Prudencio Padilla Andaya Jr. (2 January 1959) is a Filipino Catholic Bishop who is serving as the Bishop of Cabanatuan following his appointment on 8 December 2024 by

Pope Francis Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 until Death and funeral of Pope Francis, his death in 2025. He was the fi ...

and his installation on 3 February 2025.

Early life

Andaya was born on 2 January 1959 in

Lubuagan Lubuagan, officially the Municipality of Lubuagan is a municipality of the Philippines, municipality in the Philippine Province, province of Kalinga (province), Kalinga, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 9,323 pe ...

in the

Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...

. He studied at the Maryhurst Seminary from 1975 to 1977 and at St. Louis University from 1977 to 1979. He studied French in

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

from 1980 to 1983. He had a internship in

Zambia Zambia, officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central Africa, Central, Southern Africa, Southern and East Africa. It is typically referred to being in South-Central Africa or Southern Africa. It is bor ...

from 1984 to 1986 where he learned the

Bemba language Bemba (natively known as ''Chibemba, Ichibemba'' and ''Chiwemba''), is a Bantu language spoken primarily in north-eastern Zambia by the Bemba people. History Bemba is spoken in rural and urban areas of the region, and is one of Zambia's sev ...

. Andaya is fluent in English, Tagalog, Iloko and French.

Ministry

Andaya was ordained a priest on 8 December 1986 and started working as an assistant

parish priest A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one or ...

at the Kapisha Parish in

in 1997. In 1989, he became the head parish priest of the Kapisha Parish. In 1991, Andaya became a District Superior at the CICM Zambia, a position he held until 1997. In 1998, he became a Socius at the CICM Novitate in

Taytay, Rizal Taytay, officially the Municipality of Taytay (; ), is a municipality of the Philippines, municipality in the Philippine Province, province of Rizal (province), Rizal, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 386,451 pe ...

, and later became the Director of Novices in 1999, a position he held until 2003 following his episcopal appointment. In 2003,

John Paul II Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 16 October 1978 until Death and funeral of Pope John Paul II, his death in 2005. In his you ...

appointed and installed Andaya as the Apostolic Vicar of Tabuk on 16 July. In 2024,

appointed him as the Bishop of Cabanatuan, and he was officially installed on 3 February 2025.

References

{{Reflist 1959 births Living people People from Kalinga (province) Saint Louis University (Philippines) alumni Bishops appointed by Pope Francis 21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in the Philippines Roman Catholic bishops of Cabanatuan