On March 19, 1945, Iloilo was liberated. Life returned to normal and everybody resumed the work stopped by the war. With the death of Bishop McCloskey on April 19, 1945, Bishop Cuenco became the diocesan bishop on November 27, 1945. He began rebuilding the diocese and the seminary. The first plan of the bishop in re-opening the seminary was in the parish convent of Sta. Barbara. However, the opinion of Fr. Rodriguez was to begin in the old place in Jaro for practical and sentimental reasons. The opinion of Fr. Rodriguez prevailed. There were still many usable things in the ruined building, which had been used and partly repaired by the American soldiers.