Pope Leo XIV on Saturday, Jan. 24, appointed a priest from the Archdiocese of Capiz as the new bishop of Kalibo.
Fr. Cyril Villareal, 51, will succeed Bishop Jose Corazon Tala-oc, who retired in June 2025 after nearly 14 years of leading the diocese.
Born in March 1974, he studied philosophy at St. Pius X Seminary in Roxas City and theology at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.
He was ordained a priest on May 25, 2001.
Villareal holds a master’s degree in higher religious studies and a licentiate in sacred theology from the UST. He also earned a masters in moral theology from the University of Vienna in Austria.
From 2005 to 2010, Villareal served as assistant chaplain of the Filipino Catholic Chaplaincy in the Archdiocese of Vienna. He also served as assistant priest at the Parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Vienna.
Earlier, he was assistant dean of theology at the Sancta Maria Mater et Regina Seminarium in Roxas City from 2000 to 2004.
Since July 2024, Villareal has served as parish priest of St. Thomas of Villanova Parish in Dao, Capiz.
He previously served as vicar general of the archdiocese during the tenure of Cardinal Jose Advincula as Capiz archbishop.
Villareal was later elected administrator of the archdiocese during the sede vacante following Advincula’s transfer to the Archdiocese of Manila in June 2021.
He held the post until Archbishop Victor Bendico took possession of the archdiocese in May 2023.
Villareal has also served as rector of Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion in Roxas City.
