Florentino Lavarias

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Galang and the surname or paternal family name is Lavarias.

Florentino "Dong" Galang Lavarias is a Filipino prelate of the Catholic church. He is the fourth and current archbishop of San Fernando. He succeeded Paciano Aniceto as the Archbishop of San Fernando. Prior to his installation, he previously served as fourth bishop of Iba in Zambales from September 1, 2004 to October 27, 2014.

The Most Reverend Florentino Lavarias D.D.
Metropolitan Archbishop of San Fernando
Archbishop Lavarias during the Rite of Canonical Possession at the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Fernando.
Church	Catholic
Archdiocese	San Fernando
Appointed	July 25, 2014
Installed	October 27, 2014
Predecessor	Paciano Aniceto
Previous post(s)	Bishop of Iba (2004‍–‍2014) Apostolic Administrator of Balanga (2023‍–‍2025)
Orders
Ordination	25 September 1985 by Oscar Cruz
Consecration	12 August 2004 by Antonio Franco
Personal details
Born	(1957-03-14) March 14, 1957 (age 68) Mabalacat, Pampanga, Philippines
Education	Holy Angel University San Carlos Seminary
Motto	Voluntas Tua Delectatio Mea (Latin for 'Your Will is My Delight' – Psalms 40:8)
Coat of arms

Styles of Florentino G. Lavarias
Reference style	The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Archbishop

Biography

Lavarias was born on March 14, 1957, in Santa Ines, Mabalacat. He graduated in college at the Holy Angel University in 1978 before entering the San Carlos Seminary. He was ordained a priest on September 26, 1985, at the Our Lady of Grace Parish. He served various parishes under the Archdiocese of San Fernando. He was appointed bishop of Iba. He was consecrated on August 12, 2004, at the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Fernando. His consecrator was then the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Antonio Franco, while his co-consecrators were Paciano Aniceto and Gaudencio Rosales .^[1]

On October 27, 2014, Lavarias succeeded Paciano Aniceto as the latter resigned as Archbishop of San Fernando, Pampanga due to the age limit after being appointed by Pope Francis three months earlier on July 25, 2014.^[2]

Due to the departure of Ruperto Santos to become fifth Bishop of Antipolo covering Marikina in Metro Manila and the province of Rizal on July 22, 2023 which ended his term as fourth bishop of Balanga, Lavarias was appointed by Pope Francis as sede vacante apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Balanga where he currently holds the position while awaiting for the installation of Santos' successor as the diocese's fifth bishop. His term has been ended when Rufino Sescon was installed as Bishop of Balanga last March 1, 2025.