At the age of 21 having pronounced his profession as a Franciscan, Benito Romero of Madridejos, Toledo, arrived in Manila on May 4, 1833. Forthwith he became the Secretary of the Franciscan Province and Minister of Meycawayan, Bulacan, in 1835, Definitor in 1843 and Provincial Minister in 1852. During his incumbency a College for Missionaries in the Province was established which later on was transferred to Pastrana (Spain).
In Manila a novena to the Queen of Heaven was solemnly held on the occasion of the Dogmatic Proclamation of the Immaculate Conception by Pope Pius IX (1854). The celebration of the feast, it was said, overshadowed all other celebrations in Manila. At the end of his term as Provincial, Fray Benito Romero was made Minister of Bocaue, Bulacan, and concurrently Vicar Forane of the ecclesiastical district. After serving the office of Provincial Minister a second time (1867), he became Minister of Obando, Bulacan, 1870.
He received the notice of his appointment to the Episcopal See of Cebu on November 25, 1875 an office which he twice refused. On June 11 of the following year, Trinity Sunday, he was ordained bishop by the Archbishop of Manila, Pedro Payo, with the Bishops of Caceres and Jaro, Francisco Gainza and Mariano Cuartero, as co-consecrators. The assistance of co-consecrators by this time had already become a requirement in the ordination or consecration of bishops. The ceremonies were held in the Church of San Francisco del Monte in Manila. Bishop Romero was installed eleven days after. He arrived in Cebu with a number of Franciscans, Agustinians, Dominicans, Recollects and Vincentians.
He governed the diocese for nine years with great apostolic zeal and solicitude. He improved the dormitories and hall of the Seminario-Colegio de San Carlos and bought a house in Mabolo which became not only a vacation house of the Vincentian Fathers and seminarians but also a place for clergy retreat and recollection. Despite his age (he was already 60 years old), he dedicated himself in Pastoral Visitation and in teaching through Pastoral Letters, circulars, and exhortations which were later compiled and printed by UST Printing Press.
For the service of the poor, Bishop Romero revived the services of a Casa Caridad which Bishop Jimeno together with Fr. Lacanal founded in 1864 and then transferred for the use of the seminary in 1872. This was at the suggestion of Fr. Antonio Farre, C.M. It was called Hospital de San Jose. Fr. Fernando Lacanal, C.M. was entrusted to oversee the administration of the small hospital together with three youthful volunteers from San Nicolas who became the first members. of the Hermanitas de la Madre de Dios.
On October 6, 1885 Don Basilio Tecson, Vicar General, directed a circular to all Priests in the Diocese requesting them to pray for Bishop Romero who had fallen seriously ill. The Bishop died the following day after receiving the last sacrament, at the age of 73.