CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Councilors Socrates Fernandez and Edward Alesna are pushing to rename Gen. Luna Street in Barangay Poblacion to Teofilo Camomot Street in honor of the former archbishop who dedicated 20 years of his priesthood at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Sta. Teresa de Avila.
Fernandez and Alesna, who are both serving in the Catholic Church, said the renaming will be an important transition that will remind the people of Padre Camomot's guiding example as a priest.
Several public hearings were already conducted by the Poblacion Barangay officials in the church. A resolution has been passed to change the name and there were no reported objections to the proposal.
However, Fernandez and Alesna clarified that changing Gen. Luna to Padre Camomot does not mean that the former is not worthy of emulation anymore.
"A memory for the bravery of Gen. Antonio Luna has been instilled in the hearts of Talisaynons, thus he is worthy of our reminiscence…a nascent growth of awareness for our spirituality was surmounted by Padre Teofilo Camomot, a hero of our faith because of his paradigm of holiness," part of the resolution said.
Camomot had ardently served as parish priest of Talisay since 1943 and was known for his service and generosity to the poor. He was then named titular auxiliary bishop of Jaro, Iloilo in 1955 before being elevated as archbishop.
Fernandez said the Catholic Church had an instance to elevate Camomot for beatification and canonization.
Claims of miracles attributed to Padre Camomot circulated after he was reportedly seen in two different places at the same time while he was still serving the clergy of Cebu.
An evidence of one authentic miracle is needed for the Vatican to declare a member of the faithful blessed. Two miracles are needed for sainthood.
Padre Camomot went on to become the archbishop of Cagayan de Oro before he died in 1988 while on his way home to Carcar from Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City. (FREEMAN)