galbines succeeds Bishop Patricio Buzon, whose resignation was accepted by the Holy Father after nearly a decade of service. F
