The Formation Years

CEBU, Philippines —  The protective mother who would not let the young Teofilo Camomot leave home to study in Mindanao was willing to let her boy go to the seminary school. She felt the seminary was safer for her rather docile boy than the agricultural school in Mindanao where, she feared, her Teofilo would be made to do hard labor.

In a practical sense, the priesthood mattered more. Having a priest in the family was then – and still is – considered an honor and a divine sanction. And so Teofilo’s parents were fully supportive of his plan to enter the seminary.

In 1932, Teofilo set foot in the Seminario Menor de San Carlos (now St. John XXIII Seminary) in Mabolo, Cebu City. He was 18 years old when he started his secondary education there. At the seminary, Teofilo remained simple and humble. His days were routinely between study and prayer.

The daily routine worked. His grade sheet for school year 1932-1933 showed that Teofilo was right on track. In academics, he was excellent both in Latin and the Catechism of the Catholic Church – the two major subjects in preparation for priesthood. He ranked second in a class composed of 16 students.

Teofilo did well in other subjects, too: Filipino History (89), Filipino Geography (89), English (84). His Español (75) and Music (74) were quite a struggle, though. His Music grade, in particular, was a bit of a shock considering that his father was a big music enthusiast, singing in the church choir of the St. Catherine of Alexandria parish back in his hometown Carcar. But Teofilo compensated for it by earning a “buena” (good) grade in Character Education.

His performance at secondary school being satisfactory overall, Teofilo then moved on to the Seminario Mayor de San Carlos for Philosophy and Theology studies.

During his time at the seminary, Teofilo would go home to his family in Carcar during holiday breaks. While there, he’d assume doing the household chores and let his younger siblings play.  He’d chop fireword, fetch water, and help in preparing their meals.

And yet he would not stay long at home during those school breaks. After completing his house chores, Teofilo would go out to visit the farmers and the lowly people in the community. He’d always bring with him bags of corn grits or rice or vegetables to give away; sometimes even medicine and clothes.

At times Teofilo would travel to Mandaue – some 45 kilometers away from Carcar – to teach Catechism, an instrument for ecclesial communion and a norm for teaching the Catholic faith.

In 1939, as Teofilo was finishing his theological studies, World War II erupted in Europe. And the war eventually reached the Philippines. Cebu, being the second largest city after Manila, became one of Japan’s major centers of operations.

Those were dangerous times. Amid threats to his personal safety, Teofilo proudly wore his white cassock at charitable activities. He’d always bring with him a rosary – a manifestation of his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. (FREEMAN)