12 Facts About Jesus Varela

Jesus Yu Varela was a Filipino prelate of the Catholic Church.

Jesus Varela became the Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Sorsogon on his retirement on April 16,2003.

Jesus Varela was appointed bishop of Sorsogon on November 27,1980.

Jesus Varela served as the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga and titular Bishop of Tatilti.

Jesus Varela was born on December 18,1927, in Bacolod, the son of Vicente Varela, a judge from Bago within the same province of Negros Occidental.

Jesus Varela is a direct descendant of Gregorio Varela, a Spaniard who was one of Bago's founding fathers, and through Gregorio's wife Josefa Araneta he is a member of the Araneta family.

Jesus Varela studied at the Sorsogon National High School between 1946 and 1949, after which he studied for three years at the Our Lady of Penafrancia Minor Seminary.

Jesus Varela was ordained on March 17,1956 in Cebu City, where his father last served as a Provincial Judge.

Jesus Varela joined the Society of Jesus, following in the footsteps of his older brother Mariano, who was a Jesuit priest.

Jesus Varela's family is involved in government, his nephew the late Francis Varela served as Undersecretary for Finance of the Department of Education, and his cousin the late Jose Varela served as Congressman-at-large for Negros Occidental.

Jesus Varela was President of the Philippine Federation of Catholic Broadcasters, and used this position to criticize President Ferdinand Marcos, at a time when all media were censored or under the direct control of the government.

Jesus Varela served as Chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, and was a member of its permanent council.