Author: pasugoeditor
Highway Hills Congregation donates blood
By EIJI LAINE PLANAS and VINCE T. BASCO
Date Posted: January 4, 2020
Brethren from the Local Congregation of Highway Hills, Ecclesiastical District of Metro Manila East conducted a blood donation drive at Barangay Highway Hills multipurpose hall in Mandaluyong City, Philippines on January 18, 2020.
The donors said that they were joyful for the opportunity to help their fellowmen in need, which is one of the commandments of God.
They donated a total of 30 bags of blood. These were received by the Philippine Blood Center.
Medical practitioners from the Philippine Blood Center facilitated the socio-civic activity. ― With reports from INC News Section
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Relief Operations for Taal Victims Continue; Church Doing Its Part
BATANGAS, PHILIPPINES —Help and support for the victims continue to pour in for the thousands of people displaced from their homes due to Taal Volcano's eruption on January 12, 2020, which destroyed properties.
Government and non-government agencies, private corporations, and concerned individuals, continue to work hand in hand to help those affected by the volcanic eruption and ensuing ash fall.
With similar intent and concern, the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) through the Felix Y. Manalo (FYM) Foundation, continues with its relief operations.
Under the Aid To Humanity project, the Church conducted two succeeding relief operations on January 17 and 20. This is the fourth of such humanitarian service since the first one on January 13.
Aside from relief goods, basic medical services were provided in 20 sites by teams of doctors and specialists. Free medicines were also handed out.
Within 24 hours of the initial eruption, INC volunteers including licensed EFR personnel of SCAN (Society of Communicators and Networkers, International) were among the first on the scene.
As of January 22, the INC has distributed 150,000 relief packages in 121 sites (28 INC Church compounds and 93 evacuation centers) all over Batangas and nearby Cavite.
Ms. Angelica Petate, an evacuee from Sto. Tomas was thankful to the INC for it's “heartwarming kindness” saying that the INC “did not look into someone’s [social] status or religion” in handing out relief packages.
She added that the evacuees “were able to comfortably line-up, get relief items, and exit” noting the organized manner of the INC effort.
Ms. Angelica said that “it was ‘hakot-all-you-can’ [get as much as can carry]. “If I were not pregnant, I would have done so,” she said with a smile.
Community volunteers on-site, mostly female school teachers and barangay (village) health workers (BHW) were able to take a breather when INC volunteers arrived.
Ms. Leonisa Vivas, a Sta. Maria BHW, doing around-the-clock volunteer work since the eruption, said that with the arrival of the INC effort, they [barangay health workers and local volunteers] were “able to take a breather” because, she observed, the INC relief operation was “well-organized.”
Imelda Destreza, Barangay Sta. Maria Animal Health worker and local volunteer, was appreciative of the INC’s help, “bringing pre-packed items as well as distribution teams,” making the distributing task “a little easier.”
The local volunteers were also given relief items for, though they volunteered to help, they were calamity victims as well.
In amazement, Ms. Imelda remarked, “You can see that [INC volunteers] are working as one, side-by-side, and ... truly with unity.”
According to Dr. Sergie Santos, FYM Foundation Director, the series of medical aid have provided medical attention to a total of 12,000 individuals.
Individual members of the Church also extended help to their fellowmen in need.
In a social media post that has since gone viral, President Rodrigo R. Duterte chanced upon Cedie Patron, Raika Patron and Jhiane Antenor, very young INC members, as the three were handing out free pizzas to evacuees in Bolbok, Batangas.
INC members, both young and old, are taught to help those in need, in keeping with the biblical teaching to “do good to those who need it” (Prov. 3:27, Good News Translation).
To know more about the Church Of Christ and its activities, please visit www.iglesianicristo.net
Canadian MP meets with Church’s Executive Minister; Visits the INC Museum, and the Philippine Arena
QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES — On Tuesday, January 21, 2020 (PHT), Kevin Lamoureux, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg North, Canada, made a courtesy call to Iglesia Ni Cristo Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo.
He was welcomed at the new INC Museum along Central Avenue in Quezon City, where he took a short tour after meeting with Brother Manalo.
The MP is no stranger to the Church Of Christ's activities as he has participated in some of its major events in his country. He was present for the INC's Worldwide Walk to Fight Poverty (2018), Aid To Humanity (Canadian Tour 2019), and a recent International Food Fair.
Mr. Lamoureux said he is aware of Brother Eduardo Manalo's constant pastoral visits to different countries to strengthen the INC members' faith, and was very happy that the Executive Minister gave time to meet with him despite his busy schedule.
As a traveler himself, going on trips two or three times a year, Mr. Lamoureux said he finds these to be exhausting, and was so impressed with the INC leader's frequent travels to oversee the Church's congregations around the world.
As the Canadian MP was about to leave the INC Museum he commented on the hundreds of brethren who were there to meet with the Executive Minister for the Church's weekly Balik-Bayan Day. Mr. Lamoureux said that it was admirable how Brother Manalo gives time to regularly meet with Church Of Christ members, to listen to their personal concerns.
Mr. Kevin Lamoureux, who celebrates his birthday on January 22, 2020, then proceeded to Ciudad de Victoria, Bulacan, to see the Philippine Arena and other sights in the complex.
To know more about the Church Of Christ and its activities, please visit www.iglesianicristo.net
Metro Manila congregations conduct blood donation
By ANGEL B. MANGILAYA and MARK ANDRO T. MILAN
Date Posted: January 21, 2020
Three congregations from Metro Manila, Philippines simultaneously hosted a blood donation activity on January 11, 2020.
The Local Congregation of Baesa, Ecclesiastical District of Quezon City held its blood donation at the compound of Baesa 2 Extension. Spearheaded by the resident minister, Brother Runel De Leon, and the ministerial workers assigned there, many brethren who were qualified to become donors wholeheartedly donated blood.
Meanwhile, members from the Local Congregation of Brixtonville, Ecclesiastical District of Metro Manila North conducted their blood donation activity at the multipurpose hall of Barangay 175, Caloocan City. Many doctrinal instructees and guests also willingly participated, acknowledging that such humanitarian work is God’s will. Others added that they will all the more participate in similar activities after receiving baptism in the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ).
The Local Congregation of Pasig, Ecclesiastical District of Metro Manila East hosted their blood donation at the covered court of Malinao, Pasig City. The resident minister, Brother Sherwin De Jesus, led the event. Officers from the district’s Christian Medical Dental and Paramedical Society or CMDPS organized the activity.
Interviewed brethren from all the three venues said that through participating in this socio-civic activity, they prove their activeness in the faith, and that they are one with the Church Administration in helping those who are in need. — With reports from INC News Section
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Humanitarian Efforts Shift to High Gear for Calamity Victims: Taal Evacuees Receive Aid Anew
BATANGAS, PHILIPPINES — As the Philippines’ Taal Volcano continues to affect many residents in Batangas and Cavite, Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) also continued its humanitarian efforts to bring relief to victims of the volcanic eruption.
The INC relief operations, through the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation, commenced on January 13, just a day after the eruption. It continued on January 16.
INC volunteers, including medical teams and members of the Society of Communicators and Networkers International (SCAN), were mobilized to aid the calamity victims. Rice and canned goods were some of the provisions handed out. Much needed face masks were also given as protection from volcanic ash.
Medical missions were also conducted providing basic medical services and free medicines. As danger zones were identified, thousands of affected families were immediately evacuated forcing them to leave behind their homes and possessions.
The once colourful landscape in and around Taal is now mostly covered with grey ashfall affecting the people’s means of livelihood and even posing a danger to their health.
To aid them in their immediate needs, the INC began holding simultaneous relief distribution in several towns affected by the calamity in Batangas and nearby Cavite.
As of this writing, Aid to Humanity is currently ongoing in major areas in Batangas.
(See related posts from Iglesia Ni Cristo News and Updates and Iglesia Ni Cristo Public Information Office)