In the annals of the Philippine history, the Filipino people underwent a very tumultuous journey as a nation.
As the Filipinos started to assert its independence from the yoke of the former colonizer after the Philippine Revolution of 1898, our patriots began to formulate and frame its Constitution. Historical records reveal that our heroes imbued with ingrained faith in God or “Bathala” reflected the innate spirituality of the Filipino-Malay race as they craft the law of the land.
Paraliel to that critical moment of our history as a nation, the local Church was also undergoing a very significant transition. The execution of the prominent secularization movement figures – Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora (GOMBURZA) likewise, caused a momentous schism within the local Catholic Church.
The Philippine Independent Church was born and founded by Gregorio L. Aglipay, a Filipino priest and an underground “Katipunero” and Isabelo F. delos Reyes in 1902, seceded from the Holy See. This major blow to the local Catholic Church impelled the higher authorities to re-assess its policy and began to assimilate the local Filipino clergy in the direct governance of the Filipino faithful.
When the Americans took possessions of the Archipelago after a buy-out from the Spaniards, another turbulent event transpired. Filipinos again rose in arms to seek its independence from the new colonizer. Foreign Protestant missionaries and the “Thomasites” flocked the country that started the Americanization of the Philippines. Silently, the Filipinos cried for redemption.
TEOFILO (LOLONG) BASTIDA CAMOMOT was born amidst the above milieus on March 3, 1914 in Cogon, Carcar, Cebu Province. His parents were Luis Aleson Camomot and Angela Bastida. He was baptized and christened as Teofilo (Greek word, “Theophillus, ” which means “lover of God,” or “loved by God” or “friend of God.” He was one of the eight children of the Camomot couple. Lolong’s parents were very devout Catholics. From childhood, both parents inculcated to their children the disciplined religious life. During Angelus and Rosary prayer time, the whole family prayed together. Every Sunday the whole family went to Mass without fail. Young Lolong was also the constant companion of his father Luis, a church “cantor”, in attending the daily Mass in the Parish Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria in Carcar.
His childhood to boyhood were characterized with a serene and simple rustic life. Family members and those close to him remembered him as a loving and unassuming boy. The young Lolong loved to help in the household chores to the delight of his siblings who chose to just play and linger around. Likewise, he enjoyed tagging along with his father as he visited their corn fields in the outskirts of town. Lolong was also fond of playing with the children of their “kasamas, “peasants or farm workers. His inherent generosity was evidenced by his early practices of charitable acts such as bringing foods, clothing and anything he could share to the poor and needy farm workers.
After finishing his primary and elementary schooling, his mind was fixed or intent in enrolling at a Mindanao agricultural school. However, tate leads him to a more divine calling when his eldest brother Fr. Diosdado Camomot encouraged or directed him to be enrolled in a diocesan seminary in Cebu. Even during his seminary days on every school breaks, he continued to be a good Christian and maintained his compassion, charity and generosity to the poor and needy in Carcar town, including its upland rural areas. His kindness was not unknown to the inhabitants of Carcar.
Rev. Fr. Teofilo Camomot was ordained as a Priest at the break of World War II. The heat of the war raged on during that time and he was forced by the circumstances to hold his first Mass on the second floor of their residence in Cogon, Carcar. Father Lolong, as he was fondly called, bravely performed his pastoral works during this critical period disregarding even his own safety.
Townsfolk often saw him in his cassocks whenever he openly made rounds to his poor parishioners as he shepherds them during the Japanese occupation. The inhabitants regarded him as a man of prayer and their protector that gave them hope and strength during those trying times.
Immediately after the war, Fr. Lolong was transferred to the Parish of St. Teresa of Avila in Talisay City. The church was devastated and almost totally demolished by the bombardments made by the American liberators and the Japanese retreating forces. Fr. Lolong began the gargantuan tasks of rebuilding the church practically from the scratch, while simultaneously performed the grueling undertakings of putting back the shattered lives of the parishioners who were still in daze, moving aimlessly and expressionless as they tried to pick up the pieces of what were left by the havoc of war. It was in this state that Father Lolong faced a seeming insurmountable tasks of restoring the lives, the Faith and the hope of the inhabitants. Slowly, through the trust in the providential care of the Lord, Father Lolong led the people back to their lives as the whole community took part in the reconstruction of the edifice of St. Teresa of Avila Church that eventually became the symbol of Cebuano’s resilience and deep faith in “Bathala,” the Lord and creator of the universe. The dedicated pastoral care of this humble Man of God on one of the most challenging eras of Philippine history; and his intense and deep prayer life coupled with genuine love for his fellowmen enabled him to reach a higher level of spirituality.
His efforts and achievements were not without notice by the Church authorities. He was elevated to higher positions in various dioceses in the Visayas and Mindanao region – as Auxiliary Bishop of Jaro in Iloilo and Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro. Personally, he preferred to remain obscure and close to the parishioners he loved so much. Wherever he was assigned to, in whatever position he had, people saw him as the fatherly Pastor that was always there like a shepherd to his flocks. Since the start of his sacerdotal life and wherever he was transferred to, from dusk till dawn, Archbishop Teofilo B. Camomot, DD spent daily regimen of prayers and tirelessly attending to the needs of those who needed his prayers; spending time in confessions; celebrating Holy Mass; attending to the sick parishioners who were living in the outskirts of towns; providing sacraments to the dying; and giving alms to anyone that approached him whether in need or for anything else. Even his pectoral cross and episcopal ring were not spared as he became a constant client in pawnshops so that he could have money for those who were seeking his help. A very simple man, with very few possessions – his old and worn-out breviary, a couple of almost tattered cassocks, and a pair of shoes. Most of the time, he just preferred to sleep on the floor with a piece of mat. Seminarians found him always queuing up for confession and insisted on waiting for his turn. Young seminarians who were tasked to assist him, found it difficult to cope up with his zeal in pastoral activities.
In the course of his ministry, Archbishop Camomot who was also a member of the Order of Carmelites Discalced Secular (OCDS), was able to establish a congregation for religious nuns, the Daughters of Saint Teresa which was first founded in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental and now settled and based in Valladolid, Carcar City. During the time that the diocesan priests? living conditions were still found wanting and the Philippine dioceses were just beginning to become fully independent because local churches established by the major religious orders were not yet fully turned over to the local church authorities, Filipino diocesan clergymen existed as if they were second-class priests compared to the members of affluent religious orders. It was during this period that Archbishop Camomot felt that he had to do something for them to improve their lot and established the Society of St. John Vianney (SSJV) for the diocesan priests. He even submitted same proposal to the Vatican II Council when he was elected by then Archbishop Hayes to represent him in the said council as a delegate. Now, memberships increased as SSJV center in Cagayan de Oro presently holds a Seniorate or Home for the Aged and Sick Priests, and a Theological Seminary that services the Mindanao area.
His ascetic life steered him deeper in his prayer life that those close to him witnessed mystical occurrences whenever they accidentally observed him in a contemplative and trance-like state.
Whenever he was told of these happenings, he just cautioned and ordered the witnesses to forget about it and never to tell anybody about those events. Many miracles of healings, many instances of bilocation, driving out of demons, even walking across the river were attributed to him during his tenure as servant of God. Archbishop Camomot was completely detached from all these supernatural phenomena as he was totally detached with all inordinate desires and material possessions. Quoting the great Saint Teresa of Jesus, for him – “only God suffices!”
In the end of his journey, he achieved his only desire – to be in eternal union with God as he met the creator on the manner he wished it to be. The whole of Cebu and the rest of the region mourned his passing but he left an indelible mark on the lives of those whom he had close encounter with. Archbishop Camomot was hailed and remembered as a living saint during his time.
