Episcopal Commission for the Biblical Apostolate

CBAP Announces the Election of President, New Officers and Members to its Board

            TagaytayCity—July 16, 2011—The Catholic Biblical Association of the Philippines (CBAP)announced, at the bible-association’s annual convention, the election of Fr.Leander Barrot, OAR, Vice President for Academics of San SebastianCollege-Recoletos (Manila) as president of CBAP (2011-2012).

            Fr.Leander Barrot, OAR isVice President for Academics of San Sebastian College-Recoletos (Manila) and Director ofits Canlubang Campus. He holds a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture (SSL) from thePontifical Biblical Institute in Rome (2001) andat present teaches New Testament at the school of theology of the  RecoletosFormation Center(Quezon City).

            Sister Nicetas Vargas, OSA, Assistant Professor ofBiblical Theology at the Loyola School of Theology (Quezon City) was elected Vice President.Vargas is a former President of the Universityof Regina Carmeli (Malolos City).  She obtained a Doctorate of Philosophy inReligious Studies/New Testament from the Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium). Sheis the author of Word and Witness: Introduction to the Gospel of John(Ateneo Press, forthcoming). She is also a Guest Professor of Divine WordSeminary (Tagaytay City).

            Sister Bernardita Dianzon, FSP, Associate Professorof Biblical Theology at the Loyola School of Theology (Quezon City) was re-elected Secretary of theBoard. Dianzon studied at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome (SSL, 2000)and  obtained a double doctorate—PhD andSThD in Sacred Scripture from the Ateneo de Manila University (Quezon City) andLoyola School of Theology (Quezon City) respectively. She currently teaches theLetters of St. Paul and Biblical Greek at the Loyola School of Theology and atthe Divine Word Seminary.

            Fr.Clarence Marquez, OP, Director of the Instituteof Preaching (at Santo Domingo in Quezon City)was also re-elected Treasurer of the Board. Marquez obtained his Licentiate inSacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome (2001). He did courses at the Écolebiblique et archéologique française de Jérusalem. He also served as VicePresident for Finance of the Universityof Santo Tomas (Manila).

            Fr.Randolf Flores, SVD, past President of the CBAP (2008-2011) was also reelectedas member of the Board of Trustees (BOT). Flores finished his Licentiate inSacred Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome(1999) and teaches Scripture courses and Biblical Hebrew at Divine WordSeminary and School of Christian Studies, Universityof Saint Joseph (Macau, China).

            Sr.Miriam Alejandrino, OSB, former Dean of Studies of the Saint AlphonsusTheologate (Davao City) was also reelectedas BOT member. She currently teaches Scripture and courses and Biblical Hebrewat the Regional Major Seminary in Davao City (first semester) and atDivine Word Seminary (second semester). Alejandrino obtained her Licentiate inSacred Scripture (SSL) from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome (1992) and Doctorate in Biblical Theology (SThD) fromthe Pontifical GregorianaUniversity in Rome (1995).

            Fr.Fruto Ramirez, SJ, former Dean of Studies of the Loyola School of Theologywas reelected as BOT member. He is an Associate Professor of Biblical Theologyof the said school of theology where he teaches Old Testament and BiblicalHebrew. Ramirez obtained his Licentiate in Sacred Scriptures from thePontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and Doctoratein Sacred Theology from Pontifical Gregorian Universityalso in Rome.

            Fr.Victor Nicdao, Rector of the Mother of Good Counsel Seminary, (San Fernando, Pampanga)was also reelected as BOT member.  He isan Assistant Professor of Biblical Theology at the Loyola School of Theology.He also teaches New Testament courses at the Instituteof Formation and Religious Studies(IFRS, Quezon City)and Mother of Good Counsel Seminary. He is currently the Parish Priestof San Jose Parish in San Jose, San Fernando, Pampanga. Nicdao obtainedhis Doctorate in Sacred Theology (SThD) from the CatholicUniversity in Louvain(Belgium).

            Fr. Gil Alinsagan, SSP,former Provincial Superior of the Society of Saint Paul was once more electedto the Board. He teaches New Testament at Maryhill School of Theology (Quezon City) and Don Bosco Center of Studies (Parañaque City). Alinsangan holds a Licentiate inSacred Scripture (SSL) from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome.

About CBAP

The Catholic Biblical Associationof the Philippines (CBAP) is an association of around sixty Bible exegetes,scholars, theologians and professors based in the Philippines. Founded in 1999, theCBAP aims to advance biblical studies in the country, holds an annualconvention, and publishes its research and proceedings. Members must have atleast a graduate degree equivalent to a Licentiate in Sacred Scriptures (SSL)or a Master with specialization in Biblical Science. They must possess anadequate knowledge of the Biblical languages: Hebrew and Greek. CBAP holdsoffice at the Loyola School of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University campus,Quezon City and is registered under the Securities and Exchange Commissionof the Republic of the Philippines (S.E.C. Reg no. A2000003849).