The Most Reverend

Honesto Ongtioco

D.D.
Bishop of Cubao
Ongtioco in 2023
ProvinceManila
SeeCubao
AppointedJune 28, 2003
In officeAugust 28, 2003–present
PredecessorInaugural holder (First bishop of Cubao)
SuccessorIncumbent
Orders
OrdinationDecember 8, 1972
by Emilio Cinense y Abera
ConsecrationJune 18, 1998
by Jaime Sin
Personal details
Born (1948-10-17) October 17, 1948
San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
ResidenceBishop's Residence, Cubao, Quezon City
Previous post(s)
Alma materSan Jose Seminary
Ateneo de Manila University
MottoMaior autem caritas
(The Greatest (Thing) is Love)
Coat of armsHonesto Ongtioco's coat of arms
Styles of
Honesto Ongtioco
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Honesto "Nes" Flores Ongtioco (born October 17, 1948) is a Filipino bishop of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the first and only Bishop of Cubao, and also served as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Malolos from May 12, 2018 to August 21, 2019. He had previously served as second Bishop of Balanga in Bataan from June 18, 1998 to August 28, 2003 where he succeeded Celso N. Guevarra who retired due to the age limit of 75.[1]

Early life and education

Honesto Flores Ongtioco was born on October 17, 1948, at San Fernando, Pampanga. He studied elementary at St. Scholastica's Academy and high school at Don Bosco Academy. In 1958, he had seminary training at San Jose Seminary. Three years after studying philosophy in 1964, he took theology at the Loyola School of Theology in Ateneo de Manila University. Ongtioco earned a master's degree in Organization Development and Planning in 1983 at the Southeast Asian Interdisciplinary Development Institute in Manila.

In 1984, he went to the United States to take renewal courses on Liturgy and Spirituality at St. John's University in New York City. After taking renewal courses, he went to Rome in 1987 where he obtained a licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas.[2]

Ministry

1972–1998: Priesthood

On December 8, 1972, Ongtioco was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Emilio Cinense y Abera, Bishop of San Fernando at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in San Fernando, Pampanga.

After his ordination, Ongtioco was given several assignments within the Archdiocese of San Fernando. He served as spiritual director, professor, rector, and other positions in Mother of Good Counsel Minor Seminary, University of the Assumption, and other educational institutions. He was also appointed as parochial vicar of the Holy Rosary Parish in Angeles City from 1974 to 1975 and at St. Peter and Paul Parish in Apalit from 1975 to 1977. In 1975, he was also the acting parish priest of St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish in Porac and acting director of St. Catherine Academy in Apalit.[3]

On March 21, 1992, Ongtioco was invested as honorary prelate. Five years later, he was appointed as rector of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome, Italy.[4]

1998–2003: Bishop of Balanga

Ongtioco was named as second Bishop of Balanga on April 8, 1998 by Pope John Paul II. He became the diocese's bishop on his installation in June 18 of that same year.[5]

His inspiring words and assuring presence guided the Diocese of Balanga as it celebrated its 25th anniversary and as it responded to the call of the pope at the beginning of the third millennium, "Duc in Altum." His kindness and charity allowed the various branches of the diocesan tree to grow in different directions in pursuit of his plan to convoke a Diocesan Pastoral Assembly.[6]

2003–present: Bishop of Cubao

On June 28, 2003, he was named as the first Bishop of Cubao also by Pope John Paul II. He became the diocese's bishop upon his installation on the same day the new diocese was canonically erected in August 28, 2003, ending his 5 years and 2 months tenure as Bishop of Balanga.[7]

Due to the death of Bishop José F. Oliveros, the fourth bishop of Malolos, on May 11, 2018, Pope Francis appointed him as the Apostolic Administrator of the diocese on May 16, 2018. As per No. 244 of the Apostolorum Successores or Directory of Pastoral Ministry of Bishops, Ongtioco holds “all the faculties and rights to exercise the office of a diocesan bishop.” [8] He ceased being Apostolic Administrator of the diocese on August 21, 2019 upon the installation of Dennis Cabanada Villarojo, the fifth bishop of Malolos.

On July 19, 2019, the PNP–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) filed charges against Ongtioco and members of the opposition for "sedition, cyber libel, libel, estafa, harboring a criminal, and obstruction of justice".[9][10]

Coat of arms

Coat of arms of Honesto Ongtioco
Adopted
August 28, 2003
Helm
Bishop's Galero
The shield is surmounted by the bishop's galero or ecclesiastical hat of this rank with six tassels for each side in Vert (green) that signifies the rank of a Bishop.
Escutcheon
From 2003: Parted per fess: First: Golden (or), three hills surmounted by a Tau cross, Second: Azure (blue), four, five-petalled white flowers on a blue field; Impaled with a shield tierced per fess: Golden (or) crown and three white stars on a blue (azure) diagonal line on a white (argent) background.
Motto
MAIOR AUTEM CARITAS
"The Greatest (Thing) is Love" The motto was taken from 1 Corinthians 13:13, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Other elements
Latin Cross
The shield is also surmounted by the Latin cross, symbolizing the bishop's dignity.
Previous versions

as Bishop of Balanga (June 18, 1998–August 28, 2003)

References

  1. ↑ "About". The Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  2. ↑ "Bishop Honesto F. Ongtioco". UCAN Directory: Database of Catholic Dioceses in Asia. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  3. ↑ "Bishop Honesto F. Ongtioco". Union of Catholic Asian News. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Most Rev. Honesto F. Ongtioco, D.D." CBCP Online: The Official Website of The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  5. ↑ Cheney, David M. "Bishop Honesto Flores Ongtioco [Catholic-Hierarchy]". Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  6. ↑ "The Roman Catholic - Diocese of Balanga - History". Archived from the original on November 13, 2004. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Diocese of Cubao – History". dioceseofcubao.ph. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  8. ↑ "Bishop Ongtioco named Malolos diocese administrator". CBCPNews. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 2019-04-20.
  9. ↑ "Robredo, ilang taga-oposisyon kinasuhan ng PNP-CIDG ukol sa 'Bikoy' videos". ABS-CBN News (in Tagalog).
  10. ↑ "Sedition raps: Solons, bishop hit 'stupid' PNP". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
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