{{Short description|Filipino Catholic bishop (born 1973)}} {{Use Philippine English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025}} {{Philippine name|Magpantay|Cuevas}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = bishop | honorific_prefix = The Most Reverend | name = Moises Cuevas | honorific_suffix = | title = Bishop of Calapan | image = Most Reverend Moises M. Cuevas, 2023 (cropped).jpg | alt = | caption = Cuevas in 2023 | church = Roman Catholic Church | see = Diocese of Calapan | appointed = March 25, 2026 | term_start = TBD | predecessor = Himself as Apostolic Vicar Of Calapan | ordination = December 6, 2000 | ordained_by = Carmelo Morelos | consecration = August 24, 2020 | consecrated_by = Romulo T. de la Cruz | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1973|11|25}} | birth_place = Cuenca, Batangas, Philippines | previous_post = {{indented plainlist| *Apostolic Vicar of Calapan (2023-2026) *Auxiliary Bishop of Zamboanga (2020–2023) *Apostolic Administrator of Zamboanga (2021–2023) }} | motto = ''Virga Tua Consolatio Mea'' ("Your rod consoles me")<ref name="RVA">{{cite news |title=Synodal bishop installed in Philippines missionary island |url=https://www.rvasia.org/church-asia/synodal-bishop-installed-philippines-missionary-island |publisher=Radio Veritas Asia |date=September 14, 2023 |access-date=February 26, 2025}}</ref> | coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Moises Magpantay Cuevas (Calapan).svg }} {{Infobox bishopstyles
| | name = Moises Cuevas | dipstyle= *His Excellency *The Most Reverend | offstyle = Your Excellency | relstyle = Bishop | image = Coat of arms of Moises Magpantay Cuevas (Calapan).svg | image_size = 200px }}
'''Moises Magpantay Cuevas''' (born November 25, 1973) is a Filipino prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is currently bishop of the Calapan in Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. Before assuming this role, he was the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga and later its apostolic administrator.<ref name="CBCPNewBishop">{{cite news |title=Calapan has new bishop |url=https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/calapan-has-new-bishop/ |publisher=CBCP News |date=June 29, 2023 |access-date=February 26, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Rappler">{{cite news |title=Pope Francis names Philippines' youngest prelate as bishop of Calapan |url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/luzon/pope-francis-names-moises-cuevas-bishop-calapan-oriental-mindoro/|publisher=Rappler |date=June 29, 2023 |access-date=February 28, 2025}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Cuevas was born in Cuenca, Batangas, Philippines. He pursued his priestly formation at the Pastor Bonus Seminary in Zamboanga City. His theological studies continued at the Regional Major Seminary in Davao City.<ref name="CBCP">{{cite web |title=Most Rev. MOISES M. CUEVAS |url=https://cbcponline.net/most-rev-moises-cuevas/ |publisher=Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines}}</ref><ref name="CBCP1">{{cite news |title=Pope names new auxiliary bishop of Zamboanga |url=https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/pope-names-new-auxiliary-bishop-of-zamboanga/ |publisher=CBCP News |date=March 19, 2020 |access-date=February 26, 2025}}</ref>
== Priesthood == Cuevas was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Zamboanga on December 6, 2000. In the years that followed, he took on various responsibilities, including serving as vicar at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Zamboanga from 2001 to 2003. He later became the rector of the Sanctuary Nostra Signora del Pilar and was entrusted with the role of chancellor of the archdiocese from 2003 to 2009. From 2005 to 2007, he was appointed administrator of the archdiocesan pastoral center. He served as parish priest of Santa Maria Parish from 2009 to 2015. Since 2017, he has been director of the commission on the clergy for the archdiocese.<ref name="CBCP1"/><ref name="UCANews">{{cite web |title=Vicar Apostolic Moises Magpantay Cuevas |url=https://www.ucanews.com/directory/bishops/bishop-magpantay-cuevas/1175 |publisher=UCANews}}</ref>
== Episcopal ministry == On March 19, 2020, Pope Francis appointed Cuevas as auxiliary bishop of Zamboanga and Titular Bishop of Maraguia.<ref name="CBCP1"/> He was consecrated on August 24, 2020, with Archbishop Romulo Tolentino de la Cruz as principal consecrator and bishops Martin Jumoad and Julius Tonel as co-consecrators.<ref name="CBCPOrdination">{{cite news |title=Auxiliary bishop ordained for Zamboanga |url=https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/auxiliary-bishop-ordained-for-zamboanga/ |publisher=CBCP News}}</ref>
In August 2021, he was appointed apostolic administrator ''sede plena'' of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga, while Archbishop Romulo de la Cruz was recovering from a stroke. He managed the affairs of the archdiocese until the appointment of a new archbishop.<ref name="CBCP2">{{cite news |title=Pope names Bishop Cuevas as Zamboanga's apostolic administrator |url=https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/pope-names-bishop-cuevas-as-zamboangas-apostolic-administrator/ |publisher=CBCP News |date=August 12, 2021 |access-date=February 26, 2025}}</ref>
On June 29, 2023, Pope Francis appointed him as the apostolic vicar of Calapan, succeeding Warlito Cajandig.<ref name="CBCPNewBishop"/><ref name="Philstar">{{cite news |title=New Calapan bishop named |url=https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/07/01/2277847/new-calapan-bishop-named |publisher=The Philippine Star}}</ref> Cuevas was installed on September 6, 2023, at the Sto. Niño Cathedral in Calapan City.<ref name="RVA"/><ref name="Interaksyon">{{cite news |title=Oriental Mindoro's new bishop assumes post |url=https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2023/09/08/259901/oriental-mindoros-new-bishop-assumes-post/ |publisher=Interaksyon}}</ref>
At the time of his appointment, Cuevas was one of the youngest bishops in the Philippines.<ref name="Rappler"/>
In March 25, 2026, Pope Leo XIV elevated the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan to a diocese and appointed Cuevas as its first bishop.<ref name="diocese">{{cite news|url=https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/vatican-elevates-calapan-to-diocese-cuevas-named-first-bishop/|title=Vatican elevates Calapan to diocese; Cuevas named first bishop|date=March 25, 2026|accessdate=March 25, 2026|website=CBCP|author=CBCP News}}</ref>
== Advocacy == Cuevas has consistently emphasized the importance of simplicity and humility in the life of the clergy. He has spoken against material excess and has urged priests to remain dedicated to their pastoral mission. In February 2023, he addressed concerns over clergy members who displayed extravagant lifestyles, calling such behaviors a "blinding addiction" that distracted them from their spiritual responsibilities.<ref name="RapplerLavish">{{cite news |title=Mindanao bishop slams priests' lavish lifestyles, 'blinding addiction' |url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/mindanao/mindanao-bishop-slams-priests-lavish-lifestyles-blinding-addiction/ |publisher=Rappler}}</ref>
He advocates for the protection of the Verde Island Passage (VIP), emphasizing its ecological importance and the threats it faces, such as overfishing, pollution, and climate change. Citing Pope Francis' ''Laudato si''', he stresses that preserving VIP is crucial for biodiversity and the livelihoods of millions of fishermen, warning that its degradation could lead to displacement and food insecurity.<ref name="PNA-VIP">{{cite news |title=Church, NGO seek tougher laws to protect Verde Island Passage |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1210720 |work=Philippine News Agency}}</ref><ref name="MB-VerdeIsland">{{cite news |title=Calapan bishop calls for protection of Verde Island |url=https://mb.com.ph/2023/10/4/calapan-bishop-calls-for-protection-of-verde-island |publisher=Manila Bulletin |date=October 4, 2023 |access-date=February 28, 2025}}</ref><ref name="CBCP-VerdeIsland">{{cite news |title=Time to work together to protect Verde Island Passage, says bishop |url=https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/time-to-work-together-to-protect-verde-island-passage-says-bishop/ |publisher=CBCP News |date=October 4, 2023 |access-date=February 28, 2025}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links ==
{{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-bef|before=Warlito Cajandig}} {{s-ttl|title=Apostolic Vicar of Calapan| years=September 6, 2023 – March 25, 2026}} {{s-aft|after = Himself| as = Bishop of Calapan}} {{s-bef|before= Himself| as = Apostolic Vicar of Calapan}} {{s-ttl|title=Bishop of Calapan| years=March 25, 2026 – present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-bef|before=Ulrich Neymeyr}} {{s-tul|title=Bishop of Maraguia| years=August 24, 2020 – June 29, 2023}} {{s-aft|after =Zenildo Lima da Silva}} {{s-end}}
{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Calapan}} *[https://catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bcuevas.html Catholic-Hierarchy Profile]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cuevas, Moises}} Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Calapan Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Zamboanga Category:Bishops appointed by Pope Francis Category:People from Batangas Category:21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in the Philippines