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Capobres, Eugenio Antigua (1908–1999)

By Nadeth B. Quinto

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Nadeth Quinto is currently working at Central Philippine Union Conference in Cebu City, Philippines. She is the MIZPAH associate editor and the secretary for Communication, PARL and Hope Channel Department of Central Philippine Union Conference.

First Published: November 13, 2020

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Eugenio Antigua Capobres was a pastor and church administrator in the Philippines.

Early Life (1908-1999)

Eugenio Antigua Capobres was born on June 2, 1908,1 to Abdon Trinianes Capobres (1884-1972)2 and Gervacia R. Antigua in Albuera, Leyte, Philippines. His brothers were Conrado,3 Jose,4 Tranquilino (1921-2001),5 Josue,6 Solomon,7 and George (1928-2009).8 His father was a Seventh-day Adventist while his mother remained a Roman Catholic. Capobres spent his childhood in Albuera, Leyte, and studied until the sixth grade at Albuera Elementary School. He was then sent to Philippine Academy to continue his studies. There he graduated from Philippine Academy in Pasay City, which later became Philippine Union College (PUC) in Caloocan City. During his secondary education, Capobres helped his father pay his tuition by working as a houseboy for an American teacher named Fisk Sevrenes for three school years between June 1925 and March 1928. He also became a literature evangelist for two months, March-May 1926, in the East Visayan Mission. At the age of 18, Capobres was baptized by W. L. Warren on November 14, 1926, in Pasay City. While a college student, he worked in the carpentry department of the Philippine Academy from June 1928 to March 1932. After he graduated from college, he became the shop teacher at Philippine Union College.9

Education and Marriage

Capobres finished two degrees, an associate in theology (associate was the highest degree in college during his time) and a baccalaureate in mathematics education major at Philippine Union College in Caloocan City, Philippines.10 On April 29, 1937, he was married to a nurse named Cornelia Tornilla (January 6, 1913-March 14, 2003)11 in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental, with E. M. Adams as the officiating minister.12 Four daughters were born to them: Aldine, Belen, Cornellie, all born in Cebu City, while the youngest, Druscilla, was born in Cagayan de Oro City.13

Ministry (1932-1972)

From June 1932 to December 1934, Eugenio A. Capobres became a regular worker of Philippine Union College. He taught Bible subjects, carpentry, woodworking, and physical education.14 He also helped construct some of the buildings at PUC and North Luzon Academy along with the aid of students assistants.15 From January 1935 to March 1935, Capobres taught at Northern Luzon Academy before he was called to work at East Visayan Mission as an evangelist for two years (April 1935-April 1937). After his marriage, he again worked at Philippine Union College as the dean of men and Bible teacher from May 1937 to December 1937.16 Due to personal circumstances, he took a sabbatical for one year. He went home in Cebu and worked for his father as a fisherman and also sold soybeans. He continued preaching and gave Bible studies as well.17 After his leave, he pursued his ministry as an evangelist in the East Visayan Mission for two years. He was then called to serve as the education and Missionary volunteer secretary of the East Visayan Mission from 1941 to 1942. Moreover, he became the Sabbath School and home missionary secretary from 1943 to 1944.18 As an evangelist, Capobres was ordained in the gospel ministry on May 4, 1946, and worked as a district leader in the east and central Visayas area.19 In January 1947, Capobres became the president of the Mindanao Mission. He later served as president of the Northern Mindanao Mission for five years from 1950 to 1954. On February 26, 1953, his ministerial credential was granted.20 Capobres returned to Cebu to serve as the president of East Visayan Mission covering Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Samar, Masbate, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor from 1955 to 1958. From 1958 to 1960, he the West Visayan Mission in Iloilo City as president, overseeing Panay, Guimaras Romblon, and Negros Occidental. In 1960, he was called to serve as the education and temperance secretary of the South Philippine Union Mission, whose territory included Visayas and Mindanao. Later, when the South Philippine Union Mission was divided into the Central and the South unions, Capobres became the first president of the newly formed Central Philippine Union Mission (CPUM) situated in Cebu City from 1964 to 1972.21

Later Life

In 1972, Capobres retired at the age of 63 after nearly thirty-nine years of service in denominational work.22 After his retirement, he and his family immigrated to the United States, where he continued to serve his local church as an elder.23 He lived in San Bernardino for twenty years and acquired United States citizenship on January 16, 1978.24 At the age of 91, he died of congestive heart failure at Loma Linda University Medical Center on October 28, 1999. Capobres was buried at Montecito Memorial Park, Colton, California.25

Sources

CPUM Certification. October 26, 1971. CPUC Archives.

Find a Grave. 2021. Accessed April 1, 2021. https://www.findagrave.com.

Geni. Accessed March 31, 2021. https://www.geni.com.

Marriage Contract File, CPUC Archives.

MyHeritage. Accessed March 31, 2021. https://www.myheritage.com.

Naturalization Index Cards of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, Central Division (Los Angeles). 1915-1976. Microfilm Serial: M1525, Microfilm Roll: 33, Ancestry.com. Accessed April 1, 2021. https://www.ancestry.com.

Worker’s Record, Far Eastern Division, Central Philippine Union Conference (CPUC) Archives, Cebu City, Philippines.

Notes

  1. Worker’s Record, Far Eastern Division, CPUC Archives, 39.↩

  2. “Abdon Trinianes Capobres,” Geni.com, November 27, 2014, accessed March 31, 2021, https://www.geni.com/people/Abdon-Capobres/6000000003311817946.↩

  3. “Conrado Capobres,” Geni, November 27, 2014, accessed March 31, 2021, https://www.geni.com/people/Conrado-Capobres/6000000003311920598.↩

  4. “Jose Capobres, Geni, November 27, 2014, accessed March 31, 2021, https://www.geni.com/people/Jose-Capobres/6000000003311790673.↩

  5. “Tranquilino Capobres,” Geni, November 27, 2014, accessed March 31, 2021, https://www.geni.com/people/Tranquilino-Capobres/6000000003311949147.↩

  6. “Josue Capobres,” Geni, November 27, 2014, https://www.geni.com/people/Josue-Capobres/6000000003311960366.↩

  7. “Solomon Capobres,” Geni, November 27, 2014, accessed March 31, 2021, https://www.geni.com/people/Solomon-Capobres/6000000003311947246.↩

  8. “George Bacalso Capobres, 1928-2009,” MyHeritage, accessed March 31, 2021, https://www.myheritage.com/names/george_capobres.↩

  9. Worker’s Record, Far Eastern Division, CPUC Archives, 39.↩

  10. Wenilyn Solon Williams, great grand-daughter of Eugenio Capobres, interview by author, Williamsport Pennsylvania.↩

  11. “Cornelia Tornilla Capobres,” Find A Grave, 2021, accessed April 1, 2021, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/90730661/cornelia-capobres.↩

  12. Marriage Contract File, CPUC Archives.↩

  13. Worker’s Record, Far Eastern Division, CPUC Archives, 39.↩

  14. CPUM Certification, October 26, 1971, CPUC Archives.↩

  15. Druscilla Capobres, the youngest daughter of Eugenio A. Capobres, interview by author, Pennsylvania.↩

  16. CPUM Certification, October 26, 1971, CPUC Archives.↩

  17. Druscilla Capobres, the youngest daughter of Eugenio A. Capobres, interview by author, Pennsylvania.↩

  18. Worker’s Record, Far Eastern Division, CPUC Archives, 39.↩

  19. Druscilla Capobres, the youngest daughter of Eugenio A. Capobres, interview by author, Pennsylvania.↩

  20. Worker’s Record, Far Eastern Division, CPUC Archives, 39.↩

  21. Druscilla Capobres, the youngest daughter of Eugenio A. Capobres, interview by author, Pennsylvania.↩

  22. Sustentation Confirmation, Far Eastern Division, CPUC Archives, 39.↩

  23. Druscilla Capobres, the youngest daughter of Eugenio A. Capobres, interview by author, Pennsylvania.↩

  24. Naturalization Index Cards of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, Central Division (Los Angeles), January 16, 1978, Microfilm Serial: M1525, Microfilm Roll: 33, “Eugenio Antigua Capobres,” Ancestry.com, accessed April 1, 2021, https://www.ancestry.com.↩

  25. “Eugenio A. Capobres,” Find a Grave, 2021, accessed April 1, 2021, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/90730829/eugenio-a.-capobres.↩

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Quinto, Nadeth B. "Capobres, Eugenio Antigua (1908–1999)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. November 13, 2020. Accessed January 16, 2025. https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=4AUV.

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Quinto, Nadeth B. "Capobres, Eugenio Antigua (1908–1999)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. November 13, 2020. Date of access January 16, 2025, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=4AUV.

Copy to clipboard Download Word File

Quinto, Nadeth B. (2020, November 13). Capobres, Eugenio Antigua (1908–1999). Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. Retrieved January 16, 2025, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=4AUV.

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