2021-004 | THE 2ND JACOBEAN CONGRESS OF CEBU

WHEN THE MUNICIPALITY OF COMPOSTELA, Cebu, through its then mayor, Hon. Joel Quiño, accepted the invitation to host the Second National Congress of St. James the Apostle Parishes and Devotees during the first congress held in Alabang, Muntinlupa City in 2018; it was the best thing to happen because it would expose our Camino de Santiago to more pilgrims and people; and it would also place Compostela in the center of the Jacobean Pilgrimage of the country instead of just another provincial backwater. 

Our own Compostela, the namesake of that famous city in Spain, hosts another namesake of a church from its mother country, the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santiago de Compostela, established in 1866 by an Agustinian Recollect priest from Zaragoza, Spain who brought with him a statue of St. James that became a permanent fixture high above the parish door. Its parish priest then, Fr. Scipio Deligero, was all smile as his pet project would soon be demonstrated before a national congress.

The congress in Cebu was simply all about the Camino de Santiago. The devotion of St. James was and always been centered on how and why people came to know him better: the Camino. It was the Camino de Santiago that lured me closer to him for, without it, I barely knew the good saint. It was the Camino de Santiago in Spain that pushed Fr. Scipio to have one like this in Cebu, that is affordable to anybody but, at the same time, spiritually fulfilling. A poor man’s Camino. 

In the preparation leading to the event, a huge botafumeiro or censer, 11.5 feet tall and 150 kilograms in weight, was fabricated courtesy of a single donor; while a huge structure housing this botafumeiro was soon constructed infront of the parish, courtesy also of four other donors. The main thoroughfare was paved with thick earthen bricks where scallop images lined the edges. Then an FM radio station was installed to deliver the news of this event to the remotest areas. At short notice all proceeded to be available on the appointed date: February 5-6, 2019. 

Ten days before that date, I was leading ten pilgrims on January 27, 2019 from the St. James the Apostle Parish, in Poblacion, Badian to the Our Lady of Consolation Parish, in the mountains of Manlapay, Dalaguete. We were on our first day of the Camino Cebu, a 175-kilometer pilgrimage over the central backbones of Cebu that is walked for ten days. The first day is always the hardest for it is walked from near sea level to 780 meters of elevation and 18+ kilometers long.

The ten pilgrims were Fr. Wilfredo Genelazo of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima of Basak, Mandaue City; adventure entrepreneur Randy Salazar; Big C survivor Renelyn Reynes; journalists Erl Durano and Grace Lina; ship electrician Rafael Gica; Jocelyn Baran and Jean Antipuesto of Compostela; an OFW from Abu Dhabi, Sheen Mark Deligero; and Raszil Zuasola, our photographer who has a bag that his brother had carried in the Camino Primitivo in Spain. 

The second day, January 28, was a long day, 20+ kilometers, and warm, as we trudged over the “Vegetable Highway” from Manlapay to the Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Parish in Colawin, Argao. The third day, January 29, was almost the same but longer, 26+ kilometers, warm, following the same “Vegetable Highway” from Colawin, passing by Sibonga and parts of Carcar City to the San Isidro Labrador Parish in Mantalongon, Barili. 

The fourth day, January 30, was 19+ kilometers long, also a warm day, from Mantalongon, passing by the San Isidro Labrador Parish in Calidngan, Carcar City, to the St. Augustine de Hippo Parish in Magsico, San Fernando. The fifth day, January 31, was the last of the long days, at 22+ kilometers, from Magsico, passing by the San Roque Parish in Uling, Naga City, to the San Pedro Calungsod Parish in Cantabaco, Toledo City.

 

This was now the turning point of the Camino Cebu when the pilgrims would experience shorter days and longer rests. The sixth day, February 1, is shorter than usual, at 14+ kilometers, from Cantabaco, passing by Minglanilla, to the St. John the Baptist Parish in Sudlon I, Cebu City. The seventh day, February 2, shortest at 8+ kilometers, starts late from Sudlon I and meander down to the Birhen sa Guadalupe Parish in Babag, Cebu City. 

Day Eight, February 3, is 16+ kilometers long, from Babag to the Sto. Niño Parish in Guba, Cebu City. It was here that we watched in Facebook Live, the arrival of relics of St. James in the Mactan Cebu International Airport from Compostela, Spain. Fr. Deligero, Fr. Gonzalo Candado and Mayor Quiño led the contingent to receive the sacred cargo brought by Msgr. Elizardo Temperan Villaverde, Chancellor of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, who was with Fr. Manny Domingo SDB. 

There was a motorcade from the airport to the Archbishop’s Palace, in Cebu City, for viewing, and then to its permanent home in the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santiago de Compostela, where it will await of our arrival on February 5. That night, in our sleeping quarters of the multi-purpose hall of the Sto. Niño Parish, we celebrated the occasion with a small party, courtesy of then parish priest Fr. Peter Necesario. A pilgrim of the previous Camino of July 2017, Jonathan Apurado, joined us here to walk with us for the last two days.

 

On the ninth day, February 4, everybody were now excited as we were now on the threshold of Compostela. It is just 15+ kilometers away and, possibly, we would meet the first pilgrims doing another Camino de Santiago later in the day, who would be starting from the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santiago de Compostela. We left Guba and passed by Consolacion where, at 2:00 PM, we met Xenon Walde, Angie Villanueva, Cleo Villanueva and Eric Cuisia of the St. James the Greater Parish of Alabang, at Mulao, Liloan. 

There were 78 pilgrims on this shorter Camino Cebu, plus the 11 of us, converging at Basak, Compostela. Most of the pilgrims were housed in the covered court, while the rest were distributed among private homes and the Gatubod Spring Resort. We were just fortunate to be accommodated in the humble home of Bro. Frank Catampatan and family. There was a barrio fiesta atmosphere in the covered court as utan bisayà (traditional Cebuano vegetable soup), inasal (roasted pig) and pusò (rice wrapped in coconut leaves) were served as dinner.    

The last day of the Camino de Santiago for both the 2 days and the 10 days, February 5, begins from Basak, going up to the peak where the “Cross of Triumph” is located, in Bagalnga, Compostela; and then going down to the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santiago de Compostela. There, we were met by a cheerful crowd and the unceasing pealing of bells announcing our arrival. A Eucharistic Celebration was celebrated by the freshly-ordained Fr. Vhen Jesus Fernandez of Compostela.

After venerating the relics of St. James that I saw brought here two days ago in Facebook, I turned myself in to my host, Capt. Lito Ramon and family. I then proceeded to the parish where there was an evening program. Dances and songs from the best talents of Compostela were presented to the pilgrims. Amidst all that, a buffet dinner was served. Saw many familiar faces, especially of the contingent from Alabang, led by Bro. Benjie Bernardo and wife. 

Two pilgrims were selected to give their own personal testimonies of their experience of the Camino de Santiago: one was from the 2-day Camino which was beautifully expounded by Cris Evert Lato-Ruffulo and the other was from the 10-day Camino which that honor belonged to Randy Salazar, who equally dished out a good testimony. I shared a table with Fr. Deligero where a cold bottle of beer came my way. He seemed so peaceful as if a big needle was removed from his back. 

The last day of the congress, there was a separate presentation done by Bro. Benjie Bernardo of St. James Alabang and then by Msgr. Elizardo Temperan Villaverde, who was speaking in Spanish but translated by Fr. Manny Domingo SDB. Both speakers were extolling the virtues and the origins of St. James, who was also known as Jacob, Yago and Diago; with the latter explaining how the Camino de Santiago began; and how it changed the course of Spain’s history and its fortune.

 

Then the last program of the Jacobean Congress was the Concelebrated Eucharistic Celebration presided by His Excellency Jose Palma DD, the Archbishop of Cebu. Then the exchange of the "Spiritual Bond of Affinity" between the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela of Galicia, Spain by Msgr. Temperan and the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santiago de Compostela, of Cebu, Philippines by Fr. Deligero were presented to all pilgrims and parishioners which elicit a loud response. The documents states "that you would receive the same spiritual rewards and plenary indulgences" in either the Camino in Spain or in Cebu. It is a good feeling to see this possibility coming through in my lifetime. GOD IS GOOD! 

I bid goodbye to Fr. Deligero, Fr. Candado, Fr. Fernandez, my fellow pilgrims and my good hosts of Compostela and settled in a Toyota Hilux, driven by Markus Immer who was with wife, Analyn, for home. The couple came just to give me support and to witness the most important program of this once-in-a-lifetime event that would soon change the way of life of Compostela. The 2nd National Congress was a success because of a very warm cooperation of government and church and the population that boasts of good charisma by its priests and local government officials. 

As I end this article, I would like to thank the following for their support of the 2nd National Congress that was jointly hosted by the Municipality of Compostela and the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santiago de Compostela; and the Camino de Santiago that progressed forth along the way on January 27 to February 5, 2019; to include me. They were: 

My understanding wife and my family.

Fr. Marlon Mejia of St. James the Apostle Parish, Badian.

Mr. Tirso Cominghod of Barangay Tigbao, Badian.

Badian Municipal Police Station.

Fr. Elegio Almazol Jr. of Our Lady of Consolation Parish, Dalaguete.

Fr. Mario Villacastin of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Parish, Argao.

Fr. Benedict Into of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Parish, Argao.

Argao Municipal Police Station.

SPO3 Dante Estenzo of Sibonga Municipal Police Station.

PO3 Paul Baclay of Sibonga Municipal Police Station.

Fr. Dennis James Acedo of San Isidro Labrador Parish, Barili.

Fr. Lyle Carungay of San Isidro Labrador Parish, Barili.

Fr. Benjie Contapay of San Isidro Labrador Parish, Carcar City.

SPO1 Eduardo Bagol of Carcar City Police Station.

PO1 Chuck Dayuja of Carcar City Police Station.

Fr. Murphy Sarsua of St. Augustine de Hippo Parish, San Fernando.

Fr. Armando Orehuela of San Pedro Calungsod Parish, Toledo City.

Fr. Bernardo Oyao of St. John the Baptist Parish, Cebu City.

Fr. Mark Barneso of Birhen sa Guadalupe Parish, Cebu City.

Fr. Peter Necesario of Santo Niño Parish, Cebu City.

Mr. Markus Immer and Mrs. Analyn Pocong-Immer, Cebu City.

Bro. Frank Catampatan and Family of Basak, Compostela.

Bro. Cedee Neo and Sis. Julie Neo of Doneo Host Making, Cebu City.

Bro. Mizar Bacalla of Archdiocesan Shrine of Santiago de Compostela.

Sis. Mimi Montecino of Archdiocesan Shrine of Santiago de Compostela.

Capt. Lito Ramon and Family of Poblacion, Compostela.

Mr. Jose Neo of Camp Red Bushcraft and Survival Guild, Cebu City.

Mr. Jet Manuel of Ham Radio Cebu, Consolacion.

Mr. Ed Soronio of Versa 2-Way Radio, Mandaue City. 

But, most importantly, to all the nameless parish workers and volunteers who served us our food, our beddings and who attended to our comfort as we engaged on our pilgrimage of the soul. I am most indebted to them and may St. James intercede my prayers whispered for them at the foot of the Cross of Triumph, upon his relics and the Abrazado, which is located in the chapel of Doneo Host Making in Banawa, Cebu City.

 

Photos courtesy of Pilgrims and the Organizing Committee.