Lucena, Quezon:A Gift from the heart. Himig ko Handog ko 2019

It's the most wonderful time of the year!This year generous donors - friends, officemates and good hearted people whose hearts overflow with gratitude for their blessings - made this gift giving possible.

Acts 10:1-4 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!" Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.

I believe that these gifts have come up as memorial offering before God. May God bless us all as we remember his love for all mankind.

0800 Dalahican residents assemble at the basketball court
09:30 Worship Service

Matthew 2:1-12

The magi visits the messiah

• What do you seek? 

Matthew 2:1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."

• Where do you look? 

Matthew 2:12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

• What do you give? 

Gold a sign of acceptance that Jesus is their king

Incense used in the temple, recognizing that he is a high priest

Myrh- for the dead, because Jesus will die on the cross

Sya ang Hari, taga gabay, taga pagligtas

10:00 Christmas Songs
Opening Prayer
Opening Remarks
1015Games

Balloon pop relay (kids)

Grab the cup (adults)

1030 Intermission Number B4G
1100 Games
Pass the message (adults)

The boat is sinking
1130 Lunch
1145 Gift Giving
12NN candies and some more games for the kids while waiting for the jeepney
1215 rented jeepney arrives to transport them back to Dalahican

Grab the cup game 

Beneficiaries 

Met there:
Nezel
Nanay Imelda
Steph
Feebie
Nova
Arlene
May
Gina
Jiovanni
Maricel
Criselda
Princess
Shane sister of Princess

As disciples of Christ in the 21st century, we continue what disciples in the book of Acts have done, except healing and driving out demons of course.
(notes from the NTS APLA class 2019)
Acts 3:1-10
v8-10 Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

When people feel loved and cared for, it open doors to their hearts like what the man in the story in Acts expressed.

Do we show good deeds to get something in return?
-to feel good about ourselves?
-to have good reputation?

We glorify God by the good things we show. We can be channels of the love of God by showing we care.

Himig Ko Handog Ko 2016: Season 5

2 Corinthians 9:6-11

Generosity Encouraged
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
    their righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

-There will always be poor among us, but God, who sustains our physical and spiritual needs, will enable us to flourish and in turn serve others.I don't view this as a duty but through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, I believe that we can be compelled to help others without expecting anything in return.

This year's Himig Ko Handog Ko is similar to the first season because volunteers sang Christmas carols to the beneficiaries and gave them food packages right after-this is actually where the project's name came from. Ang Pasko ay Sumapit,Noche Buena and We Wish You a Merry Chritmas were the line up of songs this year.

Jeric Melarpis and Gladys Masilungan spearheaded this year's outreach program.We had 25 beneficiaries 23 of which is chosen by DSWD whom we have tied up with to be able to reach the poorest of the poor in our city.The other two are our members from Mauban and Padre Burgos respectively. Our more than 50 sponsors gave donations of cash and food items.Volunteers of about 12 people with the help of Barangay Parent Leaders, went to some of the cities depressed areas in the neighborhood near the vicinity of waterways Dumacaa River and Iyam River in the following Barangays;Dalahican, Mayao Crossing, Market View and Ilayang Talim.

heart heart

Season Five

groupie

More Pictures by Jay and Carlo

First Caroling Night
Second Caroling Night
Last Caroling Night

Christmas Caroling on a rainy week 2015

What better way to celebrate and spread the Christmas spirit than through caroling!When we hear Christmas songs, happiness permeates our hearts for reasons we don't understand.I get the fuzzy feeling and my heart becomes light.So I like to play Christmas songs on the laptop while I work around the house.It is also a privilege for me to join our caroling group for this year's fund raising for the gift-giving project dubbed Himig ko handog ko.I don't have a singing voice though just guts lol.

It was rainy because of the typhoon Nona and Onyok. It was raining the whole week.I only get to join twice during the 5 day run but it was a lot of fun!In spite of the rain and the inconvenience of walking in the puddles it is indeed fulfilling because we are doing it for a purpose,it is not for ourselves.We are doing it to help families have something to share in this season of giving.We also talked with some of the sponsors who felt blessed in the idea of helping someone.

Photos: CTOO Hannie

the park this year is lighted up

having fun

bring your flash lights, umbrella and the Santa hat 

we even sang inside the house!

because it is rainy ,let's eat goto!!!

Himig ko Handog ko 2014

Christmas is around the corner and to spread good cheer, Himig ko Handog ko 2015 organizers will be singing Christmas carols again.We will sing popular Christmas songs to this year's generous sponsors.Proceeds from the caroling will be spent on buying food packages for the less fortunate people in our neighborhood.A Party and gift giving for the beneficiaries will be held on December 20th at the SB Building.

This activity started year 2012 dubbed Himig ko Handog ko 2012.The idea was to sing Christmas carols to the beneficiaries and instead of giving the carolers money, carolers give food packages.The group have guitars, tambourines and maracas for that fun filled caroling vibe.

Last year's Himig ko Handog ko 2014 was able to give Noche Buena Packages to 10 beneficiaries.This year we plan to give to about 20 families.

Himig Ko,Handog Ko Gift Giving Project

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’Matthew 25:40-45

This has been one of the theme scriptures of the recently concluded "Himig ko Handog ko" caroling and gift giving project sponsored by HOPE and Metro Lucena Christian Church.About 15 disciples rallied to the homes of 10 recipients with cheerful songs accompanied by guitar,maracas and tambourine,wearing red hats and with gifts in tow.

families from Site, the neighborhood of Kuya Rodel and Ate Mariz, Mommy Conch,Renda and Erma - The Merano and Dayate clan

Sannelyn Rapsing,a barangay street sweeper,living by the river in Milagrosa Subd. Often alone, and was said to throw things away and cry incessantly about her children,welcomed us to sing songs and flashed a smile at us.

De Vivar family near a trailer truck,the 20 yr old son Ramil, said that he persuaded his mom to move to another place, but she just stayed there unable to leave the memories behind,probably the reason why a sound mind escaped her. Aling Adela would often share that she have 24 children,and other tall tales.

A family near the street whose child was a student in West II where Dianne teaches was also a recipient.Children from the neighborhood flocked around us as we sing,and some of them even squatted looking up bewildered.

The last stop of Saturday's caroling was at Barangay 9 where Aling Erlinda lived.She sells crocheted goods beside VCCI bakery with her son who is handicapped.We all gathered inside her dark,makeshift home.It is a duck's pen,lit with gas lamps.Unperturbed by her surroundings, she offered a short prayer before we sang ,after which asked for our names,thanked us and imparted words of wisdom saying that she had offered her life to God and that she is happy even when she is poor.We know she is rich and so are we.

Aling Virgie of Hollywood, the neighborhood of Tita Annette, Elaine and Gian-the Siongco family.The first stop for Sunday caroling,we piled up inside her house and she chatted with us a little bit about where she sells balut.

Landing- Castello family.Children holding their own tambourines made out of bottle caps looked on as we rendered songs and by that time,we already memorized most of the songs even the one with the figgy pudding and Rudolph the red nosed reindeer.

riding the trolley P5 per head.

walking beside the rice fields

Donna who is a kakanin vendor, sells delicious home made snacks everyday around Rosario Village the neighborhood of Rolly and Marie.The hospitable family even gave us kutsinta and softdrinks-perfect to end the meaningful event.