Da Vinci movie rating

An interesting post from Pressing the Flesh.

Child Jesus

I came in late for this morning's breakfast meeting of the BCBP. For good reason. I was guest at the unveiling of a marker at Elenita Heights Phase 2 Subdivision in Catalunan Grande proclaiming it as a "child friendly village."

It was perhaps the first in the country.

Mintal parish priest Fr. Swamy Balananda gave a very inspiring prayer likening the subdivision's children to child Jesus. He likewsie paid tribute to Mother Mary who was in the faces of the committed parents to help rear their children in an environment filled with God's love.

The Indian priest, who has been serving here for the past six years, distributed some calendars. Part of which I cropped below:

At the BCBP meeting, the guest sharer was Larry Veloso.

Sorry we cannot feature his sharing here. It will appear in the June issue of Kapatiran, the BCBP publication.

DCL breakfast May 19

The Davao Christian Leadership breakfast fellowship on Friday, May 19, will have Commodore Edmund C. Tan as guest speaker and Rev. Peter Bollant as spiritual guideliner.

Pastor Tim Alanib reminds members to attend the weekly meeting at the Grand Men Seng Hotel starting at 7 a.m.

Murder convict turned "fisher"

His father was killed by a group of men. In retaliation, he also killed one. He went to prison for this deed.

He was a murder convict who turned to Jesus Christ while in prison. When he was freed, he sought the other men involved in his father's slaying and preached the word of God to them. There was no more remorse but only forgiveness as taught by Jesus Christ.

Now, he serves as a full-time "fisher" of men with his prison ministries through his music.

Chito R. Ruina was a long-time resident of the Bilibid Prison. Now, he sings the Good News.


He will hold a mini-concert on May 28 at 3 p.m. at the Tabucan Bldg. at corner Sigma and Surveyor Sts., Dona Vicenta Village infront of Victoria Plaza.

Proceeds of the concert "Palayain mo ako" will go to the Jesus Christ Son of the Living God Fellowship and Layang Rehas Ministries, Inc.

I salute these men

I got lost last Saturday. This morning I made it a point to attend its breakfast fellowship at the Mandaya Hotel.

I am happy to share with you that I finally attended the meeting of the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International Davao chapter.

I learned that this is the first chapter in the country established here in 1973.

The FGBMFI is not a church. It is a trans-denominational fellowship. Its members, all men, come from different countries, cultures, denominations, classes and occupations. This morning there were more than 70 of us coming from Davao, Tagum, Bislig, Korea, Indonesia, US and Jamaica.

The fellowship was started in 1951 by Demos Shakarian, a dairy farmer of Armenian parentage living in California. He was concerned about the lack of men in churches. So, believing it was his calling, he started to bring men in hotels and restaurants to hear the testimonies of other businessmen who have embraced Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Today, FGBMFI has thousands of chapters in about 160 countries all over the world. Last April 19-22, it held its Asian convention in Manila. The Davao chapter again topped all 40 chapters in the country in attendance. There were about 40 members and their guests who were present along with about 500 from other Philippine chapters and delegates from Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Nigeria and the Bahamas/Caribbean.

This morning I heard many sharings about how the Lord God and Jesus Christ touched their lives. I also witnessed the acceptance of four new members.

Mindanao Regional VP Rodrigo Guiang leads the acceptance of four new FGBMFI members with their sponsors.

When I left after the meeting, many members still stayed to plan the arrival here of a mercy ship m/v Hannah II on June 17. Others started to find their way to Men Seng Hotel where a leadership seminar will also take place.

I salute this group of men, a number whom are my friends and acquitances. In spite of their busy work as businesspersons and professionals, they have devoted this day, and their lives, for the Lord's service. They are God's gifts!

Related story - A new mission - an intro

Ray and Joy (Part 3)

RAY :

During my exile to a very conservative country (Saudi), I missed not only my family but also my barkadas. I could not help wishing to be out with them again.

One night, I was tempted to go out with my barkadas without Joy's knowledge. She was asleep when I went out of the house to join the boys in a night out around Digos. When Joy noticed my absence later that night, she started looking for me. Her search and rescue mission began at the hospital, then at the Rizal Park and then along Rizal Avenue. At about 2 a.m., she found her lost husband together with his barkadas in the company of low-flying doves at a certain nitespot.

From that moment, the encounter between Lapulapu and Dagohoy broke the stillness of the early morning hours. It was a very unforgettable moment of my life, which from the perspective of the present time, appeared ridiculous and even scandalous. We went home shouting and scratching at each other. This incident almost led to the break up of our marriage. I could not understand why this happened to me when in fact I love Joy very much. In Romans 7:18-19, it says and I quote, "I know that no good dwells in me, that is in my flesh, the desire to do right is there but not the power. What happens is that I do, not the good I will do but the evil I do not intend," end of quote.

In the midst of our troubled relationship, God sent His angels through Brod Ernie and Sis Flor Bartolome. They invited us to join the CLP for the Couples for Christ in the summer of 1996. It was a very timely invitation. Eager as we were to patch up the crisis in our married life, we did not refuse their invitation to join the CLP. We had our baptism of the Holy Spirit at Padada and became full pledged members of CFC. We were comfortable with our evangelization services in the CFC.

When Joy was conceiving with our second child, a baby boy, whom we named Jayson Francis, I was serving our CFC mission area in Kapatagan. It was at this time that I was again tempted by Satan to backslide to my usual vices. But since I already belonged to a community, many brothers and sisters in CFC, in their concern preserve the sanctity of our marriage and did not allow things to go out of hand again. Truly, if God is with us, who can be against us? In the face of these threats to the solidarity of our family, Joy and I doubled our time and effort for God. We dedicated ourselves, our time, talents and treasures to Him. We attended a Marriage Enrichment Retreat, Power Weekends and conferences designed to heal our brokenness. "Solo Dios Basta" - God is Enough and we received the blessings of peace in our hearts.

JOY :

But life is a series of problems. Jesus warned us that we would have problems in the world. In John 16:33, it says and I quote "I have told you this so that you will have peace by being united with me. The world will make you suffer. But, be brave! I have defeated the world," end of quote.

In September 2001, I had a goiter operation. The biopsy revealed that I had a papillary carcinoma or Thyroid cancer. Ray chose not to break the sad news to me fearing that I may not be able to take it. After seeking for second opinion from other doctors, Ray sought help of my two doctor-friends to help him break the news to me. I cried hard and said, Who's gonna take care of my ailing parents and most of all who will take care of our one year old son Jayson Francis and our daughter Cindy.

I submitted myself for further consultation at the Davao Doctors Hospital and happily my doctor told me that mine was a friendly cancer … it is treatable. After the check up, I had my second surgery for complete removal of my thyroid gland and after a month, I had my radiation treatment. I was confined in the major isolation room at the Davao Doctors Hospital for four days. After my discharge, I stayed at our residence in Padada and continued with my one month isolation until December 24, in time to celebrate Christmas with my family.

The preparation for radiation and total body scan is so tedious. I suffered loss of memory, loss of reflexes and depression. I prayed to God for strength and endurance. True indeed, he comforted me and gave me strength. My friends and relatives, seeing me as a cancer victim are surprised because my appearance did not show at all. I attributed this to the goodness of the Lord. In Lamentations 3:22-23, it says and I quote "The steadfast of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning; great is the faithfulness," end of quote.

But God works in mysterious ways. After being diagnosed to be negative in 2003, the recurrence was detected the following year. There was still a minimal thyroid activity found in my neck. Once again, I underwent radiation and was isolated for two weeks.

In 2005, I had to undergo a follow-up check - a total body scan. But, we had a problem because the Davao Doctors Hospital refused to accept our office health care and we did not have the cash for the procedure. There is no other hospital in Davao with the facility for doing the scan. So, we have to look for funds. Just when we felt so burdened with lack of funds, my brother called to inform us that he was sending money to cover for my body scan and other minor expenses. God's generosity can never be outdone. God also sent angels in the person of a BCBP couple who assisted as financially during these trying times.

So, I went ahead with the procedure. This time, I requested for prayers from the BCBP community. I asked the intercessory group to bombard heavens with prayers for a negative result. Praise God, I was declared negative in August 5, 2005. I was healed … a new life for me ! ! !

RAY :

In year 2003, we were then again invited my Bro. Macy Directo and his wife Prime Directo for a breakfast of BCBP. Despite our busy schedule, we could not say no because it was God inviting us. In due time, we found ourselves regular members of the BCBP community. After a year of my membership in the BCBP, my father was diagnosed with 4th stage lung cancer and was given 3 months to live. I could not bear the thought of losing him at that time when our father-son relationship was going on very smoothly. I prayed to God for his recovery and healing but it seemed God had other plans for him. He died at the age of 65. I was not even around when he died. I was in Cebu attending to another horrible event. The death of my younger sister, Ann.

My sister was supposed to be in Cebu City for a business conference on Lifestyles Networking when she was reported missing. After 3 days of searching, her decaying body was discovered at the seashore of Sibonga, the very place where she was born. The medico legal and NBI-Cebu (National Bureau of Investigation) reported that my sister died 3 days before she was retrieved by the Police authorities without finding the cause of death. There were so many versions, but all remained hearsays because of the absence of substantial evidences. Our whole family was puzzled and suffered pain of the tragedy. I began murmuring and questioned, Why Lord? I renewed my life already and I served You with these two communities, the BCBP and CFC. Much more when I lost my job at DIMAVEMCI due to management conflict where Papa was the Chairman. I felt the world was turning me upside down.

However, as I reflected on the blessings versus the misfortunes; I was ashamed and felt guilty of my God. I was blessed with perfect partner in life, my Joy, my children, our business, our mango farm, our own dwelling and mobility. The opportunity to serve as a public servant in the barangay, my brothers and sisters in the community are more than just a blessing to me. As I remember all these things, I began to cry and ask forgiveness to Him and shout to the whole world I LOVE YOU LORD, YOU ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR ME! After I flashed back the scenes in my life, only one set of footprints during my saddest moments, while walking with the Lord. I thought God left me alone, but it was then that He carried me.

The hunger and thirst of parental love that I felt during my childhood days has now turn into hunger and thirst for service to my God. Praise God!

God has a purpose behind our problem. He uses circumstances to develop our character. The tragedies that we experienced are God's ways of letting us realize that no one is immune to pain or isolated from suffering and no one gets through life problem free. Problems is an opportunity for us to look for Him and depend on Him instead of ourselves. But our God is a good God. He does not give us problem far beyond our capacity to cope because he knows our limitations.

Brothers and Sisters, let me end my sharing with a passage from 1 Corinthians 10:13, it says and I quote "Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people, But God keep His promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test; He will give you the strength to endure it and so provide you with a way out," end of quote.

Brothers and sisters, God day to you all.

JOY :

God never left us empty handed. We are not materially wealthy … but our lives are made richer with friends, with brothers and sisters in the BCBP who help me in my journey in faith and prays for me.

In closing, In Psalms 112:5, it says and I quote, "Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affair with justice," end of quote. Ray and I consider ourselves as stewards of our possessions so we always set aside 10% of our meager income. The money accumulated in our tithe wallet is divided to the Christian community where we belong, the GKK and the Church. Tithing is also our way of expressing our gratitude for God's countless blessings!!

What better way to acknowledge the many blessings God has given us is thanking God through our daily attendance in the holy mass.

In problems and trials … we have learned to accept them as part of growth. There is purpose behind every problem. God's plan is good … and He knows what is best for us. And with this mind, I would like to end this sharing with words from scripture and I quote, "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus," end of quote, taken from 1 Thesalonians 5:18.

May God bless us all!

Ray and Joy (Part 2)

RAY :

In Proverbs 22:6, it says and I quote "Train a boy in a way he should go; even when he is old, he will not reserve from it" end of quote.

As my world continued to revolve, I began my college life in Digos in 1982. I experienced a paradigm shift, That is, I was already living with my parents, younger brothers and sisters. But, I had a hard time adjusting my relationship with them. I was happy that I was with my family in Digos, but I still felt there was something missing. I felt I was being discriminated against them because I was a new comer, having lived in Cebu for quite sometime. Uncomfortable as I was then, I had no choice but to stay with my family because I could not live independently from them. I could not establish intimate relationship with them except for Mama who was very understanding and readily listened to me. It was different with Papa. We always had a clash of ideas with Papa. I did my best for him but my best was not good enough as far as he was concerned.

God has His own way of molding my life. I was challenged and I opted to create my own world. During my college days, I had established a little business. The earnings from which was sufficient to finance my school allowances and other personal necessities. It was my way of letting my parents know that I was not a burden to them.

JOY :

I became uncertain whether I can pursue with my college education due to financial difficulties. So, I entertained the idea of entering the religious life, particularly the Sister Handmaids of Charity. This is also my way of escaping from our chaotic family life. But my mother strongly disagreed because of her religious affiliation at Jehovah's Witness.

I had a scholarship grant from the MSU-Iligan (Mindanao State University), but I cannot leave my sick mother. I also had a 1/3 scholarship at the Ateneo de Davao University, but we cannot afford the other school expenses. With my Mama's consent, we again resorted to borrowing of money from the loan sharks and I enrolled at Cor Jesu College. The first semester was very hard for us since I was not a scholar, but on the 2nd semester until 4th year, I was a consistent Dean's lister and gained full scholarship. To make sure that my parents will not pay my tuition fee, in case my academic scholarship falters, I joined the school band as the lead majorette. This way, I still have my band scholarship as a fall back. In Hebrew 10:36 it says and I quote "You need to be patient in order to do the will of God and received what He promises," end of quote.

I graduated Bachelor of Science in Commerce major in Accounting as Magna Cum Laude. Unfortunately, I was unable to take up the CPA board examination due to financial constraints.

RAY :

My mother tried to bridge the gap of my relationship with my family. She encouraged me to attend the charismatic renewal movement in 1982. She taught me how to pray and to pave the way in understanding my father's attitude. Somehow, through Mama's compassionate heart and constant advises and guidance, the feelings of anger, emptiness and broken heartedness, which I harbored up until then, slowly disappeared from my being.

My mother was a nun, but fell in love with a handsome guy similar to the one standing in front of you. She continued her vocation not in the convent but in a teaching career at the Davao del Sur National High School. I even thought then that my mother was the head of our family because she always led the family in prayer, brought us to church and guided our spiritual development.

JOY :

While in college, I met a handsome guy who was introduced to me by my board mate. I confided with my mother about the guy's intention. Afraid that I will enter the religious life she approved our relationship. Ray and I became sweethearts on December 6, 1986. Ray is a very romantic guy that he would send me flowers every 6th of the month from that time until now, but the date changed after our marriage … it is now every 10th of the month. For the past 20 years, most of the flowers he gave me were because of love, while some were cover ups for his extra curricular activities outside our marriage.


RAY :

Having been healed of my family relationship, I felt I had a spiritual momentum and ask the Lord for a gift. True enough, God gave me Joy. Hulog sya nang langit para sa akin. In Matthew 7:7 it says and I quote, "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it will be opened to you," end of quote.

The time I met Joy were the trying times of our family. We were suffering financial crisis because my father was affected by the change in government following the 1986 EDSA revolution. Despite this family crisis, I was unaffected because my attention was focused on this very attractive college freshman girl who was a lead majorette at Cor Jesu College Band. I was very excited of my love affair with Joy. I felt that the real love had come to my life and made me forget what is happening to the rest of the world around me. I considered Joy as real love in the sense that she is God's Gift, my "GG." I have experienced puppy love or kitten love before Joy but all those were mere infatuations. In the case of Joy, it was something much more profound, perfect and complete. She put some color into my life … and I began to appreciate the beauty of life. My mother noticed that I was blooming not in my studies but in my love life. She was not worried about this situation because she thought I was in good hands. In fact, it was an answered prayer for Mama, since she loved Joy too, because they were of the same blood chemistry. They met at the mass almost everyday at the church. Joy had been asking guidance from God for the preservation of our relationship. My thirst and hunger for love and affection was answered by our relationships. We shared the ups and downs and our expectations with our parents. It was really a perfect combination because we were inspired by each other.

Our college love affair lasted for two years because I graduated two years ahead of Joy. Right after graduation, I decided to leave home and tried to find myself a job. Joy was instrumental in my employment at Padada where her family lived. I was welcomed by her parents and I was glad for that. In retrospect, I must say that God's plan for me was truly a wonderful design.

On June 10, 1989, after about four sweet years of our relationship and just a few months after Joy graduated with distinction from college, we decided to settle down. My mother showed no objection to our planned wedding. She even encouraged me to go ahead knowing that Joy was my "GG". Not wishing to impose the burden of getting married to my parents, I used my savings to cover the expenses of our wedding.

For the first three years of our married life, we stayed in Padada. These were the critical adjustment period for us as a married couple. My work then as a traveling salesman for RTW Garments, required that I move from place to place, a situation I considered detrimental to our relationship. Despite this difficult situation, we were able to remain steadfast in our relationship. Perhaps it was really God's plan that was able to sustain our union through those trying times.

God is really good. He is always been true to me. He always prepared the transition events of my life. He stabilized first my personal life before he took my mother away at the early age of 48, one year after our marriage. By that time, I had already established a good relationship with my parents in law. In Proverbs 3:6 it says and I quote "Remember the Lord in everything you do and he will show you the right way," end of quote.

With the reality of Mama's absence in our family, I focused my attention to reconciling with my father, a move which I realized was most important in achieving a complete healing of relationships. Again, I saw the manifestation of God's influence when the cordiality of father-son relationship between me and my father was restored. The reconciliation process went on smoothly so much so that on the seventh year after mama's death, we encouraged Papa to have a second family. From this second marriage, Papa had two children, my half brothers.

Two years after our marriage, Joy gave birth to our first child, a daughter whom we named Cindy Rayjoys. It was at this time that I decided to seek employment abroad. So I went to Saudi Arabia in search for that proverbial greener pasture. However, I realized that being away from the family was hardly an ideal arrangement. I was very troubled and disturbed at the thought that what happened between me and my parents would be replicated in my relationship with my daughter. With this relationship, I decided to brake the contract with my employer and went home after staying in Saudi Arabia for almost two years. Again, God was there to guide me in making a very crucial decision in my life. After that incident, I promised my family that I would never be away from them again.

JOY :

As we started to build again a family upon Ray's return, we experienced several problems in the areas of health and finances. The health and wellbeing of my parents continued to be a big concern on my part. Although my brother was now a seaman, he was already married. I still look up to my parents' medical needs and living expenses when the need arises. I thank God for having Ray who was understanding and very supportive.

I was also blessed with a good professional career. After my graduation in college, I was hired by the Lapanday Group of Companies assigned at their plant expansion. Looking for a greener pasture in March 1, 1993, I transferred to the Department of Trade and Industry, where I was hired as a Financial Analyst. I praise and thank God that in my young age I was promoted as Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist. I was also blessed to avail of a scholarship from JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency). It was a one-month study tour in Japan in 2000. Indeed, God is good! (to be concluded)

Ray and Joy (Part 1)

Good morning brothers and sisters!

Let me begin my sharing with you with a passage from Isaiah 42:16. It says and I quote, "I will lead the blind on their journey by paths unknown, I will guide them … I will turn darkness into light before them and make crooked ways straight," end of quote.

I am Francisco Ray Llanos Banlasan, the eldest of the eleven children of Rogelio Campus Banlasan and Filomena Alegado Llanos. Natives of Sibonga, Cebu. Both of them are now in God's Kingdom. I was born on April 2, 1966, the same birth date as that of the illustrious Tagalog poet, Franciso Baltazar, otherwise known as Balagtas.

Many people say that "life begins at 40" but to me, life began almost a decade ago when I started my public service being an elected official as Kagawad in Barangay Aplaya. I also joined the Couples for Christ in that same year 1996.

In 1976, my parents left Cebu and migrated to Digos (Davao del Sur) leaving me and two other siblings with our grandparents in Cebu. With no parents around during the crucial adolescent years, I became a spoiled brat; but my Lolo and Lola (grandfather and grandmother) saw to it that I would be trained in the old traditional way of Christian living. I was trained how to pray the rosary, the novena, the angelus - both in the dialect as well as in Spanish. I served as an altar boy (koletos) in my whole high school life. Despite these good trainings, I could hardly understand and appreciate life because of what I considered the missing link - parental love. I thought my friends (barkadas) were part of my family because we were always together in drinking alcoholic beverages, smoking marijuana, courting girls, etc. Without parental guidance, I thought then that these were just part of my growth and development.


Brothers and sisters … good morning!

Let me start my sharing from the passage Isaiah 25:1. It says and I quote, "I will exalt thee, I will praise Thy holy name, for thou has done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and same," end of quote.

Yes, my dear brothers and sisters, I offer my life testimony as a thanksgiving for the wonderful things God has done for me. .

Standing in front of you is Ma. Joycelyn Flores Banlasan, born on August 24, 1968, at San Vicente, Maribojoc, Bohol. My father, Agustin Tabat Flores, is from Pig-ot, Bohol, and my mother, Isabel Rubillar Jumamil, is from San Vicente, Maribojoc, Bohol. We are only two in the family with my brother who is four years younger than me.

My mother is a beautician. She would have wanted to pursue a college degree as a working student at her uncle's store. However, she was sickly and was forced to quit schooling. My father has to leave us behind in Bohol to earn a living in Padada (Davao del Sur) to support his family. He had a small RTW store in the Public Market.

Life in Bohol is so difficult; our food is so dependent on the catch of my Lolo. We planted corn in our backyard and my grandparents milled it as our staple food. How can you expect good harvest from our rocky place - "Among jutang bato-on." It was difficult to make both ends meet.

My early religious upbringing was rather confusing because I went to two different churches. My grandparents were devout Catholics but Mama got converted as a Jehovah's Witness when I was 5 years old. However, my grandmother saw to it that I attended my Sunday obligation by bringing me to church with her. On the other hand, my mother would tag me along to her church services on Saturdays. To my young mind, this situation was confusing. However, this was rectified when I studied at St. Michael's School of Padada, where I received Catholic education and training and further reinforced when I studied at Cor Jesu College (in Digos).

In 1974, we left Maribojoc, Bohol, to join my father in Padada. Armed with a pair of scissors and comb, my Mama put up her own beauty parlor. Because of her craft, her business was blessed with plenty of customers, mostly teachers and professionals. But despite of the good business, the family finance suffered due to her ailment. She has to be brought to the hospital every now and then due to her severe asthma attacks. One incident was her attack when graduation days were fast approaching and we were worried about the loss of income. Luckily, she recovered just in time to serve her customers.

I leaned how to do the work of a manicurista at the tender age of 10, and by the time I was 12 years old, I already knew how to curl hair, which at that time was the fashion. I remember with pride that I brought my first sando from my income in cleaning and polishing nails.

In Psalm 54:6, it says and I quote, "Behold God is my helper, the Lord sustains my life," end of quote.

My being a Boholana has developed an inferiority complex within me. I was the object of teasing by my classmates due to my pronunciation. So, I tried to learn to talk the "Dabaweño" way - the “penino” as we call it. Criticism wounds and tears down; so much so that my school performance suffered during my elementary years, but luckily, I got over my inferiority complex as I entered my high school years.

My parents were like cat and dog. I never saw them loving each other. The memories that remained in my life with them were their quarrels in the public market. Many times father left my mother and went back to Bohol because Mama nagged him in front of her customers in a very loud voice. Due to the hurts and shame, my father resorted to drinking and smoking. It was so humiliating since many people will gather to witness the quarrels of my parents in the public market. Their constant quarrels were hurting not only to my father to also to me and to my brother.

In my desire to keep the family intact, I went to Bohol for a number of times and pleaded for his return to us. I thank God we were united as a family again.

When my father re-united with my mother, we borrowed money from the loan sharks to start a small business, a kitchen wares and native products business. The business was quite good since the repayment of the loan were taken from the income of Mama from the beauty parlor. Until one tragic event took what our parents established, our business, our parlor and our home, were destroyed by fire on December 24, 1984. We were left with nothing except my majorette uniform. As fire victims, we celebrated our Christmas eve at the elementary school.

A day after that great fire, my parents built a small shanty along the streets, starting my mother’s parlor with a pair of scissors and a comb again. God never abandoned us because amidst these trials, we still cling to God and hope that we can rise again. With God's blessings, slowly we regained our parlor, established again another kitchen wares business but we were not able to regain our house. We lived in the public market, in our parlor. In Psalm 46:1, it says and I quote, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble," end of quote.

Like other instances in the past, my father would go back to Bohol as his escape from Mama's nagging and constant quarreling. But, his longest "revolt" in 1985 brought a big blow to our family life. My mother got very ill. Our business was bankrupt and the income from the parlor was very minimal since Mama can no longer work. Her asthma attack had worsen and she was inflicted with T.B. So, I have to take over the operation of the parlor. I was 15 years old then and already a beautician. It was a tremendous challenge on my part because I have to attend to my studies too.

It was around this trying years when I was graduating from high school. I had hoped that both of my parents would be around during my graduation. Once again, I went to Bohol and pleaded to my father to attend my graduation and to come back to my sick mother. I graduated Second Honorable Mention and with both parents to share my happy moments. (to be continued)

Spreading God's gift at Eden

Members of the Davao Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) motored early this morning to Barangay Eden at the foothills of Mt. Apo, the Philippines' highest peak, some 30 kilomenters south of the city.

After the Sunday mass, the Davao BCBP spread God's treasure in the form of free nutrition, medical and dental services to the residents in the area.

This activity is one of the send-off activities of the Davao BCBP chapter before leaving this week for Palawan to participate in the 26th anniversary celebration of this Christian renewal movement.

Other chapters in the country are also preparing for this annual affair.

A new mission - an Intro

I just came from an inspiring breakfast with the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) Davao Chapter.

I remember a story about all of us being raindrops, and even if we were dropped in any part of the earth, we would still end up in the sea. The latter being our God, our creator.

There must be a compelling reason why you were here, Peter, the breakfast program host this morning, Uly Lopez, told me.

Be honest! is one of the campaigns of this Catholic renewal group and I must admit a powerful force must have led me to this meeting, and not to another room at the Mandaya Hotel.

I was speaker at the Davao Christian Leadership breakfast fellowship yesterday and I was invited to another breakfast meeting today. I did not honestly know that there were two meetings simultaneously going on at same time, at the same floor at the hotel. One was BCBP, the other was Full Gospel Fellowship. The latter was the one I was supposed to attend.

A compelling reason.

I first learned of the BCBP from my cousin Roberto Laviña, one of its national leaders, about three years ago. I have surfed its website in the past. Of late, an old friend and partner in the birth of Peryodiko Dabaw in 1984 (now SunStar Davao), Emil Sison, mentioned it again to me. He told me my cousin Bobby was in Davao and asked about me. Unfortunately, I was in Manila at that time.

BCBP keeps coming back to me.

When I entered the room this morning I was confused a little, but seeing many familiar faces inside I stayed the whole breakfast program.

I was warmly welcomed together with three other “first timers.”

A compelling reason.

What is it that the Lord wants in me this morning?

Last Tuesday, I attended a breakfast meeting with the Haggai Institute in Davao. It is a Christian leadership formation group advancing the teachings of the Lord in many parts of the world with local, indigenous leaders instead of foreign missionaries.

Am I being called to seriously serve the Lord and not just his people?

And last Friday, I was with the DCL composed of evangelical leaders also preaching the Good News.

Am I being led by the Shepherd to do more than what I am now doing for his Kingdom on Earth?

I would like to answer these questions with this blog.

God’s Gift.

I mentioned this in an earlier post about the killing of a peasant leader two weeks ago. I wrote: "Life is a present from God. How dare men play god to take away this precious gift?"

This morning, I heard God's Gift several times from the couple sharer – Ray and Joy, and from Uly Lopez and from the chapter's Program and Service Director Hansel Magno, an old neighbor when we were young boys living along Ponciano St.

I dedicate this blog to this morning’s awakening, a new experience; to today's renewal, a new beginning.

To my friends at the Full Gospel let me share these words from 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 "There is diversity of gifts, but the Spirit is the same. There is diversity of ministries, but the Lord is the same. There is diversity of works, but the same God works in all."