By Erwin dela Rosa “The biggest tragedy is not death, but life without purpose.” These profound words struck me. They came from Sarah Balabagan. Sarah Balagan is the 14 year old woman who killed her employer in the Middle East in the mid 90s. Her employer attempted to rape her. She defended herself, and killed her employer in the process. [...]

By Erwin del Rosa I’m so blessed and grateful to have shared a table with a brother. It was at a membership fellowship dinner of the Gideons International last December in Rosales, Pangasinan, where I got to meet this profound fellow. His name is Arnold, and I’m glad to have met him. I had looked forward to this dinner; I [...]

by Victor A. Violenta, Jr. & Cristine C. Atrero Zambales District celebrated with a Thanksgiving Assembly at San Antonio Youth Center last 21 November 2009. The theme was “Pasalamatan Ang Dios Na Pinagmumulan Ng Pag-asa.” Bishop Lito C. Tangonan was the guest preacher, and over 500 members  attended. This was also in line with the district’s vision to establish a [...]

by Nitz E. Nicolas People from both the United Methodist Church (UMC) and the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), including the members of the PCU management committee, faculty, clergy and lay were witnesses to the signing of the Deed of Reconveyance of lot-title to the Philippine Christian University – Union Theological Seminary (PCU-UTS) at Taft Campus, Manila [...]

by Mervin Montano With the theme “Together in Mission Towards a Future with Hope”, the Southern Tagalog Provisional Philippines Annual Conference East (STPPACE) held its first annual Workers’ Convocation at the PACE-Conference Site at Kaytikling, Taytay, Rizal from 18-20 November 2009. On its first year of existence as a provisional annual conference, the former Laguna-Quezon Mission District faces the challenge [...]

by Nitz Nicolas Being in relevant and sensitive positions in the church, 19 newly appointed and non-’graduating’ District Superintendents (DS) of the Manila Episcopal Area (MEA) underwent an orientation-seminar emphasizing conflict transformation at the UCCP Shalom Center, Ermita, Manila from 26 to 27 November 2009. “Being a DS is a holy calling. It is important to renew a vision on [...]

by Caroline Abalos-Santos The Pampanga Philippines Annual Conference’s (PamPAC) Board of the Ordained Ministry (BOOM) conducted a workers’ study session and fellowship last 25 October 2009 at Doña Margarita Resort, Balas, Mexico, Pampanga. This event was designed and developed by the BOOM in accordance with the four quadrennial thrusts. The study session was concerned primarily with the enhancement of church [...]

by Norma P Dollaga, KASIMBAYAN “All I wanted in my life is a good harvest to feed myself and family” are the words of Orong Namansulay, a 19-year-old member of the Higaonan, a tribe within the Lumad indigenous peoples in Agusan Del Sur in Mindanao. Orong has dark eyes, and his bronzed skin reveals the color of an indigenous person [...]

by Johann M. Osias The Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters (SCCCM) of the United Methodist Church held  the first of its regular meetings last October 23-25, 2009.  Their venue was the historic Scarritt-Bennett Conference Center in Nashville, Tennessee. There were 39 members present, led by its Chairperson Bishop Patrick Streiff of the Central and Southern Europe Episcopal Area. The [...]

by John B. Manalo Each annual conference under Manila Episcopal Area is charged to  facilitate leadership and ministry development for both clergy and laity. This is the challenge that Southwest Cavite District (SWCD) of Philippines Annual Conference Cavite (PACC) is rising to. SWCD is at the forefront of developing a Training Movement that seeks to address emerging theological and ministry [...]

By Neki A. Soriano Director Comprehensive Community-based Primary Health Care Program Visayas PAC, United Methodist Church Office Tel # (82) 222-4474 Mobile # +639089021286 Web: healthdea.multiply.com ikens@yahoo.com This is a bit late but it is important nonetheless. -ed An Appeal to Refrain from Using Firecrackers Dear Brothers and Sisters, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May we celebrate this season [...]

by Danny Hernaez Greetings! “After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before.” (Job 42:10) Have you ever been wrongly judged? Have you ever had people assume there was sin in your life because of the troubles you may have experienced? Or perhaps they judged your [...]

by Tomas Jerico Aliwalas Along with the growing clamor for change and in line with the church’s call for clean and honest elections, the United Methodist Youth Fellowship of  Philippines Annual Conference (PAC-UMYF) launched their own moral force movement dubbed  Moral Force Youth. The launch, with the theme “Kabataan Anong Say Mo? Tayo ang Pagbabago”, was held at Pandacan United [...]

by Erwin dela Rosa Christmas time is party time. As in previous years, I have been to one party after another. The office’s, the tennis club’s, other organization and association parties – name it. Almost everyone organizes a party one way or another. There are the usual gifts, plenteous food, parlor games, dancing, singing and booze for the drinkers. The [...]