Donato Guimbaolibot

Donato Bago Guimbaolibot (December 5, 1866 – September 9, 1949), also known as Padre Atoy, was a Filipino Catholic priest known for his efforts in developing the town of Guiuan in present-day Eastern Samar and for his involvement with the Balangiga Massacre controversies. He is regarded as The Saintly Priest of Balangiga.

Biography Early life Guimbaolibot was born on December 5, 1866, in Guiuan, then in the undivided province of Samar, to Tomas Guimbaolibot and Narcisa Bago. He was the second child and the only son of four, having three sisters: Felipa, the eldest, and Faustina and Maria, the younger ones. He, along with other samareño priests, was subjected to the brutal 'water cure' torture during interrogation in Calbiga. According to witnesses, one of them played a violin solo during the internment of the monsignor at the Catholic cemetery of Guiuan on September 14, 1949. Up to date, the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Borongan and Calbayog has not released any official statement regarding the possibility of formally opening his cause.

Cultural references Guimbaolibot is mentioned in Gina Apostol's 2018 novel, Insurrecto, a narrative retelling of the Balangiga massacre by a Filipino translator and an American filmmaker.