Rex Cullingham Ramirez

Rex Cullingham Ramirez (born December 15, 1967) is a Filipino bishop of the Catholic Church, currently serving as the Bishop of Naval in Biliran, Philippines. Appointed by Pope Francis on October 13, 2017, he officially assumed his role on January 12, 2018, following the retirement of his predecessor, Bishop Filomeno Bactol.

Early life and education Ramirez was born on December 15, 1967, in Balangiga, Eastern Samar. He pursued his early seminary formation at the Sacred Heart Seminary in Palo, Leyte. After completing his philosophy studies, he continued his theological education at the Loyola School of Theology at the Ateneo de Manila University. From 1997 to 2007, he pursued further studies at the Pontifical Athenaeum of Saint Anselm in Rome, where he obtained a Licentiate in Liturgy and began doctoral studies.

Priesthood Ramirez was ordained a priest on March 27, 1997, by Archbishop Pedro Dean for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Palo. In the first two years of his priesthood, he served as personal secretary to the archbishop of Palo. His installation took place on January 12, 2018 at the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral.

Since assuming leadership of the diocese, Ramirez has prioritized clergy formation, youth ministry, and social action programs. He has also focused on healthcare initiatives, leading the creation of a diocesan healthcare ministry to provide medical services to underserved communities during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines.

He has been the chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Health Care of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) from 2019 to 2025.