Christmas is Sharing Love

It is officially Christmas season for me with the onset of Simbang Gabi.  Though the puto bumbong and bibingka are available all year round, they seem to taste better when you eat them after attending the dawn Masses of which they become synonymous with.  As the days get nearer to Dec. 25, everyone is busy preparing for the countless Christmas Parties, Noche Buena, and gift giving.  I am no exception.  Christmas has taken a very materialistic meaning to it which veered away from the reason why we are celebrating it.  That He was sent to save mankind.  That God the Father in His deep love for us has sent His own Son to save us.

While watching the Christmas episode of Glee 3 on TV the other day, I heard the cast sing "Do You Know It's Christmas".  This song dates back to 1984 when Band Aid, a group made up of British bands, sang this to raise funds for famine-stricken Ethiopia of which more than a million died.  BBC crew referred to the famine as "the closest thing to hell on earth".  The lyrics of the song hasn't escaped me.  It sings about sharing what we have to those whose concern is when their next meal will be.  I don't think that Christmas was in the minds of the Ethiopians during the great famine of 1983-1985.

Amidst the revelry of this season, let us all reflect on the real meaning of Christmas, that is, sharing love.  Would you rather be on the receiving end of relief lines or be the giver?

Clinging to God's Promise

I saw this image earlier in Facebook which was shared by my cousin.  What immediately came to mind is the verse from the book of Jeremiah (29:  11-14) that goes like this:  

"For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe, plans to give you a future full of hope.  When you call me, when you go to pray to me, I will listen to you.  When you look for me, you will find me.  Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, you will find me with you, says the Lord, and I will change your lot, I will gather you together from all the nations and all the places to which I have banished you, says the Lord, and bring you back to the place from which I have exiled you."

This verse is one of the more popular verses of the Bible.  I am not surprised at all with that because people who have reached the end of the rope will cling on to even a flicker of hope.  Just by reading it will put a damper to an episode of hopelessness.  I am no different from other people.  I, too, like to escape from the pits of despair.  Just thinking that there is a God who knows what's best for me and that He won't allow me to fall and fail, immediately lifts my spirit up.

So when everything else doesn't seem right, cling on to His promise.  Read Jeremiah 29: 11-14.

Photo Contest Winner

Two weeks ago I headed to Conti's Trinoma to meet with Madelin Galvez, the winner for the photo contest that I ran recently.  At stake was an Epson inkjet printer.  It was more convenient for me to just send the printer through courier but I decided to give it to her personally so I could also meet her.  Like me, Madelin is also a blogger.  She has several blog sites to her name.  

The winner of the just concluded photo contest, Madelin Galvez.

Thank you Madelin Galvez for participating in this contest.  Hope to see more of you in the blogosphere and in Facebook.

Kids for Christ

They say that Couples for Christ is a womb to tomb organization meaning that there is a ministry that one can join no matter what age or status in life you are in.  Couples for Christ is composed of five more ministries, i.e, Kids for Christ (KFC), Youth for Christ (YFC), Singles for Christ (SFC), Handmaids of the Lord (HOLD), and Servants of the Lord (SOLD).  All together they form the Family Ministries.  For this article, I will be writing about the youngest ministry, Kids for Christ.

IKV 2011

Kids for Christ brings children of Couples for Christ members aged 4-12 years old to enjoy a relationship with Jesus Christ in an environment of fun and life giving.  It supports Couples for Christ mission of bringing families to the plan of God.  In the chapter, KFC is overseen by a KFC Couple Coordinators, CFC members who have volunteered to serve in the ministry.

As a new member of Couples for Christ more than ten years ago, I herded my two older children to every monthly assembly of the KFC.  It was usually done on a Sunday morning and while the kids were doing their activities, other couples who likewise brought along their children spent the time getting to know one another.

Kids for Christ realizes that for its program to be effective, it has to embody the 4Fs namely:  Fun, Friendship, Faith and Freedom.

• Fun - activities should be enjoyable and should stimulates the child's creativity, sensitivity and perception.
• Friendship - activities encourage friendship among the children.
• Faith - activities explain relationship with God in kids language.
• Freedom - activities allow kids to express themselves freely.

Aside from the monthly assemblies, members of the Kids for Christ look forward to the International Kids Village (IKV).  The IKV is held during the summer months when school is off.  For the 15th IKV, it will be held in May, 2012 at Davao City.

IKV 2011

Covenant Orientation

Last Saturday, my husband and I attended the Covenant Orientation of the newest members of our chapter at Our Lady of Consolation Parish.  I couldn't help but reminisce the time that Jun & I attended ours in 1998.  How time flies.

We had our Covenant Orientation on a Sunday afternoon at the old barangay hall located at the back of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Project 6, Quezon City.  I recall that almost all of the new members of the new unit were present for the occasion.  The four household heads of the new unit were present so with our unit leaders.

The Covenant Orientation is part of the first year formation program for all Couples for Christ members.  It is mandatory for all members and is given three months after the Dedication Night or twelfth talk of the Christian Life Program.  The Covenant Orientation is given early on in the journey in Couples for Christ to drill in each new member his covenant and commitment with Couples for Christ.  

Front and back of the covenant card.

The inner portion of the covenant card.

Aside from laying the covenant that each should abide as a Couples for Christ member, prayer and scripture, ways to strengthen family life and Christian culture are also discussed.  All topics spoken of at the Covenant Orientation are given emphasis by the household head during the regular household prayer meetings soon after the Covenant Orientation.  

Love Your Enemy

One of my friends posted this picture in Facebook and I was drawn to it.  The first thing that caught my attention was the image, two animals known to be enemies since time immemorial in an obvious demonstration of affection.  So cute!

Got this picture from the Jesus Daily Facebook Page

There's a Bible verse that comes to mind about loving one's enemies.  Matthew 5:44 says "But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you."  Easier said than done.  Isn't it that there's also a saying that says "Keep your enemies closer"?  

Who is our enemy?  He could be someone who has hurt us and definitely doesn't deserve our love.  It is just against our human nature to show our best element to somebody who has hurt us in the past.  But as Christians, we were taught that forgiveness is the first step to healing.  We have to forgive first before we can have complete healing.  Isn't it that it feels good when we are in speaking terms again with that someone who has caused us pain?

Ancop Global Walk: Walk for a Scholar

Four days from today, Ancop, the ministry of Couples for Christ mandated to bring God's transforming love to the poor is launching the Ancop Global Walk on August 21, 2011 at the SM Mall of Asia.  It is global because it will be replicated simultaneously all over the world.  The walk aims to raise funds for the Child Sponsorship Program or CSP of Ancop.  Ancop believes that the best way to alleviate the poor from the mire of poverty and break the chain of despair and hopelessness is through education.  If one child finishes college, he can help his whole family rise from poverty.  Send one hundred children to school and you see the multiplier effect on a big segment of our society. 

Let us all join Couples for Christ in this noble undertaking.  For a registration fee of P300.00, you can participate in the walkathon that will help send a poor child to school.  Stand up and be counted.  If you are a Metro Manila resident, please take note of the following details:

WHAT:  Ancop Global Walk

WHEN:  August 21, 2011 5AM

WHERE:  SM Mall of Asia

WHO:  Everyone who wants to be an instrument of change

This is where the action will be for Metro Manilans on August 21.

If you were not able to register for the walk, you can still help by clicking on this link:  CFC Ancop West C. By setting aside P35 a day for a year, a child can get an elementary or high school education that is the first step to his journey away from poverty.

Christian Life Program

Are you a weekend Catholic, meaning your idea of being a Catholic is to attend Mass on Sundays?  Do you have everything but feel empty inside?  Do you want to have a more personal and intimate relationship with the Lord, your spouse and your children?  If you answered Yes to any of the questions, you are an ideal candidate to attend the Christian Life Program.

The Christian Life Program (CLP) is the entry point to the Couples of Christ.  It is open to couples from all walks of life who want to have a deeper relationship with God and a more meaningful existence as a Christian.  While the organization is for spiritual renewal, it is not boring or dogmatic as religious organizations are perceived to be.  Being a member of Couples for Christ opened me to a lot of friends, better understanding of what a wife, a mother or a Christian should be.  I have been a member since 1998 and I won't stay this long if I found it boring.

Come August 13, 2011 at 8 PM, the chapter where my husband and I belong to will be conducting an Orientation on the CLP.  I hope you say yes to my invitation.  By the way, did I say that it is FREE?  It is free.  Just come with your spouse, have an open mind and be ready to make new friends.

WHAT:  Christian Life Program

WHEN:  August 13, 2011 to November 5, 2011

8:00 in the evening

WHERE:  Sanctuario de San Vicente de Paul

Tandang Sora Ave., Quezon City

CONTACT PERSONS:  Bro. Deng Yango (0916-4625254)

Sis.  Reiah Yango (0922-7245192 or 288-0402)

Sis. Marla Rances (788-2025 or 215-1305)

Sis. Vicky Francisco (0929-1540737)

God is My BFF

Whenever problems arise, what do you do to lessen the load?  As for me, I pour the heaviness of my heart to my husband, children, my family or to my dear friends.  I don't broadcast my problems to the world, just to a select circle of people.  Their words of wisdom, comforting words, ready shoulders to cry on and reassurance that everything will be alright do a lot to lift my spirits.  

What if the problem is just insurmountable? A problem that neither money nor the counsel of well-meaning friends can alleviate?  Whom do you turn to?  I turn to God.  I draw strength from the words of St. Matthew from 11:28-30:  Come to me, all you work hard and who carry heavy burdens and I will refresh you. Take up my yoke upon you, and learn from me for I am gentle and humble of heart: and you shall find rest. For my yoke is good and my burden is light.  I lift all my cares and minutes after I feel a sense of serenity within me.  Truly He is my best friend, my BFF.

In 1939, Mary Stevenson of Pennsylvania, USA wrote a poem that remains very popular to this day, Footprints in the Sand.  Orphaned by her mother at the tender age of 6 and a childhood spent during America's toughest and most trying times, Mary wrote this poem.  It talks of God's benevolence, magnanimity and love to mankind.

On introspection, I came to the conclusion that being benevolent, magnanimous and loving is not exclusive to God.  Ordinary mortals can emulate God.  A lot of our countrymen are mired in poverty and its attendant problems and we just can not afford to sit back and relax in the comforts of our homes and airconditioned offices.  Let's get our act together and find out what our less fortunate brothers and sisters need.  We need not look far.  He or she may be your household member or your barber or hairdresser.  As I said, we don't have to look far.

Be Smart, Use the CFC MMD

If you are a chapter leader, chances are you have been busy for the last few weeks making the database of your chapter.  Chapter Leaders have to submit their rosters of members to their respective Sector Heads for offering at the 30th anniversary celebration of Couples for Christ last Sunday, June 26.  Another reason is the Center's campaign for full compliance and implementation of the Couples for Christ Members Management Database or CFC MMD. The CFC International Council (IC) envisions the CFC MMD as a tool for the mission.  It aims to lessen the time spent for administrative work so there will be more time for pastoral formation and evangelization. 

The CFC MMD is the latest buzz going around in our sector.   By going through the manual for the first time, I was overwhelmed by the scope of information that has to be encoded for each member of our chapter. If a chapter has at least 50 couples, that's 100 databases to be encoded.  From my experience, I did not find any difficulty as there is batch encoding.  The CFC MMD is so easy to navigate specially because of our familiarity of how social networks like Facebook, blogs, LinkedIn, Multiply and the like work.  Now tell me, who doesn't have a Facebook account up to this time?  Even my nephew's dog has an FB account!  

To put it simply, it is like a Facebook fan page of a chapter, a cluster, sector.  It gives you a bird's eyeview of what goes on in a chapter, cluster or sector et al.  The scope of the network depends on the member's level of service.  If you are a chapter leader, you can only view the activities, reports and members' database of your chapter. A cluster leader on the other hand has access on the chapters under his cluster and so on and so forth.

Why is it a powerful tool for the mission?  The portal can generate reports at real time of the evangelization and pastoral formation initiatives of the smallest chapter.  It can keep track of all members, both active and inactive.  It is like having your CFC DNA.  Just by reading the reports, a leader can chart the course that his group will take.  Since the reports are important in decision making, encoding of data should be done responsibly by a qualified chapter servant if the chapter leader is not available to do it.

We are now ready to start.  Go to Google and type http://cfcglobaldata.com.  After clicking go, your screen will look like this:

Log-in by typing your username and password.  This will bring you to your chapter's dashboard.  At this page, you can choose the task that you want to do by clicking on the appropriate tab.

Not only data of a chapter or cluster et al can be found in the CFC MMD.  A member can also access his own page by doing the following:

Go to Google and type http://cfcglobaldata.com. Instead of logging in, click on Member's Portal.

 

To be able to go to your page, you have to type your member ID number and password. Don't know your member ID number?  Ask your chapter head or chapter servant for your number.  If you are a first time user, you have to provide your ID number and email address.  

Check your email for your password.  Once you have your password, click to login.

You are now in your own page.  You can choose to edit your profile, upload your profile picture, or change the system generated password to one of your own creation.

I hope this little exercise has helped you with the creation of your chapter's database.

Pearl of Great Price: Celebrating 30 Years of Blessings

June is a busy, make that hectic month for Couples for Christ.  It is anniversary month.  Traditionally, the anniversary is celebrated with congresses, that big parade and celebration at Luneta and what have you.  This year, 2011 is special.  CFC is 30 years old.  To mark the 30th or Pearl Anniversary and the unity that has remained strong and steadfast, despite undergoing tough challenges, Couples for Christ has a lot of activities lined up.

The celebration officially started with a Global Community Recollection Day on June 4.  For the chapter leaders, the recollection was given a week earlier during the Chapter Leaders Training on May 28.  After a week, said recollection was cascaded to the general membership.  A week before the big celebration at Luneta, various activities will be held to be participated in by delegates from all over the world.  The climax of the anniversary celebration will be a grand parade at the Luneta in the afternoon of June 26.

To commemorate this special milestone in CFC, a song was composed  and recorded.  I have downloaded the song (with lyrics and chords) and included it in this article so you will not have a hard time searching for it.

Aside from the song, CFC is coming out with a coffee book that will include pictures of different household groups, etc.  You can have it at P500 apiece.

Commemorative t-shirts which are very cool and world class are available.  The t-shirts come in different shades of blue, depending on the ministry you represent:  royal blue (Couples for Christ and Servants of the Lord), navy blue (Singles for Christ and Youth for Christ) and aqua blue (Handmaids of the Lord and Kids for Christ).  Aside from t-shirts, there are also commemorative stickers for a very affordable price of P20 each.

Let's all be counted and join in the celebration on June 26.  See you all.

Shok Ariola: The Making of a Full Time Worker

I had the opportunity of meeting a full time worker of the Couples for Christ when my husband and I were the Youth for Christ (YFC) Couple Coordinators of our chapter.  His name escapes my mind and he was assigned to the YFC of the West C Sector.  He was full of passion and dedication and from the information about him that I gathered, I found out that he graduated with honors from college.  I asked myself what is it in mission work or becoming a full time worker that made him give up a higher paying job working in a prestigious company to settle for a minimum amount of pay?  I said to myself that this is not normal nor logical.

Last March at our sector's Echo Conference at Baguio City, we had Bro. Shok Ariola as one of the speakers.  Bro.  Shok Ariola is a full time worker and at present the Program Head of Singles for Christ and the Migrant Workers Program.  I asked myself what message will Bro. Shok impart to the participants as I have already a preconceived picture playing in my mind of how a full time worker delivers his talk or sharing.  It was not a good picture, the result of listening to the sharings in the past of other full time workers who used the stage to fish for praises or empathy for the sacrifices that they have to endure because of their low pay.  When Bro. Shok delivered his talk, it erased my prejudice on full time workers by just being himself.  It was a refreshing departure from the typical talk by a full time worker.  But who is Shok Ariola?

Shok, aside from his day job at the CFC Center, occasionally travels to Africa and Mekong countries to do mission work.  He is as ordinary as anyone of us, no holier than thou posturings that endear him to the people he associates with.  He is the loving husband of Carel and father to their two lovely children.  He is also father to a nineteen year old whom he had when he was in his teens.  

He is a product of a broken family and one weekend he left home after a big fight with his mother. He ended up in the house of this friend who cannot accommodate him as his friend was on his way to attend a Youth Camp.  Since he needed a place to stay for the weekend, the Youth Camp was the perfect place with free meals no less.  Shok claimed that no earth shaking moments happened at the camp.  His transformation to a new life didn't happen overnight but noticed that  he doesn't curse the way he used to.

Six years after attending the Youth Camp in 1996, Shok left in 2002 and spent a year in Africa as a full time mission worker.  He decided to become a full time worker for the Couples for Christ because he wants all people to experience what he had experienced.  He wants people to experience the good changes in his life, the love of God and for His people, and the joy in serving Him.  

In 2004, he went back to Africa and this time with his wife and daughter in tow to spend five years spreading the Word of God by conducting Christian Life Programs.  Those five years in Africa were memorable times for the family as he became closer to his wife and vice versa.  While away, his parents became part of the community as members of the Servants of the Lord and Handmaids of the Lord.  His siblings also joined Couples for Christ.  Shok is quick to say that he didn't talk them into joining but his unceasing prayers did the trick.

Just like other missionary couples, Shok and Carel worry and struggle to provide for the needs of their growing family but they find comfort in the knowledge that the God who provided for today is still the same God tomorrow.

Couples for Christ is fortunate to have full time workers like Shok who help spreading the love of God less difficult for us.  Let us continue to support them with our prayers and be more generous with the amount that we tithe.  

Education: Best Weapon Against Poverty

Yesterday, my husband and I attended Teaching Night.  Every third Tuesday of the month, leaders of Couples for Christ flock to Meralco Theater (the previous venue was the gymnasium of Xavier School in San Juan) for the Mission Core Group (MCG) Teaching Night.  The MCG is composed of senior leaders of Couples for Christ.  My husband and I have been attending it for the past four years.

For the numerous times that we have attended Teaching Night, yesterday's topic is one of those which tugged at my heartstrings.  The guest speaker for the night was Sec. Armin Luistro, FSC of the Department of Education.  He rattled off with statistics which underscored the sad state of the Philippine's public education system.  The Philippine public educational system just like the ones in other countries is free and available to all citizens.  Despite it being accessible to everyone, Sec. Luistro lamented that not all pupils who enrolled in grade 1 is sure to graduate.  A big percentage or 33% of the total grade 1 population will join the ranks of dropouts. There are many factors why these children drop out of school and foremost of all is economic, they are just too poor to afford school supplies, jeepney fare and what more personal things like a toothbrush.  

The good secretary mentioned that quite a number of dropouts stopped going to school altogether because of a simple toothache, a toothache that could mean a two-week absence from school.  By the time the toothache is gone,  should the child elect to go back to school, he will have difficulty in catching up with his classmates.  Most of the time, the child leaves the school for good and is unlikely to return. A study by the National Education Testing Center shows that the earlier the child drops out, the greater the likelihood of his reverting to illiteracy.  

I am a strong advocate for education being the most potent weapon against poverty and I have written articles in the past about the importance of education: Ancop's Child Sponsorship Program, Bravo Khan Academy!, and My Bucket List Part 2.  I am fortunate and happy that I am a member of Couples for Christ and has been a volunteer for Gawad Kalinga and Ancop for quite a time thus giving me a firsthand account of life in the slums.  Building them houses in different colors of the rainbow, no matter how noble the intentions are, sadly does not alleviate them from their present predicament.  The root of the problem of poverty like inadequate/poor quality of education and/or no education at all, should be the one addressed instead of palliative measures (I need not elaborate on this so as not to offend others who have a different point of view as that of mine).

Before ending his talk, Sec. Luistro pleaded for prayers for him who is at the helm of the Department of Education and for his staff who collectively have the gargantuan task of preparing the young for a bright future through education.  Aside from prayers, he also hinted that there are several ways of helping.  To know the kind of help that a public school needs, one just have to go to a nearby public school and talk to the principal.  Different schools have different needs.

Before the schoolyear 2011-2012 opens next month, let us think of ways to make learning more effective.  Let us open our eyes, ears and most specially, our hearts.

Related Reading:

• Learning to Stay in School

Keeping Your Household Members Beside You

Making members remain in a group or organization without monetary consideration is a big challenge.  This is true with Couples for Christ though am not singling it out.  A lot of organizations go through this phase.  

There are a lot of reasons why members lie low but foremost of all is that they have lost interest in the organization because it has failed to address the reason why they joined in the first place.  I will be listing down tips on how to hold on to your members.  Let me warn you though that these tips are purely my own culled from more than ten years of being a CFC and don't represent anyone's or CFC's stand.

1.  Have a trusting and sincere relationship with your member.  Trust is the core of any lasting relationship.  This is true for all kinds of relationship whether with one's spouse, friend, child or client.  If a person trusts you enough, you will know what makes him tick.  Selling something to a prospect will be a breeze as you know what to offer him.

More so in the case of the household member, he expects nothing less.  You, as household leader, will have his loyalty, love, support and this started with trust.  Isn't it that he started to divulge something of himself during the one on one session after Talk 4 of the Christian Life Program?  Though different members react differently during the one on one session, it nevertheless is a good start.  Some have a difficult time opening up.  Once the member has opened up, it is the duty of the household leader to keep everything confidential.

2.  Have a caring and nurturing attitude towards your member.  A household member attends the weekly household prayer meetings because he feels cared for by his colleagues in the household.  He feels like he is at home in the household.  Everyone accepts him for what he is and nobody judges him.  It is a place where he can be himself.  When he needs support, the household members led by the household head are there to give support and understanding.

3.  Have  fun once in a while.  I won't deny that I look forward to these gatherings.  The activity will depend on how much budget there is.  Going out of town for a day or two is the preferred activity of the majority.  Though going out of town costs more money and consumes more time, that picnic-style element of this sortie never ceases to appeal to everyone.  Still wondering why there is a higher percentage of attendees to the weekend conferences when done in Baguio than the one held at Manila?

If time and budget do not warrant an out of town getaway, there are numerous fastfoods, eateries and karaoke bars in Metro Manila you can choose from.  My personal preference is going to karaoke bars.  You just have to scour the different promos being offered by these karaoke bars to minimize on expenses.

4.  Be yourself.  Members can see through you if you are wearing a mask.

What's Cooking in the Household?

One of the joys in being a member of Couples for Christ is belonging to a household.  In My First Household Meeting, I went into details on what a household is.  It is in the household that one draws support, strength, love, spiritual nourishment so it is not surprising that lasting friendships are forged among the members.

Since the household meetings are held weekly with the members taking turns in being hosts, it has become an avenue to showcase the cooking prowess of the hostess.  If there is no cooking prowess to speak of (joke only) or the hosts weren't able to prepare, restaurants nearby make a killing from their orders.

It is in the household that you can eat bopis, dinuguan, pinakbet, callos, laing, Bicol express, caldereta, papaitan and other Filipino specialties that you can taste during fiestas and gatherings.  Of course, cooking laureat-style is not the norm for Couples for Christ.  Couples for Christ encourages its members to be simple, so it has to be one solid and one liquid.  But the hosts can not be faulted if they prepared something more than what is expected.  This is borne out of love for their co-members, generosity, plain Filipino hospitality and a celebration for a recent blessing.

Food galore at the Figueras' residence

Christmas Party of the Lopez' household, 2009.

When it is our turn to host the household meeting, I usually cater to what our co-members love to eat like spicy Bicol express, laing or ginataang santol.  There are times that I serve new additions to my menu, new learned recipes from friends, cookbooks or the internet, that I am confident enough to have them try.  It flatters my heart no end when I see them enjoying what I have served and having a good time just being together.

Good Friday Menu

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For Catholics worldwide, Lent marks the time for repentance of sin, renewal of faith and preparation to celebrate Easter.  Fr. William Saunders of the Catholic Education Resource Center further said fasting and abstinence have been a big part of Lent since the earliest time of the Church.  Though fasting and abstinence were pretty tough during the early Christians, the observance has slowly evolved through time.  Nowadays only two days, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, are left for strict observance of fasting and abstinence.  But what is fasting?  Abstinence? 

Fasting is having one full meal a day with small snacks to keep one's strength, the full meal eaten preferably at 3 o'clock or evening.  Abstinence on the other hand is refraining from eating meat on those two days.  One can go the extra mile by "giving up" something as a sacrifice.  It could be smoking, drunkenness or any other addiction or obsession that is/are hard to give up.

For the budget-conscious housewife, here are suggestions for your Good Friday meal:  fried daing na bangus, brown rice, sauteed mung beans with smoked fish or ginisang monggo sa tinapa, for you.  The young ones will enjoy the sour and garlicky taste of marinated bangus and the healthy twist to ginisang monggo.  Down it with a lot of water every now and then to block off occasional cravings for food.

Ginisang Monggo

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Daing na Bangus

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The Ideal Chacoco

From an older article, Serving the Youth, I narrated my husband and I's experiences when we were the Youth for Christ (YFC) Couple Coordinators of our chapter or Chacoco, a term coined by the YFCs themselves.  It was different from the previous ministries that we served.  Different in the sense that the objects of evangelization are the teenagers.  If on the older article I talked about being a Chacoco from our point of view, for this article I am fortunate to sharing the floor to a former YFC leader, Bro. Ezra Paguntalan.  I couldn't bring myself to addressing him as Bro (he already crossed over to Singles for Christ) as I got used to dealing with the teenaged Ezra in the past.  Below is Ezra's account of his ideal chacoco (with minor revisions due to space considerations):

My ideal chacoco are those who answered the call to service and at the same time embraced the youth  as one of their own. They share not just their time and limited resources but more importantly, their love and desire for the youth to be better persons. They are able to make a difference in the lives of the youth and these youth changed for the better because of them.

My ideal chacoco believe in the innate and intrinsic goodness of the youth.  They are not judgmental.  They understand that the youth make mistakes but will never judge them because they believe in the youth's intrinsic goodness. For my ideal chacoco, nobody is a hopeless case: lots of doses of understanding, guidance and love are all that are needed.  They must be firm but loving. Being young themselves once upon a time, a lot of lessons can be imparted from their experiences.

One of the most memorable experiences that I have with my chacoco was the advice that they gave me about opening up to my parents and that I should take the first step.  That our parents also want to get to know us more and it’s possible that they just don’t know how or where to start. They told me that I have nothing to lose in trying.  I never regretted initiating it.  Now I am happy to say that I have a wonderful relationship not just with my parents but also with my brother and sisters as well. I am who I am now also because of our chacoco.  I am truly grateful and indebted to all the chacoco that I have met as a YFC.

What else can I say?   I just hope that Jun and I were able to make a mark in the life of even one YFC when we were their chacoco.

The Chapter

Non-CFC members might be confused by now by the different terminologies that I have been using from older posts.  I am correcting that by writing about the servant leaders of a chapter.  I chose the chapter because it is the basic pastoral subdivision within Couples for Christ, according to CFCpedia.  It is independent and autonomous, a microcosm of Couples for Christ.  Though it has its own leadership, evangelization program and formation, it is subject to the direction of the overall leadership.

A chapter is headed by a Chapter Head. It is composed of four to seven units.  When the chapter grows by the addition of more units, it is split to form another chapter.  The units in turn are made up of four to five households, the basic cell grouping.  The Unit Head is the head of the unit.  The household is where new graduates from the Christian Life Program are grouped together under the Household Head.  

Aside from these groupings, a chapter has also chapter coordinators for the Youth for Christ and Kids for Christ family ministries.

"Most Liked Household/Barkada Group Picture Photo Contest"

I didn't realize that six months have already passed since I created this blog and I averaged one article a week.  I could have done more but have to attend to a million things at the same time.  To mark this occasion, help me celebrate, dear readers, by joining this contest entitled "Most Liked Household/Barkada Group Picture Photo Contest".  I will be giving away a brand new Epson Inkjet Printer. This contest is open to members and non-members alike of Couples for Christ and its ministries.  Hereunder are the mechanics on how to join:

1.  Go to the My Life as a CFC  Facebook Fan Page.  Click "Like" if you are not yet a fan.  Upload your household or barkada group picture to the page.

2.  Ask your friends to vote for your photo entry by "liking" it.  The first entry with the most number of likes by Sept. 30, 2011 11:59 PM will win the Epson printer.

3.  Only one entry is allowed per person.  Only one vote is allowed per fan.  

4.  Contest runs from April 13 to September 30, 2011 and is open to Philippine residents only.  

5.  Winner will be announced in the My Life as a CFC Facebook Fan Page on October 1, 2011.  I will be sending the printer to the winner through courier service starting October 1 up to 15, 2011. 

So what else are you waiting for?  Go over your old photos or pose with your friends for a group picture.  Send your entry now.  The earlier the better, you have more time to ask your friends to vote for your entry.

Tip:  To get more friends liking your entry, share this article to the walls of your Facebook friends and Twitter followers.

Good luck and God bless.

Going on Mission

Two years ago, my husband and I were given the privilege to serve on two mission trips to Kalibo, Aklan and Calbayog City, Western Samar. We volunteered to be in these trips as we experience a certain high in meeting new people while spreading God's Word either as a speaker or sharer. Usually it is the wife who shares her or her family's experiences on the topic that her husband just delivered. That was my role when we went to Kalibo and Calbayog City. On mission, my fear of speaking in front of many strangers is nonexistent. It is a well-known fact that I don't stand up to share in MPAs. For my thirteen years as a member of Couples for Christ, I have only shared once and I did that after ten years.

Preparation for the trip started with booking for the flight. The team head couple for the mission trip on the other hand coordinates with his counterpart in the mission area. The kind of talks to be given, accommodation, venue of the conference and logistics are ironed out over exchanges of emails, text messages and voice malls. Technology has made preparations far easier and cheaper compared to those done years ago.

For our first mission trip, we went to Calbayog City. Our flight was delayed for at least thirty minutes due to bad weather enroute to Calbayog City. Although the typhoon has already left the Samar provinces, there were intermittent rains. While inflight, we went through a series of turbulence that made us clutched our rosaries. At times like this, the only thing that matters is your faith in the Supreme Being. We landed successfully after that nerve-wracking episode. All our nervousness vanished at the concern and hospitality accorded us by our brothers and sisters from Calbayog City.

Our Kalibo trip was not so uneventful compared to the first one. Though there was a raging storm in Metro Manila, in Kalibo, it was sunny when we landed. We felt more like going on a vacation than a mission trip. It helped that Kalibo is just more than an hour drive to the world-famous Boracay. There was no welcoming CFC-Kalibo as we proceeded to Boracay for two days of rest and recreation. At the crack of dawn two days later, the mission group was up and about onboard a motorized banca and a rented van enroute to Kalibo. When in Kalibo, we were met by one of the service team members. We then proceeded to the house of the Provincial Head, Bro. Chem and Sis. Hope Aldecoa for a very hearty breakfast. That famed Filipino hospitality is working to the max again.

For both instances, after the initial getting to know you occasions, we then went on with the task at hand: delivering the talks that our brothers and sisters requested to hear. Yes, it was tiring but hearing their compliments and seeing the smiles in their faces more than compensated the days spent away from loved ones.

After the conferences had ended, we were all treated to more food and singing and a tour of the places. Who would ever forget the Sampaguita Village at New Washington, Cardinal Sin's hometown and an afternoon at Malahug Beach in Calbayog? And what about the pasalubongs that the locals gave to each one of us?

Up to now we are in constant communication with our new found friends...brethren. Mission work really brought out the best in everyone. Just wondering when the next mission trip would be.

"Sway Me, Sway Me Now"

I couldn't help myself from making a blog post when I saw the video of Pussycat Dolls' Sway in the news feed of my Facebook account.  I even posted in my Facebook wall that this dance tune only conjures happy memories.  Since I can only write so much characters in my wall, I decided to make a post.

According to Wikipedia, Sway is the English version of a mambo song "Quien Sera" by Pablo Beltran Ruiz.  The English lyrics were written by Norman Gimbel and the first English version was recorded and popularized by Dean Martin in 1954.  Other versions followed but the latest one is that of Pussycat Dolls'.  It was used as one of the soundtracks of the movie "Shall We Dance?".

On the occasion of the silver wedding anniversary of our Chapter Leaders, Bro. Joe and Sis. Letty Francia, the members of their household group decided to surprise them with a dance number.  Together with Deng & Reiah Yango, Rainier & Meng Figueras, Vic & Joy Nolasco, Glen & Ely Acosta, Arnel & Bel Bista, Jun and I spent countless nights and hours practicing the steps of the dance to the tune of this song.  Another sister, Michie Zapanta introduced us to the dance instructor or DI for short.  Bro. Chito Lara provided us the venue for our practices (Up to now, Bro. Chito claims that we still owe him for the use of the venue.  Bro, padugo mo na lang tutal di ka naman sumayaw.)

We practiced twice a week for a minimum of two hours per session for a month and a half.  Yes, that loonnggg. Our DI, Joel, can only introduce one to two steps per session as not all of us are teachable.  In my case, dancing is my waterloo.  Aside from adapting to the steps, the next problem that we faced was remembering the dance steps that were taught during the previous session.  The whole two hours or so, Chito's CD player played only Sway that made him comment that even without the CD, the player still blared the dance tune.

As D-Day was approaching, it was time to think of what to wear for the dance.  The ladies trooped to Tutuban Center to buy gowns.  It took a while to find the right gowns as most of the items for sale at the center were for ladies of svelte figures.  In short, the gowns were too small for us.  Meng and Ely were able to buy glittery, beaded gowns that both clung to their figures and emphasized their beauty.  (I am too kind. Lol.)  Ely claimed that after wearing it, the glitters of her gown can be found in most parts of her body.

In all the practices and gown-hunting, laugher was predominant.  All of us had a happy time unmindful of the late hour.  Truly, this song only brings good, happy memories.

No Place Like Baguio City

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Jun and I among the blooms.

Last Friday, all roads led to Baguio City as far as leaders of Couples for Christ West C Sector is concerned.  A good number brought along their cars and vans while others took the ever reliable Victory Liner buses.  For those who brought their cars, the luggage compartment was packed to the rafters with cooked and uncooked food, cooler with all kinds of drinks, shoes, clothes, pillows for those who cannot sleep without the familiar cushion under their head, junk food for munching while listening to the speakers or for fighting the urge to sleep.  My colleague in the household, Sis. Meng Figueras, brought along her electric airpot which was used not only for boiling water for coffee but for a warm and soothing bath.  Talk about ingenuity and travelling light.

The blooms of Baguio.

The City of Baguio will always be special to any leader of Couples for Christ.  It is where the annual leaders' weekend conference is held.  Ever since my husband and I became leaders in 1999, the Teachers' Camp in Baguio City was the usual venue.  There were times that the conference was held elsewhere but the number of attendees was less than the Baguio-based conferences.  Though Baguio conferences come out costlier than those held elsewhere, the cool temperature and the bonding time spent with fellow CFC members more than make up for the additional money to be shelled out.

A typical cottage at Teachers' Camp.  Has the basic amenities of home at very affordable prices.

Baguio City, tagged as the Summer Capital of the Philippines, is located in Benguet Province in the northern  part of the Philippines.  Besides its cool weather that make it a city of blooms, Baguio City is a favorite destination for vacation seekers because of the numerous tourist spots like the Philippine Military Academy, Mines View Park, Camp John Hay and the Mansion.  It also boasts of affordable accommodations like this cottage at Teachers' Camp.  It can be reached by land and air but travel by land at approximately five hours is preferred by many using any one of the three accessible roads, Kennon Road, Marcos Highway and Naguilian Highway.  Kennon Road remains the popular choice of travellers but could be risky in times of bad weather because of landslides and erosion.

Map of Baguio City

Despite its limitations like the lack of water, rising pollution, and traffic, Baguio City remains the favorite destination for our annual weekend conference.  While in Baguio, everyone  shares a room or cottage and food with a colleague, a dear friend.  The endless stories and laughter make one forget loved ones back in Manila. It is this closeness, camaraderie and selflessness that make Baguio City so special.  Truly Baguio City is etched in the hearts of every member of Couples for Christ.

Breaking bread with other household members.  Thanks Bro. Junel for the photo grab.  Sa uulitin. Lol.

At the garden of the El Cielito Inn, our home for this 2011 conference.

Ancop's Child Sponsorship Program

Since the start of 2010 to the present, Jun and I are the Ancop Coordinators for our cluster.  Ancop is the acronym for ANSwering the Cry Of the Poor and is founded by Couples for Christ to consolidate its local and global efforts in building the Church of the Poor to achieve total Christian liberation.  Sounds so high falluting.  In simple terms, it means helping to improve the lot of the less fortunate and the marginalized.

Ancop has been around for more than ten years already, it predates Gawad Kalinga, but it was relaunched on December 8, 2010.  It has five programs, namely; Education, Livelihood, Community Development, Health and Shelter.  For our sector, West C, we have a sixth program, Ancop Learning Center (a pre-school).

What I like about Ancop is its thrust on education.  The Child Sponsorship Program (under the Education program) is a child/youth sponsorship by a donor partner.  With the CSP, as it is commonly called, a child can realize his dream of a college education and hopefully a better life.  To become a donor, he doesn't have to fork out a big chunk of his savings.  For a minimum of P11,000/year or P30/day, he makes a lasting imprint on the life of the child.  

I believe that the best help one can give to the poor is through education.  Knowledge from continued education is something that a child can bring and use as an armor to life's many battles.  When a child has a college diploma tucked under his belt, he has better chances of landing a regular job thus breaking the notorious practice of hiring for contractual employment in the country.  Can you imagine the kind of future he will have when he has to find another job every five months?  Because he is always new in his job, he is perpetually a minimum wage earner living on a hand to mouth existence.

It is my fervent wish that this article will be able to touch your hearts, my dear readers.  If I will be able to convince one reader to become a donor, I say that all is not lost on mankind.  There is still hope for the poor.

Connecting with Bloggers

When I was still studying Certified Blog Entrepreneur Program from the Ateneo, one of the requirements that I have to submit was to promote an event using the blog platform.  My classmates and I were given two weeks to run the campaign.  For the campaign to be successful, we have to network with other bloggers in the same category as you are in.  If you blog about music, then you have to solicit the help of the bloggers who also write about music.  I chose to promote the Legacy Run of the Couples for Christ West C as it was scheduled within the time frame that our Subject Matter Expert (SME) Janette Toral set.

For the Legacy Run promotion, I first contacted the event organizer, Bro. Ronnel de Ocampo.  After getting all the details from him, I wrote a blog post of the event and started promoting it using my Facebook and Twitter networks.  For my campaign to be successful, I started looking for bloggers who are members of the Couples for Christ community as the target market of the Legacy Run is very niche.  The run was not only a fun run but also a family day of the West C Sector.

Networking with CFC bloggers is not difficult.  There are no X-deals to be talked about nor monetary compensation.  The bloggers will do the post for the sake of brotherhood/sisterhood love and camaraderie.  To Sis. Cecille Ama and Sis. Sky Ortigas, thank you so much for the support.  I know you did it for the love of God and Couples for Christ.  Cheers and good luck to Couples for Christ.

Leaders' Conference

After completing the Christian Life Program (CLP) and becoming members of Couples for Christ, it is inevitable for the new CFC members not to embrace its culture.  Aside from the weekly household meetings, there are community activities.  One of the activities to be attended is the annual Leaders' Conference. It is held at the Araneta Coliseum  at the middle of January.  It is usually started with a Holy Mass and is followed with two to three talks about the year's theme to let all leaders know what the directions for the year will be.  For 2011, the theme is "Put on the Full Armor of God" based on Ephesians 6:10-11 which says "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes."  In simple words, it means that we have to be steadfast and firm in our faith in the Lord and His mighty power so we don't fall prey to the temptations of the devil.

When Jun and I were still Household Leaders, we usually go to Araneta Coliseum together with our Unit Leaders and the other Household Leaders in our unit.  For our first time to attend the conference, we met somewhere in Cubao for lunch and then proceeded to the venue early so we can be seated giving us a vantage point of the whole proceedings.  I recall we were all very excited and wide-eyed.  It takes on a different meaning when you do things together with people you care about.

The Red Sea

Now that we are already members of the Mission Core Group, I noticed that we attend the Leaders' Conference as a couple, not as members of a household.  Gone is the excitement that was synonymous with earlier outings.  Is it because the Leaders' Conference has lost its mystique to those who have been religiously attending it or that we have become complacent by virtue of our long stay in the community?

P.S.  Photo of the Full Armor of God logo was lifted from the Couples for Christ website.