A LOYAL servant of God, a great public servant and a close friend of the late Cebu Archbishop Teofilo Camomot–these are some of the attributes about Rev. Fr. Francisco Garces Silva who died on Sunday, December 12, 2021.
Lawyer Eden Silva confirmed to Sunstar Cebu that his brother, who is famously known as “Padre Paking,” died in his sleep around 4:05 a.m. The priest was 86 years old.
The wake will begin on Monday, Dec. 13 at the new St. Teresa de Avila Chapel located at the Daughters of St. Teresa compound in Barangay Villadolid, Carcar City in southern Cebu.
Padre Paking will be buried on Dec. 15, after the requiem at 9:00 a.m.
Donations
According to Attorney Silva, the wake will be open for the general public, but people are discouraged from sending flowers as a manifestation of their condolences because the venue does not allow it.
“If we may suggest, donate instead to the construction of The Archbishop Teofilo B. Camomot Center for Spirituality, a project which Fr. Paking initiated,” said Silva.
Padre Paking was born in Carcar City on April 2, 1935. He was ordained as a priest in 1960.
The priest had served as the parish priest of the Town of Moalboal in southwestern Cebu before becoming the general manager of Cebu Electric Cooperative.
Padre Paking also served as the administrator of the National Electrification Administration. He also became the presidential adviser for Rural Electrification during the term of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
The priest was also attributed for naming the famous “Panagsama” beach in Moalboal, and for making sure that the place is accessible to the public and local tourists.
Camomot’s ‘brother’
Silva said Padre Paking was like a little brother of Camomot since both of them hailed from the City of Carcar.
At the time of the archbishop’s death, Silva said his brother already called Camomot a “saint.”
“Siya ang naghatag sa homily pagkamatay ni Archbishop Camomot. Iyaha na gitawag nga saint si Camomot,” said Silva.
Padre Paking had devoted most of his time helping and spreading the virtues of Archbishop Camomot. He also initiated the construction of a building in honor of the late bishop who is now a few steps from becoming a saint.
“My brother had a very long journey in life and along the way, he had touched many lives positively,” said Silva.
Silva encouraged people inspired by Padre Paking to perpetuate his legacy by emulating his good deeds.