1948-1975:

FROM

DIOCESE

TO

ARCHDIOCESE

OF

SAN

FERNANDO

By Arwin Paul Lingat

The diocese of San Fernando, Pampanga was created on December 11, 1948, through the
Apostolic

Constitution

Probe

Noscitur;

it

comprised

the

provinces

of Pampanga, Bataan,Zambales, a part of Tarlac, and Nueva Ecija. It was initially a a

suffragan of the Archdiocese of Manila. The first bishop was the Most Rev. Cecar Ma.
Guerrero, DD, a native of Ermita, Manila, as first bishop; he received his appointment
from the Vatican on May 29, 1949 and was installed on September 8 of the same year. The
parish of Our Lady of the Assumption, in the provincial capital town of San Fernando, was
selected as the seat of the new diocese; the parish church was thus elevated into a cathedral
and was renamed Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption.

Bishop

Guerrero

established

the Mater

Boni

Consilii (now

Mother

of

Good

Counsel) Seminary in 1950 (it was originally in Guagua, then Apalit, before being relocated
to its present site in San Fernando): the Cruzada de Caridad y Penitencia (or devotion to
the Virgen delos Remedios ) in 1952, which continues to this day; and Carmelite
Monastery in Angeles in 1956, where he retired following his resignation on March 14,
1957 due to poor health. He died March 27, 1961 and was buried beside the monastery
chapel, according to his wishes.

Eventually the diocese was dismembered when provincial boundaries became more
pronounced. Zambales was established as a prelature on October 18, 1955, Nueva Ecija as
a diocese on February 16, 1963, Tarlac as a diocese on May 10, 1963, and Bataan as a
diocese on March 17, 1975.

The Most Rev. Emilio A. Cinense, DD, a native of Guimba, Nueva Ecija, became the second
bishop of San Fernando on March 15, 1957. It was during this term that the Diocese of San
Fernando was elevated into a Metropolitan See and Archdiocese; the canonical erection

was held on June 15, 1975. The new archdiocese comprised the whole province of
Pampanga with three suffragan dioceses, namely, the Diocese of Tarlac, the Diocese of Iba
(Zambales) and the Diocese of Balanga (Bataan).

After the death of Archbishop Cinense, the Most Rev. Oscar C. Cruz, DD, the native of
Balanga, Bataan and at the time rector of San Carlos Seminary, was appointed second
Archbishop of San Fernando on May 22, 1978; he resigned on October 24, 1988. On
January 31, 1989, the Most Rev. Paciano B. Aniceto of Sta. Ana, Pampanga former rector
of the Mother of Good Counsel Seminary and Bishop of Iba, was appointed third (and first
Pampanga-born) Archbishop of San Fernando; he was formally installed on March 14,
1989.

On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee anniversary of its creation as a diocese on December
11, 1998, the Archdiocese of San Fernandos Cathedral of the Asumption was consecrated
and rededicated as The Metropolitan Cathedral of San Fernando, during ceremonies
presided over by the papal nuncio, the Most Rev. Antonio Franco, DD

Bishop
Bishop Cesar Maria Guerrero- 1949-1957 ()
Bishop Emilio Abera Cinense- 1957-1975 ()
Archbishops
1975-1978: + Most. Rev. Emilio Cinense y Abera, D.D. ()
1978-1988 (Resigned) : Most Rev. Oscar V. Cruz, D.D. - Appointed as Metropolitan
Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan in 1991,(justicia innocentis custodit viam)
1989present : Most. Rev. Paciano Aniceto, D.D. (MINISTERIUM TUUM IMPLE)

Auxiliary Bishops

1972-1975: + Most Rev. Celso N. Guevarra, D.D. - Elevated to the Diocese of Balanga in
1975,()

1987-1991: + Most Rev. Jesus Castro Galang, D.D. - Elevated to the Diocese of Urdaneta
in 1991, ()

2006May 2012: Most. Rev. Roberto C. Mallari, D.D. (Among Bobet) - Elevated to the
Diocese of San Jose in May 2012, (IN MANUS TUAS)

2006Present: Most. Rev. Pablo Virgilio S. David, D.D. (Among Ambo), (KENOSIS)