Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan
Archbishop Socrates Buenaventura Villegas, Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, was born on September 28, 1960, in Manila, in the Archdiocese of Manila. Having completed his schooling, he entered San Carlos Seminary in Manila for his philosophical and theological studies. He was ordained a priest for Manila on October 5, 1985. From 1985 he served as personal secretary to Cardinal Sin. In 1992 he became rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace at EDSA, a member of the college of consultors and vicar general of the archdiocese. He was executive coordinator of the commission for World Youth Day in Manila in 1995, and also served as assistant pro-episcopal vicar for the Manila district. On July 25, 2001, he was appointed Titular Bishop of Nona and Auxiliary Bishop of Manila. He received episcopal ordination on August 31, 2001, at Manila, with Jaime Lachica Sin as principal consecrator and Crisostomo Ayson Yalung and Jesse Eugenio Mercado as co-consecrators. On May 3, 2004, he was appointed Bishop of Balanga, and he was installed on July 3, 2004. On September 8, 2009, he was appointed Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, and he was installed on November 4, 2009. On November 17, 2011, he was appointed Apostolic Administrator of San Fernando de La Union, ceasing to hold that office on January 19, 2013.