Devotees mark Camomot’s 106th birthday today

CEBU, Philippines —  Thousands of devotees of the late Cebu Archbishop Teofilo Camomot are expected to flock at the Daughters of Sta. Teresa (DST) monastery in Valladolid, Carcar City for his 106th birth anniversary today.

Two novena thanksgiving masses will be held, one each in the morning and in the afternoon. The afternoon mass will be officiated by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.

Also in the afternoon, the multi-million, modern and minimalist Sta. Teresa de Avila Chapel will be also blessed and inaugurated.

The new chapel, which can accommodate up to 1,500 people, is just located atop Domus Teofilo, which is also a chapel, a museum and where the body of Camomot is laid.

Rev. Mother Louella Grace Buscato, DST Mother Superior, is inviting the public to come to the monastery and be in one with fellow devotees and celebrate together the birth celebration of the late Cebuano prelate.

One of the thousands of devotees who will be attending the event is Ma. Theresa Mata-Espina, who will be bringing fellow devotees and first-time visitors  coming from Olango Island in Lapu-Lapu City.

“Duna koy gipangayo niya, nga unta iya ko tabangan nga makuha nako pagbalik ang luna sa akong Lolo. Gani, ako paman gihagbong sa petition box ang usa sa mga papeles. Dili man gyud siya usa ka milagro pero iya lang gihatag ang akong gipangayo pero, dili diha-diha dayon ang iyang pagsanong sa akong pangamuyo niya,” she said.

“Mao, ako gyud gi-claim nga si Archbishop Camomot ang nitabang nako kay wa man koy laing santos nga gipangayoan og tabang ato nga time,” she added.

Espina was one of those who was able to personally meet Camomot in his lifetime.

“Matag Marso 25 ug Oktobre 15, duna silay ordinahan nga mga madre, novis, postulant ug duna pud mag-profess ug mao rana nga panahon nga makakita ko ni Camomot, didto sa ilang monastery sa Valladolid, Carcar,” Espina said.

Espina used to live with the DST sisters at Patria de Cebu building way back in the 1980s.

“Nag-working ko nila aron ko malibre sa akong pagkaon ug pagpuyo while nagtungha ko,” said Espina.

“Nisaad pud ko niya (Camomot) nga mohatag ug luna  sa mga DST Sisters, aron matukoran kini nila ug kapilya, bahalag dili pa santos si Archbishop Camomot,” she added.

Camomot was born on March 3, 1914 in Carcar, Cebu.

He died in a vehicular accident on his way home to Carcar on September 27, 1988.  JMD (FREEMAN)