On May 27, 1865, Pope Pius IX, in the bull of erection "Qui Ab Initio" of the Diocese of Jaro, insisted that a new bishop should found and organize a seminary as soon as possible. The Archbishop of Manila, the Most Rev. Gregorio Meliton Martinez carried the decree into effect, on October 10, 1867. At that time, the Most Rev. Mariano Cuartero, O.P., the first Bishop of Jaro, was still in Spain, acting as General Procurator of the Dominican Order. He received episcopal ordination at the Dominican Seminary of Ocania, Spain, in November 1867, and was able to take possession of his diocese only on April 25, 1868. The new bishop founded the Diocesan Seminary where he could train good pastors for the different parishes, which at that time were almost entirely under the spiritual administration of the Augustinian friars, who were then regarded as the Fathers of the Faith in Panay.