The Most Reverend José Serofia Palma, D.D., STD (born 19 March 1950) is the current Archbishop-elect of Cebu since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 15 October 2010. He had previously served as archbishop of Palo in the province of Leyte, on the island of Visayas. Palma was born in Dingle in the Archdiocese of Jaro. He studied philosophy at the St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary and theological studies at the St. Joseph Regional Seminary. He received his licentiate in Sacred Theology at the Pontifical and Royal University Santo Tomas in Manila, and a doctorate from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Jaro on 21 August 1976.

After a year as assistant priest at the Cathedral of Jaro, he taught at the St Vincent Ferrer Seminary. After his studies in Rome, became rector of the same St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary until he was appointed rector of the Major seminary of the Metropolitan Province of Jaro-the St. Joseph Regional Seminary, in 1988. Meanwhile, he also held various positions in several diocesan commissions. In 1997 he was made parish priest of the Parish of St Anthony of Padua in Iloilo (Archdiocese of Jaro). On 28 November 1997, Pope John Paul II appointed him Titular Bishop of Vazari Diddi and Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu. He was consecrated on 13 January 1998. Exactly a year later, he was made Bishop-Ordinary of the See of Calbayog.

On 18 March 2006, Palma was appointed archbishop of Palo by Pope Benedict. He currently serves as Vice-President of the Episcopal Conference of the Philippines, a position to which he was elected on 1 December 2009. On 15 October 2010, he was appointed Archbishop of Cebu, replacing Cardinal Ricardo Vidal.

PERSONAL

• Birth: March 19, 1950
• Place of Birth: Dingle, Iloilo
• Sacerdotal Ordination: August 21, 1976 -
• Episcopal Ordination: January 13, 1998 – Metropolitan Cathedral, Cebu

EDUCATION

Elementary: Calicuang Elementary School, Dingle, 1956-1962
High School: Mater Carmeli High School, Dingle, 1962-1966
College:

• St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary/St. Joseph Junior Seminary, 1966-1968 Philosophy
• St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary, 1968-1972 Theology
• St. Joseph Regional Seminary, 1973-1976 Licentiate in Theology
• UST Central Seminary, Manila, Magna Cum Laude, 1977-1980, Doctorate in Theology
• Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome, Magna Cum Laude, 1983-1987

MINISTRY

• 1976-1977- Parochial Vicar, Jaro Cathedral, Iloilo City
• 1977-1980- Guest Priest, Holy Trinity Parish, Balic-Balic, Sampaloc, Manila
• 1980-1983- Vice Rector and Professor, St. Joseph Regional Seminary
• 1984-1987- (Summer) Guest Priest, St. Andrew Parish, Bayonne, New Jersey, USA
• 1987-1988- Rector, St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary
• 1988-1997- Rector, St. Joseph Regional Seminary
• 1988-1997- Member, Archdiocesan Presbyteral Council
• 1990- Participant, Second Plenary Council of the Philippines
• 1990-1997- Member, Archdiocesan Board of Consultors
• 1994-1995- Director, Archdiocesan Commission on Family and Life
• 1994-1997- Member, St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary Board of Trustees
• 1994-1997- Member, St. Pius XII Catechetical Institute Board of Directors
• 1996-1997- Member, Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus Board of Directors
• 1997- Parish Priest, St. Anthony of Padua Parish

ORDINATION

• Principal Consecrator: Archbishop Gian Vincenzo Moreni
• Principal Co-Consecrators: Archbishop Alberto Jover Piamonte, Archbishop Fernando R. Capalla