[2] During summers, Cortes continued his studies at the University of Santo Tomas and finished his Licentiate in Sacred Theology (1983) and Master of Arts in Higher Religious Education (1983).

[3] After several years in seminary formation work, he proceeded with advanced studies at the Angelicum University in Rome where he obtained a Doctorate in Sacred Theology (1986).

This period of academic studies also enabled him to attend international courses such as “Fostering Human Religious Development” at the Gregorian University in Rome (1986) and “Bible and the Holy Land” at Saint George's College in Jerusalem, Israel (1988).

[2] Upon his return to the diocese, he was assigned by Angel Lagdameo, second Bishop of Dumaguete, as rector of Saint Joseph Seminary and later appointed him Vicar General as well (1989).

[2] On 28 September 2013, Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz, Pope Francis, appointed Cortes as the fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Dumaguete.