Rev. Fr. Eugenio P. Daberto was an Italian priest who served as parish priest of Sebaste, Antique from 1958 until his death in 1977. He is renowned for his efforts to alleviate poverty in Sebaste through various social programs. He established St. Blaise High School and helped create jobs for locals through overseas employment opportunities. Father Daberto worked tirelessly to empower the poor, increasing agricultural yields and helping families earn livings that allowed them to improve their quality of life. He is remembered as a selfless priest who dedicated himself to serving the people of Sebaste.

1. Form 5 series January 2019
NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS
SUBCOMMISSION ON CULTURAL HERITAGE
CULTURAL MAPPING PROGRAM
__________________________________________________________________________________
SignificantPersonalities
Municipality/City of Sebaste
Provinceof Antique
Region VI- Western Visayas
Mapping of Significant Personalities
NAME: Eugenio Palla Daberto
PHOTO:
I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
DATE OF BIRTH: February 23, 1913
DATE OF DEATH: December 5, 1977
PROMINENCE: Religion
BIRTH PLACE: Andraz, in the Province of Belluno, South Tirol, Italy
PRESENT ADDRESS:
AGE: Died in the age of 64
Rev.Fr. EugenioP.Dabertoin
coloredandblack andwhite photos.
Photocredits: MalvenA.Avenido

2. Form 5 series January 2019
NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS
SUBCOMMISSION ON CULTURAL HERITAGE
CULTURAL MAPPING PROGRAM
__________________________________________________________________________________
SignificantPersonalities
Municipality/City of Sebaste
Provinceof Antique
Region VI- Western Visayas
II. BIOGRAPHY
If there is a person well-loved and remembered by Sebastehanon, he is no other than
Rev. Fr. Eugenio P. Daberto fondly called by parishioners and their children as Fr. Dab.
Father Dab was born in Andraz, in the Province of Belluno, South Tirol, Italy on February 23,
1913 to parents Joseph Daberto and Ursula Palla.
When the Great War began in 1914, the people of Belluno suffered a great deal caught
as they were between the opposing forces. In 1915, Eugenio, his mother and some of his
brothers evacuated to Domodossola where they lived in extreme poverty. The experience
would later influence Father Dab’s passion to change the face of poverty in Sebaste.
In 1925, he went to Brixen where he pursued his classical studies in the Vinzentinum.
In 1932, he entered the Missionhaus of the Mill Hill Missionaries and attended lectures in
philosophy at the major seminary of the Diocese of Brixen. Two years later, he went to
London to study theology at the Mother House of the Mill Hill Missionaries. Finally, he was
ordained priest on July 9, 1938 at the Cathedral of Westminster.
Barely 26, he arrived in the Philippines on November 3, 1938 to start his mission.
Father Dab’s first assignment was in Igbaras, Iloilo where he worked as assistant parish
priest from 1938 to 1940.
Father Dab left Igbaras for Pandan, Antique where he pursued his mission from 1940
to 1942. For about ten years, he served as parish priest in Laua-an from 1942 to 1952. His
assignment in Laua-an began when Fr. Amstel was mercilessly executed by the Japanese
who also put to the torch the church and the convent. The good Father Dab patiently rebuilt
the war-torn church and the convent through the support of the Mill Hill Missionaries and
kind-hearted benefactors.
In 1953, Father Dab took over the island parish of Caluya. Ever fired by his missionary
zeal, he was able to acquire a land where he build the church and the convent.
When Fr. Luis Figl left Sebaste, Father Dab took his place as parish priest on April 17,
1958. Henceforth, life in Sebaste especially of the poor and the powerless was never the
same again.
Through the years, poverty in Sebaste had been a sad refrain. Hope for better times
had been the poor man’s daily bread, but Father Dab believed that more than merely
hoping the poor must be empowered.
Amid series of consultations and negotiations, Father Dab took pains to establish the
St. Blaise High School named after the town’s miraculous patron saint. Classes formally
began in 1966 but there were tuition fees and teacher’s salary to reckon with. Again, the
good priest would literally beg for donations, in cash and in kind, from benefactors and
friends abroad to keep the school going.
Perhaps the challenge of school management could easily drain one’s patience and
strength. But not to Father Dab.

3. Form 5 series January 2019
NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS
SUBCOMMISSION ON CULTURAL HERITAGE
CULTURAL MAPPING PROGRAM
__________________________________________________________________________________
SignificantPersonalities
Municipality/City of Sebaste
Provinceof Antique
Region VI- Western Visayas
His mind wandered far and deep. Then he thought of helping farmers increase their
yield through a year-round irrigation system. And so for months Father Dab spent his siesta
hours carrying boulders and rocks at Ipayo River to help farmers build a river dam. “Two
croppings a year meant increased harvest. And therefore more cash for basic needs and
something to spare for tuition fees.” He mused amid smokes from his pipe.
All his life, Father Dab had a great understanding of the needs and welfare of his
fellowmen.
“Ang indi gid malipatan nga regalo ni Father Dab sa Sebaste amo ang overseas
employment”, Fraida Thurnher, one informant reminisced. (The most unforgettable gift that
Fr. Dab gave to Sebaste was overseas employment).
Indeed, after the foundation of St. Blaise High School he searched for decent jobs for
poor girls from Sebaste and Laua-an with private families, hospitals and institutions run by
Catholic congregations in Austria. In return, the girls were paid well and a substantial
amount was regularly sent back to their families.
In effect, mortgaged properties and ricelands were redeemed and farmers began to till
their land with heads raised in dignity. Nipa huts and barong-barong gave way to bungalows
and two-storey houses. Soon, college diplomas now proudly hang on the wall of their living
room.
So much change has come to Sebaste. Throughout his stay in Sebaste, Father Dab
devoted his life and works to alleviate the plight of the poor.
“He was born an Italian, but his heart belongs to Sebaste”, said the former principal of
Saint Blaise High School, Juanita T. Dela Cruz.
Indeed, Father Dab has changed their lives for the better. Today, the empowered
Sebastehanon can carve their own future and be the master of their destiny.
On December 2, 1977, Father Dab suffered a stroke and three days later in a hospital
in Manila he joined his Maker.
In his letter to Juanita T. De La Cruz, Father Dab expressed his desire to be buried in
Sebaste in case of his death. The letter was then presented to Bishop Henricus Cornelius P.
De Wit who granted the appeal of the people the missioner loved so much. His remains are
now entombed in the chapel built in his honor at the Sebaste Catholic Cemetery.
III. SIGNIFICANCE
Spiritual
Rev. Father Dab was among the Mill Hill Missionaries ever sent in the Phillipines. He
stayed in Sebaste for almost 19 years and became an iconic parish priest because of his
efforts and contributions to Sebaste. He is a benchmark, a memory of a man and a priest
sent by God as an instrument of His love and generosity to the people of Sebaste.

4. Form 5 series January 2019
NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS
SUBCOMMISSION ON CULTURAL HERITAGE
CULTURAL MAPPING PROGRAM
__________________________________________________________________________________
SignificantPersonalities
Municipality/City of Sebaste
Provinceof Antique
Region VI- Western Visayas
Social
Father Dab’s heart was for the people in need especially in poverty. In his reign over
Sebaste, he rippled love and generosity. Through his deeds, he became the source of light
and inspiration. So in his honour and memory, and through the efforts of Mayor Juanita T.
De La Cruz and the ever-grateful Sebastehanon as well as protégées of the missioner, the
Eugenio Daberto Memorial (EDABEM) Foundation, Inc. was established, a proof that his
example, ideals and aspirations do exist and are deeply engraved in the life of
Sebastehanons.
Socioeconomic
It was his aspiration that propelled Father Dab to pave the way for a massive
employment for dependents of the then depressed families of Sebaste. He managed to find
work/ employment for Antiquenos abroad partly with private families, but mostly in
hospitals and institutes run by sisters in Austria. They were well- paid and a good amount of
money was sent back by them to their relatives in Antique. Consequently, many rice field
were redeemed and returned to the family. The concrete houses that now nestle on
residential lots where once stood nipa shanties, and the first school ever established in
Sebaste, Saint Blaise High School, are living testimonials to the love and concern for the
poor of this God-Sent missioner and visionary.
Many women of Sebaste were sent to Austria for employment. They were deployed in
batches shown in the photos below.
Photocredits:
Left-MalvenA.Avenido
Right-LiliaJara

5. Form 5 series January 2019
NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS
SUBCOMMISSION ON CULTURAL HERITAGE
CULTURAL MAPPING PROGRAM
__________________________________________________________________________________
SignificantPersonalities
Municipality/City of Sebaste
Provinceof Antique
Region VI- Western Visayas
Socio-political
Fitting honors were accorded to this beloved “builder” of Sebaste. December 5, his
death anniversary, was declared by the Barangay Council of the Poblacion as Father Eugenio
Daberto Day and institutionalized its commemoration. Moreover, February 23 was declared
by the Sangguniang Bayan of Sebaste as Father Eugenio Daberto Day in the municipality.
IV. REFERENCES
KEY INFORMANT/S:
Lilia F. Jara, 74, Pioneer/Among the first batch of women who were sent to Austria for
employment
Pilar Abraham, 75, Among the first batch of women who were sent to Austria for
employment
Fraida R. Thurnher, 77, President- EDABEM Foundation
Vilma B. Reyes, 75, Former Principal of Saint Blaise High School
Malven Avenido, 39, Alumnus of Saint Blaise High School
Edito T. Dela Cruz, 82, Writer of Sebaste
Fraidez L. Dionela, 83, Church Keeper
REFERENCE/S AND OTHER
RESOURCES:
Centennial Souvenir
NAME OF MAPPER/S:
JOE CYRIL JARA
LYJOE ORCAJADA
MA. LUCIA ISIDRO
HANNAH SOCCORRO CABALLE
DATE PROFILED:
March 18, 2021

6. Form 5 series January 2019
NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS
SUBCOMMISSION ON CULTURAL HERITAGE
CULTURAL MAPPING PROGRAM
__________________________________________________________________________________
SignificantPersonalities
Municipality/City of Sebaste
Provinceof Antique
Region VI- Western Visayas
ATTACHMENTS:
1. List of works and achievements
1925- Father Dab went to Brixen where he pursued his classical studies in the
Vinzentinum.
1932- He entered the Missionhaus of the Mill Hill Missionaries and attended lectures
in philosophy at the major seminary of the Diocese of Brixen.
July 9, 1938- He was ordained priest at the Cathedral of Westminster.
1938 to 1940- He was assigned in Igbaras, Iloilo where he worked as assistant parish
priest.
1940 to 1942- He pursued his mission in Pandan, Antique
1942 to 1952- He served as parish priest in Laua-an. Spearheaded the rebuilding of the
war-torn church and the convent through the support of the Mill Hill Missionaries and kind-
hearted benefactors.
1953- He took over the island parish of Caluya.
April 17, 1958- He took Fr. Luis Figl’s place as parish priest in Sebaste.
Significant contribution in Sebaste
Helped in overseas employment of many Sebastehanons.
He established St. Blaise High School together with prominent people of Sebaste in 1966.
He helped farmers increase their yield through a year-round irrigation system.
2. References and other resources
Centennial Souvenir