STATUE. I admire industrialist/philanthropist Dr. Norberto Quisumbing Jr. for his plan to put up a life-size statue of the late Bishop Teofilo Camomot at Q Park in Compostela. The park serenely sits on a 200-hectare area that covers four barangays, namely, Canamucan, Buluang, Tubigan and Magay. Dr. NQ, as he is fondly called, told me that his plan to put up the Camomot statue was inspired by his and daughter Pinky’s recent visit to the bishop’s chapel in Valladolid, Carcar City. I agree with Dr. NQ’s plan.
The statue of Bishop Camomot, whose beatification process is in progress, truly deserves a space at Q Park which is a primary place for religious tourism in this part of the country. By the way, Q Park is always open to the general public. Call 266-5546 or 425-8355 for information on how to visit the place.
IMPRESSION. Dr. NQ also told me that one time, he had a personal meeting with Bishop Camomot and found him to be a very friendly and humble servant of the Church. “It was our very first face-to-face encounter and yet, the bishop treated me as if we knew each other for a long time already. He was very simple, humble, soft-spoken and down to earth despite his position,” Dr. NQ added. I agree, and I should know, because when the then Msgr. Lolong (his nickname) was assigned in the El Pardo parish in the ‘70s, he used to celebrate the Holy Mass every Sunday morning at St. Augustine de Hippo chapel in Inayawan (our barangay), which was then under his parish. I personally had a close encounter with him, and his persona was truly saintly. By then, Msgr. Lolong was already tagged as a living saint.
MOVIE. A few columns back, I wrote here that there should be a movie about Bishop Camomot and I was hoping some interested individuals would air their interest to finance the production. The biopic would surely entice the public to know more about the bishop’s saintly ways and pray harder for his eventual beatification. Cebu has a surplus of writers, directors and talents that can be tapped for this bioflick. I think the material, which should be based on research, is easy to acquire from the Daughters of Saint Teresa (DST) in Valladolid. Bishop Camomot founded DST in 1959. Paging film producers!
PARTY. It was truly a fun party that singing businesswoman Hildi Montesclaros a.k.a. Ate Ging recently tendered for the talents of dyHP, particularly those involved in the Gabayan sa Kaayohan drama series. She produces the nightly radio program, as well as the twice weekly show As Time Goes By on Cebu Catholic Television Network channel 47. Ate Ging is also the lady behind Helping Hands Marketing, Inc. which distributes Bio-Troff herbal capsules, the wonder food supplement. During the party, there were parlor games that I hosted, but it was during the short messages portion that the drama talents profusely thanked Ate Ging for her generosity, charity and kindness in a spontaneous manner, meaning without reading any drama script. Their messages were said from the heart. It was such a touching moment.
MAGAZINE. I sincerely congratulate fellow mediaman Andy Manatad for the publication of the maiden issue of the monthly Mabuhay Cebu News magazine. Aside from being the vice president for the Visayas of the Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc., he is also hosting a weekly commentary program titled Direct Line on Cebu Catholic Television Network channel 47. Mabuhay’s editor-in-chief is Emm Espina, while Ken Rivera and Loy Jurado are its features and photo editors, respectively. Mabuhay to Mabuhay!