BACOLOD CITY — The Diocese of Bacolod prepared for the installation of Bishop Louie Galbines as its seventh bishop, succeeding Bishop Patricio Buzon, who is retiring at age 75.
At a press briefing, the Rev. Lou-An Torrefranca said Galbines was born in Sagay City, Negros Occidental, and raised by his parents in Barangay Ma-ao, Bago City.
Galbines was ordained a bishop at San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City, prompting Torrefranca to describe his appointment as the new shepherd of the Diocese of Bacolod as a homecoming.
Pope Leo XIV appointed Galbines, currently bishop of Kabankalan, as the new bishop of the Diocese of Bacolod on May 14.
Yesterday afternoon, Galbines officially left the Diocese of Kabankalan and made a stop at Tanolo Bridge in Hinigaran, at the boundary between the dioceses of Kabankalan and Bacolod.
He left his footprint on a commemorative marker provided by the Hinigaran local government before proceeding to Bacolod City via motorcade.
Msgr. Ronald Quijano formally welcomed Galbines upon his arrival in Bacolod City, followed by a solemn procession from the replica of the Bacolod City Government Center at the public plaza to San Sebastian Cathedral.
Galbines will accompanied by other bishops and priests on the way to the cathedral.
The rite of canonical installation will be presided over by Archbishop Charles John Brown, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, at 9 a.m. today at the San Sebastian Cathedral.
Cardinal Jose Fuerte Advincula, archbishop of Manila, will serve as homilist.
Around 200 priests are expected to attend the solemn event.
Traffic and security measures were put in place in coordination with law enforcement agencies and the Bacolod City government.
Catholic schools have also expressed their delight in welcoming the new bishop to the city.
Meanwhile, the Rev. Mitch Guadalupe said Buzon plans to spend his retirement years with the Salesians of Don Bosco in Cebu City. (Glazyl M. Jopson via tdg photo by tdg)