Ruperto Santos

Ruperto "Stude" Cruz Santos (born October 30, 1957) is a Filipino prelate of the Catholic Church. Santos is the fifth and current Bishop of Antipolo. He is the president of the Episcopal Commission for Pastoral Care for Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI) of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.

Prior to his installation as fifth Bishop of Antipolo on July 22, 2023, Santos previously served as rector of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino during his 27-year tenure as a priest of Archdiocese of Manila from 2000 to July 8, 2010, and fourth Bishop of Balanga in Bataan from April 1, 2010 to July 22, 2023, succeeding Socrates Villegas who became fifth Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan in Pangasinan on November 4, 2009. He was also the acting rector and parish priest of Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Nicholas Tolentino, Mariveles, Bataan from June 5, 2020 to June 4, 2023 on his last three years as Bishop of Balanga. With 13 years, 3 months, and 21 days or 4,860 days as Bishop of Balanga, Santos is the diocese's longest-serving living and the second longest bishop overall after Celso Guevarra since October 4, 2015.

Personal life and education
Santos was born on October 30, 1957, in Caingin, San Rafael, Bulacan, to Norberto Santos and Aurelia Cruz Santos. He has three sisters, Maria Lourdes, Maria Corazon, and Rosalind, and a brother, Rodelio.

All of his siblings are married and have children – Maria Theresa, Maria Grace, Marco Paulo, Jaime Paulo, Nicole, Jacob, and PJ.

He received his primary education at Caingin Elementary School and completed his studies and seminary formation at Our Lady of Guadalupe Minor Seminary (high school) and at San Carlos Seminary in Makati (college and theology) in the Archdiocese of Manila.

1983–2010: Priesthood
Santos was ordained priest on September 10, 1983, at the Manila Cathedral by the Archbishop of Manila, Jaime Cardinal Sin.

During his 27-year tenure as priest of the Archdiocese of Manila from September 10, 1983 to July 8, 2010, he became parochial vicar at the Immaculate Concepcion Parish in Pasig (1983–1986), chaplain of Pasig Catholic College (1983–1987), priest at San Antonio Abad Church in Maybunga (1986–1987), professor of church history, patrology, and homiletics at San Carlos Graduate School of Theology and Holy Apostles Senior Seminary in Makati, visiting priest at the EDSA Shrine and Our Lady of the Pillar Parish in Pilar Village, Las Piñas (1990–1997), prefect of discipline of the Philosophy Department of San Carlos Seminary (1990–1992), professor of church history at San Carlos Seminary (1990–1995), academic dean of San Carlos Graduate School of Theology, Library Director of San Gabriel Reyes Memorial Library at San Carlos Graduate School of Theology, chief archivist of the Manila Archdiocesan Archives and curator and director of the Manila Archdiocesan Museum (1992–1997), guest lecturer for novices and postulants in the mother house of the Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres in Antipolo (1992–1995), consultor of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church in the Vatican (1995–2005), vice-rector and oeconomus of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome, Italy (1997–1999), rector of the same college (2000–2010), and national coordinator of the Italian Episcopal Conference for the pastoral care of Filipino migrants in Italy (2003).

After several years in the Archdiocese of Manila, he was sent to Rome in 1987 for further studies and took up his licentiate in church history at the Pontificia Universita Gregoriana.

In 2005, he became a member of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses in the Vatican. He has also written a number of books regarding historical interests published by the Archdiocese of Manila and regarding homilies, prayers, and spirituality published by St. Paul's (SSP).

2010–2023: Bishop of Balanga
Pope Benedict XVI named Santos as the fourth bishop of Balanga on Holy Thursday in 2010. He continued to serve as priest of the Archdiocese of Manila and rector of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino while being the diocese's bishop-elect from April 1 until he assumed office upon his installation as fourth bishop on July 8, 2010. As bishop-elect and one month before his installation as bishop of Balanga, he received episcopal consecration on June 24, 2010. The installation ceremony on July 8 was presided by the then-Archbishop of San Fernando, Pampanga Paciano Aniceto. Also present in the installation are Bishop of Malolos Jose Francisco Oliveros having jurisdiction over Valenzuela and Santos' home province Bulacan, Santos' predecessors as Bishop of Balanga Honesto Ongtioco (also the former priest of Archdiocese of San Fernando during Paciano's (installation ceremony's main presider) tenure from January 31, 1989 to June 18, 1998 and future sede vacante apostolic administrator of Malolos from May 11, 2018 to August 21, 2019) and Socrates Villegas, and outgoing sede vacante diocesan administrator of Balanga and future Bishop of Gumaca Victor Ocampo.

Santos decreed the creation of five parishes, four diocesan shrines, and one minor basilica, national shrine and chapel were created during his tenure as bishop of the diocese, with Residencia Sacerdotal, Retirement Home for Priests (Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel) in Taglesville, Balanga was built months after he assumed office as fourth bishop of Balanga. He also designated old churches in Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Abucay, Balanga City, Pilar and Orion as seven pilgrim churches that thousands of pilgrims from other provinces visit, especially during the Lenten season. Aside from Residencia Sacerdotal, he also built the National Shrine of the Parish Church of Saint John Paul II in Roman Superhighway, Culis, Hermosa, Virgen Milagrosa College Seminary in Balanga, Residencia Sacerdotal Diocesan Retirement Homes, Cancelleria Diocesana de Balanga, the renovated Bahay Puso which is the Diocesan Home for the Aged, and the newly built Diocesan Clinica de San Jose.

He made two quinquennial visit ad limina in Rome on December 2, 2010 (five months after he was installed or assumed office as fourth bishop of Balanga) and May 20, 2019.

Changes to the Balanga Cathedral were made during under Santos' tenure which are the improvement of its patio and numerous vendors were discouraged within the cathedral's premises. Walls and fences outside the cathedral were changed in 2012. It was also on that year where a statue of St. Gemma Galgani was added as the 16th and latest statue to be installed outside the cathedral due to St. Gemma Galgani Church in Mt. View, Mariveles, Bataan became a parish on July 21, 2012 which included on a roster of the diocese's churches and parishes. In 2014, the Santuario de San Jose was blessed. The Sacrestia de San Jose underwent renovation and blessed in 2015. Pavement of the ground on the exterior was made from 2017 to 2018, and the belfry added the bricks in 2019. In 2020, the cathedral's roof were painted from green and white to red. The Cathedral Shrine's Rectory and Sacristy with its fence and patio were also built during his tenure. Months before his tenure as Bishop of Balanga ended on July 22, 2023, the cathedral's leftmost door was removed and replaced with a wall.

In 2015, he opened the first diocesan theology seminary called Virgen Milagrosa del Rosario College Seminary.

He founded a foundation named Ad Seminandum RCS 10 Foundation, Inc., with the name being a reference to his motto as the diocese's bishop (Ad Seminandum), initials (RCS), and 10 being the month number of his birthday (October which is the 10th month of the year) and part of a number of a year when he became Bishop of Balanga (2010). His motto is also used as the name of an award (Ad Seminandum Award - Bishop's Award). Santos also founded the Diocesis de Balanga Multi-Purpose Credit Cooperative, the Santeria Religious Store and Sower's Printing Press to foster a brighter future and improvement of life.

Santos became a governing council member for Asia of the International Migration Commission, Vatican from 2015 to 2022.

He continued written a number of books regarding homilies, prayers, and spirituality published by St. Paul's (SSP). In addition to spiritual books, he also wrote about the Diocese of Balanga and its churches, and Bataan province where the diocese has jurisdiction with. Santos issued 40 pastoral prayers during the COVID-19 pandemic. These prayers, he said, are his love letters to the people, the voices of love to God.

From June 5, 2020, to June 4, 2023, he served as acting rector and parish priest of the diocesan shrine and parish of St. Nicholas Tolentino (Mariveles, Bataan) in a concurrent capacity. During his 3-year tenure as acting rector and parish priest of the parish church, he had six substitute priests which are the five priests of Sto. Niño Parish Church in Alas-Asin named Robert Laracas, Ponciano G. Balmes, Marvin Gomez, Gerald Cuenca and Christopher Alday (with Alday was demoted from being parochial vicar or assistant to simply a substitute priest under Region L. Tenorio), and Jay Quicho. As in charge of the parish church, he initiated changes within the parish such as the change in mass schedules (with Sunday Mass being temporary), and changing of the church's facade and a new church bell from Royal Bells Philippines. On February 25, 2023, he declared and elevated the said church into a diocesan shrine.

On January 2023, the Diocese of Balanga mourned the passing of Pope Benedict XVI who appointed Santos as the diocese's fourth bishop on April 1, 2010, saying that amid sorrow and sadness, “we are assured of his eternal peace and rest in Heaven.” He said that the Bataan faithful were in grief over the death of the pope emeritus on Sunday morning at the Vatican at 95 on December 31, 2022.

On March 2023, Santos presided over the farewell trip and mass of Bishop of Gumaca Victor Ocampo who also served as the diocesan administrator of the Diocese of Balanga from November 4, 2009 when his predecessor Socrates Villegas became archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan until Santos assumed office as fourth Bishop of Balanga on July 8, 2010 at Balanga Cathedral. Also on that same month, the mass for the 48th Canonical Erection Anniversary of the Diocese of Balanga was held with Archbishop of San Fernando, Pampanga and future Apostolic Administrator of Balanga by July 22, 2023 Florentino Lavarias as main celebrant where the coat of arms for the diocese's 50th anniversary by 2025 was unveiled.

On April 1, 2023, the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of St. John Paul II in Roman Superhighway, Brgy. Culis, Hermosa, Bataan was elevated into the national shrine on a mass presided by Bishop of Kalookan Pablo Virgilio David through the authority of Santos, and its second parish priest and first rector Anthony Sibug.

While awaiting for the date of assuming his new office or installation as Bishop of Antipolo, Santos served as apostolic administrator of the diocese during his last three months as Bishop of Balanga from May 24 to July 22, 2023. He also held his last mass as the diocese's bishop during the transition.

On July 21, 2023, one day before Santos ended his tenure as fourth Bishop of Balanga to assume office as fifth Bishop of Antipolo the following day in July 22, another former diocesan administrator of Balanga named Msgr. Antonio "Tony" Dumaual who served when Honesto Ongtioco became Bishop of Cubao on August 28, 2003 until Socrates Villegas assumed office as third Bishop of Balanga on July 3, 2004 died at 3:30 pm and 80 years old.

After Santos stepped down as Bishop of Balanga and assumed his new office as Bishop of Antipolo on July 22, 2023, Bataan temporarily returned to the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of San Fernando after 48 years and 8 months through the sede vacante apostolic administration of its archbishop Florentino Lavarias which will last until the installation of Santos' successor as Bishop of Balanga. The version of Santos' coat of arms of the Diocese of Balanga that is used since April 2010, however, continued to be used by the diocese as placeholder during sede vacante period or his coat of arms as Bishop of Antipolo is used on some churches of the diocese if referencing Santos to establish and maintain continuity while awaiting for the installation of his successor as the diocese's bishop. The mass for the repose of Dumaual's soul and his funeral, and blessing of the body were presided by Santos' predecessor Socrates Villegas who returned to Balanga, Bataan for the repose on July 25 and Lavarias for the blessing and funeral mass on July 23 (a day after Santos assumed office as Bishop of Antipolo) and 31, respectively.

2023–present: Bishop of Antipolo
Pope Francis named Santos as the fifth Bishop of Antipolo on May 24, 2023. Santos then became the diocese's bishop on his installation on July 22, 2023 where he succeeded Francisco Mendoza de Leon who reached the retirement age of 75 which ended his 13 years, 3 months, and 21 days tenure as Bishop of Balanga. The installation ceremony was led by the Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles John Brown together with Jose Cardinal Advincula, Archbishop of Manila.

Santos made various returns to Balanga, Bataan for an honorary doctorate in recognition of his “distinguished service” to the community and made an honorary Doctor of Education of the Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU) with the awarding was held during the BPSU commencement exercises at the Bataan People’s Center, Bataan Provincial Capitol Compound, Balanga on October 2, 2023 and 35th Founding Anniversary of Bahay Puso on June 15, 2024.

Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines
Since December 1, 2011, Santos held various positions at Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), such as being a member of CBCP Migrants and Itinerant People and Chairman, Pontificio Collegio Filippino (2011–2013), Vice Chairman of CBCP Commission on the Pontificio Collegio Filipino (2013–2017), Chairman of CBCP Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (2013–2019), CBCP Central Luzon Regional Representative and Member, CBCP Committee for International Congresses (2015–2019), Board Member of CBCP Pension Plan Committee and Member, CBCP Commission on Prison Pastoral Care (2017–2019), CBCP Bishop Promoter of Stella Maris - Philippines, and Chairman of CBCP Commission on Pontificio Collegio Filippino (2019–present).

Philippine politics
Santos expressed opposition against RH bill like former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as he said that the prayer vigil started with the rosary and a mass against RH bill and then followed by the prayer rally that will accompany with the rally at the EDSA Shrine to be officiated by the city government of Balanga. He stated that there are conferences, seminars, and marches against the RH bill, with the goal of the “diocesan-wide campaign” is to protect the sanctity of human life and the family, he told CBCP News.

Like with his predecessor Socrates Villegas, he expressed opposition on the revival of Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) as it will put the lives on the brink of danger and shadow of impending death, result in the disruption of ecosystem, cause the soil to be poisoned and no longer viable to be cultivated, and livelihood will be destroyed.

Santos is appreciated with President Rodrigo Duterte's first State of the Nation Address (SONA) as he found out that it is inspiring and encouraging. He said that the President is magnanimous and forgiving – he did not resort to finger-pointing and the sins of the past. He pointed out realistically the situation and offered concrete action. He also thanked the President for his concern for the welfare of overseas Filipino workers. Santos stated that he is grateful for the president's compassion and concern to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) as he plans a single office to attend to their needs and asking to continue to protect the well-being of the OFWs. He also criticized the administration as he stated on an interview with Radio Veritas that his presidency is a disappointment and disgrace to the country. He lamented how Duterte's supporters laughed at his violent threats. Presidential Spokesperson told the bishop that instead of lambasting the President, Santos should instead pray for the President, “the way we pray for the Bishop’s enlightenment, that PRRD may run the affairs of the country well instead of lambasting him."

Following the denial of the broadcast franchise application of ABS-CBN, Santos expressed that the network's shutdown is a great loss, an added suffering for Filipinos, and never bring healing. He sympathized to the network's more than 11,000 employees who risk losing their jobs.