GABRIEL M. REYES, the first Filipino archbishop of Manila, was born in Kalibo, Aklan on 24 March 1892. He died on 10 October 1952 in the US.

Reyes entered the Saint Vicent Ferrer Seminary in Jaro during the time of Bishop Frederick Rooker. He was ordained a priest on March 27, 1915. He established parochial schools and published the officer newspaper, Diaro-Kabuhi Sang Banua.

In 1920 he became Chancellor of Jaro, then vicar-general, later appointed the first Filipino Archbishop of Cebu. He was installed Archbishop of Manila on October 14, 1949 as the first Filipino in the post. He served until his death in 1952.

Among his tangible achievements were the establishment of parochial schools and of the San Carlos Seminary in its present 5-hectare site in Guadelope, Makati, as the first one in Manila was destroyed by an earthquake in 1889. His vision to build a Catholic center was realized by his successor with the building of the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center on U.N. Avenue in Manila.

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