Del Monte Icon Passes Away

Philippine Golfer Celestino Mancao Tugot passed away last January 18, 2010, at the ripe old age of 99.  He co-authored the design of the Del Monte Golf Course as seen today and was the first Philippine athlete to meet with then President Dwight Eisenhower in 1954.  He is also the owner of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church located just outside Cawayanon Compound, San Miguel, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.

The story goes like this:

Mr. Tugot was an exceptionally talented golfer and had won many awards and trophies.  In 1949, he won his first Philippine Open Golf Championship, and went on to win it five more times over the next 13 years.  Because of this, he was always sent to the United States to represent the Philippines in the US Golf Circuit.  It was during one of those trips when he "met" a beautiful old woman who promised to make him famous, if he would build Her a church.  Well, he indeed became very famous, catching the attention of no less than Mr. Arnold Palmer and Mr. Jack Nicklaus, who, by the way, also helped design our famous golf course.  So Mr. Tugot came home and ordered the construction of the church.  It began as a small chapel, but over the years, more and more devotees came and were "helped" by the kind Lady.  Hence in gratitude, they made donations that substantially aided in the continuous growth of the chapel into a church.

Today, devotees in the hundreds flock to the Tugot Church every Wednesday for the 9:00am Mass, to ask for help, to thank Her for blessings, or just to pray.  Our Lady is truly miraculous!

God Speed, Mr. Tugot!