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beachside town, rustic and laidback. I imagine that like Talim, they too were subject to the havoc of Ondoy. |
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Weaving the Patchwork of |
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National Council of Churches in the Philippines |
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Sangguniang Pambansa ng Mga Simbahan sa Pilipinas |
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For those who wish to donate in cash or in kind, our contact and account details are below. Address: 897 Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, West Triangle, Quezon City Tel: (+632) 922-8141, 929-3745 Email: mcalub@nccphilippines.org, padirex@gmail.com, library@nccphilippines.org Account Name: National Council of Churches in the Philippines Peso Account Number: 3051-0063-04 Dollar Account Number: 3054-0162-89 Swift code: BOPIPHMM Bank: Bank of the Philippine Islands, QC West Triangle Branch |
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Schedule of the VCS trainers’ training: Visayas: February 9-12, 2010 NCR and South Luzon: February 16-19, 2010 North Luzon: February 23-26, 2010
For inquiries: Call (02) 926-9760 and look for Ms. Febie Domingo-Castro |
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The NCCP is grateful for the solidarity of friends in condemning the Maguindanao Massacre. Act for Peace: The National Council of Churches of the Philippines (NCCP) Condemns Mindanao Massacre and Calls for Justice United Church of Canada: United Church Condemns Philippine Massacre A Letter in Behalf of the Filipino People Lawyers Rights Watch Canada: Read Letter of Lawyers’ Rights Watch to Ambassador Dejardins as a solidarity act for the Philippines KAIROS: KAIROS Partners Murdered in the Philippines: A Response to the Massacre CCA: Christian Conference of Asia Letter Evangelical Church in Germany: Read Letter of Evangelical Church in Germany to Pres. Gloria Arroyo |
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Vacation Church School 2010 |
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God, Give Us A Servant Leader |
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You are witnesses of these things |
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For requests of electoral education and materials, please call (02) 922-8141 and look for Nanie or Mervin. |
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in a Broken World |
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Justice and Peace |
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Ilocos Sur Ecumenical Movement Celebrates Week of Prayer and Holds Electoral Education As the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU) is being celebrated here in Manila, other local or regional ecumenical formations celebrate it as well in their own areas. One such is the Ilocos Sur Ecumenical Movement (ISM). ISM is composed of local congregations of NCCP member-churches, local parishes of the Roman Catholic Church including fellowship groups within the Roman Catholic church, alliance churches and gospel churches. In the morning of January 23, 2010, they held an ecumenical liturgical celebration on this year’s WPCU theme, You are witnesses of these things. In the afternoon, they held a voter’s education whose main speaker is Mr. Rommel Linatoc, Program Secretary of the Unit on Christian Unity and Ecumenical Relations. Before delving into the issues stemming from electoral activities and the politics of change, Mr. Linatoc first gave a brief background of the elections and the context in which 2010 elections is occurring. To illustrate the basic problem of the country, he used rice, a most basic staple of Filipinos. He half-filled a large urn with rice to illustrate the majority of Filipinos who are basically living below or at the poverty line. He filled a small cup up to the brim to illustrate a small middle-class whose income is just enough to live decently. Finally, he filled a jigger with rice which naturally overflowed to illustrate the small number of Filipinos who have much, much more than what they really need and who in reality occupies electoral positions in government. Mr. Linatatoc emphasized that the NCCP does not endorse any candidate to any office but can only provide the criteria for choosing the better candidate. Moreover, he emphasized that as church people, we can provide moral guidance to other voters, be vigilant in monitoring election activities before, during and after the elections to ensure a clean and honest electoral exercise. |
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VCS MATERIALS NOW AVAILABLE |
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NCCP and CBCP Kick Off Week of Prayer for Christian Unity The celebration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity officially began last Saturday, February 6, 2010. The celebration was kicked off with the traditional Ecumenical Breakfast Fellowship of the NCCP and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. This was held at the multi-purpose hall of the Philippine Bible Society. The NCCP member-churches were well represented in the event. Church ministers, lay, and youth attended the Breakfast Fellowship. Members of the Focolare Movement, led by their president, Ms. Edith de Jesus, came to represent the Roman Catholic Church. The mood of the program was set by a dance interpretation of Sa Dulang ng Ama composed by Gary Granada. The song aptly describes unity and oneness in working for the upliftment of our fellow people. Likewise, the message of NCCP Chairperson, Bishop Nathanael P. Lazaro of the Iglesia Evangelica Metodista En Las Islas Filipinas, focused on continuing God’s mission through us who are called to be witnesses. We are witnesses because we were transformed by God and have experienced the outworking of God’s spirit in our lives and ministry. We are witnesses to the needy and broken world. He also reminded us that in continuing God’s mission, we must always remember that our context determines our message; that we must be both pastoral and prophetic. On the other hand, Rev. Rex R.B., Reyes, Jr, General Secretary of the NCCP shared his reflections and ecumenical perspective on this year’s theme, You are witness of these things… The Union Theological Seminary Choir rendered songs that raise the spirits and inspire one to work with others on common issues and concerns. Meanwhile, 10 youths led by the Kalipunan ng mga Kristiyanong Kabataan (Council of Christian Youths) or 3KP and 40 youths from Focolare went to Sulyap Community in Bagong Silangan for exposure, fellowship and solidarity. In the morning, they sang songs, got to know each other and the reason for coming together. They then visited the families in the community to exchange stories with them especially stories of their experience during Typhoon Ondoy and had lunch with them. In the afternoon, they organized a feeding program for about 120 children, and shared stories from the Bible. Upon reflection, the youth agreed that from the activity, they were inspired by people’s willingness to help in the midst of destruction and that despite differences of people, we can still work together. |
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Reflections By Karla Mae Manlangit It seems unbelievable that months after the Philippines were ravaged by Ketsana, there are still places unable to move, virtually inaccessible by any form of help. I was unaware of that fact until I was invited to join my first ever relief operation with the NCCP last January 27 at Talim Island, Binangonan, Rizal. |
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Talim is a fishing community found at the center of Laguna de Bay, the Philippine’s largest lake, and Southeast Asia’s third largest freshwater lake. To get there we had to take an hour-long boat ride, enjoyable and at the same time it gave me a perspective on the kind of life the residents of Talim lead, bonded with the bay. On the way, we passed spectacular islands covered mostly with bamboo trees and houses lining the shore. These were small islands, just large enough to hold modestly populated towns. From far away, they looked like a picturesque |
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The expression on the people’s faces said that the food relief bags were more than we give it credit for. It showed them that help, no matter how long it took, came. It was an absolute honor to be part of something that brings comfort. |
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We arrived at the middle of the day, welcomed by heat and a quiet town with their shy residents. After we settled in, the atmosphere switched from sleepy to excitement. I even heard someone say that it was like Christmas all over again. |
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A total of 100 food relief bags and 100 25-kilo rice grains sacks were handed out at the Ynares Multipurpose Building of Barangay Malakaban at Talim. Attendees were mostly women and their children. Fortunately, participating seminarians from different congregations undergoing an exposure program and other able-bodied men of the barangay helped the recipients carry their sacks of rice home. |
