Rev. Fray John Paul Mabanta was born on July 28, 1984, in Malolos, Bulacan to Rosendo Balete Mabanta and Mila Aranas Sevilla. He entered the Order of St. Augustine in San Agustin Center of Studies, Quezon City, Philippines as Aspirant in 2001, received the Augustinian Habit as a Novice on May 21, 2005, received his first profession of vows on May 24, 2006, professed his perpetual vows on November 13, 2010 by the then Prior Provincial of the Augustinian Province of Sto. Niño de Cebu-Philippines, Very Rev. Fr. Eusebio B. Berdon, OSA at San Agustin Center of Studies, Quezon City, Philippines.
He was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons in 2010 by Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, D.D. of the Diocese of Cubao at San Agustine Center of Studies on September 10, 2011, he was ordained to the Sacred Order of the Presbyterate by Bishop Jose S. Palma, DD of the Archdiocese of Cebu at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu.
Fr. John Paul or better known as Fr. JP served the Province in different capacities through the years as Augustinian Religious and as Priest. He was a community member of the Sto. Niño Spirituality Center Community in Tolotolo, Consolacion, Cebu in 2010-2011; as house procurator and seminary formator in San Agustin Seminary, Guadalupe Monastery, in Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City in 2012-2016; and as Acting Parish Priest of Nuestra Señora de Gracia Parish in Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City from January to May 2016. In 2016, he was appointed as Provincial Secretary until 2020, and in 2020, during the 10th Ordinary Chapter, Fr. JP was reappointed as Provincial Secretary until his demise last August 5, 2022.
Fr. JP was known as a simple and silent friar, a friend of many friars and laity, and most of all a Marian Devotee particularly to the Our Lady of Assumption.
As a Provincial secretary for the last six years, he initiated an online campaign called Augustiknow, which is a collection of trivia and catechesis both about the Order and the Province. He also had a various collection of life-sized images of saints and the Blessed Virgin which are displayed in Nuestra Señora de Gracia Parish and in his home in Bulakan.
He also took the post of chair of the Commission of Liturgy and Augustinian Devotions while being the Provincial Secretary. It was his leadership that marked the beginning of the publication of Vulnerasti, which is the Province’s daily gospel reflection guide and at the same time serves as the calendar of important anniversaries of the Province.
After 16 Years as an Augustinian Religious, Fray John Paul was called by the Lord last August 05, 2022. His remains were laid in state in Aula Magna, Sto. Niño Pilgrim Center, Cebu City from August 06-07, 2022; in Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño Church on August 08-10, 2022; in Mabanta Residence in Bulakan, Bulacan on August 10-13, 2022; in Monasterio de Guadalupe, Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City on August 13-14, 2022. Fr. JP’s remains were interred at Manila Memorial Cemetery, Dasmariñas, Cavite on the afternoon of August 14, 2022 after a Funeral Mass was offered for the eternal repose of soul at Augustinian Parish of the Nuestra Señora de Gracia, Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City.