Daet, Cam Norte:ICOC-Daet 3rd Anniv + Calaguas trip

I almost though that I had to pass up on going to the beach this year but it turned out that it is time to go to Calaguas! But the best part is the third anniversary of the ICOC -Cam Norte. We were also at their inauguration 3 years ago. That time, we went to Bagasbas beach. The church have grown and they have many teens now and the children of the disciples are now entering their teens and campus phases.

Day 1 May 18, Sat

04:00 AM ETD from Lucena
07:00 AM ETA Jollibee Gumaca
11:30 AM ETA Calaguas Hotel for those who will check in early
12:00 NN Lunch at ICOC-Cam Norte church
01:00 PM Building Healthy Relationships (Excerpt from APLA held in Dagupan this year)
06:00 PM end of BHR session
07:00 PM Dinner at Alvino's with the Elnar's
08:00 PM ETA Elnar residence/ Jesse is at the basketball game with the brothers
09:00 PM Sleep

Day 2 May 19, Sun

05:30 AM Morning Rituals
07:00 AM Breakfast
07:45 AM ETD for Calaguas Hotel 3rd Anniv. venue
08:00 AM going around town
09:30 AM Sunday Worship
11:30 AM group checks- out from hotel
12:00 NN group shops at SM Hypermarket and buys check-out lunch at McDo
01:30 PM ETA in Calaguas Island drop off point at Vinzon's Port (cars are left at a private paid parking lot for 200/day Php)
06:00 PM ETA Calaguas Island
06:30 PM settling in tents and swimming
07:30 PM Dinner - buttered shrimp, adobo, afritada, sinantolan, hotdogs, fish
08:30 PM washing up /sleep - others played bingo

Because there were lots of boats coming back from Calaguas, the port got crowded and we were left stranded for more or less than an hour in the boat because we had to wait for the other passengers to get off their boats and the boatmen had to navigate the narrow channel. I think we saw about ten of them full of people who had to walk a few meters from the boarding/waiting area.

Ushering Ministry

South Luzon Leaders

Calaguas Hotel

Calaguas Island 

Arrival of the group

tent pitch

Day 3 May 20, Mon

05:30 AM morning rituals
07:00 AM breakfast - bulad, hotdogs, sunny side -ups, fried rice
08:00 AM socials /island hopping
09:00 AM trekking
10:00 AM snorkeling
11:00 AM back to main /swimming
12:00 NN lunch sinigang na hipon, laing, sinantulan, fish
01:00 Pm wash up/socials, coffee
02:00 Pm ETD from the powdery sand beach
04:00 Pm back to the port
06:30 Pm Elnar residence socials with Daet group Married’s Ministry;wash up;game monopoly
07:30 Pm dinner
08:00 Pm ETD for Lucena
01:30AM ETA Lucena/Tayabas

morning view from the tent

breakfast of eggs, bulad, hotdogs and fried rice

registration for trekking 40 Php

starting point of the trek

view from the peak

kubo for those who don't want to climb entrance fee 25 Php

snorkeling

11 AM

far right side of the island

monopoly game in Daet

ICOC-Lucena 7th Anniversary at HOPE Center Laguna

This year's anniversary was celebrated at the HOPE Center in Laguna. Many of the new converts in Lucena have never been to this site, a place whose walls were built with the help of volunteers from the Metro Manila area and from all over the Philippines. HOPE is also the benevolent arm of the church, to help Christians live out the ministry of Jesus in helping the needy.

The delegates were composed of disciples from ICOC-Lucena and ICOC-Daet. The first party arrived on Saturday afternoon followed by the second party that arrived Sunday morning at 7am.

DAY 1 August 25th
9:30AM ETD Arias Bust Terminal
3:00PM  ETA Center of HOPE
7:00PM  Dinner at the Accomodation
8:30PM  Cooking of Adobo and Giniling
10:00PM Socials
11:00PM Lights out

Day 2 August 26th
4:30AM Rise and shine from the blasting speaker of K. Rolly
6:30AM ET  Assemble time to meet the second party
7:30AM ET Orientation
8:30AM ET Communion with HOPE Community,Lucena,Daet and Laguna disciples
9:30AM ET HOPE background with JV
10:00AM ET Orientation/House Rules with Bryan
10:30AM ET Q & A
11:00AM Opening Remarks /Game proper
12:00NN Lunch Time
1:00PM Games
2:00PM Afternoon Snacks
3:00PM Loot Bags and Closing remarks
4:00PM ETD

Sermon:The Facts of Light
John 9:1-34 Jesus heals a man born blind
-we all have darkness in our lives
-we tend to question God
-bakit may mahirap, nagkakasakit...
-ano ba ang ginagawa mo?
-Jesus focuses on meeting needs not asking questions or putting blame on someone
"John 9:3 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him."
Benevolence by Jesse
Deuteronomy 15:10-11 Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.
HOPE ORIENTATION
Isaiah 58:6-10
Matthew 9:35
Mt 25:35-40
Mindset:developmental not just one-time activity

Center of HOPE Laguna

Orientation with ICOC-Daet Delegates and ICOC-Lucena Delegates

pre-worship 

Kuya Bryan S.

Kuya J.V.

kadang-kadang game

lunch time

intermission number from kids at Center of HOPE

intermission number from ICOC-Lucena

the Hoola Hoop Game

the 4 corners game

afternoon snacks preparation

Quezon Delicacies

hab-hab eating contest

loot bags for Center of HOPE Kids

community visit

Legaspi,Albay:Metro Legaspi Christian Church's 20th Anniversary 2016

Metro Legaspi Christian Church's 20th Anniversary

Scriptures from the Sunday Message by Bong Aquino entitled:

On a Mission

Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

I Pahalagahan ang mga tao

1 Corinthians 12:12
 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

II Our Greatest Encouragement is Jesus

Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

-Do not focus on people i.e if they don't something,I won't do it too.The reason for everything is because Jesus is Lord.

My Reflection:
Our God who created the Universe,who draws people to himself,I praise you.Metro Legaspi Christian Church had been around for 20 years simply because of your great mercy and grace.I pray for them to be strengthened and united as they love one another and grow even more in their convictions that it overflows to those around them.May we not forget our great commission from Jesus who is our only hope,able to do anything,give up everything and go anywhere for you wherever you may call us because our focus is Jesus alone,throwing off everything that hinders us especially the sins that can easily entangle us.
===========

In support for the 20th Anniversary of Legaspi Church last September 18th,the Metro Lucena group went to the home of the majestic, perfect cone volcano -oh let's not forget it is also very active and was at a heightened alert that time.The seven of us got on the van and braved the long grueling drive to Bicolandia. We had a flat tire and ate pineapples while waiting for Manong who cooked up a piece of tire to patch up our blown up tire for who knows how.But we were told that in that particular part of the road there are some traps so you could stop and have your vehicle fixed in one of the machine shops around the vicinity. Bam!But who knows.It was part of our fun experience I think.

We sang to the tune of many decade songs saved by Bernard and it totally made me go back in time.I didn't sleep the whole time because it was my first time going to Legaspi anyway.So ,because we were a long time coming,Beng and Bong waited probably for hours at 7-11 and were looking sleepy when we got there.And because it was the Feast of Penafrancia (and General Bato was there),the signal was cut off so we couldn't contact them.Anyway we went to Kambingan Restaurant and I liked their adobong kambing,So after that off we went again and settled at Hotel Liatris.We got the standard room.It was quite new and still clean.My husband didn't arrive until the morning so I was alone,but it didn't feel creepy.

Kambingan Restaurant in Daet with Bong and Beng Gulapa 

Hotel Liatris

The next morning we went touring ,our first stop was the Cagsawa Ruins.It was so cloudy so we didn't see the top of the famous volcano.Husband tried the poses to trick your eyes into thinking the church bell fry was tiny,he did a couple of poses with tiny people around.I loved that there are still farmlands and the old paintings of Mayon and pictures from school text books that I saw when I was a kid was actually in front of me.I love the trees and the rice paddies and even the stones from the ruins.

Cagsawa Ruins

Majestic Mt. Mayon

Cagsawa Churh

The next stop was Sumlang Lake in Camalig,Albay.We missed the road leading to it because the signage wasn't big enough.You can see the Mayon with unobstructed view while sitting on a balsa-but it was still cloudy that day- so I just saw half of Daragang Magayon.

Gigantic Chicharon

Sumlang Lake 

Sumlang Lake

After our balsa ride we went to Hoyop-hoyopan Cave also in Camalig.It was about a 30 minute drive from Sumlang Lake.The air was cool in the cave.It was spacious and non-claustrophobic for me, there was just one part where we had to squeeze ourselves in.Mike who was over 6 feet was able to get out so I think it is still spacious.There was no crawling too-thank goodness- to get to the other cave chambers.What I noticed was the stalagmites that were cemented back into place-it looked really unnatural.I think the highlight was the dance floor or ball room-the floor was made of concrete slab.The guide said the people used to gather there for guerrilla meetings and later on, even parties.

Hoyop-hoyopan Cave

a short walk to Hoyop-hoyopan Cave

In the afternoon,me and hubby had a chance to catch up with our friends Ilona and Rey and their cute children at the Embarcadero where you can take a picture with the big letters that spell out Legaspi.Then we headed to the venue to help out with the decor and set up.There was rain shower that night and we had a good time fellow shipping with the disciples.Hubby hung the banderitas again like what he did when we were preparing for the 5th anniversary of Lucena church.Then,we had dinner with the other couples at the church building while the single's had their mixers party.We talked a lot about the cheesecake from Koffee Klatch.

The service was attended by family and friends and disciples from all over.There were tons of food and they had fun and games after the service.We had to leave because of the long drive back home.The gang didn't forget the seafood at Ching Larry's so we felt we really had to eat dinner there.I got their number off the picture I took of their signage and Marie placed the orders and we were full and that people was my great journey to this lovely province.

Seafoods restaurant in Tagkawayan

Fashionising:

Plaid Block Top from Hallohallo Mall P168

Metro Lucena Christian Church's 5th Anniversary

more pictures in Facebook when you click this link

This year's theme was about family gatherings so we come up with traditional games like pukpok palayok, pabitin, tingkayad, sack race,patintero and hagisan ng itlog.The venue ,Vista Verde Clubhouse,was big with a swimming pool,basketball and tennis courts.It was good to see kids enjoy the parlor games and go swimming, some teens also played badminton.The weather was nice despite of the typhoon or LPA that week.

tatlong maria preps

pabonggahan assembly challenge

banderitas for the fiesta theme

rainy day Saturday ,the day before the event

Many of our family of churches joined us in our event - Batangas Church,Cavite Church,Laguna Church,Naga Church,Daet Church even some disciples from Manila Church.Many of the families of disciples came to join the celebrations as well. I think the biggest delegation is still the Merano Family -with Rendz,Russel,Neng and Ryan,Uni,Nanay Conching and 6 grand kids.There's also the Melarpis siblings and De los Santos Family from Cavite church who is also our neighbor in Lucena and even Keana's group of friends came over too.

from all over South Luzon Geo Region -photo by Meanne

last game -patintero

Bong Aquino shared the message in line with the theme about family citing these passages:

1 Peter 2:9-10 

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Ephesians 3:14

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

Hebrews 2:11

11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.

1 Peter 1:22

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.

My response:

God designed for us to be part of a family- especially a spiritual family.It indeed requires deep love because a church family is composed of different people with different upbringing,so much character differences and many other differences imaginable.It is hard to graft yourself into a family or group.You may have the feeling of being confused and disconnected and wouldn't even think of trying.But then comes God's will-what is pleasing to Him? definitely it is not our own preference with our sinful nature always trailing after us-the tendency to isolate self with anything that has something to do with Christianity.We need a spiritual family to guide us and teach us everything Jesus had taught his disciples.That is one of the reasons we go to church on Sunday mornings.

I've been a part of MLCC for the past 5 years, there have been many situations and sometimes I find it hard to fit in because of my own limitations and other people's ways I just couldn't understand and reconcile with biblical teachings.These things will take time to be polished -in God's time.God's word is continually teaching me to always bear, deny myself and look at the bigger picture and stand up for what is right.It is God's church and it will prevail no matter what people do.