Manus Dei

 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”  - Galatians 5:22-23 They say that your character defines who you are.  What you say, what you do and how you are to the people around you determines your whole being. But, how can one truly embrace what it is to build a character that is attuned to what Jesus Christ taught us? How can one accord the way he behaves in any given situation or circumstance and be on guard at all times? Thus, exhibit the fruits of the spirit in words and deeds. Chapter B1 jumpstarted the month of April with one of the most powerful, heart-warming and moving teaching… the CHRISTIAN CHARACTER WEEKEND held last 6th of April, 2017. The night began with a powerful praise and worship led by Bro. Dru Parcia followed by the teaching overview conducted by Bro. Lloyd Pangan. The latter emphasized on the topics to be cov...

Our Chapter had our Prayer Assembly last 22nd March 2017 that was held at Center 2, Al Safah. That day I was struggling with my work, so I have this doubt of attending the PA. After the office hour, I’m thinking if I will attend the PA because I feel so tired and toxic, but then I will not do anything on the house after work, so, I’ve decided to go.  The teaching of worship song has started when I came, then I was surprised that the topic for our PA was all about struggles, including our better struggles. That time I realized that the topic was really for me, and God was so good because he knows what are my troubles on that day. To make the story short the teaching reminds us that the Lord will not give us struggles if we do not know how to handle it, because all of us are experiencing struggles in life, sometimes in family, more often in work, in love life and even with our friends. But it depends on us, on how we will handle this kind of struggle or situation. As it...

Visita Iglesia , or “ Seven Churches Visitation ,” is a common Holy Week tradition in the Philippines.  It usually starts on the evening of Maundy Thursday where the faithful visits seven churches (sometimes 14, no set number depending on the practice) to pray for the Blessed Sacrament in each church. This practice is being done as meditation and repentance for the Holy Week. Also, the Station of the Cross can be done as people visit each church to pray for a corresponding station.  It’s a surreal experience for me because to tell you honestly this is my very first time to attend Visita Iglesia here in UAE and way back home when I was in the Philippines lot of reason  why I keep so many excuses to participate during lent season. This is the best way for us to have a silent moment, pray, and to have a self-reflection how Jesus Christ suffer and died on a cross to pay our sins and for our salvation. Being part of SFC Middle East community I am so honored and g...

Ginalingan Conversation ko sa kaflat ko; Sister not catholic: Catholic ka pala?? Kayo yung sumasamba sa santo (puon) diba?? Ako: (pabirong tugon) OPOOO!!! (sabay ngiti) Sister not catholic: bakit ba sumasamba kayo sa mga ganon, mga bagay lang yun gawa ng tao? Ako:(naprangkahan, pero naisip ko praktikal yung tanong nya) Mas mapapamahal ka kasi sa Kanya kung may mga bagay na madalas magpapaalala sayo kung gaano KANYA KAMAHAL TALAGA. -kung bagay ang nagiging dahilan para humina ang pananalig natin sa Kanya, Bakit hindi nalang din bagay ang maging daan para lumakas ito? Kung midya at gadyets ang umaagaw ng atensyon natin sa Kanya, Bakit hindi nalang midya at gadyets ang maging paraan ng paglilingkod natin sa Kanya, Kung pera mo ang dahilan ng pagiwas mo sa kanya, Bakit hindi nalang pera mo ang maging katunayan ng ugnayan nyong dalawa. Kung katayuan mo sa buhay ang sa tingin mong hadlang, Bakit hindi nalang ito ang ga...

I'm  brother Yobe   29 years old, nang galing ako sa mahirap na pamilya, we are five siblings bunso ako samin mg kakapatid, When I was young I love being a sales person - sales person  ng plastic bag sa palengke, sigaw dito sigaw doon para makakuha ng benta sa mga tao. I was doing that kasama ng brother ko his name is  Richard, sobrang happy ako kasi mag kasama kami para mg earn ng pera para may pambaon kami sa school. I've tried to find another job mag tinda ng BBQ - ang sarap langhapin ang usok ng isaw, ulo ng manok at taba ng baboy, nakapag ipon din kami kahit konti at nabili namin ng kapatid ko yung pangarap namin slippers na ISLANDER. My mother is a teacher and my father is farmer, sobra akong blessed sa parents ko kasi mababait sila at sobrang mapag mahal, Nung nsa high shool na ako, sobrang akong naging pasaway sa parents ko doon nag simula ang  bisyo ko. I was smoking ,drinking at kahit bawal na gamot ay aking na narasan, and sobrang ...

"I can do all things through Christ who Strengths me"    - Phil. 4:13 Singolympics is a annual sports fest for the members of CFC-SFC Ministry. This is to promote a healthy lifestyle, sportsmanship and camaraderie through athletic activities. Accepting the challenge to lead the Singolympics mission is one of my decision na hindi ko pinag-isipan at pinagdasal, its so happen that i just immediately give my sweet YES without even knowing what is really laying ahead of me in this mission, what would be the process on handling this kind of event. Then God remind me that He only want our sweet YES and He will take care the rest.  Witnessing our brothers and sisters dedication to win this friendly competition reminds me that "this is not about the Trophy and Overall Champion Title, instead its all about the experiences that we will learn during the preparation of this activities, opportunity to mingles with bros...

…Valentine’s day Party …Beach Party …White Rave Party!! Isn’t it exciting? A party to end each of our day in Pre-ICON last February 14-16, 2017.  As I looked at the final reminder, more than just a party it is the many activities prepared by the team that excite me the most.  I know that this will be extra special because the venue is in Iloilo where I spent my college years and Guimaras, and for the first time, I’ll be attending with my sister, Quennie. Though first day of the event I was sick, it doesn’t hinder me to joyfully know new brothers and sisters in the community.  As we feel the love and care for each other, we extended the love of God to the people outside the community through different socio-civic activities, visiting a center of young adults with disabilities and giving goods to our Aeta brothers and sisters in Guimaras. It was an awesome moment when we had our morning worship by the beach and at the mountaintop of Balaan na Krus (...

I'm so much excited for this year’s Pre-Icon, not only because it's in my hometown, but I am happy to update myself about Iloilo and this event is a very good avenue for me to know the place better.   The theme "Explore - Experience -  Encounter" is very personal to me because through our activities, it refreshes me about Iloilo Culture and the must-go places. Our group was assigned for the hospital visit during on the first day. Seeing the patients at first ached my heart about their condition and opened my eyes to the real situation that those people need help and our presence satisfy their needs especially our prayers. We called our visit "Give Love on Valentine’s Day."  And I'm lucky enough my unknown relative to me admitted in the same hospital and it was an instant reunion venue for us to know each other.  Before I am used to go in swimming only in this place, but this time it's a worship venue. I thank God for bringing this eve...

It was by God’s grace that I was able to attend the 24th SFC International Conference, my very first time to experience such gathering of SFC’s from all over the world. It was a sort of homecoming for me, owing to the fact that it was held in my hometown, the city of Iloilo. This year’s theme for the Pre-ICON, which is “Explore.Experience.Encounter”, truly encapsulated the joy I have felt and the memorable moments I have made during that 3-day event. The joy of experiencing Jesus Christ from the smiles of those marginalized and indigenous people who have benefitted from our different outreach activities, to the bonds I have made with other brothers and sisters as we shared our struggles and victories in spreading the love and word of God all over the world. My Jesus-experience happened during the trek going up the Balaan Bukid or the holy mountain in the province of Guimaras. Along the way, there are stations of the cross depicting the journey of our Lord Jesus Ch...

February 17 to 19, 2017 was a weekend of surprises, affirmation and empowering love. I attended the 24th SFC International Conference inspired by the verse Cor 16: 13-14 “Be on guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous and strong” with a theme “ALL OUT” in Iloilo, the City of Love, with an open heart to experience Christ’s great love. The first day began with a Holy Mass presided by Rev. Fr. Randy. He shared to us the message that we were all gathered not only to build the city but to build the Kingdom. Let us do things through language of love, the love that is from Christ. My heart was very excited to the opening worship for God’s messages.  Praise God for 5000+ delegates who made through the ICON. Everyone has different stories or struggles about making it through ICON but there is only one reason why we were there and it is because of God.   In Session 1 , what is it that we guard? What do we value? Tito Noli talked about the things that we need ...

February 17, 2017, a cold, rainy Friday morning when B1’s first prayer assembly, entitled “Set Apart,” was held. But not even the gloomy day could douse the burning fires in our hearts, especially us 2016 graduates, who were really looking forward to this activity after a long break since our Covenant Orientation Weekend. We were welcomed warmly by the service team and surprisingly, a photo booth was being set up at the side. The venue was filled with light chatters and greetings while we were being pumped up by our lively music ministry. Bro. JM Comia, our chapter leader who always had smiles for everyone, led us into glorifying our Creator through a very heartfelt morning worship. Worship always feels like coming home, always feels like being embraced, and always makes you feel so overwhelmed that you cannot contain the joy and bliss in your heart that you cannot help but cry. So when Bro. JM had asked us to pair up and pray for each other, one can only imagine the liters of te...

How many hours do you spend browsing thru your social media accounts? Have you ever really stopped to think about why it is so addicting? Why we have that need to check our newsfeed for new posts and get that sense of pleasure every time we put in our comment and feel thrilled when we receive replies in return? Social beings that we are, we desire human contact. We long to be connected with people close to our hearts. … our hearts… … our hearts have that innate desire to be connected and while we try to be linked with the world at large, our Heavenly Father patiently waits for us to check in with Him thru our personal prayer times. He longs to hear our status updates and can’t wait to give us His comments in the form of blessings, the people we meet, the events we experience daily and sometimes even the challenges presented to us. He delights to hear our replies thru prayer, thanksgiving, supplication and contrition. He unwearyingly waits for us to take time to ...

Information as defined is a fact provided or learned about something or someone. Whereas, system is a set of principles or procedures according to which something is done; an organized scheme or method. Let's combine these and it will lead us to the so called INFOSYTEM, a software that helps you organize and analyze data that helps us answer questions relevant to mission of an organization. As I have read those meanings in Mr. Webster I come to realize that we, the SFC, should be proud enough that we have this on our community, our very own SFC INFO SYSTEM and what is more blissful to know is that we have it online. We are even more fortunate that a training was conducted to give as more details heeding on to this by one of our mission volunteer, Sis Kate Sabug, last February 13, 2017. Now, not only chapter heads/leaders can access the said info system but each of us is given the opportunity to access and view information from it. However, specific details such as tithes, att...