ILOILO CITY – Archbishop Midyphil “Dodong” Bermejo Billones was officially installed as the seventh archbishop of the Archdiocese of Jaro on Wednesday, April 2.

ARCHBISHOP Midyphil ‘Dodong’ Bermejo Billones is installed as the new archbishop of the Archdiocese of Jaro in Iloilo City on April 2, 2025. (Tara Yap)
“I thank those who have dared to love and journey with me in this quest of following the Lord's will and living it out,” said Billones.
Billones was canonically installed as the 14th prelate at the Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral in this city where he was ordained priest in October 1995 and bishop in 2019.
He served the Archdiocese of Jaro in various capacities. He was personal secretary of the late Archbishops Alberto Piamonte and Angel Lagdameo.
Billones is overseeing Catholic churches in Iloilo City, the 42 towns and component city of Passi in Iloilo province, and the five towns in Guimaras province.
He replaced Archbishop Jose Romeo “Romy” Lazo.
Billones was appointed archbishop by Pope Francis last Feb. 2, the feast of the Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of Candles), the patroness saint of Western Visayas region.
According to Papal Nuncio Archbishop Charles John Brown, the April 2 installation of Billones marked another important day in the Catholic calendar. Brown said that April 2 is the martyrdom of Saint Pedro Calungsod.
Billones is a native of Panay town, Capiz province.
Also present during the installation was Cardinal Jose Advincula Jr., the archbishop of Manila, and a fellow Capiznon.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma was also present. Billones thanked the Ilonggo Palma who he considered as one of his spiritual mentors.