Bishop of Baguio
Msgr. Rafael T. Cruz was born on 12 March 1960 in Mapandan, Pangasinan, in the archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. He carried out his studies in philosophy at the San Pablo Regional College Seminary, Baguio City, Bangued (1977-1981), receiving a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy, and his studies in theology at the Immaculate Conception School of Theology, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, receiving a Bachelor of Sacred Theology (1981-1985). He was then awarded a Master of Arts (MA) in counselling psychology (1988-1990) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in clinical psychology from the Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City (2002). He subsequently carried out his residency training programme at Loyola University of Chicago and the Carl Jung Institute of Evanston, Illinois. He was ordained a priest on 8 September 1985 for the archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan. He has held the following offices: deputy parish priest of Saints Peter and Paul, Calasiao, Pangasinan (1985-1987); since 1988, guest priest in the archdiocese of Manila; RVM Sisters Regional House, Singalong; Sto. Cristo, Las Piñas, Divine Mercy Shrine, Mandaluyong; chaplain of Our Lady of Remedies Chapel, Quezon City; visiting professor at the Loyola School of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University (1999-2004); spiritual director and psychologist advisor to seminarians of the territorial prelature of Batanes; teacher at the Center for Family Ministries, Ateneo de Manila (2004); guest priest at Saint Anthony Abbot, Villasis, Pangasinan, diocese of Urdaneta City (2010); spiritual director and teacher at the Mary Help of Christians High School Seminary and the Mary Help of Christians College Seminary (2011-2018), parish priest and vicar forane of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Mangaldan, Pangasinan (2018-2022); since 2022, vicar forane, member of the Permanent Committee for the Protection of Minors, visiting lecturer at the Mary Help of Christians Theology Seminary in San Fabian, Pangasinan, the Immaculate Conception School of Theology in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, and the Recoletos Theology Seminary in Mira Nila, Quezon City.