He was ordained to the priesthood on March 19, 1977, for the Archdiocese of Manila. There, he served as Assistant Parish Priest (1977) of San Isidro Labrador Parish in
Pasay, Spiritual Director (1977–1979) at the San Pablo Regional Seminary in Baguio City, Director of the Pre-College Department of the
San Carlos Seminary (1979–1981), Professor of Theology (1985–1988) at the San Carlos Seminary, Rector (1988–1994) of the Holy Apostles Senior Seminary, and Rector (1994–1997) of the
Pontificio Collegio Filippino. ==Episcopate==