Power Weekend

Yearly since 1999, Couples for Christ West C has mounted leaders' conferences mostly in Baguio City.  The first conference called "Power Weekend" was in August, 1999 and Jun and I were fortunate to be part of this.  This annual conference is open to all leaders of Couples for Christ, from household leaders and up.

Since Jun and I were already appointed as Household Leaders a month ago, we automatically belong to a Unit.  A Unit is made up of four to five households and is headed by the Unit Leaders.  Our Unit Leaders were Bro. Jun and Sis. Lina Eguico and the other Household Leaders that comprised the Unit were Bro. John and Sis. Weng Valesco, Bro. Artz and Sis. Tess Bermejo and Bro. Danny and Sis. Weng Abella.  Weeks before the Power Weekend, we, together with the other leaders of the Unit started planning for our stay in Baguio. Preparation included buying jackets that would be suitable for Baguio weather.  Weng Valesco and I ended up buying the same jacket from Shoemart.  We all had a good laugh since Jun and John also had identical jackets.  

With Weng Valesco and Lina Eguico at the Teacher's Camp, Baguio City.

We drove to Baguio at dawn aboard two vehicles.  The weather was fine when we left Manila.  On the way to Baguio, we sidetripped to Dagupan for a very sumptuous lunch by the sea and to Manaoag, Pangasinan to visit the Virgin of Manaoag.  Never did we think that the weather will turn for the worse in a couple of hours.

While we were about to start our trek to Kennon Road, we were advised that it was not passable as giant boulders blocked the street.  The river  had swelled with water rampaging from the mountains.  The two alternative roads to Baguio were also closed.  We  had no other recourse but to spend the night in nearby San Fernando, La Union.  We cruised along the main highway of San Fernando City and adjoining towns looking for a place to stay in while roads to Baguio remained closed.  We ended up in an old, dilapidated four-storey hotel in San Fernando proper which was so dusty and left us all coughing.  Our search for a place was reminiscent of Mary's and Joseph's quest for an inn.  

The sun was shining early the following morning.  At last, all roads to Baguio were opened.  We arrived just in time for the start of the Opening Worship.  Everybody was clapping and dancing while singing praises to the Lord to the lively accompaniment of the Music Ministry.  Thankful for the protection from the strong winds and the rain.  

Jun & I at Teacher's Camp, Baguio City.

Called To Serve

A year after graduating from the CLP, the leaders of the chapter where Jun & I belong to then, tapped us to be one of the facilitators of the CLP that they were about to open.  We both feel elated for the privilege and likewise concerned about a lot of things.  First and foremost is we didn't know anything about facilitating. Though Jun had exposure in speaking to big crowds and presiding meetings, I had no such experience.  My only claim to participation in a discussion was barking orders to the maids and to the sewers of our garments factory.  My lack of interaction with people of the same background as mine left me insecure in carrying out a sensible exchange of ideas with strangers.  I couldn't stop from asking myself if I did the right thing in giving up a very promising corporate career in favor of motherhood. 

Twenty couples came for the Orientation Night.  After the first talk, the participants were grouped into 5.  We got the first group.  This group was unique as it was composed of professionals except for 1 couple.  The big challenge was how to make this couple jell with the others who are all professionals.  Group discussion came and I led the opening prayer rather mechanically.  The important thing for me then was to be able to lead the prayer without making mistakes.  I prayed with my brain not with my heart.

As we moved from one module to the other, our group became closer and the group discussions became more animated.  Alas, we just had found ourselves a "barkada".  Meeting for the group presentation for the Dedication Night did not pose any problems in scheduling as everyone was eager to be with one another.  Everybody contributed to be able to come out with a very good presentation.

Come Dedication Night, we were appointed to be the household leaders of Group 1.  It was a very memorable night for all of us.  Years later, we took different paths.  Only one couple remained active in the community while the others opted to lie low for one reason or the other.  Jun and I surely miss them.

Our First Marriage Enrichment Retreat

All members of Couples for Christ follow a pastoral formation track.  Six months after graduating from the Christian Life Program, the couple is expected to attend the first Marriage Enrichment Retreat or MER1.  The MER1 aims to present the important aspects of Christian marriage and family life which is the foundation of marriage and CFC.  It also fosters a better understanding and appreciation of God's plan for marriage and family life.

Jun and I had our MER1 in November 1998 at Sta. Rafaella Retreat House along Tandang Sora, Quezon City.  We were at the venue early Saturday morning up to noon of the following day.  There were talks given out by different speakers.  Some were boring while the others gave animated versions.  The talks that struck me most are Talks 4 and 5, namely "The Role of the Christian Wife" and "Effective Communication in Marriage", respectively. 

It is very difficult to live out the ideal Christian wife, i.e., being submissive to her husband in this age of equal rights, equal opportunities and feminism.  How can this be possible in this day and age when it is enshrined in the Constitution that everybody is equal?  When Grade 5 students are taught human rights and rights of the child?  Indeed the modern couple needs a deeper maturity and understanding of marriage and relationship to make marriage work.  Effective communication in marriage not only becomes necessary but should be the norm. 

Singing for the Lord

One of the activities that my husband and I indulged in as a member of Couples for Christ was to become a member of the Music Ministry.  Membership in the Music Min is one of the services that is available for a non-leader in CFC.  One must not belittle membership in the ministry as singing is an integral part of community worship.   With music, one is able to express joy and sorrow more fervently that St. Augustine said "He who sings, prays twice."

I believe that our membership to the Music Min helped a lot in our spiritual growth.  Because we served while still mere members in the community, we became active in community life.  We seldom missed CFC gatherings and teachings.  Just like any endeavor, active participation in CFC is necessary to attain true spiritual nourishment and contentment.  

My First Household Meeting

After finishing the Christian Life Program (CLP), the participants of the CLP are invited to join Couples for Christ (CFC).  They are put into a cell group of between five to seven couples called a household.  The household meets weekly in the houses of the members on a rotation basis.  At the household meeting, the members pray, share experiences on the night's or day's relevant topic and have fellowship after.  It usually takes two and a half hours.  The household is headed by the Household Head.

Our first household meeting was held a week or two after the CLP at the house of our household leaders, Jun and Rose Ricamonte.  Ours was a small household as there were only four couples in our group and that includes our household leaders.  The first meeting was spent mostly on "getting to know you".  Bro. Jun and Sis. Rose were complete strangers to us as they were not our facilitators in the CLP.  The meeting went on smoothly except for one thing, there was no guitar accompaniment.  Our worship sounded empty.  Nobody in the group could play a guitar except for my husband, Jun.  At that time, Jun hasn't played the guitar for fifteen years and had actually given away his guitar.  After that acapella worship, Jun toyed on the idea of relearning how to play the guitar but wait, where's the guitar?