New Bishop of Catarman

The Vatican’s announcement of Buco’s appointment was received 6:00 PM in the Philippines. I and wifey, while on our way home at past 6:00 PM, were jolted by such news – as WE JUST HAD LUNCH WITH THE GOOD BISHOP on the same day at his Marikina Rectory. “Wow, we didn’t see it coming during our lunch with him today,” I exclaimed to my wife.

I tried reckoning back to our conversation at lunch time. Aha, as if recalling any bit of indication of his episcopal appointment, I said to myself, “That’s why, when I was showing to him his profile that I edited for his upcoming book, he curtly told me to delete his current designation as auxiliary bishop of Antipolo, saying that by the time the book comes out he might already have a diocese of his own.” 

With his fresh appointment, and knowing him quite fully well, I muttered to myself, “God really works in mysterious ways” even as I can’t avoid bringing to mind the biblical passage, “The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone” (Psalm 118:22).

Why so? Consider this.

Buco, in his erstwhile seminary formation days, was denied twice for seminary admission: 1) After graduating from the college seminary, his Bishop did not include him for a slot to a theology seminary in Cebu; 2) After his two years of regency outside, he took an entrance examination at a Makati theology seminary, but he was deemed not qualified.

Bishop Nolly, as propounded by his given name being simply “Nolly”, a lowly probinsyano and born to ordinary farmer parents, is a paragon of humbleness – very unassuming, magnanimous, yet has full of ingenuity and enthusiasm to accomplish things and work for others.

His journey – from his seminary formation to the priesthood – was hatched in humble beginnings. I was deeply touched – admittedly so – by his sobering account when he entered, all by himself, the Immaculate Conception Theology Seminary in Bulacan many years ago: “Nakakaiyak isipin, ang dala ko ay isang banig at karton, hindi bag, na pinagsidlan ko ng konting gamit. Ang damit kong dala ay may tatak pa na DSWD kung saan ako ay dating nagtrabaho. Ang sotana ko ay hindi yung pangkaraniwan na ginagamit ng seminarista, kundi yung damait ng Muslim, binigay sa akin ng dating ka-trabaho ko na ang asawa ay nagtrabaho sa Saudi. Kaya, pinagkakantiyawan ako ng kapwa ko seminarista, sabi nila Imam daw ako.”

Ordained priest in 1993, Buco completed his A.B. Philosophy at the Sacred Heart Seminary, Palo, Leyte and his Theological Studies and M.A. in Dogmatic Theology at the Immaculate Conception Major Seminary, Guiguinto, Bulacan. He obtained his Licentiate in Canon Law (JCL) and Doctorate in Canon Law (JCD) degrees from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila. He also attended the PhD program in Anthropology at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Q.C. and obtained his Doctorate in Juridical Science (JSD) from San Beda University Graduate School of Law. 

Prior to his appointment as Catarman Bishop, Buco served as Apostolic Administrator of the Northern Samar diocese and concurrently as Auxiliary Bishop of Antipolo. He is also the chairman of CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Canon Law and at the same time the Judicial Vicar of the National Tribunal of Appeals of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. 

Buco is author of the recently published book, “Freeing Distressed Couples From Guilt: The Need for State Recognition of the Church’s Declaration of Marriage Nullity,” published by St. Pauls. His upcoming book is “Shepherding Christ’s Faithful: A Pastoral Guide on the juridical Recognition of Pious Associations and Administration of the Church’s Temporal Goods.”

But what I like most is the title of his Doctoral thesis in Canon Law Licentiate (UST, 2004), “Becoming a Priest: From womb to tomb, from seminary to cemetery.”

Kudos, Bishop Nolly! Deo gratias!

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