Iglesia Ni Cristo Centennial: A Milestone of Blessings!

100 BLESSED YEARS!  Today marks the centennial year of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) since its reemergence in the Philippines.  From its humble beginnings, the church membership today comprises at least 110 nationalities in over 100 countries and territories.  That is God's mighty work!

I have been a member of the church since childhood. "Handog" is what they call the children members who haven't gone indoctrination and baptized yet.  After my baptism in May 19, 1990, I have learned to embrace and strengthen my faith with the help of the Lord.  It has been my ultimate dream to become a choir member and was fulfilled when i was a college freshman.  My first ever choir performance was during the church's 79th year anniversary in the locale of Brookside, Rizal district.  Since then, I have looked forward to the weekly ensayo and the 2nd and 4th Sunday when the juniors choir is scheduled to perform.  Yes, we only perform twice a month then.  But due to the growing needs of the locale, we were then allowed to perform weekly on Sundays and perform also on Thursdays with the seniors choir.  For me it was a delightful development as I will be wearing my choir robe every worship services. As I held on to my office as a choir member, God called me to join the ministry by being a Sunday School Teacher.  After attending a year-long class in the district, I was sworn into office as a Guro sa Pagsamba Ng Kabataan in April 2001.

July 16, 2005--- With the kids after the CWS Thanksgiving in the locale of Mayagay, Rizal district.

In 2003, I was able to wear a different choir robe design as I transferred to the locale of Mississauga (now Mississauga West), Canada for a year.  The English hymns gave me a new perspective about the hymns, how lovely they truly are and very spiritual specially when sung in the worship services.  A year after I went back home to Manila in 2005, I was sworn into the office as the KADIWA president in my home locale, Village East, Rizal.  I carried on my duties as the choir president, a Sunday School Teacher and as the new Pangulong KADIWA.  Coinciding with the centennial year of the church, our locale was able to produce an extension which edifice was dedicated to God last May 2014.  Area-wise, I will be transferred in this congregation together with my family and from here we will carry on with our duties:  me as the choir leader and a Sunday school teacher, and my wife as a finance officer.

"Mississauga boys, Senior B" (July 25, 2004)

My personal milestone is just small compared to the whole church's achievements.  The persecutions it suffered during its early years, the brethren's test of faith during the Japanese occupation in the country, and even the continuous hatred it receives from current detractors--- all of these didn't hinder the growth, and progress of the church.  God truly fulfilled his promise to his messenger and to his nation:  "Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall hinder it? (Isa. 43:13)"

Church milestones:

July 27, 1914 - The Iglesia Ni Cristo was officially registered with the Philippine government, coinciding with the 1st world war

1924 - The church established its first ecclesiastical district--- Pampanga

February 1939 - The official publication of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, PASUGO, was launched.  It primarily aims to propagate the faith through print media.

1946 - The church has already established at least 15 ecclesiastical districts including Ilocos Norte in Luzon, Cebu in Visayas and Cotabato in Southern Mindanao.

1948 - The 1st concrete house of worship of the church was dedicated to God--- local of Washington, Manila

April 26, 1968 - Radyo Agila (DZEC 1062 kHz) began broadcasting on air.

July 27, 1968 - The Iglesia Ni Cristo has established its first congregation overseas, in Honolulu, Hawaii.

1971 - The church reached Canada; the same year when the Central office in Quezon City was opened.

1974 - The College of Evangelical Ministry was founded.  

November 1981 - Lingap Sa Mamamayan (Aid for Humanity) was launched.  It primarily aims to provide relief goods, health care, and other services to the needy, especially those who are afflicted by calamities and disasters. It also provides seminars for disaster preparedness, first aid, and family planning.

1984 - The 7,000-seat Central Temple was dedicated to God.

1987 - the US Main Office (USMO) was established in Daly City.  This helped the Central Office in overseeing the then 11 districts of the church in the West.

July 27, 1994 - Rome, Italy congregation was established

March 1996 - the church returned to Jerusalem, Israel and established the congregation for the last work of salvation

May 1997 - Athens, Greece congregation was established.

April 23, 2000 - Eagle Broadcasting launched NET 25

...the church steadily grew with faithfuls fulfilling their primary obligations to God, and also participates in other community-related activities such as blood donation, tree planting activities, community clean-up drives, and other livelihood projects.

Today, millions of brethren gathered together to join the church administrator in leading the special worship service in the occasion of the church's 100th year anniversary.  Last Monday, the major edifice of Ciudad de Victoria which is the Philippine Arena, was inaugurated. Wifey & I was just lucky to be part of this historic event.  The structure pictures the stature of the church today:  GLORIOUS!

As the church march beyond its centennial year, we as brothers and sisters in Christ will continue to be obedient to the LORD's teachings and be one with the church administration in fulfilling our duties to God, keeping FAITH, LOVE & HOPE in our journey to the promised land.

HAPPY CENTENNIAL TO ALL BRETHREN!  PRAISES BE UNTO GOD!

Read also:  Ciudad de Victoria Inauguration: A Remarkably Peaceful Event

Reference: Iglesia ni Cristo Official Website

Jollibee Superstar

Finally got home from probably the worst traffic day of the month.  My trip from the office to LRT station in V. Mapa which usually just takes around 10 to 15 minutes took an hour of my commute time due to heavy traffic.  Road construction, a little rain shower and a payday weekend should be credited to this traffic jam.  Anyway, before riding that dreadful jeepney trip, I decided to dine in Jollibee-Kalentong and order my favorite burger steak meal and pineapple juice.  Yeah, my dinner.  A few minutes after sitting down at my dining table, a child cheerfully pointed leading to the stairs beside  me... "Si Hetty!" the child happily shouted.  Hetty just waived at the crowd downstairs then went directly to the kitchen/dressing room.  Just behind Hetty is superstar Jollibee.  Yup, I still got star-struck with the jolly bee!  And this bee (in the said branch) might have reserved a whole lot of energy that even after his performance in the birthday party upstairs, he still managed to "entertain" his customers in our dining floor.  He actually rounded all the tables and "entertained" his customers.  A lot took the photo opportunity with him.

took a stolen shot of Jollibee whil he's following up a customer's order over the counter

Jollibee wittingly posed upon seeing me taking a photo of him. Gumalaw tuloy kamay ko, haha.

Not caught in the photo is the actual "pagmamano" of Jollibee to these elders.  Mabuting Pilipino ang bubuyog na ito. ;)

I refer to Jollibee as "he/him/his."  Tama kaya ito o dapat "it" na lang ginamit ko?  :P