Socrates Mesiona

Socrates Calamba Mesiona (born September 17, 1963), is a Filipino bishop of the Roman Catholic Church who currently serves as the Apostolic Vicar of Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Philippines. He was appointed by Pope Francis on October 28, 2016, and consecrated as bishop on February 10, 2017.

Early life and education Mesiona was born in Tagbilaran, Bohol on September 17, 1963. He pursued his philosophical studies at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary from 1980 to 1984 before proceeding to the Divine Word School of Theology in Tagaytay from 1984 to 1989, where he completed his theological formation. In 1994, he went to Rome to study Missiology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, earning a licentiate degree in 1996.

Priesthood On April 14, 1989, Mesiona was ordained a priest as a member of the Mission Society of the Philippines (M.S.P.).

Advocacy and initiatives Bishop Mesiona has been an advocate for social, environmental, and historical causes in Palawan.

He had advocate for preserving Palawan's Christian heritage. In August 2022, he led the launch of a year-long celebration of the 400th anniversary of Christianity in Palawan. The commemoration began at St. Augustine Church in Cuyo town, the oldest parish in the province, and featured a pilgrimage of the Mission Cross throughout the island. In January 2023, he formally requested the Puerto Princesa city government to rename Taft Street to Saint Ezekiel Moreno Street in honor of the first missionary priest in the area. The proposal was meant to reflect the city's religious history, as the street passes by the Immaculate Conception Cathedral and a park dedicated to Princess Eulalia of Spain.

In June 2024, he launched a pastoral program dedicated to the welfare of seafarers and fishers within the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa. This initiative aimed to provide spiritual and pastoral care to maritime workers in the region.

On December 1, 2024, he joined the Apostolic Vicar of Taytay Broderick Pabillo and his predecessor Juanich in launching a signature campaign calling for a 25-year moratorium on mining operations in the province to protect its rich biodiversity and natural resources.