Auxiliary Bishop: 27 Dec 2002 to 19 Jun 2004)
Bishop Isabelo C. Abarquez is the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Calbayog in Samar, Philippines. He was born on July 8, 1951, in Cebu City, the second among ten children of Isabelo Abarquez Sr. and Purificacion Cornejo. Raised in a devout Catholic household, young Isabelo grew up in a faith-filled environment that nurtured his early calling to the priesthood.
He entered the Pope John XXIII Minor Seminary in Cebu for his high school formation and later proceeded to San Carlos Seminary College in Cebu City, where he earned a degree in Philosophy. He continued his theological formation at the San Carlos Major Seminary, also in Cebu, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 23, 1977, for the Archdiocese of Cebu by Julio Cardinal Rosales, then Archbishop of Cebu.
As a priest of Cebu, Fr. Abarquez served in several parishes and held key diocesan responsibilities. He was appointed parish priest of St. Joseph Parish in Talisay City, and later, St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Balamban, Cebu. His pastoral leadership was marked by simplicity, humility, and closeness to the people. He also served as Episcopal Vicar for the western district of the Archdiocese and was involved in the formation of seminarians as a spiritual director and formator at the seminary.
Recognized for his quiet but effective pastoral ministry, he was appointed by Pope John Paul II as Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu on December 27, 2002. He was ordained into the episcopate on February 18, 2003 with Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, then Archbishop of Cebu, as his principal consecrator and then-Bishops John Du and Leopoldo Tumulak as co-consecrators. His appointment was seen as a continuation of his pastoral service, now in a wider and more collaborative episcopal role.
Just two years later, on October 21, 2004, Pope John Paul II appointed him as the Bishop of Calbayog, a diocese in Western Samar under the ecclesiastical province of Palo. He was formally installed on December 10, 2004, at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Calbayog City. He succeeded Bishop Maximiano Cruz, who had served the diocese from 1973 until his retirement.
Since taking possession of the Diocese of Calbayog, Bishop Abarquez has dedicated himself to revitalizing the local Church through pastoral renewal, active clergy formation, promotion of vocations, and increased lay participation. His episcopal motto, “Ut Vitam Habeant” (“That They May Have Life” – John 10:10), reflects his commitment to holistic evangelization—promoting not only spiritual well-being but also social justice and human development.
Under his leadership, the Diocese has enhanced its catechetical programs, supported the livelihood of communities in remote and poor areas, and strengthened the formation of Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs). Bishop Abarquez also oversaw the diocesan response to natural calamities, including typhoons and flooding, focusing on relief operations and community rebuilding, particularly in far-flung parishes.
In the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), he has served as a member of the Episcopal Commission on the Clergy, where he shares his insights and experiences on the ongoing formation of priests. He is widely regarded by his brother bishops and clergy as a man of deep spirituality, simplicity, and pastoral zeal.