Jose Maria Cuenco
Encyclopedia
Jose Maria Cuenco
(May 19, 1885 - October 8, 1972) was an Archbishop
of Jaro
.
Archbishop Cuenco was born in Carmen, Cebu
, Philippines
on May 19, 1885, the eldest child of Mariano Albao Cuenco and Remedios Diosomito. His father – a journalist, Clerk of Court, and failed candidate for Cebu governor – died in 1909, and it was his mother who largely raised Jose’s 15 sisters and brothers (among them, Mariano Jesus and Miguel, who became a senator and congressman respectively).
Given the best education of his time in the University of San Carlos
in Cebu
, Manila
, and in Georgetown University
in the U.S., where he earned a doctorate in law), Cuenco decided to forsake a career in law to enter the priesthood. He was ordained a priest on June 11, 1914.
It was as a churchman that he had a distinguished career. He was vicar general
of the Cebu Diocese in 1925 and founding parish priest of the city’s Santo Rosario parish in 1933. He became auxiliary bishop of Jaro in 1945. Six years after, he became Jaro Archbishop.
Active and highly visible in evangelization work, Cuenco was the founder-editor of the Cebu Catholic newspaper El Boletin Catolico (1915-1930), continuing work that his own father was engaged in, since Mariano Albao Cuenco was publisher-editor of the pioneering Catholic newspaper in Cebu, Ang Camatuoran (1902-1911).
The Cuenco family was associated with printing and publishing (as newspaper publishers and owners of Imprenta Rosario, one of Cebu’s early printshops. “Printer’s ink” was in Archbishop Cuenco’s blood. He authored and published close to a dozen books, mostly narratives of his travels and experiences, including Archbishop Cuenco: Autobiography (Iloilo: La Editorial, 1972), which came out shortly before he died in Jaro on October 8, 1972.
A diligent collector of personal memorabilia, he left behind in Jaro a very large collection of books, newspapers, photographs, and assorted souvenirs of his career and world travels.
Cuenco Family of Cebu
"The Cuenco family is a well-known political family in Cebu, Philippines. Since the 19th century, the Cuenco name has been part the colorful history and lore of this island in Southern Philippines...
(May 19, 1885 - October 8, 1972) was an Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Jaro
Jaro
-Philippines:*Jaro, Leyte a municipality in the province of Leyte*Jaro, Iloilo City a district of Iloilo City-See also:*Jaro–Winkler distance*Jaro Medien a German music company*Jaro Records, a subsidiary of Rank Records...
.
Archbishop Cuenco was born in Carmen, Cebu
Carmen, Cebu
Carmen is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 41,279 people.-Barangays:Carmen is administratively subdivided into 21 barangays:-External links:* *...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
on May 19, 1885, the eldest child of Mariano Albao Cuenco and Remedios Diosomito. His father – a journalist, Clerk of Court, and failed candidate for Cebu governor – died in 1909, and it was his mother who largely raised Jose’s 15 sisters and brothers (among them, Mariano Jesus and Miguel, who became a senator and congressman respectively).
Given the best education of his time in the University of San Carlos
University of San Carlos
The University of San Carlos is a Roman Catholic university governed by the Society of the Divine Word since 1935 in Cebu City. It offers pre-elementary and basic education as well as undergraduate and graduate courses, and a broad spectrum of academic programs through its eight colleges.It...
in Cebu
Cebu
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
, Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, and in Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in the U.S., where he earned a doctorate in law), Cuenco decided to forsake a career in law to enter the priesthood. He was ordained a priest on June 11, 1914.
It was as a churchman that he had a distinguished career. He was vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of the Cebu Diocese in 1925 and founding parish priest of the city’s Santo Rosario parish in 1933. He became auxiliary bishop of Jaro in 1945. Six years after, he became Jaro Archbishop.
Active and highly visible in evangelization work, Cuenco was the founder-editor of the Cebu Catholic newspaper El Boletin Catolico (1915-1930), continuing work that his own father was engaged in, since Mariano Albao Cuenco was publisher-editor of the pioneering Catholic newspaper in Cebu, Ang Camatuoran (1902-1911).
The Cuenco family was associated with printing and publishing (as newspaper publishers and owners of Imprenta Rosario, one of Cebu’s early printshops. “Printer’s ink” was in Archbishop Cuenco’s blood. He authored and published close to a dozen books, mostly narratives of his travels and experiences, including Archbishop Cuenco: Autobiography (Iloilo: La Editorial, 1972), which came out shortly before he died in Jaro on October 8, 1972.
A diligent collector of personal memorabilia, he left behind in Jaro a very large collection of books, newspapers, photographs, and assorted souvenirs of his career and world travels.