Visit with the Pobletes

Me, sister Flor Poblete, sister Yoling Bravo, and brother Felix Bravo. This and other pictures taken during our visit to the house of sister Flor Poblete in Olongapo City on January 21, 2011.

Sister Flor and the Bravo family: brother Felix, sister Yoling and their son Dale. At the background is brother Daniel Elamparo, preacher of Cabalan Church, and another fellow, our song leader, whose name still eludes me; I heard he is the preacher of Lubao church.

After our short devotional, we had this sumptuous meal, courtesy of sister Flor.

On the way back to Tarlac City, we dropped by this Duty-Free shop inside SBMA.

The Negrito vendor and his wares. I asked him if his arrows could kill or maim, but he just smiled. "Good as decorations," he said.

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.

Tarlac: Visiting and Ministering-1

Two young Christians of Tarlac who attend the training program of Tarlac City church.

This is Salvador "Buddy" Galang, a retired employee of the National Printing Office in Diliman, Quezon City. He was baptized last year by brother Felix Bravo. Brother Buddy lives alone in a rented house in Teresa Homes and has difficulty walking even with a cane. He used to be the reader of the Scriptures at Tarlac church but now seldom goes to church because of his physical disabilities. One of the ministrations of the church assistant minister was to visit him morning, or afternoon or evening, to show him that we as a church really care for him.

One Sunday after our worship, we had a surprise visitor, brother Felipe Bravo, minister of Capas church, shown here on my left. In the middle of the picture is sister Faustino, an older Christian from San Felipe, Tantangan, Cotabato, and brother Vergara from Mangatarem, Pangasinan. The two kids are brother Vergara's grandchildren.

Membership of Tarlac Church consists mostly of young people.

Gener is one young man with a promise. He reads the Scriptures and assists in the distribution of the emblems of the Lord's Supper.

Brother Felix and sister Yoling Bravo with some members of the church in Tarlac City.

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.

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.