Dagupan City – 4 November 2009. In solemn rites, Msgr. Socrates Buenaventura Villegas was installed as the Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan at 10:00 AM at the St. John the Evangelist Parish Church, Dagupan City. The Canonical Installation was attended by 70 arch/bishops, and more than 350 priests coming from different arch/dioceses of the country, and participated in by more than 3,000 guest and visitors coming from Bataan where Msgr. Socrates B. Villegas served as bishop prior to his appointment as archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, and by visitors coming from Manila and nearby provinces.
Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales and Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal also attended the canonical installation. The Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams formally installed the new archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan. Msgr. Rafael S. Magno, Jr, the Chancellor, read the message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.
The newly appointed archbishop was received by Msgr. Renato P. Mayugba, DD, the Auxiliary of Lingayen-Dagupan during the Rite of Reception.
Archbishop Socrates Villegas was ordained priest by then Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin in October 5, 1985. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Manila in July 25, 2001, and ordained Bishop and Titular of Nona in August 31, 2001. He was appointed Bishop of Balanga (Bataan) in May 3, 2004 and installed in July 3, 2004.
On 8 September 2009, Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz, DD as archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan and appointed Bishop Socrates B. Villegas as Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan.
