Photo Credit: Davao Catholic Herald
Congratulations Msgr. Romulo “Mulong” Valles DD, archbishop of Davao – now the newly-elected president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
Bishop Mulong’s family migrated from Maribojoc, Bohol to Lupon, Davao Oriental when he was 13.
He was ordained priest at the age of 24 on April 6, 1976, served as assistant parish priest of the Christ the King Cathedral in Tagum from 1976 to 1978 and parish priest of the San Nicolas de Tolentino parish in Mati, Davao Oriental from 1978 to 1982. He returned to the Christ the King Cathedral in Tagum as parish priest and Vicar general from 1982 to 1984 and from there to Rome where he completed his Licentiate in Sacred Liturgy in 1990.
From Rome, Valles returned to REMASE where he served in various capacities until he became rector from 1993 to 1997 and from there moved to the Diocese of Kidapawan as Bishop.
He was 46.
On November 13, 2006, he was transferred to the Archdiocese of Zamboanga.
Side story: I was assigned in Olutanga Mission in 2009. Whenever the SVD missionaries go to Zamboanga City, we always stay at the Bishop’s House because it was very near the port. The boat from Olutanga Island arrives at 4 am and the Bishop’s House is always ready to welcome us even at the wee hours of the morning. He was very accommodating to us, missionaries. He made us feel at home.
On February 12, 2012, he was transferred to the Archdiocese of Davao. He is the first Dabawenyo to lead the Archdiocese.
Felmar's Missionary Journey 