My Brother’s Keeper Crosses Over to the AFP

The discipleship program which has absorbed and led a decade of cadets and young officers in the PNPA to the Lord is now being adopted by the PMA.

Col. Erwin Luga (Ret.), Head Pastor of the Philippine Military Academy Cadet Christian Fellowship, saw the need of young Lieutenants in the service to have Christian brothers that would guide their younger years in service where they are bombarded with temptations and problems. Even the strongest of believers would not stand these first years without assistance and accountability of mature older brothers in the service who would help them.

The CORPS Movement’s version of the an accountability and assistance program dubbed as My Brother’s Keeper for young Christian Officers caught the eye of Col. Luga who knew that adopting the program would only give the newly-grads an accountability partner but would also bridge PMA graduates from the AFP to their counterparts in the PNP.

A preliminary was set last January 12, 2012 held at the National Defense College, with Col. Mike Viaje hosting the team of Col. Luga, Col. Francis Ramirez, Col. Mike Agtoto with their PNP counterparts PSSUPT. Binag and PSUPT Borromeo. The meeting established the framework of the program as well as future engagements with PMACCF.

A follow-up meeting was set last January 19, 2012 at Camp Crame which identified potential brothers that would journey with the batch of 2012. A next meeting this coming February 1, 2012 is scheduled to challenge the potential brothers to take on the challenge.

All activities will culminate on the PMA Homecoming where the brothers will adopt the graduating class of 2012.

 

PNP-HS Breakfast Club Celebrates First Year Anniversary: Serving God’s Word with Coffee

It started with a need for a handful of Christian police to seek guidance and articulate concerns through prayer as they start their daily work. They in turn organized themselves to start a prayer group wherein they could: discuss pressing concerns in their family, office and even personal matters with each other; pray for those concerns; and, give thanks to God for his love and care. For PSSUPT Renee Balagot, PSSUPT Loida Bustamante, PSUPT Bernie Banac and PSINSP Gus Ferrer, the prayer group which was dubbed as the Thursday  Breakfast Club was a Christian refuge that sheltered them and inspired them to further pursue their faith in their profession.

One day, PSSUPT Angela Vidal (head of the PNP-HS) chanced upon the group who were singing hymns. Dr. Vidal who grew up in a Christian circle knew the need of having daily prayers so she decided to attend and became an essential part of the group.

A year later, the group of five is now a regular group of twenty police personnel from all over the different service of the PNP-HS. And though they got bigger they still pray and encourage each other and last January 19, 2012, they invited their fellow police officer in the PNP-HS to join them in thanksgiving and prayer for a fruitful year.

The small thanksgiving started with songs of praises and hymns led by PSUPT Rebecca Rebellion. Testimonies of God’s faithfulness from PSSupt Vidal, PSSupt Bustamante and PCInsp Tonet Campo were also shared of how the small group changed and guided their lives.

PSSupt Cesar Binag, who came in behalf of PDGen Nicanor Bartolome C, PNP, gave a short inspirational message of how God is transforming the PNP and how the small breakfast club is a part of a bigger movement of reform. PSupt Jun Borromeo highlighted the power of reform by sharing his testimony of how God’s love saved a once hardened policemen like him.

The celebration ended in songs and prayer for each and everyone as like every Thursday.

BOC4 Starts 2012 Tour with a Bang: It's More Fun in... Tacloban

2012 will be a busy year for the BOC 4 Movement as the organization has vowed to reach more for churches and communities to Bless the Cops of the land as well as the whole Philippines.

The first town to be visited by the movement is Tacloban City which is also the first city in the Visayas to be reached by the movement.  Ptr. Eugene Ramerez of Victory-Tacloban and PSSUPT Wilson Caubat the Tacloban City Police Director wholeheatedly welcomed the BOC4 team as they landed into the capitol for a two day visit.

They first proceeded to cast the vision towards the pastors and the youth of Victory church and gave them a taste of what does it mean to bless the cops, equip the church, empower the community and be a blessing to the country. They also prayed for PSSUPT Caubat as he leads the city towards Christ.

The following day, they were warmly welcomed by Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez and his wife Christina Gonzales who welcomed the group and blessed their stay.


The group plans to go North the following weeks...

BOC4 Movement Celebrates First National Conference.

Who would have thought that a small and honest intent of prayers could stir up a nation; and eventually, inspire a national movement? – certainly not us.

But the CORPS Movement has found God’s faithfulness throughout the years and has seen God worked in the progress of the Bless Our Cops program from a simple cause into a countrywide movement which culminated in its first national conference last December 8 and 9, 2011.

The first national conference which declared “One God, One Nation and One Movement” was held at the PNP Training Center Amphitheater in Camp Crame, Quezon City. It was attended by over 200 national leaders from Mindanao: Davao City, General Santos City, Cagayan De Oro City and Sarangani; The Cagayan Valley: Tuguegarao, Ilagan and Santiago City; The Ilocos and Cordillieras; Baguio City, San Fernando-La Union, Dagupan City and Santa Barbara; The Zambales and Bataan Peninsula: Iba, Olongapo City; Tarlac  and Nueva Ecija: Gapan, Tarlac, Sta. Ignacia, Gerona, Concepcion and Capas; the Rizal Province; Tanay, Teresa, Morong, Binangonan, Taytay, Cainta and Antipolo; and Metro Manila.

It was also attended by members of the CORPS Movement who went out of their schedule to grace the event and its counterparts from the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Cadet members of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Cadet Christian Fellowship as well as the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Cadet Christian Fellowship were also in attendance.

The conference started with an inspirational speech from PSSUPT Ma.O Aplasca who narrated the start of the CORPS Movement and its creed of God Centered, Family Based and Service Oriented. PSSUPT Loida Bustamante, PSUPT Gene Tolejano, PSUPT Jun Borromeo, PSUPT Bernie Banac and PSUPT Eric Noble also shared their testimonies during the morning session to showcase to delegates how God-fearing policemen could better serve their organization and the country.

In the afternoon, the group was joined by PSUPT Warren Tolito, PSUPT Bong Malabed and PCINSP Sancho Celedio who presented the realities, challenges and opportunities in the PNP. They gave the delegates a clear picture on how to help the police live a moral, upright and Godly life.

PSUPT Eric Noble also gave a historical perspective of the PNP as well as a nationalistic view on how Christians should be involved in the policy making and executive functions of the government.

The first night was capped by the visit of PDGEN Nicanor Bartolome, Chief of the PNP, who was blessed by the support and love that the community has for the PNP. PSSUPT Benigno Durana and Ptr. Titus Barona encouraged the delegates to help reach the fruitful vineyard of the PNP for the Lord and to rally behind the C,PNP.

The second day started with a study of the life of Girolamo Savonarola. Bro. Boi Manuel who designed the workshop focused on the brevity of life and gave advice on how it should be dedicated to the Lord.

The afternoon session was highlighted by the speech of Ptr. Erwin Luga of the PMACCF and Ptr.  Raymond Go of the PNPACCF who encouraged the delegates to adopt new graduates from the academy in their churches and communities. The Adopt a Police and Soldier program will help the policemen and soldiers to have a place of worship all over the country.

Former SPO4 Elmer Anibigno gave his testimony which gave the delegates a laugh as well as things to ponder upon in ministering to the police.

The conference was capped with a thanksgiving party which was highlighted with words of encouragement from PSSUPT Cesar Binag who thanked the delegates for faithfully partnering with the CORPS Movement and encouraged them to set their eyes on Jesus who is the principal of this movement.

BOC4 Dagupan Ends 2011 with a Bang

With the promotion of PSUPT Gene Tolejano as the Commander of the PNP-Maritime Regional Office in the Ilocos Region, a new opportunity for ministry also opened.

BOC4 Movement members Boi Manuel, Dan Afuang and Jeremy Dellosa together with Pangasinan’s very own PSUPT Eric Noble visited Col. Tolejano last December 17, 2011 at his post to discuss possible partnerships wherein they could partner and even work with each other as well as to open another BOC4 chapter.

They first thought of ways on how to improve the capability of PNP-Maritime Region 1 office which includes partnership with Dagupan-base, faithgroup-More than Conquerors Business Club who are willing to organize a marathon to raise a speed boat for the office as well as organizing watch groups who will monitor the Lingayen Gulf for the police.

  

In the afternoon, Col. Tolejano, Col. Noble and the rest of the group meet with the pastors of the Dagupan Ministerial Fellowship to discuss a citywide effort in helping evangelize the police as well as using the police as a ministry platform to reach the community. Those who attended were Ptr. Jun Centeno,  Ptr. Jerry Campos and Ptr. Raleigh De Guzman of Hope Dagupan,  Ptr. Nap Suyo of Dagupan Baptist Church, Ptr. James Lee of Kamola,  Ptr. Rolando Santiago of Kalinga ng Ama Shelter for Children, Ptr. James Garebola of Grace Baptist Church, Ptr. Ricky Victoria of Jesus Lord of Freedom, Ptr. Ferdinand Balmores of Ebenezer Mission Church, Ptr. Lorenz Rabot of the Beacon of Christ, Ptr. Carlos D. Tinga of Christ is the Answer Baptist Church, Ptr. Eduardo Cabarles of Christ Our Life Ministries and Ptr. Mario Tomboc of IHBC of Bonoan.

Extending the Ministry to the AFP

Adhering to a Macedonian call in the AFP, the BOC4 Movement assisted some brothers in the AFP in establishing a study group at the AFP Modernization Office in Fort Bonifacio .

Lead by Lt. Col. Joel Paloma, Capt. Jet Menchavez and MSgt.Loi Lopez, the group started to cover the book of Proverbs to help the men and women of the office to be guided in their field of service. The lectures focused on leadership, temptations, wisdom and character building which is based on Godly and moral principles.

The group who regularly meets every Saturday afternoon also open their discussion towards matters on the spiritual aspect and career oriented issues facing their daily lives. They also help in each other in their problems and career advancement.

Breakfast Club Open in CPSM

The members of the Center for Police Strategy Management (formerly the Program Management Office) have found this new way to start the day: a refreshing jog, a hearty breakfast, fellowship with some friends and the Word of God.

Former PMO Chief of Staff PSSUPT Cesar Binag together with PSUPT Warren Tolito, PSUPT Renell Savaldica, PSUPT Fred Obar, PSUPT Bong Malabed and PCI Sonny Celedio organized the small study group over breakfast as a refuge for MBK brothers who just want to share and consult with each other on their daily professional and moral challenges that they face. They have also opened the group to any young officers who either came from the PNPA or any lateral entry officers.

They also base their study on the book of Proverbs wherein they share and meditate on the wisdom of God’s Holy Word. The group also functions as intercessors who regularly pray for the plans and programs of the PNP as well as the leadership of the whole organization.