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.

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.

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 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.