To the prelate’s aide for 34 years: Vidal was fatherly and generous

CEBU, Philippines — If there is one person who knows very well the late Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, his personal aide for 34 years would definitely be one of them.

Celestino Tumale, fondly called as "Uloy," has been working for the beloved prelate for more than three decades, dating back when he was single, until he decided to get married and blessed with five children.

Uloy was the only personal aide of the cardinal that remained and was with him until his last breath.

The 57-year-old native of Bohol arrived at the Archbishop’s Palace in Cebu City even before Vidal was assigned at the Cebu archdiocese.

He started as gardener and went on working as janitor, electrician and driver.  Until he was also given the opportunity to serve as sacristan during the Masses held inside compound.

But when he served for Vidal, three attributes of the late cardinal has been etched in Tumale’s heart – fatherly, generous and prayerful.

Tumale said Vidal was like a father to him and him being his adopted son.

“I am like his immediate family here… He is very fatherly and slow to anger,” he said in English and Cebuano.

However, Uloy had to make a tough decision when he got married since, as practiced, an in-house worker could not just bring his family to live inside the Palace with him.

Tumale decided to return to Bohol.

But Vidal has come to love his children and would always look for them – the reason why his family had been traveling in and out of Cebu.

But in 2002, things changed when Vidal offered them to stay with him at the Palace with his family.

Vidal was generous and gives without reservation, said Tumale.  Vidal helped out in supporting the finances of the studies of his children.

Before his children, Tumale was actually one of the scholars that Vidal sponsored. He completed the degree program of nautical engineering at the University of Cebu.

But more than the financial aspect, Vidal has been Tumale’s spiritual counselor, guiding him every day with his advices.

Tumale said Vidal was very prayerful. He does not miss his regular prayers.

He recalled that Vidal always sees to it that he prays before the altar of the Blessed Sacrament for an hour before sleeping. He continued this practice even if he was already sickly.

Tumale had felt some signs of Vidal’s possible passing with his different behavior on the previous days before he left.

Tumale was one of the personnel who assisted in rushing the cardinal to the hospital on October 11.

A week after, while at the Palace, he was informed of Vidal’s death through phone call.

He did not say a word. He got near his children and held them in his arms.

Wake

Meanwhile, Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito yesterday paid a visit to the wake of Ricardo Cardinal Vidal at Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

Ejercito recalled that Vidal was the one who officiated his wedding years ago.

“I feel sad because during our lowest moments, he was there to comfort us and I will never forget that – to the point that I almost lost my faith.  But, because of him, he was one of the factors that my Catholic faith remains strong because of Cardinal Vidal,” told reporters.

Ejercito described Vidal as loving, caring, and a “Holy Man.” He purposely came here to say goodbye to a good family friend.

For former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama, Vidal used to be the living saint.

“We’ve lost a spiritual icon and we have lost a national leader. A living legend in terms of espousing unity, in terms of bringing what is moral, fiber and for national healing,” he said.

Rama said he could not forget his conversation with Vidal when the former was the city’s vice mayor. Rama said Vidal used to advise him that he should have personal security personnel.

He said Vidal also gave him a book with a message “I wish and pray that you will be my mayor someday.”

“His memory will never be erased that there was an archbishop who came in Cebu and made history,” Rama said.

Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia, for his part, said Vidal was a family friend who has been present in any family gathering in the past.

“You (Vidal) were Cebu's most unifying leader who served with such humility and kindness. But l will always remember you as a constant presence in our family gatherings and milestones — from Lolo Jess' and Lola Ever's 50th wedding celebration in 1990, to my parents' 25th in 1997 and even to my brother Jerald's wedding to Christina in 2003,” he said.

Officials of Cebu City government set aside partisan politics as they all attended the Mass sponsored by the city on the second day of Vidal’s wake yesterday.

Also, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council Head Nagiel Bañacia said the city government will also be deploying all its resources to secure the vicinity of Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

He said there are several dignitaries that will be coming over from different parts of the world that is why the city should come in to assist the church.

Talisay City Mayor Eduardo Gullas said that the death of Cardinal Vidal is a great loss to the Church itself and to Cebu.

"He served Cebuanos well with utmost fidelity," he said.

He added that it feels like a family member has died because Cardinal Vidal is close to their family.

He remembered that Vidal's first assignment in Cebu is the Metropolitan Cathedral. Since then, Gullas' mother considered Vidal as his own son.

"Buotan gyud kaayo. His made up is like a parish priest, even if nahimo na siya nga Bishop, Archbishop ug na Cardinal," he said. (FREEMAN)