The event was highly successful, both from the medical assistance point of view and from an evangelistic point of view.   

A total of 20 volunteer doctors and 8 volunteer dentists came to support the event.  They served a total of 435 patients, with the majority being 18 years and younger.   

The volunteers included the following doctors and dentists:

It was a concerted team effort, as 49 non-professional volunteers coming from the Central Sector manned the registration table, took blood pressure readings, gathered baseline info about the families, and also prayed over and with the beneficiaries.  These volunteers helped put order in the long queues, and assisted in the cleaning of the instruments and lending assistance to the medical team.  

Dong Asperilla leading a PDS family in prayer

More than 400 PDS residents came for free treatment

There was an abundance of free medicine to dispense.

In his report to the Sector Council, Alan Santos said, “The LNP Volunteers and PDS team who did the history taking were able to touch the people as they shared their lives to one another with a 3 minute life sharing and pray over, most of the patients felt the need for God in their lives and many cried while being prayed over.”  

Central Sector volunteers learning about discipleship through mission

Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it.  

We reached the venue before 9am.  The compound was wide, spacious and surrounded by greenery. We were welcomed by Sr. Marissa , a very good friend of Dickie’s father in the olden days. (However, in the past few months, it seemed that her new “barkada” had now become Dickie and Susan who did all the research and arrangements for this outreach activity of our MWG).

We were led to the dining area where several of the older/senior sisters had already gathered. (We found out that in this house there were over  50 sisters in various stages of disability a part of about a hundred aging nuns who were being cared for in other sections of the building). The ones we were about to meet could still go around in their wheelchairs while there were some who can’t get up anymore and just stayed in their “ICU” area.   

The first part of our program was introduction of our MWG followed by a brief background of Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon. While Sr. Marissa was giving her welcome remarks,  Sr. Imelda was insistently raising her hand and wanted to be heard. She welcomed us with a song number to our delight!  (Wow, apparently, though these nuns are almost bed ridden , they sure can still give joy to others by their willingness to share their talents).  We were also amazed to know that Sr. Imelda was a nursing board topnotcher, who  eventually became a nurse, but opted to answer God’s calling to become a nun.

A 102-year old nun sings to us

Before Sr. Marissa could continue with our program, another sister sang and then another  recited a poem.  The most surprising among all was when the most senior sister who happened to be 102 years old sang “Bahay Kubo” and we all joyfully sang with her with gusto!

The Sisters enjoyed reciting poems and singing songs to us!

We initially went there with a program in mind which included singing praise and worship songs, prayers, etc.  In between the sisters’ talks/stories, songs, poems and entertainment, we were able to sing several songs.  Yong and Che’s 7 yr. old son, Red, entertained the nuns by speaking in front of them.  He later was lovingly interrogated by them and he patiently listened to all their stories. 

"It's now our turn to thank and to serve you."

It turned out that the main portion of our program was given by the sisters themselves.  They simply wanted to have people around to interact with.  As if to confirm it, later on that afternoon Dickie sent an email to all our MWG members about a daily reflection from St. Pio  which goes . . .

“We have a listening group of co-workers (of the Missionaries of Charity) who go to the houses of old people and sit down and let them talk. The elderly tell stories to the co-workers of things that happened 30 years ago. Very old people love to have somebody listen to them. To listen when nobody else wants to listen is a very beautiful thing.”  - Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Coincidence? Oh yes we would say that, . . . in human terms. But our almighty God knows better. We went there to entertain when it turned out that these retired, aging and sickly nuns needed people to listen to them and spend time with them.  

Sr. Marissa accompanied us around the compound.  We took a peek of their ICU section, saw their chapel, prayed in one of their prayer rooms, walked by their cemetery and even enjoyed the breathtaking view of Laguna de Bay overlooking nearby.  We realized that these nuns spent more than half their lifetime serving the Lord.   Some even gave up what could have been lucrative careers.  They lovingly showed the face of Jesus to the less fortunate, the sick and the dying.  Now as they reach their twilight years, it is their turn to be served by others.  

Before that Saturday, our MWG agreed to donate funds so that we could purchase some grocery items. We were able to bring 3 boxes containing milk, crackers, bread, oatmeal, jams, cheese.   But we found out that aside from these items, the sisters desperately need other things like adult diapers, wheelchairs, kumoda (portable toilet chairs), vitamin C, multi-vitamins, used laptops or PC desktops, printers (for their data files ), and solar water heater (to reduce their Meralco bills).

As Arlene said in her opening remarks… “throughout all the years of service, the Sisters of Charity must have served hundreds or even thousands of people.  Maybe a few would have said “Thank you” to you.  It is now our turn to thank and to serve you for your lifelong commitment of giving selfless service to others”.

We said our goodbyes and told the nuns we will try our best to visit them again.  We left the huge compound with a happy heart knowing that in our own small way, we made that day extra special for the sisters.  But there were nagging questions such as “How about the other days of their aging lives, what would they be like?”  “What can we do to make their remaining days be happy and comfortable?”

There couldn’t be a better way to show them than by spending time with them and attending to their needs.  It is surely God’s way of telling them: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

- Michelle Manzo, Central B

Editor’s note: The MWG of Manny and Arlene Arcilla belong to Central B, composed of Dickie and Susan Buhain, Noel and Ces Duldulao, Yong and Che Garcia, Mico and Ivy Lademora, Jay and Michelle Manzo.  They paid a second visit to the Daughters of Charity on April 9, 2010.

"Lizette Lim, in her element" - Eddie Mendoza

I got in from Bangkok three days before typhoon Ondoy hit Metro Manila.  I counted myself lucky as I could have been stranded in a foreign land, away from my family.  Saturday was training day for my two girls, as both Claudine and Nicole are hard court cheerleaders of Poveda.  However, due to the previous night’s heavy downpour, we told them to stay put in the house.  Another stroke of luck.  All safe and sound.

Then I got a text from a sister, Michelle Manzo, asking for help as her parents, sisters, nephew and nieces were trapped in their house in Rolling Hills, New Manila.  That was when it dawned on me that this was not just another typhoon.  This was a wake-up call.  I tried to ask for help from my friends in the military, my husband Anton tried all his contacts in the government sector, but with the sudden turn of events, everyone was caught unprepared!  It was just overwhelming.  And the rest of the world saw how the Filipinos survived the killer typhoon.

It is in the nature of the Filipinos to help without any prodding.  It was spontaneous and automatic for each and everyone to do their share of rescue operations, relief operations, feeding, medical missions, soliciting goods/donations, volunteering in the relief center, distributing in the evacuation center, counseling/debriefing of victims, etc.

But this is our story…

On October 10, a Saturday, I arranged for the pick-up of tables and chairs (donated by Poveda) and books (from Abiva Publishing) for my adopted public schools in Cabangan, Zambales.  This year’s beneficiary is Laoag Elementary School.  The year before was Casa Tondo Elementary School.  The delay in the transport (which is usually done in June) was due to donated computers we were waiting to be released by a call center.  It was God’s way, I believe.

“Tulungan niyo po kami, Ma’m.”

As we were loading the tables and chairs in the truck, Lyn, my contact person in Cabangan said, “Tulungan niyo po kami, Ma’am.  Lalo na ang Botolan.”  (“Please help us, Ma’am. Especially Botolan.”)  Then she described the details of the devastation of typhoon Pepeng.  Tulungan, a cry for help, greatly affected me as I am always, always moved to action whenever I hear such words.  So I said yes, gagawan ko ng paraan.  (I’ll find a way.)  I asked her to see what the victims in Botolan needed.  Three days later, Lyn texted me that she already talked to the social workers of Botolan and that the appeal was for sugar, coffee, milk for infants/children, bread, biscuits, and salt.

That Wednesday, I asked the “Sisterhood of Bible Scholars” (a group of Ligaya women who meets every week to study the Bible), “Who wants to go with me to Botolan?”  And “Mommy Daisy” (Mendoza), SWL of Central B, replied, “Whose group are you going with?”  I answered, “By myself.”  That night, I realized I was embarking on a journey by myself.  The only funds I had on hand was P3,000.00–a left-over from the donations I solicited for Bishop Soc Villegas a week before, for his appeal for Pangasinan, sent through a text message to Becky Aranaz (Central B).  I was able to get P8,000.00 then from the senior citizens of our parish, which I used to buy canned goods.  The P3,000.00 was given the day after the truck left for Pangasinan so I asked permission from the donors, Tito Bert Singson and tita Auring Asuncion, if I could use the money for Botolan instead; and they said yes.  But P3,000.00 could only buy at most, 15 bags of food items.  And there were 2,400 families in the evacuation centers in Botolan!  I told myself, “Bahala na si Batman.”

The next day, my angel of mercy—Merci Bermundo (Central B)—texted me, “Tuloy ba tayo sa Botolan? (Are we on for Botolan?)  When are we leaving?”  I texted back, “Yipee! Yipee! May kasama na ako! (Now I have company.)  But Merci, I only have P3,000.00.”  She said, “Okay, I will try Flying V and get from my friends.”  That was my cue from God.  Man proposes, God disposes.

Fearing donor fatigue

I gathered enough courage again to appeal for help.  What held me back was the thought that people were already experiencing “donor fatigue”.  So my opening line was—I don’t want to impose or beg, but this is an appeal for Botolan.  I randomly sent the message to my friends.  Some replied, other’s didn’t (probably too tired of helping out already), while some totally ignored me.  But I believe that God wanted me to act on it.

When I picked up my kids from school, I was told by the guard that Kris Aquino was coming for the Teachers’ Day program, so I decided to stay behind and watch.  Lo and behold!  I saw a co-parent, Bables Feliciano, who is a sugar trader!  I could have met a rice trader, but sugar…swak na swak to what the Botolan victims needed.  “Ilang sako kailangan mo, Lizette?”  (“How many bags do you need?”)  Again, God’s cue for me to pursue this.  God is indeed a precise God!

My other angel, Sarah Peliño, informed our Central B District Coordinator, Eddie Mendoza, of my appeal.  So during the Sector Assembly that Sunday, he asked me about it and I told him that I was really already embarrassed to ask for help due to donor fatigue; but he told me that there is no limit to what we can give.  Words of wisdom—meaning, I guess—why am I limiting God’s generosity?

Before that, I told Merci that I wanted to leave for Botolan on Friday, October 23, which means we had only one week to prepare.  I said, whatever comes before Friday, that’s what we’re going to bring.  I texted Eddie Mendoza the details of the Botolan endeavor.  He then issued a mission memo to two mwgs: the “Council of Trent” (MWG of Bob Tenchavez) and the “Council of Ten” (MWG of Claro Pablo, then headed by Edward Isaac). 

No limit to God’s generosity

Monday, October 19, we convened at the residence of Edward and Beth Isaac.  The ever cool Bob Tenchavez asked how many bags I intend to bring to Botolan and at what cost per bag.  And so the bidding for Botolan commenced.  That night, we raised P 96,000.00!  Truly, He is an amazing God!  And indeed, Bob and Betsy Tenchavez, with their group composed of Nonoy and Grace Tan, Lito and Merci Bermundo, Edgar and Ginny Talavera, Bob and Mel Garcia, Archit and Nenne Bartolome, and my former PLs Willie and Sarah Peliño, are worthy of the title “Council of Trent” because when they help—they go all out.  Bob Garcia even shared that God’s timing is perfect.  That morning, his sister in the U.S. called and said she will remit payment for a long-forgotten debt.  And that was a sign for them to donate.

My own MWG’s (Council of Ten) story was touching.  Arlene Arcilla texted me that night that they were giving P 5,000.00 but I refused because their own house also got flooded.  Two days after, though, I got a text from Susan Buhain that Arlene ordered P 5,000.00 worth of milk!  Her story—she believes that better days are sure to come so they wanted to do their share.  I also told Becky Aranaz not to give anymore since she husband Jose had already given so much for the other relief efforts, but she said, “No, I want to give more.”

Tuesday, October 20, Nonoy Tan called me with the good news that he got a donation of 500 pails from Orocan and food items from another friend.  My friend, Beging Soriano, confirmed that she could lend me her service vehicle to transport the goods.  Susan Buhain texted that she’s donating Kopiko coffee, Energen cereal drinks and cans of condensed milk, Fr. Jorge Belosillo (my parish priest) gave five sacks of rice, and Becky Aranaz bought P 5,000.00 worth of slippers in Divisoria.  Things were falling in place.

Wednesday, October 21, was grocery day.  My sister Ynna, Merci B., Mel G., and I together with Sarah P’s driver Rico, trooped to Pioneer Center to buy the food items.  And then another miracle happened.  I saw the mom of Anton’s batchmate, Inday Bautista, and greeted her.  It was really the Holy Spirit who put words in my mouth because right then and there, she pulled out money from her wallet and gave it to me as donation.  Alleluia!  The grocery ran out of Sarsarap rice ulam sauce.  We checked the label and found out that the owner is a friend of Mel, so she called him up and voila! We got our needed Sarsarap.  How God attends even to the little details.

Thursday, October 22, was packing/sorting day.  The Central B District’s brothers and sisters came in full force to the Holy Family Parish (Capitolio) deck.  Apparently, they got email blasts form our Coordinator, Eddie, and came to help sort, pack, bundle, and arrange the pails/bags.  Thanks to Manny and Arlene Arcilla, Dickie Buhain, Beth Isaac, Daisy Mendoza, Au Santos, Rocky de Castro, Joseph Mora (with his 2 kids), Romy and Thelma Tocjayao, Merci B., Rudy Aguillera, Anton Lim, Yong and Che Garcia, Michelle Manzo, Christine and Corrine Caoile, as well as the church workers of Holy Family Parish for a job well done.  At the end of the day, we filled up a total of 500 pails and 336 grocery bags; with food items and goods still pouring in.  720 bottles of vitamins were also delivered that day, courtesy of Edward Isaac.  Packed meals for the happy workers were delivered, compliments of Beth Isaac and Anton Lim.  How God multiplies His bounty!

And, as if that wasn’t enough, another miracle happened.  My problem with transporting the pails was that I needed a bigger truck.  I made lambing with all my “connect” and got one for free but was only available on Saturday.  The other one, courtesy of Menchu Roman, (also for free) but was only available on Sunday.  I have set my eyes on Friday and with the many surprises that God has given me in the past days, I had no doubt in my mind that something positive will once again awe me.   All of a sudden, Michelle Manzo, who has previously informed me that their truck was in the shop for repair, sprung a surprise.  “Mamu (that’s her pet name for me), I got you a truck and Jay (her husband) said it’s free!”  Hurray! Hurray! Hurray!

God cleared the storm to provide relief

Friday, October 23 – dispatch of 2 trucks to Botolan – with Team A (SUV of Nonoy Tan): Nonoy, Bob Garcia, Anton and Lizette Lim, Merci Bermundo and Gelay; and Team B (Van of Betsy Tenchavez): Betsy, Daisy Mendoza, Clarence and Rose Sartaguda, Christine and Corrine Caoile, Honey, and Liza.  GO! GO! GO BOTOLAN!  Warned by many that incoming typhoon Ramil was set to reach the land Thursday night or Friday morning, we were grateful to be greeted by a sunny weather that Friday!  Awesome God indeed!

We experienced a little delay because of miscommunication with the truck driver but at 7:30 AM, we were on the road to Botolan.  Team B reached Subic ahead of us and had a sumptuous breakfast at the house of Bob and Betsy Tenchavez.  Meanwhile, Team B, together with truck drivers Marnie Roma, Manong Ray Panisa, and the “Borloloy Boys” of the Parish—Richard, Arthur, and Amir grabbed a Jollibee breakfast.

Upon reaching Botolan at noontime, we passed by the still flooded roads, houses that were swept away, vehicles submerged in water—evident devastation brought about by the floods. 

Botolan still submerged

We then brought the first batch of relief goods to the first evacuation center where the evacuees were housed in tents, two to three families sharing a small tent.  As is customary, we started with a prayer.  Indeed, we saw joy in their faces and glee in their eyes as they lined up for the goods.  The smile on the children’s faces—too innocent, too young to understand all of it—as we distributed the cereals and drinks, as well as the slippers, was just heartwarming.

Central B Relief Operation in Botolan begins

The second evacuation center was a warehouse and the people there were evidently affected by their present living conditions.  We even encountered some distribution problems because a certain group was complaining of bias in the distribution of goods.  The third center was an area of makeshift bamboo houses.  After lining up, they would happily say, “Salamat.”  (“Thank you.”)

Ever thankful for the present, but mindful of the future.

Our face-to-face encounter with the victims of Botolan brought out the best in each of us.  Even Romy, the driver of Nonoy, and Cecil, the driver of Betsy, helped in handing out the pails/grocery bags.  They did not distance themselves but eagerly joined in the activities.  And so, together with the truck drivers, I saw all of us drenched in sweat but happy.  We emptied the truck and the Isuzu Elf of all of its contents.  We gave them all out.

Called for such a time as this.

We emptied ourselves, too.  We got out of our comfort zones and reached out to them and gave of ourselves.  We believe we accomplished God’s mission for us at that time—to let them see the face of Jesus and to bring them His love, His compassion, and His hope!  Mission accomplished!

Mission accomplished! (For now.)

-          Lizette Lim, Central B

This undertaking was prompted by a request from Pastor Neil on Wednesday, October 14, addressed to our sister Beth Melchor for a donation of relief goods for their members. Beth in turn endorsed the request to our Sector Coordinator Melmarx Marcojos, who in turn emailed the District Coordinators asking for their availability and readiness to undertake the project.  Our District Coordinator Ces Pilapil, after consultation with the District Leadership Team, agreed to take on the assignment.

After prayerfully seeking the Lord’s guidance, the Holy Spirit touched the members of the District who were able to mobilize themselves and prepare by Friday evening some 440 packs of goods for distribution the following day.

Having fun packing relief goods for Cabanatuan and Urdaneta

Lizet Rivas making sure there's enough for all

Our humble offering

On the morning of Saturday, our team joined the team of Pastor Neil for the distribution of the goods in the aforementioned areas.  Both teams arrived inUrdaneta at around 10:30 in the morning and proceeded to the first drop-off point.  The distribution was not done in the flooded/damaged areas.  Instead, the beneficiaries were told to assemble in their local church where the distribution was to be held.

As a backgrounder, Pastor Neil’s community has been actively conducting evangelization work in these remote areas.  They did not just visit the place to give talks, they literally planted themselves in these areas.  They built churches where their congregation is situated and appoint a local pastor to care for the congregation.  This is the embodiment of our own Community’s call to be fruitful, multiply and occupy.  They indeed occupied the territory.

We were able to visit six (6) of such churches.  In each, our team was introduced and each member of the team took turns in addressing the group and leading the prayer.  It was indeed a very fruitful and spiritually rewarding experience for us from the LNP.  We were warmly received in every place visited- and we can say not just for the goods we were bringing, but for being brothers and sisters in Christ.  In the true spirit of ecumenism.

Noel Lugue putting good order in the relief center

Ces Pilapil and family lend a hand

The Urdaneta phase of the project ended at about 12:30 pm and the teams then took a much needed lunch break before proceeding to Cabanatuan.  The trip to Cabanatuan took around three (3) hours, arriving at the drop-off point, their main church in the area, around 5 pm.  Again the usual , introductions, address and prayers took place with our district Coordinator leading the prayer.  As it was getting late the team leaders decided to just entrust the remaining goods for the Nueva Ecija beneficiaries with the local pastor for him to take charge of the actual distribution

Thereafter, we made our way back home with thankful hearts for the wonderful experience of having been able to do God’s work in such remote areas with brothers and sisters of a different denomination in the true spirit of ecumenism.

Dody Naguiat (1947-2009)

Our brother, Dody Naguiat (Central C) was called by our Heavenly Father to join Him by His side, today, October 1, 2009, at approximately 8 in the evening.  After surviving a heart bypass and a kidney transplant, he finally succumbed to pneumonia.  He received final blessings from Fr. Herb Schneider, S.J.

Dody is survived by his wife, Josie, and children Happy, Terry, Rammy, Paco, and granddaughter Anika. 

Wake will be at the Santuario de San Antonio chapel in Forbes Park, Makati.  There will be Mass at 8pm every night until Monday.  LNP Night will be on Monday night.  Interment will be on Tuesday morning, starting with a Mass at 9AM.

EDITOR’S NOTE:  Please feel free to share your prayers and words of honoring in the “Comment” box below.  Thank you.

Read his reflection which he wrote 39 days after his kidney transplant.   “MY ANCHORS” by Dody Naguiat.

I am 61 years old. I have been hypertensive since age 32. I inherited this from Mama. I had a heart attack in 1991. Papa had problems with his heart.

Dody Naguiat (Central C)

I am a compliant patient and religiously have check-ups and drink my meds. I am fairly fit, an outdoor type, played basketball, tennis, swam, played badminton. I managed my stress.

In 2004, my cardio-internist noted a marker for kidney problems; creatinine was creeping upward, protein traces in my urine. He said it was time to team up with a nephrologist.  On the urging of my former cardio-internist, he suggested in September of 2006, to go for a kidney transplant! I was young, quality of life would be better. Go for it, he said.  I was energized and full of hope.

Fast forward to December 7, 2006, I vomited at work. I was told to go to UST Emergency ASAP. My nephrologist is the Head of the UST Center for Kidney Disease.

Here my journey begins…

My journey begins

What follows are the affirmations, scriptural anchors that accompanied me on this journey.

1.        “Tell Dody, Jesus Loves Him!”

Fr. Herb heard about my confinement at UST.  He talked to Josie and gave that message. In my darkest moments, I recalled and replayed this truth. I soaked on this truth when even the desire to pray was absent.  Father Ignatius reminded me that the desire to desire to pray is already in itself a grace.

2.        “Thy will be done. Father, I put my life in your hands.”

From denial, I surrendered to the Father’s will.  It was a Saturday. Tony and Sarah Panajon visited me.  They drove all the way from Sta. Rosa to Espana to comfort me.  Tony laid hands on me. I was at peace.

I agreed to have an access to my carotid artery to start hemodialysis the following day.  Guess what, Sunday morning; Tony was there to make sure I would not back out from the procedure. We had a good laugh. 

I had my first experience with hemodialysis that Sunday evening in December of 2007.  This went on for eighteen months, three times a week for 4-hour sessions.   My final session before my kidney transplant was last August 1, the day Tita Cory passed to the Lord.

3.     “unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it   dies, it bears much fruit.” (Jn 12:24)            

This scripture passage is the leitmotiv of the Way of the Cross which Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger wrote upon the request of John Paul II the week before he died in the year 2005.

“In the Way of the Cross, we see a God who shares in human sufferings, a God who does not remain aloof and distant, but comes into our midst even enduring death on the Cross (cf. Phil 2:8).”

My experience of dialysis for eighteen months, and the inconveniences of a four-hour procedure three times a week brought forth the promise of a better day after being cleansed of toxic waste. I had to die, so I could bear fruit again if only until the next “cleansing”. Happily, I had the means and resources to go through the procedure, until I had my kidney transplant.

I rejoice.

I had plenty of opportunities to share in Christ’s sufferings and His Paschal mystery.

4.  “We boast in the hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, we boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces  endurance and endurance produces character and character produces hope and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured in our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (Rm. 5:2-5)

I pray for the many graces that suffering has brought me. I fervently hope that I can be a better disciple and follower of our Lord according to our way of life and mission. So that in all things God may be glorified.

Everything is grace

5.  “Everything is grace. Everything is the direct effect of our Father’s love. Everything is grace because everything is God’s gift. Whatever be the character of life or its unexpected events—to the heart that loves, all is well.”   St. Therese of Lisieux                                                                        

- Dody Naguiat
September 10, 2009, 39^th Day post Kidney Transplant

RELATED LINK:  DODY NAGUIAT, 1947-2009

The Surprise Arrival

Through we welcomed the twins with much joy, they came in too soon.  They were scheduled to be delivered sometime mid-March.  But the doctor decided to perform emergency caesarean operation owing to Chie’s persistent stomach ache and a widening cervix opening.  The babies were safely delivered but had to be placed inside incubators because of their pre-mature birth.  Between the two of them, they would spend a total of 99 days in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.

Due to the critical nature of the case at that time, some of our major preparations for the delivery went to naught.

Anyway, 10 days after their arrival, we christened them Bernard and Bernice.

Bernice (L) and Bernard (R)

Bernard’s Special Condition

Aside from the common complications that pre-mature babies usually have, Bernard was found to have a metabolic disorder.  Doctors refer to this as multiple carboxylase deficiency.  Some of the manifestations of this ailment are seizures and poor muscle tone.  Bernard had to stay at the hospital for more than two months to somehow stabilize him

Bernard underwent several (that’s an understatement!) tests and procedures like cranial ultrasound, blood transfusion, EEG, metabolic analysis, including two that had to be sent to Australia.  Considering his tender age, he had to take in a lot of medications, one of which, we learned, he will have to take for the rest of his life.

Bernard Bondoc at the hospital

Throughout, it pains us to see how much Bernard had suffered very early in his life.  We are distressed whenever he succumbs to seizure attacks several times per hour!  For the longest time, we had to feed him through a tube inserted in his mouth (OGT).  He had an additional two-week stay at the hospital for blood infection.  His body temperature is very unstable – on and off fever.  Doctors also told us of possible eye and brain problems.  We feel anguish whenever we think of how Bernard is enduring this entire ordeal.

The Financial Troubles

On the sideline, we knew then that it won’t be long before we would feel the financial impact of all of this.  We were right.  As days move on, we see bills and expenses climbing at pace we can’t keep up with.  With our personal savings and help from family and friends, we were able to make progress payments.  But we knew that we needed to produce more, otherwise, we’ll find ourselves in deep trouble.  To date, we have so far spent almost a million and half pesos (figure still climbing J) for this whole episode.  That’s why we fondly refer to the twins as “the million peso babies.”  Much later, we would find our fixed income hit a snag.  I (Adrian) found myself being laid off from work (talk about, “when it rains, it pours”) while Chie had to over-extend her leave of absence from work to personally take care of the kids, especially Bernard.

Pondering on these things, we knew that God should be (must be!) part of the equation.

Where is God in All These?

At the very onset, God assured us of His abiding presence during these times.  He called us to be courageous and victorious all throughout.  This would be our statement of faith; our source of great peace.  This belief though would be tested during the whole experience.

With this prophetic sense in mind, we ventured into solving our financial concern.  We knew we needed to be bold and confident if we are to succeed in this task.  So, we sent out text messages, composed solicitation letters, and spoke with possible benefactors.  People responded generously to our appeal.  Community brothers & sisters rushed in to help (some even gave more than once!).  Individuals we barely know chipped in their share as well.  Several organizations, both private & government, likewise donated to our cause.  God is providing.

Non-monetary support also came in: prayers, hand-me-down baby items, messages of encouragement and practical information, and even doing errands for us (e.g., prepare meals, buy medicines, and drive for us, etc.).  God is faithful.

One may ask, “Is God silent and hidden during sufferings?”  No, if one will just see how His instruments here on earth are so vocal and active in doing His will.  No, if one will just strain to tune-in into God’s frequency.  Some of the more significant Scripture passages that sustained us are the following: 1 Corinthians 10:13; Philippians 4:4-7; Romans 8:28. 

God is ever present and alive during sufferings, especially during sufferings.  In our particular circumstance, we dared not asked, “where is God when it hurts?”  Rather, the question was, “where are we when it hurts?”  Will we remain steadfast with God or blaspheme Him because of our predicament?

No way for us to choose the latter; despite what we initially perceived as God’s silence and veiled presence, He was with us all the way; God was teaching us to live courageously and victoriously.

Enduring the Suffering

Not knowing any better, we prayed for God to remove the suffering; to release us from this trial.  But by God’s grace, we experienced paradigm shift.  We realized that we needed to accept this, go through it, and learn from it.  The Lord spoke to us through a papal encyclical, Spe Salvi:

It is not by sidestepping or fleeing from suffering that we are healed, but rather by our capacity for accepting it, maturing through it and finding meaning through union with Christ, who suffered with infinite love.

It took awhile before this sank into us.  We wanted instant relief from our hardship.  We wanted God to act supernaturally and according to our whim.  This is not how it’s supposed to be.  We needed to bear it, not for the mere sake of bearing it, but how to turn it to glory.  Suffering – without ceasing to be suffering – becomes, despite everything, a hymn of praise (Spe Salvi).  With our backs against the wall, we needed to live courageously and victoriously.

Your Joy is My Joy; Your Pain is My Pain

Bernard today

One thing the Lord impressed upon us through this experience is how we are to live our lives.  Many years back, God called us to be a “Family for Others.”  With this happening, He’s summoning us to re-live that calling with more vigor and passion.  He taught us how to live it concretely.  In the same manner that we have “disturbed” a lot of people during our adversity, so should we disturbed ourselves to alleviate the plight of those in need.  Again, from that same papal encyclical:

Indeed, to accept the “other” who suffers means that I take up his suffering in such a way that it becomes mine also; …because it has now become a shared suffering.

That was true for us when brothers and sisters came to our aid when we appealed for it; they took our suffering as their own.  That, in no insignificant terms, lightened our burden.  While prayer can be the first and more important thing one can offer to a suffering person, the Lord may be prodding us to also do the more urgent thing – to actually give concrete help to the best of our ability and to the extent our resources will allow us.

Somehow, we found ourselves being transported back to biblical times with the early Christians as depicted in Acts 2: “…they had everything in common”: common joy and common pain.  We can’t concede now and betray the love of fellow Christians.  They’ve been journeying with us in living courageously and victoriously.

The Post Script

It has been more than five months now, Bernard still shows some of the symptoms of his ailment: seizures, on & off fever, low weight gain, etc.  While he has started feeding through mouth, it’s a test of patience (for us!).  Some times, it will take him two hours just to finish two ounces of milk.  In fact, there are times when we need to re-insert the feeding tube whenever he won’t suck.

As to our financial woes, we’re dealing with it heads-on, working out some creative ways to generate income to compensate for on-going expenses, medical & others; all while being confident of God’s goodness and mercy.

As mentioned earlier, this is one extraordinary journey of faith for us.  Here, we learned that “true faith does not so much attempt to manipulate God to do our will as it does to position us to do His will” (Disappointment with God by Philip Yancey).  This is the kind of faith that cannot be shaken because it is the result of having been shaken.

Through this is far from over, we pray that both God and you may find us faithful until the end; faithful to His calling for us to live courageously and victoriously.  We know we can, not because we are able to, but because God and you were, are, and will be our source of courage and victory.

Bondoc Family

Lastly, to stamp this particular experience and calling into our lives, we named our twins Bernard and Bernice.  Bernard means “bold and strong” while Bernice, “to bring victory”.

Thanks & glory be to God!

- Adrian Bondoc, Central B  (September 23, 2009)

Good afternoon, brothers and sisters. A blessed Feast of the Covenant to us all.

Let me begin my sharing sometime December 2007 when I first heard God’s challenging call for me to leave my full time legal work in the Office of the Ombudsman to devote more of my time to being an evangelistic preacher and to use my God-given preaching ability in the service of the wider church.  In the Gospel account where Jesus told Peter to “put out into the deep”, I felt God calling me to “put out into the deep” and to go where the fish are. On February 2008, after almost three months of intense discernment, I took the giant step of faith. Little did I know that that step would begin for me, an incredible journey towards a greater appreciation of my covenant in the Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon. Today, after almost 2 years of being a Catholic lay preacher, I stand before you grateful to the Lord and to the covenant that I have with Him. Allow me to share with you three things I’ve learned the last two years about my covenant.

First, the covenant for me has been a source of conviction for God’s personal call at this time in my life. Through the spiritual guidance of my pastoral leader then, Melmarx Marcojos, and my other present as well as former leaders in the community, I was able to arrive at a difficult decision that I was at peace with. Through my covenant, God has given me an anchor, these leaders who can validate, affirm, clarify or strengthen what I hear from God. I told my leaders then, and I say it to all to you today, I will not go into any mission without the full blessing of my covenant. In a sense, I will not occupy unless I occupy with you, my bros and sisters. For in this covenant, I find my identity, my essence and my significance as a missionary. As a fisher of men, my covenant commitment is like my anchor that keeps me stable when storms of doubt come to shake my convictions about my decision.

Bobby Quitain

Secondly, the covenant for me is a place of refuge for a boat on mission. God has opened many doors for me the past two years. I have spoken in company conventions, charismatic congress, school affairs, government functions and various church events. I have also written five books to date. Preaching to different crowds of all kinds and sizes almost every week at different places here and abroad, and writing my books in between talks can be very draining. And that is why all the more I appreciate your covenant commitment to me, especially my MWG and my district, which has always been and will always be a source of security and strength for me. Here, in the community, I can be weak, vulnerable and tired. I can be who I am and be confident that I will be loved and accepted. My mwg and district have been a source of prayer cover as I fight the war in the frontlines of evangelization. And I always end up being recharged again whenever I return home to Ligaya from the battlefield. As I’ve written in the acknowledgment page of my third book, community is the seashore where this boat on mission finds its rest.

Third, my covenant is a channel of God’s provision. Through my covenant, the Lord has provided for what I needed to go on mission for Him. Just like the boat which took Peter to the deep where he fished, community was the boat which took me where the fish were. Different bros and sis provided me the boat that I needed to go to their respective companies, schools, parishes, and other organizations. Bros and sis, in various ways, also provided for a lot of my practical needs. In a span of less than two years, my family has been in and out of the hospital more than 5 times for different reasons. And yet through it all, community was there with me, giving both moral and practical support. God is my direct employer, and He has provided for all my needs through my covenant.

Bobby and Jeng Quitain with their two daughters, Robelle and Mara

Recently, my covenant commitment was firmed up even more. One of my personal mentors, Bro. Bo Sanchez who has helped me so much in my first year as a lay preacher, in his earnest desire to help further my ministry, invited me to be a regular preacher in the Feast gatherings, a weekly evangelistic event hosted by his community. I was excited thinking this would really widen my evangelistic territory. Serving in the Feast would require at least three nights a week for me to devote on meetings and preaching preparations. Taking Bro. Bo’s advice, I took a month to discern his invitation. Once again, I consulted my leaders and prayed with them. And after a month, I arrived at a difficult decision. I will have to say no to Bo. I looked at my covenant commitments, and realized that given my present services in Ligaya, it was virtually impossible to serve in the Feast no matter how much I wanted to. Bo graciously gave me his blessings and promised to pray for me. And because of this, I will always be grateful to him. Nevertheless, it was tough choice because I practically let go of a great opportunity to occupy a wider evangelistic territory. But this experience also taught me an important lesson: that as a covenanted member of LNP, I must never occupy at the expense of my covenant. 

Tomorrow, I will be leaving for the Sultanate of Oman in the Arabian Peninsula to speak at the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Congress. But rest assured that as I stand before that crowd on Tuesday, I will be standing there, not only as Bobby Quitain the preacher, but as Bobby Quitain the covenanted member of the Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon. Yes, brothers and sisters, I will occupy. But I will always occupy with the full blessings of my covenant which has always been my boat, my anchor and my seashore.

A blessed feast of the covenant to us all, bros and sisters!

EDITOR’S NOTE: The above sharing was given by Bobby Quitain during the Feast of the Covenant on September 20, 2009, at the A-Venue Hall. – Eddie Mendoza

Stories related to the 2009 Feast of the Covenant:

• Kuya Tony Exhorts Everyone To Engage In Battle
• This Is Where God Wants Me to Be – sharing by Enee Abrenica
• Being a Silent Witness Is Not Enough – sharing by Charmz Bautista
• Ligaya Elects Sector Coordinators

I’ve been to an all-men retreat more than once before but not like this.  I believe it was a first for quite a number of us in the Central sector and what a retreat it was!  It started off quite normally – no trumpet blast, no rumbling sound, no thundering voice from heaven, no sky-ripping ray of light.  In fact, it was quite wet as the rain poured outside.  But when worship kicked off the first session, the brothers worshipped.

"Men should pray together .. as men .. because they are men."

Much of the presentations came from different parts of Paul’s first letter to Timothy.  “Above all else, love.”  Jake emphasized the background with which our lives as men should be lived in the first talk.  In fact, we were reminded that to love is a “charge.”  Melmarx gave the second talk after a filling lunch, some siesta and indoor games, exhorting all of us that a man’s role as overseer (bishop) is truly, a noble task.  Tito Eddie talked about prayer as being not just a duty but as an innate part of our identity as men – that we should pray not only because we are disciples, but because we are men.    Melmarx then led us to a time of worship where brothers came forward to prophesy.  The evening session was highlighted by a prayer session where the brothers, in their triads, prayed over one another. 

Young men ministering to their more senior brother.

The day was long and like soldiers after a whole day’s briefing (or debriefing as the case may be), the men had fellowship – snacks, drinks and some live impromptu music over conversations and laughter.

Morning found a handful of brothers doing their early morning run in the cool rain of Tagaytay.  Mass was scheduled at 7:00 a.m.  Our priest-presider (Fr. Ricardo, a diocesan priest) expressed his gladness at the rarity of celebrating mass with men and just men at that.  Breakfast didn’t take too long to give way to the last talk of the retreat.  Jake also gave the fourth talk on fighting the good fight, further exhorting the brothers to take on both a defensive and offensive stand against the things that will hinder us from carrying out our marching orders from the Lord.  A part of Jake’s talk mentioned a quote from Dan Coats and an excerpt of that quote says, “Habit is the battleground of character.”

Daunting as the implication of the talks may be as we were reminded of the serious importance and urgency of living up to our identity as God’s sons, servants and soldiers, it was also a very encouraging and hopeful time for all the brothers to close ranks and present ourselves before the Lord as a body.  God made us men for good reason and for a purpose that only He can see in its entirety.  By coming together as a group of men seeking God’s will and receiving His charge, calling one another on in the fight and standing by each other armed with God’s Spirit and Word, I believe that “…Your will be done on earth as in heaven…” is not far away.

It is a common sentiment among the brothers that we should get together in God’s name more often – to talk about God and the things of God, to build one another up in the faith, to challenge each other to take greater risks for the Lord, to assist those who are heavily burdened and to share the load, to fight as one army under one Commander, and above all else, to love.  We do look forward to the next for I do not doubt that this wasn’t the last.  But until then, bro, I got your back.

- Yrreg Pedernal, Central D, September 11, 2009

Rooting for Team Ligaya and Team Destiny

Finally, after the long search, the Lord led us to find our swimmer, Tim Gonzales, a nephew of Reno Gonzales from our MWG.  We realized that he was truly the Lord’s answer to our prayers.  His full name is Timothy, which was the book where we got the team’s battlecry, and his birthday falls on the day of the event itself, August 23!  Surely, it was not merely a coincidence.  It was all part of God’s great and wonderful plan for the team.

The Lord’s blessings to the team kept pouring in since then. 

In one MWG meeting, we briefly shared on the Feast of the Covenant Week 1 reflection regarding open doors.  After which, we then had a film showing of “Facing the Giants,” a Christian movie that was meant to inspire the team in praising and giving glory to God as we engage in sports.  Then, surprise of all surprises, in the middle of the film, we heard exactly the same message about entering open doors!  That’s when we knew right that what we were about to enter into is something so new and unfamiliar to all of us and yet, the fact that the Lord had opened it for us simply meant that all we needed to do was to walk right in with complete trust that He would abundantly provide for everything. 

And true enough, He did provide for everything that the team needs abundantly! 

When we needed an earlier flight so that our team could have time to attend an important race briefing, we were informed that our flight was moved to an even later time in the afternoon… only to find out that it was actually an opportunity for us to take the option to move our flight earlier in the morning without incurring re-booking costs. 

Meanwhile, two weeks before the event, Tep and Hazel had to decide to change airlines when they found out that bikes would not be allowed in the airline that we originally booked.  A day after that, the very same airline announced that bikes would already be allowed although there’s no guarantee that all them would be accommodated given the size of the plane. Despite the hassle, however, the change in airline eventually proved to be a good decision.  Since the revised flight was scheduled early in the morning, Tep had more than enough time to assemble his bike and even went on a road-test around Camsur a day before the event.  

When we wanted all of us in our MWG to be present in Camsur to witness God’s glory during the event, He made it possible, through the brothers and sisters, for the Agoo’s to join us despite some initial concerns and conflict in schedule. 

When we needed good quality team shirts at an affordable price, He sent to us just in the nick of time those nicely-printed Ironman Team Ligaya shirts with a surprisingly much-reduced invoice price, i.e., from an initial quote of P260 per piece down to only P150 a piece!

When we needed logistical support for the team and support crew, He led Reno and Lou to generously offer the hospitality of Reno’s entire family based in Naga City by hosting three (3) fiesta-like buffet meals for the entire team and providing much-needed shuttle transportation between the Camsur Watersports Complex (CWC) and the team’s hotel in Naga City.  

When we needed some press people to take special note of the team during the Ironman event, He sent us not only one but, three media resources!  First, He sent us Reno’s brother-in-law, Joey Co, to take behind-the-scene pictures and come up with a special article about Team Ligaya in Bicol Mail on-line.  Next, He sent to us my sorority sister, Tanya Lara, who is the Lifestyle Editor of Philippine Star assigned to cover the Ironman event. She specially mentioned Teams Ligaya and Destiny in her article entitled “25 Random Things about Ironman Philippines 70.3” and even published a picture of me and Bong proudly wearing our Team Ligaya shirts.  Lastly, He sent us the girlfriend of Cathy Agoo’s cousin, who was working for a local media outfit, and she gave a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the entire team to be interviewed (complete with cameras rolling!) right after the event.  Veron was also specially featured during the interview since she turned out to be youngest participant during the event.

 All of these things showed the abundance that God provides whenever we allow Him to take full control of our plans.  With these in mind, we were all the more excited about what He had in store on race day itself!

Triumph on Race Day

In the midst of all the frenzy at the start of the race in the early morning of August 23, it was a beautiful sight to behold the entire team praying over the players right in the middle of crowd in CWC.  We stood there to ask for God’s protection, especially knowing how dangerous the race could be, and

He kept His promise.

The swim event was the most dangerous, especially after knowing that a team relay participant drowned in the waters of the wakeboarding facility during the event itself.  A lot of people racing against each other in the water would make one susceptible to being kicked in the face, in the chest, and other parts of the body.  But, despite the many kicks they sustained during the 1.9 kilometer swim, Veron and Tim emerged fine and victorious out of the water.  They clocked in ahead of their peers, which enabled the bikers a headstart in their race. 

Meanwhile, we, the support team, were not able to see much of the bike event since it was held mostly outside of CWC and anything could happen out there.  They could skid, tumble over or simply run flat as they traverse the Fuentebella Highway. As such, it was a great relief to Tep and Mon come rushing and walking into the transition area unscathed to meet the runners.  Mon even had to painfully limp for a few minutes upon dismounting from his bike just to the reach Jam at the transition area.

Then, it was the runners’ turn.  Jam and Bong had to endure 21 kilometers of running under the extreme heat of the Camsur mid-morning sun, which even elite triathletes said was like being baked in an oven.  This condition could easily lead to dehydration and heatstroke if they didn’t hydrate well. Since we were already tired and hungry, the support team stayed near the finish line area to eat some pizza, refresh ourselves with some drinks, and excitedly wait for the runners to come in the finish line area, not knowing that we could actually check on and cheer for them as they pass the CWC round-about in the middle of their race route. 

The whole support team patiently waited under the heat of the noontime sun at the finish line, where we saw elite triathletes and the fast runners of other relay teams triumphantly finishing the race.  Not long after, we saw Jam coming in.  His finishing the race already meant victory for Team Destiny. Meanwhile, he told us that Bong was about 20 minutes behind him and that he was suffering from a painful ITBS injury, which is common among runners.  The support team patiently waited some more, this time, with a silent prayer that he would get to finish the race despite the painful injury.  

Finally, there he was coming in from the CWC round-about.  Bong looked in so much pain but, upon seeing the support team and his entire family waiting near the finish line, he managed to run some more and kiss me and our three kids, Ralf, Nina and Kimi, as he made a dash towards the end.  The kids and I then ran behind him, carrying with us the kids’ placards and the Team Ligaya banner, which showed the team battlecry – “Fight the good fight.  Finish the race.  Keep the faith!” 

As Bong finally crossed the finish line, the entire team simply felt triumphant!

Victory for all!!

Aside from exemplifying God’s message during the race, we saw how, through God’s grace, the team was able to accomplish its mission of spreading the good news of salvation. 

Spreading God’s Word

While the rest of the paraphernalia on race day were proclaiming the greatness of an athlete, the team proclaimed God’s wonderful message on what it is to fight and finish this race called life with lots of faith.  Through the eye-catching team shirt and banners, the team served as walking billboards of God’s word as spoken by St. Paul to Timothy.  From the NAIA 3 airport to Naga City, to CWC, to Pili airport, then back to NAIA 3, those shirts proclaimed God’s message all the way.     

Along the way, God also gave us young people to evangelize.  Foremost among them was Tim to whom we had closely shown how it is to live a prayerful, faith-filled and even sports-minded Christian life within a loving community.  The team also got to adopt a lone-ranger Ironman triathlete in the person of Pompo Arroyo, an officemate of mine at Smart.  We invited him to the send-off dinner on the eve of the event, which was hosted by Reno’s brother.  In said dinner, we had all the athletes prayed over by the entire support team and some Familia members from Naga City and, through that, he was able to witness how it was to have the support of a Christian community in the pursuit of one’s endeavor in life.  Thanks to that dinner, he commented that he was able to peacefully and soundly sleep well that night!

Meanwhile, the special media features we had on Teams Ligaya and Destiny showed to a wider audience how a Church community could actually participate in a non-Church-based activity, like a sports event, and use it as a venue to spread God’s word. 

Most importantly, each time we share with our family, friends and officemates about our team’s participation in the 1^st Ironman Philippines, we actually get a special opportunity to personally share God’s good news to the people we closely know.

Dream Team

Truly, we could say that Team Ligaya was formed, not only by men and women of Ligaya, but more so by God’s wonderful grace.  Through this team, we sense that God wishes, not only to grow our faith, but to enable us to reach out and conquer unchartered territories for Him, especially in the field of sports and wellness where we could ignite the interest and passion of many of our youth. 

Indeed, we were very lucky to be part of His dream team in the 1^st Ironman Philippines and, as God wills it, we hope to pursue this special mission of spreading God’s good news to our youth through Team Ligaya.

Go, Team Ligaya!  Go!!!

- Rina Manuel, Central E

Check out related posts:

• I FINISHED THE RACE – Bong Manuel
• TEAM LIGAYA AND TEAM DESTINY TRIATHLON EXPERIENCE
• REFLECTIONS OF AN ORDINARY EVERYDAY ATHLETE – Tep Misa