Preaching in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija

The meeting place of Encarnacion Church of Christ, Encarnacion Subidivision, San Jose City in Nueva Ecija.

With this sign along the road, you can never miss it.

The gate to the church compound. Property was donated to the church by a certain brother Vibat, who is formerly with the US Navy. The Vibats own other properties in Nueva Ecija.

Regie Valdez, his wife Mona Lisa and their eight-month old daughter, brother Gerry Mortera and his wife who is a pharmacist, brother Orlando Braga and other members of Encarnacion church.

Other members of Encarnacion church. At the back is sister Josie Macadaeg-Braga. Both Josie and her husband Orlando are former students of mine at Philippine Bible College-Baguio. Both are now employees of the Department of Education, and support the ministries of Encarnacion church with their financial resources.

Encarnacion Church. Picture taken after our worship last Sunday, February 13, 2011.

Preaching at San Marcelino church, San Marcelino, Zambales

We began worship Sunday afternoon, February 6, in San Marcelino with just a few Christians. The number was added by the coming of other Christians from places around Zambales.

Brother Mario Moral, minister of Barretto church, also ministers to the church in San Marcelino, Zambales. Here he leads the singing while I do the preaching.

Members of San Marcelino church. Picture was taken after our worship. The church has no chapel but they have a lot in a village in San Marcelino town, donated by brother Rady Poblete. Brother Rady also pays for the rent of this house where the church presently meets.

Preaching at Barretto, Olongapo City

Meeting place of Barretto Church of Christ. The lot was donated by the Pobletes, and the building was built through the help of Christians in the US.

My comfy bed for the night. When I arrived February 5, brother Mario Moral was very apologetic about giving me this bed to sleep on. But I liked it!

Brother Mario Moral, preacher, with some members of the church in Barretto, Olongapo City.

Brother Abel Mayor, former minister, with some members of Barretto church. He is now retired and attends worship regularly, even if he has to walk using his cane! He has difficulty talking but I understood it when he said he was fully energized by my sermon! Most of the members of the Barretto church, if I am not mistaken, are from the Mayor clan, or those related to the Mayors either by blood or by marriage.

Two young men, members of the Mayor clan, who officiate in the distribution of the emblems of the Lord's Supper.

Merger: Pasig-Kapitolyo and De Castro Churches

Brother Bitoy Tagapolot, his daughter Jennylin and sister Dioly Maquiling. The Tagapolots were the first to arrive at the meeting place in Cusina Movela, where the joint worship of the two congregations in Pasig was to be held. Bitoy is from Mahay, Pigdaulan, Butuan City; having found a job in Manila, he supports his family in Agusan, and has placed his membership with Pasig-Kapitolyo church. His daughter Jennylin has just graduated from Urios College, Butuan City.

Dioly with Mrs. Lobusta and company in the hut of Cusina Movela. Ed Maquiling was the guest speaker.

Aldous Echegoyen, Jennylin Tagapolot and her father Bitoy.

The joint worship began with brother Bitoy leading the singing.

The singing had begun while other Christians kept coming.

Remy Kingsley from Wichita, Kansas; Jun Cayanan of Kapitolyo, Pasig; and the Lobustas from De Castro together with other Christians from both congregations.

Mrs. Maquiling with other Christians from Kapitolyo, Pasig.

Brother Cesar Ola with other Christians from De Castro.

The sisters and the children having lunch after worship.

The men of the church having lunch while their meeting was going on.

Mrs. Maquiling, Mrs. Ola and her daughter.

The Echegoyen family.

Our Visit to the Blens

That Saturday afternoon of our arrival in Tagaytay, we visited the Blens. They live in a government housing beside a Catholic monastery.

Brother Neph Sico was our guide.

Dioly standing in front of Joshua Blen's house.

Brother Joshua Blen is suffering from some complications. He has undergone a surgery a month or so ago. Our visit was a nostalgia of sorts. Joshua, whose wife was an Ilongga, had been worshipping for a long time at YMCA church in Bacolod City when I was the preacher there.

Dioly conversing with Ban Cedenio, Joshua's brother-in-law. Ban is now retired and is living with his in-laws in Tagaytay.

Perla conversing with Beverly, a daughter of Joshua Blen. Bev is now a teacher. Her two other siblings, Amy and Dianne, have also found employment. Their brother Caleb works in a ship that plies the oceans of the world and comes home only once a year.

Before we left, we had a prayer for Joshua and his family, with brother Neph leading.

One Sunday Afternoon at Silang Church

Getting ready to go to worship in Silang, Cavite. Where is Austin?

The church in Silang meets temporarily in hut behind this mansion owned by a family who built their fortune from coffee farming.

Those are coffee beans being dried for days under the sun.

They were waiting for us: Brother Neph Sico, minister of Silang church. Beside him is sister Dolores, whose husband is a son of the family that owns this coffee farm. Sister Dolores is a sibling of brother Tony Devenecia, a member of Catbalogan City Church.

This is Aqui, sister Dolores' husband whose family owns the coffee farm and the land on which the temporary meeting place of the church is built.

The church assembling in their three-by-six meeting hall. This congregation was begun by brother Neph Sico and his wife Bing. Members consist of people from Aklan, Batangas, Cavite, Samar, and Cotabato. One of the new converts, in fact, is a lady whose father is a Muslim.

Another photo of those who attended that Sunday afternoon at Silang church of Christ.

Brother Neph Sico led the singing after Ed did the preaching.

Sister Bing Sico taught the Sunday school kids.

It was getting dark when we were about to finish. We did more singing in praise of our Lord before we called it a day.

After worship we all had snack of muffins and brewed coffee. Thanks!

Austin and his Awa Dioly doing some bonding after worship.

The two cousins, both grandsons of Ed, competing for the attention of their aunt Abby.

This cactus in front of the coffee farm owner's hut must be about fifty years old. The farm used to be a pineapple plantation.

One Sunday Morning at Tagaytay Church

Touch Point, near Foggy Heights, where I was to meet brother Emz Layco.

Emz Layco, minister of Tagaytay City church, came with his son Kevin.

This house in a subdivision near Picnic Grove is the temporary meeting place of Tagaytay City church. It is owned by sister Jeanette Maravilla, whose family hails from Tampakan, South Cotabato. Sister Jeanette is in the U.S. and is married to an American who is also a member of the Lord's church.

Those who came early for worship at Tagaytay church.

Emz led a few songs while we waited for the other Christians to come.

This young man, a former student of Sunrise Christian College in Butuan City, is a good song leader.

Members of Tagaytay church consists of the Maravillas of Tampakan, South Cotabato; a lady from Asingan, Pangasinan; the Laycos, the Blens, and a few others from Tagaytay.

Some faces you would find at church in Tagaytay.

Other faces you would find in Tagaytay church. Some members have gone abroad to find jobs, others migrated to Mindanao, and others transferred to Manila. Work is hard to find in Tagaytay City. Its main industry is tourism.

That's Ed Maquiling preaching. He came to Tagaytay for a vacation with his family.

The meeting place of the church as seen at a distance.

Two vacation homes nearby. Many of these vacation homes are owned by the well-to-do, built on lands only the rich can afford.

Family Reunion in Tagaytay City

Erika, her son Austin and nephew Jacob getting ready to leave for Tagaytay.

Ed at Cubao, getting ready to leave for Tagaytay.

Dioly at Dampa-Cubao, now ready to leave for Tagaytay.

Dioly at the gate of Foggy Heights Subdivision, Tagaytay City. Just arrived after a four-hour trip.

A home in Foggy Heights.

Dioly beside the car of her nephew Kish Sico.

The two sisters: Dioly Pamposa-Maquiling and Bing Pamposa-Sico. Both looked tired after the trips.

Dioly, her two daughters and two grandsons.

Erika Jane and her son Austin.

Karla and her cousin Kaye Sico.

Karla, Abby and their mom Dioly.

Jane and the early Sunday morning fog.

Foggy Sunday at Foggy Heights Subdivision.

Jane and her son Austin.

Jacob going for a run around Foggy Heights that early Sunday.

Maquiling family going out to see the sights of Tagaytay.

The Maquilings and their aunt Perla Pamposa.

Picture of both the Pamposa-Sicos and the Pamposa-Maquilings.

The Sico and Maquiling cousins: Kaye, Kish, Abby, Erika, Karla and Kim.

The three Pamposa sisters: Dioly, Perla and Bing.

When going around Tagaytay, look for this sign so you will know where to go.

Tagaytay rotonda. You either go straight toward Batangas, go right toward Amadeo, or go left toward People's Park and the view of Taal Lake and Taal Volcano.

Pine trees dotting the road to Batangas.

A view of Taal Lake and Taal Volcano.

Preaching at De Castro Church, in Rosario, Pasig City

The De Castro Church meets in the home of brother and sister Lobusta, in Liamzon Subdivision, De Castro Street, Rosario, Pasig City. Brother Lobusta is a retired colonel of the Philippine Constabulary. They are the parents of sister Remy Kingsley. They were baptized during a visit in the US by brother Felipe Cariaga, director of Manila School of Evangelism. Pictured here are those who came early for worship.

Brother Aldous Echegoyen is now the minister of the De Castro church. He and his wife Faith are engaged in a great ministry of growing and supporting the work of the Lord in this area of Pasig City. He is shown here conducting a Bible class for adults.

The De Castro church counts as its strong members brother and sister Ola, brother Aldous and his wife Faith, and brother and sister Lobusta, in whose home the church meets. Shown here is brother Ceasar Ola leading the closing prayer.

The fountains of Eastwood Mall, Pasig City, where we dropped by after worship..

Jacob standing before the fountains.

Dioly resting for a while at Eastwood Mall.

Window-shopping at Eastwood Mall will not cost you a cent.

Lost Lives Under a Footbridge on Commonwealth Avenue

It rained cats and dogs just a while ago. And like the rest of commuters waiting for buses in front of Ever Gotesco Mall on Commonwealth Avenue, I too was caught in the heavy rain. I was never lost. But other lives were.

Lost lives. Like this young Badjao mother and her three kids, aged 6, 5 and 4. How did I know they were Badjaos? The two young Maguindanaoans who saw me taking pictures of these kids told me so. Both these Maguindanaoans and this family, like other families, have fled the war brought by the ethnic conflicts in Mindanao and the hunger that resulted from those conflicts. The young Maguindanaoan I talked to said life is better here. Better? The husband of the woman (actually her live-in partner) had found a job as a watch-your-car boy, but in this rain he was nowhere to be found. It was now 2 pm and the kids never had their breakfast, so I was told.  

Another lost life. This young man. A Badjao too. He is of high school age. This week some private schools in Metro Manila were having parties to celebrate the holiday season; this young man however had his own way of celebrating: He had just poured some rugby solvent into a plastic envelope, and was enjoying sniffing it while the rain was pouring hard. Under the influence of the solvent, he must be dreaming of becoming a police officer someday. Or an MMDA traffic enforcer perhaps? One would not know. All that you know is that a sniff of rugby cuts an hour of his young life.

The two Badjao kids left their mother's side and raced toward Commonwealth Avenue, unaware of the dangers of the incoming vehicles. All they wanted to have was the pleasure kids like you and me probably enjoyed doing when were young: Play in the rain. The downpour that came brought a rush of water filthy and foul-smelling. But these kids did not mind! The mother did not mind either!

There was one other young Badjao I saw prior to this. He was under the footbridge, silently sniffing his own share of the rugby solvent in a yellow plastic bag, courtesy of the Badjao who must have dreamed of becoming a traffic enforcer.

My last glimpse of the footbridge. Like other commuters rushing to go home, I too walked away. I wish I had done something. As the rest of the world goes toward destruction that is sure and horrible, we had opportunities laid before us. My hands are tied. What about yours?

Preaching in Tarlac City

Brother Felix Bravo and his wife Yoling.

Brother Felix working on his blog.

The meeting place of the church in Tarlac City. Brother Felix and his wife began this work in the year 2003.

Some of those who came early to worship at Tarlac church.

The church of Christ in Tarlac City consists of young and old Christians alike.

The majority of the members in Tarlac City church are new converts. The oldest however is a lady who was baptized by Laureano Belo in 1955 in San Felipe, Tantangan, South Cotabato. Her name is sister Faustino. She now lives with her husband in Tarlac City.

Felix, Ed and Yoling having lunch at SM City-Tarlac.

Preaching in Taguig

Little Jacob leads the way to the Taguig church meeting place.

Ed came with his family.

Brother Achilles Sinco leads the congregation in singing and praising the Lord.

The minister of the congregation in Taguig is brother Onofre Corpuz. Brother Onofre's grandfather is a Juralbal who used to preach in Telafas, near Buluan, Cotabato. His grandmother is an Abubo, one of those baptized by Laureano Belo in Malingon, Cotabato.

The congregation in Taguig consists of people from across the country. Sitting in front here are the Ilongga sisters from Himamaylan, Negros Occidental. I met also a group of sisters from Lingayen, Pangasinan, and the Sinco family who are the original members of the church in Taguig and a lady who is a daughter-in-law of a Guleng from Midsayap, Cotabato.

Later, after worship, I was introduced to this lady in red shirt who said she's the sister of my good friend Primo Rivera of Polomolok, South Cotabato.

Some of those who came early for worship.

Preaching in Cabalan

Meeting place of Cabalan Church of Christ, in New Cabalan, Olongapo City. Both the lot and the building have been donated by sister Flor and her husband Juan Poblete (deceased).

Singing while waiting for the others to come.

We have had wonderful singing with Jim Dioyan, assistant minister, leading the congregation. Jim was formerly with Felix Manalo's Iglesia ni Cristo-1914.

Brother Daniel Elamparo, minister (sitting, front pew) waiting for his schedule to teach the adult Bible class. His lesson is about fruit bearing (John 15:1-15).

Brother Ruel Vitug, director of PIBI-Olongapo. He supports the work in New Cabalan with his time, money, and effort.

Ed Maquiling delivers an expository sermon with Hebrews 12:1-4 as text.

Negrito children having their Sunday school in the old chapel of Cabalan church.

Feasting on God's blessings of food after having feasted on the Word.

In the nearby mountain is the village of Iram, where the Cabalan brethren have an outreach, a new church consisting mostly of Negritoes. These Negritoes, who like to be called "kulot" (kinky), have been present today at Cabalan. Brother Ruel Vitug uses his van to fetch them from the mountain to attend worship and fellowship at Cabalan church.

Lectureship at Mt. Pinatubo Church of Christ

Ed Maquiling gets ready to travel to Cabangan, Zambales for the scheduled lectureship November 20.

The chapel of Mt. Pinatubo church in Baranggay Dolores, Cabangan, Zambales is the venue of the lectureship.

Brother Ruel Vitug has made his sound system, digital live projector and laptop available for the use of the speakers in the lectures. Such a generous man!

Our first speaker, Tom Lizardo, speaks on the topic "Is Everything that We Do Worship?" Very informative!

Ed speaks on the topic titled "THE SEVEN ONES OF EPHESIANS 4," dwelling specifically on "Our Elusive Goal of Uniting All Christians." Here he pauses to see the reaction of the audience.

Ed traces the history of the founding of the churches of Christ in Cavite, in Zambales and in Mindanao.

Audience consists of brethren from the churches of Zambales, Pampanga, and Cavite.

Some faces you might recognize: Romy Piocos of Carmona, Cavite; Tom Lizardo of Iba, Zambales; Fred Angangan of Upper Kalaklan; Mike Ebalan of Masinloc, Zambales; Mike Alop of Upper Kalaklan.

This is the link to the PowerPoint lesson on “Our Quest for Christian Unity.” Please click this link and then click THE SEVEN ONES OF EPHESIANS 4.

People, Events and Places

Tom Lizardo teaching the Aetas of San Juan, Cabangan, Zambales.

Brethren plan to put up a meeting hall on this open space beside the baranggay road. It is below the hill on which the present church building stands.

This church building can be converted into a classroom to train young men to become preachers.

The chapel of Cabangan church, otherwise known as Mt. Pinatubo church of Christ. The church has been registered with the SEC and its property has been issued a title in its name.

Part of those who attend on a Sunday at Cabangan church.

Part of the audience who worship at Mt. Pinatubo church of Christ on a Sunday morning.

Family members of Mt. Pinatubo church.

Other family members who worship with Mt. Pinatubo church.

Parents who are Christians should always bring their kids to church.

Tom Lizardo getting these three people ready for baptism.

Baptizing one...

Baptizing another....

And still another...

Up from the watery grave, and ready to serve the Lord...

One Lord’s Day in Cabangan, Zambales

The chapel of Cabangan church sits on the 1.5-hectare property donated by brother Lee Smeltzer.

This young Aeta was our song leader that Sunday, November 7, 2010.

Part of the audience that Sunday, with Marcial de la Cruz, their minister.

Tom Lizardo and his wife Diane have made nurturing Cabangan church one of their ministries since the day it was established.

Part of the audience who listened to Ed Maquiling preach that Sunday.

There is a plan to put up a Bible school here. This church building has an annex on the left side of it that could serve as a classroom to accommodate 50 student trainees.

The right part of this building could be expanded to form another classroom that could accommodate another set of student trainees.

They plan to move this hut down the hill in order to give way to building expansion.

One abandoned hut that has to be moved too to clear the area for expansion.

Another view of Cabangan church building.

Gathering with the Saints in Upper Kalaklan

The venue of the Lectureship: the chapel of the Church of Christ, #2 Upper Kalaklan, Olongapo City.

Tom Lizardo's first duty for the day was to join this couple in matrimony.

Brother Ruel Vitug, director of PIBI-Olongapo, was the official multimedia key man, managing both the laptop and the digital live projector.

Fred Angangan, former minister of Upper Kalaklan church and former teacher of PIBI-Olongapo, speaking.

Daniel Elamparo, a teacher of PIBI-Olongapo, speaking.

A group of panelists answering the questions from the audience.

Audience consists of brethren from the churches of Central Luzon, such as Pampanga, Bataan, and Zambales.

Of little kids coming with their fathers and mothers...

Of young people....

Of those who are no longer young...

Doing the exercise... to keep you alert.

Tom Lizardo too was one of the speakers and Ed Maquiling was one of his panelists to answer questions.

Tom Lizardo with a brother from Pampanga.

And then there were three: Rudy Gonzales, Fred Angangan, and Ed Maquiling.

Our present crop of young preachers, with their former teacher, Fred Angangan.

We hope to come back here again next year, Olongapo!

One Sunday in Iba, Zambales

This hotel, in front of Victory Liner terminal, is where Iba Church of Christ meets.

Look for this sign.

The singing began while we waited for other brethren to come.

The room where the church meets is air-conditioned, and the rent is not cheap.

Ed Maquiling, the visiting preacher, with his brother-in-law Tom Lizardo.

“Aiding the least of my brethren”

Brethren from Visayas, Metro Manila, and the Central Luzon came to extend help to those who were victims of the floods in Botolan, Zambales.

Doctors and nurses, aside from medicines and food aids, are the necessary ingredients of this medical mission.

Randy Macapagal and his group from Kalookan City were there.

Tess Cusi and others from Cebu were there to help.

They came because they love these who are less fortunate.

Jun Patricio and his group from Makati, Batangas and Cavite were there too.

Aiding their souls: by introducing to them Jesus...

Tents were provided to the homeless.

The abandoned landholdings of the Camaras in Botolan became a tent city overnight.

Shelter, medicines, food aids and opportunities to keep on living are what these needy creatures of God are looking for.

And then it's time for lunch.