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.