Pope Francis named Monsignor Victor Bendico of the Archdiocese of Capiz as the new bishop of the Diocese of Baguio succeeding 77-year-old Bishop Carlito Cenzon who resigned past the mandatory age for bishops which is 70 years old
Archbishop of Nueva Segovia Most Reverend Marlo Peralta led the Episcopal Ordination and installation of Most Reverend Victor Bendico. Archbishop of Capiz Most Reverend Jose Advincula Jr. D.D and Bishop-Emeritus of Baguio Most Reverend Carlito Cenzon also led the Canonical Possession at the Our Lady of the Atonement Cathedral.
Bishop Bendico, who is the sixth bishop of the diocese of Baguio was born in Capiz, raised in Roxas City, and was earlier assigned in Tarlac before being chosen to lead the diocese of Baguio. He received two resolutions as an adopted son of Baguio City and Benguet province.
His coat of arms has several figures with its own representations. It has a sunrise or sunset with a cross symbolizing the journey with the kingdom of God and the symbol for the Our lady of the Atonement Cathedral which is the seat of the diocese. It has a Cordilleran house and trees symbolizing the culture of the people of the region and the letter “M” with a crown symbolizing the most Blessed Virgin Mary, to whom Bendico is personally devoted. The middle portion of the coat has three interconnected arches representing the seal of the Pontifical Atheneum of St. Anselm in Rome, where Bendico obtained his licentiate and doctorate degrees. Lastly, it has the Capiz shell representing the hometown of Bendico.
Bishop Bendico is 56 years old and has been a priest of the Archdiocese of Capiz for 33 years. He is a graduate of the University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary in Manila and has a doctorate in sacred liturgy from the Pontifical Athenaeum of St. Anselm in Rome, Italy. He was also a member of the Commissions for the Clergy and for the Liturgy, the board and Senate of the clergy, and the board of the Colegio de la Purisima Concepción in Roxas City.