Julito Buhisan Cortes

Julito Buhisan Cortes (born July 4, 1956) is a prelate of the Catholic Church in the Philippines. He is the current Bishop of Dumaguete in Negros Oriental, Philippines since September 2013. Before his appointment to the See of Dumaguete, Cortes was the Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu from 2002 to 2013.

Early life Although born in Parañaque, Manila on July 4, 1956, Julito Buhisan Cortes is a native of Siquijor, Siquijor. Born to Geronimo and Carmen Cortes, he is the eldest of seven children.

Education He finished his elementary studies at Pulangyuta Elementary School (1968) in Siquijor and his high school studies at Saint Joseph Seminary (1972) in Dumaguete. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy degree from San Carlos Seminary College (1976) in Cebu and his Bachelor's degree in Theology at the University of Santo Tomas (1976) in Manila.

Priesthood He was ordained to the priesthood on October 24, 1980, at the Cathedral of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Dumaguete, and was assigned by Epifanio Surban, first Bishop of Dumaguete, to Saint Joseph Seminary as teacher, formator, principal, and academic dean at a time when the seminary was transitioning from a high school seminary to the college seminary that it is now.

Further Education and Higher Studies During summers, Cortes continued his studies at the University of Santo Tomas and finished his Licentiate in Sacred Theology (1983) and Master of Arts in Higher Religious Education (1983). After several years in seminary formation work, he proceeded with advanced studies at the Angelicum University in Rome where he obtained a Doctorate in Sacred Theology (1986). This period of academic studies also enabled him to attend international courses such as “Fostering Human Religious Development” at the Gregorian University in Rome (1986) and “Bible and the Holy Land” at Saint George's College in Jerusalem, Israel (1988). Years later, he also attended a course on “Leadership in a Participatory Church” at the East Asian Pastoral Institute, Quezon City (1996).