BOC 4 Luzon Tour: Olongapo, Iba, San Fernando, Baguio and Dagupan

All Aboard!

Barely a month after its maiden voyage, the BOC4 bus have been trekking key cities of Luzon and have embarked key passengers. As new partners get involves, more and more precincts and police stations are being blessed, churches are being equipped and municipalities and towns are being reached for Christ and with faith the Philippines will be won for Christ.

Last July 17, 2011, the BOC4 bus hit Olongapo City and tapped the Full Gospel Businessmen Association of Subic Bay led by their Chairman Dr. Benjamin Salinas Jr. and includes: Danreen Mallari of I-Care Fellowship, Orly Duque of the Rotary Club- Olongapo, Engr. Lynyrd Solis of Saintex Media and Dickinson Foo of New Cherry Blossom Restaurant; and the Olongapo City Ministerial Association –a longtime co-laborer in Christ- represented by Fernando Allanique of the Assemblies of God, Leonardo Garcia of the Acts 1:8 Christian Church to minister and reach out their city for the Gospel.

After presenting to the group the vision and programs of BOC4, Zambales-based CORPS Movement member PCI Pogie Penones challenged the group not only the stations and precincts of their town but also to reach out to its communities as well by taking an active part in the province’s sport initiative and also its family wellness programs.

The group now plans to reach out to their communities by reviving the “Usapang Mag-asawa” forum     that was one of the key projects of the CORPS Movement Foundation during 2006 and was used by God to mightily hold firm the love and values espoused by  god-fearing  families. The group also are open to join in the multiple sports program promoted by the provincial government of Zambales.

A week later, last July 21, the bus hit Iba where it met pastors and ministers of the capital city of Zambales. The group was led by Bishop Virginio “Boy” Ducos of the Grace Better Future Church, Freddie Ferranco of the Jesus Covenant Community, Armando Mendiguarin of the Assemblies of God, Joel Alviar of the Philippine Faith Mission Church,  Ananias  Custodio and Jolly Ragadio of the Philippine Missionary Fellowship, Willy Dizon and Jerry Dejacto of the Christ Jesus Our Life Church, Fred Baliutay of the New Tribes Mission of the Philippines, Roger L. De Gracia of the International Christian and Native Ministries, Robert Nitura of the Way of Salvation Church and Ernesto Dando of the Jesus Glorious Lord Fellowship.

The overall concept of BOC4 was presented at the Provincial Hall to the group. The following day a course on how to minister to the PNP was also presented to the pastors and ministers who were willing to reach out to their local police and community.

Maj. Penones who have been a valuable ally in reaching out the province also presented to the group the plans of having the first BOC general conference at the Potipot Island in Candelaria, Zambales where the provincial government could also help in promoting their sport tourism drive.

Two days later, last July 23. the BOC4 Bus was on the road again and was heading to San Fernando, La Union to trailblaze new partnerships with Christ Commission Fellowship- La Union and the La Union ministerial fellowship. The group met with Pastor Reginald Chan and Bro. Bernard Angeles of CCF- San Fernando and Ptr. Aurelio Nitura of the La Union Council of ministries. The group agreed to reach the city of San Fernando and its policemen as well as to seek unity among the different associations in the city. PSSUPT Antonio Mendoza was there to give his support in this endeavor.

The same scenario was also seen in Meycauayan, Bulacan where Meycauayan Chief of Police Eric Noble partnered with the Jesus Is Lord (JIL) Church in order to reach out his community. The husband and wife tandem of John and Diwani Oliva of JIL was excited over the fact that they could reach out their city police and also their community as well. Talks of unity through the BOC program have been discussed as the Meycauayan Police is set to assemble the churches.

The BOC4 Bus then went to the city of Pines to meet with partners in the academe and ministerial profession. They meet with Ptr. Arnold Perona of GCF Baguio, Ptr. Vio Muncada of Church of God Baguio and Ptr. Robbie Casas of Guiding Light Fellowship to open partnerships and other opportunity to best reach out the city. All churches has expressed their support towards the program and has already set a second appointment for the BOC4 team to meet with the leaders of their church.

The BOC4 Bus also entered the hallowed grounds of Camp Gregorio Del Pilar to meet with PMA Christian Fellowship’s Erwin and Amelie Luga, Col. Orli Caingcoy as well as a Corps of Christian Professors in the university: Lt. Col. Lloyd Cabacungan, Lt. Col. Ed Montero, Maj. Lope Domingo Jr. and Lt. Ross Mar Villareal. They signified an interest to conduct trainings for men and women in the armed services to lead men through Christ using the BOC4 platform with the aid of the CORPS Movement Foundation and Joshua Ministry.

In Dagupan, the BOC 4 team met with the More than Conquerors Breakfast Club led by their President Ashok Vasandani. The group of Christian businessman gladly supported the vision of BOC4 and has accorded to the plan of reaching out to their community by ministering to the police. They were introduced by PSUPT Jun Borromeo Jr. who was formerly the Chief of Police of Dagupan City. In turn, the BOC4 Movement serenaded the group with special numbers from PSUPT Jun Dalaygon of the PNP Traffic Management Group. 

Secondary tours are scheduled to these cities as alliances and groupings are in the works.

Next Stop Davao…

A Soldier’s Tale of Faith and Love

The Bible shows a lot of Godly men who exemplified living in faith. Hebrews Eleven serves as a Hall-of-Fame of ordinary people who with great love towards God choose to faithfully follow his ways and mirrored grace to their fellowmen.  Even bloodstained warriors and harbingers of war, became ministers of peace when they decided to follow God as seen in the lives of Saul, David, Joshua, Samson, Gideon etc. Through time we are shown models of Christian soldiers who were at the forefront of campaigns but were also vanguards of the faith: men like Gen. George Washington, Gen. Robert E. Lee, Gen. Ulysess Grant. etc.

Sadly, the same model of faith in the modern day is rare. It is even rarer in the Armed Services of the Philippines, where the hardship of a military life calloused a lot of hearts and corrupted souls. But once in a while, you’ll some beacons whose lives became a guide for others to follow. Such was the life of Lt. Manuel B Binag Sr.

Lt. Binag or Papa Manning was a humble, good-natured and God-fearing soldier as evidently seen in his influence to his sons and daughters who themselves kept the faith and continuously strive to love God. Although long retired, he would always adhere to the disciplined life of a soldier; never taking what he does not own, giving to those who did not own and keeping his character free of any blemish. As a devout  family man who loved the Lord, he led his whole family to Christ, taught them how to deliver all their worries to Christ  in prayer and  teach them the value of a true relationship with Christ. His sang hymns to his last breath.

His life was filled with lofty Christ-centered ideals- which in a way influenced the officers of the CORPS Movement Foundation into conceptualizing its own core principles: God-centered, Family-based and Service-Oriented. He was a model of a good and faithful Christian soldier.

Last July 25, the volunteers and officers of the CORPS Movement gave honor to the humble Christian Soldier by singing hymns to the Lord and blessing his family

To the Binag family: Tess and Mar, Manny and Adel, Onchie and Amy, Al and Alleli, Cesar and Agnes,  Jessica and Frank,  Des and Dodong. Our heartfelt condolences and our thanks for your father’s example which extended even unto us.

The Breakfast Club Devotion: Why God Allow Disasters?

Typhoon Juaning bludgeoned the Philippines with heavy rains leaving 56 casualties and again awakening dreadful memories among storm battered and hope drenched Filipinos. Three other typhoons (Kabayan, Lando and Mina) are threatening the country and the weather forecaster foretell of a month’s worth of deluge ahead. Amidst these disasters when faith is silenced with gloom and prayers are at-times unanswered, the weary minded and desperate, even among us faithful, would ask where is God in such circumstances and to a point even mock His authority. 

Such was the topic at the PNP General Hospital Breakfast Club Morning Devotion, as Elder Mike Aspirin elaborated the rationale why God allow such desolation and how God silently works his extends his helping hands even with them.

The very first words of the Bible explain how God has an authority overall nature since He created them: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth.”Genesis 1:1 

Paul seconded this truth when wrote to the Colossians stating that “for Him were all things created that are in Heaven, that are in Earth, visible or invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him. Thus, he has control overall things in the world whether they are storms, eruptions or floods. 

Since He is in control, we could supplicate to God and beseech him with good weather, safety and even miraculous deed against all impending calamities as in the instances in the lives: of Moses when God was displeased Israelites because of the golden calf, of Joshua when he commanded the Sun and the Moon to stay still, of Elijah when he prayed for rain after three years of drought, of Peter at the Sea of Galilee and of Paul in his trip to Rome.