By Helen Castaño | 09:00 PM September 30, 2025
CEBU CITY — Newly installed Archbishop Alberto “Abet” Uy delivered a heartfelt message of gratitude during his installation at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, recalling with humor, humility, and hope the moment he received news of his appointment.
Uy said he was stunned when informed last July—on the eve of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) plenary in Bohol—that Pope Leo had named him Archbishop of Cebu. “My very first reaction was panic and disbelief. In fact, I almost asked the caller: ‘Are you not a scammer?’” he recalled, drawing laughter from the congregation.
Despite initial doubts, Uy said he found courage in his conviction that “God has a reason and a purpose for everything.” He shared that in preparing for Cebu, he even texted diocesan priests to introduce himself, only to be mistaken again for a scammer. “Lawgawa dong, naala-an man kog scammer,” he said in Cebuano.
Gratitude and Companionship
Uy expressed deep thanks to Pope Leo, Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Charles John Brown, and Archbishop Emeritus Jose Palma, whom he described as “very humble and kindhearted.” He also thanked Cardinals Luis Antonio Tagle, Jose Advincula, and Pablo Virgilio David, and the bishops and clergy across the country for their fraternal support.
He paid tribute to the clergy and faithful of Tagbilaran, where he served as bishop for eight years, and to the Diocese of Talibon, where he began his priestly ministry. “They cried when the transfer was announced. I’m not sure if it was out of sadness or joy,” he said with a smile.
Uy also acknowledged his family, relatives, friends, and former seminaries, saying they had shaped him for the priesthood and sustained him in his journey.
A Call to Servant Leadership
Addressing the people of Cebu, Uy said he comes as an “unworthy servant” who cannot fulfill his mission alone. He vowed to work closely with priests, consecrated persons, lay faithful, government leaders, and interfaith communities to “build bridges, not walls.”
He also called for integrity in leadership, particularly among the clergy: “If we live what we preach, then our people will believe that change is possible, that the Gospel has power, and that the Church can truly be a light in dark times.”
Uy assured the faithful in prisons, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, remote villages, and islands that they are part of the Church’s family and remain in his prayers. He promised to reach them in time, noting the vastness of Cebu, and encouraged them to follow the archdiocese’s online platforms for pastoral guidance.
Entrusting His Mission to God
Ending his message, Uy likened his new responsibility to an Irish fisherman’s prayer: “Loving God, the ocean is so big, and my boat is so small. Please be good to me.”
“My dear Cebuanos, I cannot promise to be the best Archbishop. But with humility and trust in God, I promise to give you my best—so that together, we may walk closer to Christ, our true Shepherd,” he said.
