Nick Vaquilar
| His Excellency, The Most Reverend Nick Vaquilar S.Th.D. | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Urdaneta | |
| Province | Lingayen–Dagupan |
| See | Urdaneta |
| Appointed | May 3, 2026 |
| Installed | July 28, 2026 |
| Predecessor | Jacinto A. Jose |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 5, 1997 by Orlando B. Quevedo |
| Consecration | July 21, 2026 by Orlando B. Quevedo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Nick Argel Vaquilar May 3, 1970 Lapog, Ilocos Sur, Philippines |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Alma mater | San Pablo Major Seminary (BA) Immaculate Conception School of Theology (MA) Pontifical Gregorian University (Th.L.) Loyola School of Theology (S.Th.D.) |
| Motto | Domine, Tuus Sum (Latin for 'Lord, I am Yours' – Psalm 119:94) |
| Ordination history | |
| History Priestly ordination Ordained by Orlando B. Quevedo Date May 5, 1997 Episcopal consecration Principal consecrator Orlando B. Quevedo Co-consecrators Marlo Mendoza Peralta Jacinto Agcaoili Jose Date July 21, 2026 Place Bantay Church | |
| Styles | |
| File:Coat of arms of Nick Argel Vaquilar.svg | |
| Reference style | His Excellency The Most Reverend |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Bishop |
Nick Argel Vaquilar (born May 3, 1970) is a Filipino Catholic prelate who is currently the Bishop of the Diocese of Urdaneta.
Early life
Vaquilar was born on May 3, 1970. Vaquilar spent his formation years as a seminarian at the San Pablo Major Seminary in Baguio City, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy.[1]
He then continued his theological studies at the Immaculate Conception School of Theology (ICST), where he attended from 1992 to 1996.
Ministry
Priesthood
Vaquilar was ordained a priest on May 5, 1997, at a local chapel in Guimod, San Juan, Ilocos Sur, by then Archbishop of Nueva Segovia Cardinal Orlando B. Quevedo.
Vaquilar went to pursue a licentiate in biblical theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, from 2001 to 2004. After his return from higher theological studies, Vaquilar resumed teaching at the same seminary he spent his theological studies at, and later then became as the seminary's procurator and overseer of seminarian formation and welfare.[2]
He studied and finished his doctorate in sacred theology at the Loyola School of Theology of the Ateneo de Manila University in 2016, where he defended his dissertation entitled "Reading the Book of Ecclesiastes Ethically" in 2015, under the academic supervision of Dr. Helen Graham.[3]
He has served as the rector of the Immaculate Conception School of Theology, until his appointment to the episcopate in May 2026.
Episcopate
Pope Leo XIV appointed Fr. Vaquilar as the fourth Bishop of Urdaneta on May 3, 2026, succeeding Bishop Jacinto Jose, whose resignation was accepted and approved on the same day.[4]
See also
References
- Back to citation Manahan, Jervis (May 3, 2026). "Pope Leo XIV appoints new Urdaneta bishop". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
- Back to citation GMA News (May 4, 2026). "Pope Leo XIV names new Urdaneta bishop". GMA News Online.
- Back to citation Vaquilar, Nick (November 2015). "Reading the Book of Ecclesiastes Ethically". Retrieved May 3, 2026.
- Back to citation CBCP News (May 3, 2026). "Pope accepts resignation of Urdaneta bishop, names ICST rector as successor". CBCP News. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
External links
- "Father Nick Argel Vaquilar". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney.
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jacinto Agcaoili Jose |
Bishop of Urdaneta July 28, 2026 – present |
Incumbent |