Diocese of Cubao gets new bishop

Photo from Roman Catholic Diocese of Cubao facebook Page

Pope Francis on Friday appointed the Claretian provincial superior in the Philippines as the new bishop of Cubao, which covers the southern part of Quezon City.

Fr. Elias Ayuban Jr. succeeded Bishop Honesto Ongtiongco, who mandatorily retired upon reaching the age of 75. Ongtiongco served as the first bishop of Cubao since it was erected from the Manila archdiocese in 2003.

Ayuban has been the Claretian provincial superior since 2019, having concurrent jurisdiction over missions in Vietnam and Myanmar and Australia.

In 2021, the Claretian Philippine Province was renamed Fr. Rhoel Gallardo Province, after the martyred Claretian parish priest and school director of Sumisip, Basilan, who was abducted killed by the bandit group Abu Sayyaf in 2000.

Since 2022, Ayuban has been co-chair of the Conference of Major Superiors in the Philippines.

Ayuban, 56, will be the second Filipino Claretian to become a bishop. INQ