Enrique Macaraeg
| His Excellency, The Most Reverend Enrique Macaraeg D.D. | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Tarlac | |
| Metropolis | San Fernando |
| Appointed | March 31, 2016 |
| Installed | May 31, 2016 |
| Term ended | October 23, 2023 |
| Predecessor | Florentino Ferrer Cinense |
| Successor | Roberto Calara Mallari |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 19, 1979 by Federico Guba Limon |
| Consecration | May 24, 2016 by Socrates Villegas |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Enrique de Vera Macaraeg December 28, 1955 Manila, Philippines |
| Died | October 23, 2023 (aged 67) Malasiqui, Pangasinan, Philippines |
| Buried | Tarlac Cathedral, Tarlac City, Tarlac |
| Alma mater | University of Santo Tomas |
| Motto | Vivere Christus est "To live is Christ" (Philippians 1:21) |
Enrique de Vera Macaraeg (December 28, 1955 – October 23, 2023) was a Filipino prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Bishop of Tarlac from 2016 until his death in 2023.
Early life and education
Enrique de Vera Macaraeg was born in Manila, Philippines.[1] He earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy in 1974, followed by a licentiate in 1976, at the University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary. He also earned a bachelor's degree in theology at the same university in 1979.[2]
Ministry
Priesthood
Macaraeg was ordained as a priest on May 19, 1979, for the Archdiocese of Lingayen–Dagupan.[1] He subsequently held numerous positions across four parishes in Pangasinan and one in Quezon City, as well as six academic positions in various schools.[3]
Episcopal ministry
On March 31, 2016, Pope Francis appointed Macaraeg as Bishop of Tarlac, succeeding Florentino Ferrer Cinense.[3] Although the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Giuseppe Pinto, informed Macaraeg of his appointment on March 22 (Holy Tuesday), it was only made public a few days after Easter.[4] Socrates Villegas, Archbishop of Lingayen–Dagupan and president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), consecrated Macaraeg to the episcopate on May 24, 2016.[5] He was installed on the feast of the Visitation of Mary (May 31).
Macaraeg also served as chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines – Episcopal Commission on the Laity (ECLA) until his death. He was succeeded by Severo Caermare (vice chairman of ECLA) on December 15, 2023.[6]
Death
On October 23, 2023, Macaraeg suffered cardiac arrest while playing basketball in Malasiqui, and later died.[7] He was laid to rest on October 31.[8]
References
- Back to citation occurrence 1.0 Back to citation occurrence 1.1 "Bishop Enrique de Vera Macaraeg †". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
- Back to citation "Tarlac bishop suffers cardiac arrest on hardcourt, dies at 67". The Varsitarian. October 25, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
- Back to citation occurrence 3.0 Back to citation occurrence 3.1 "Rinunce e nomine" (in Italian). March 31, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
- Back to citation Soriano, Aldrin (April 1, 2016). "Pope Francis appoints new Tarlac bishop". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
- Back to citation "Ordination of new Philippine bishop in Tarlac set". Herald Malaysia. May 23, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
- Back to citation CBCP News (December 15, 2023). "Bishop Caermare is new head of Church's laity body". Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.
- Back to citation Lopez, Rommel F. (October 24, 2023). "Tarlac bishop dies of cardiac arrest". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
- Back to citation Moscoso, Joseph Ryan (October 31, 2023). "Administrator elected to oversee Tarlac diocese". CBCP News. Retrieved July 25, 2025.