Tinatawagan ka ng Republika ng CYD!!!

by Rhea Bernardez

Kamusta na po mga ka-CYD???

kongrats pO!
sa IKV sa Laguna, sa SAGIP Olympics na nakakuha ng 39 medals,
sa SIGA olympics, at marami pang matagumpay na activities.. .

ang SAGIP arkong bato tuloy-tuloy ang sagip sessions... nagagawa naman ang ating Virtue for the month (galing sa KFC Team Conference) - integrated sa ating 4 components which are the Education, Creative, Health and Sports.

sa awa ng Diyos nasasabik pa ren sila sa Krispy Kreme every Saturday kaya salamat nang marame sa ating sponsors.

andyan ren sina tito Joel at tita Eva ng KFC... nakakonek palagi! hanep!

every sat, masaya pa ren naman, kahit marami ang nakakamiss kay kuya kenji dahil may pasok na sya pag sabado. (special mention?)

ang SIGA.. mabubuhay nang muli! hayyy thank God dahil napakasipag ng pagsisimula ni kuya Freizer at ate Joy! Bilib ako! sana dumami pa ang SIGA team ng SFC para mas maging masaya at epektibo ang gagawing mga activities ng mga youg adult nating alaga sa arko.

at syempre, kuya Mike! goodluck sa pagsisimula ng CYD sa Caliwag! huwag kang mag alala, nasa likod mo kami. =) super exciting simulan ang CYD sa Caliwag dahil marami na namang bata ang matututong maligo araw araw at marami na naman tayong magiging mga kapatid at anak-anakan na kukulitin at pasasayahin ang araw natin. mahirap man at nakakapagod. ... fulfilling naman! Diba kuya Jepoy at kuya Marlon?

sa SIBOL, tuloy tuloy ang suporta ng mga generous PMs nating sina Vee at William, at eto pa ang pinakamainit na balita... mukhang magti-teacher Rhea na naman ako.. ahahayyy!! goodluck sa buhay ko! pero excited ako kasi lovelife yan eh.. mga chikiting gubats na bulilit... =)

hayyy... sana wag tayong iwan ni kuya Julius muna.
ang lungkot kasi ng feeling ng iniiwan. (uyyy...)

at mabuti na lang may big mommy Grace at big daddy Rey na palaging andyan. isa sila sa mga assurance na God is with us. God will help us. and God will provide us.

at sana marami pa tayong madiscover na mga selfless SFCs na handang itaya ang buhay, iwanan ang comfort zones, at pumunta sa mga GK sites para magmahal... at mahalin.

kung ang hinahanap mo ay tunay na saya... humanap ka ng kapwa na matutulungan.

diba Rolly?

tara, magtulungan lang tayo. tuloy-tuloy lang...
walang iwanan.

para sa bansa at para sa Diyos. =)

Singles Engagement Retreat Pics

Battle to Fight

Noong tinanong kame ni Ate Medz to be part of Pateros CLP core team sobrang honored and excited talaga kame. The first week/month of meetings lahat talaga kame excited and kabado kase we will be working with some brothers and sisters from Lower Taguig. Sadly as days pass by at habang tinitingnan namin ang mga mangyayari, the resources we have and the supposed to be team pinanghihinaan na kame ng loob. Iniisip naming na hindi kaya kase kulang yung team, wala pang sure na venue at kung ano ano pa.We were thinking of giving up at wag ng ituloy yung CLP but with the continuous encouragement of some brothers and sisters we keep on going. Ang astig talaga ni God dahil ilang days lang we have completed the core team at may bonus pa na mga brothers and sisters who committed to be facilitators ang galling talaga. Okay na ang lahat, yung venue, yung promotions, yung team, ayos na ayos na ang lahat we even have a name for our team (Lower ICC). Pero totoo nga service and work for God is a real battle to fight kase although it seems to be na okay na ang lahat almost everyone from the team encountered and faced personal and individual conflicts. We even have a core member who unfortunately gave up on his battle and decided to leave us. Karamihan nagka-conflict sa schedule and sa work, na halos di na maharap ang mga meetings and preparations for the CLP. Iba- ibang struggles ang lumabas pati na mga conflicts and misunderstanding within the group. Some of us were really thinking of backing out pero the team has always been reminded of God’s love for us. HE NEVER GIVES UP ON US AND THAT NO ONE AND NOTHING CAN STOP HIM FROM LOVING US so why would we stop, why would we give up on someone who never gives up on us. If He had love and continuously loving us that way we have to pay Him back just the same.

 

WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP ON HIM AND NOTHING AND NO ONE CAN STOP US FROM SERVING AND HONORING THE ONE WHO NEVER GIVES UP ON US.

CLP Prepation SAP

by Cel Amoroso

CLP? Team Lead? How? Why me? mga tanong na aking nasabi when I was asked to Lead San Agustin Parish CLP with Brother Zander Abuyen.Pero True Enough, sobrang faithful si God saten. Kelan nya ba tayo pinabayaan? kelan nya tayo iniwan? walang sagot diba. Dahil never nya ginawa at gagawin yon kasi nga faithful God sya. May mga worries at takot din pero dahil alam kong nandyan lang si God, everything will be fine, kontrolado at planado nya lahat. Ang kailangan ko lang gawin ay makinig, sumunod at ihanda ang puso ko para sa service na ito.  Alam ko na hindi papayagan ni God na magkaroon ng mga sagabal sa mga CLP at sa buong service team.

Medyo nahuli ng konti sa preparation ang Team. Ganunpaman kampante ako at gaya ng nasabi ko kanina, kontrolado at planado na ni God.  Kaya namna ng makapag meeting na ang core team, tinalakay na namin ang lahat ng dapat pag usapan.  Una pinaliwanag ni Zander ang responsibilities ng bawat isa.  Nang sa akin na ang pinapaliwanag, nalaman ko at napatunayan na napakalaking responsibility ang gagampana ng isang team leader.  Nagkaroon na naman ako ng mga tanong.  “Paano ko gagampanan ang mga ito”?  Ako ang mag oversee sa mga sisters lalo na sa mga facilitators.   Isang malaking reponsibilidad ito kung aakuin ko mag isa.  But if I’ll ask the grace and wisdom of God, He will equiped me and fill me with love na pwede kong maibahagi sa mga ka sisters ko lalot higit sa mga participants.

 

Nang matapos kami sa aming core team meeting, agad kaming nag leafleting.  Sobrang nakakatuwa ang unang araw na iyon,  sinupotahan kami ni Bro Butch at ng pari ng SAP.  Sa line-up ng speakers, wala rin kaming naging problema.  Sobrang nakaka amaze si God.  Ang tanging concern na lang ng core ay ang pag buo ng CLP team at mga participants.  Pero hindi ito magiging hadlang bagkus patuloy pa kaming eencourage at maghihikayat ng mga singles para sumali sa ating community.

 

Sobrang salamt kay God sa pagkakataon para makapag serve sa Kanya patuloy na paghahandaan ng buong service team ang CLP’n ito.  At higit sa lahat ihahanda narin namin ang aming sarili at puso sa mga pagsubok.  TO God be the Glory.

 

Waiting

A book review from (Confessions of an impatient bride by Rissa Singson-Kawpeng)

 

“Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses.”

(Ecclesiastes 3:1-11)

 

Being impatient and running ahead of God’s perfect timing can have disastrous consequences. Do you believe that the Lord has ordained certain times and seasons for everything? A baby needs nine months in his mother’s womb and being born prematurely brings on complications. You can’t pull out an emerging butterfly from its cocoon or else you’ll cripple its wings for life. Hurrying a fruit to ripen doesn’t make it as sweet as when it does on its own.

Life has its seasons and we need to learn to respect them. I bet one of the hardest things God has asked you to do is to wait:

To wait for Him to speak.

To wait for His plans to unfold in your life.

To wait for a long overdue answer to prayer.

Often, when God asks us to wait, it seems like a waste of time. “Nothings happening, Lord!” we want to cry out. Here’s a story about the potters in Japan that will change your perspective in waiting.

The story goes that after molding the clay, experienced potters put the vessels on shelves and keeps them there for some time before putting them into fire. This stage is called “resting the clay”. They do this to allow the air trapped in the clay to escape.

            But inexperienced potters, out of impatience or lack of knowledge, would shortcut this process and immediately put the vessel inside the furnace. When they do, the bubbles in the clay expand with the heat and burst out, causing the vessels to be deformed.

So you see, God has a purpose for our waiting. He’s actually preparing us, so that when it’s time for us to move on, we won’t crack under pressure.

Finally

“Sis, ikaw, kelan ka ikakasal?”. Sounds familiar ba? Yan kasi ang madalas na itinatanong sa ating mga sisters kapag napag-uusapan ang lovelife. Hindi na rin mabilang ang dami ng beses na itinanong sa akin yan. Ang madalas ko lang naisasagot noon, “Bukas na lang tulog na (o kaya busy) kasi si Father”. Hindi naman sa ayaw kong makasal, gusto ko lang talagang i-enjoy ang pagiging single ko at ang SFC. At dahil nga sa matagal na kami ng GG ko, madalas akong biruin ng newsletter team na dapat daw makasal na kami, yun daw kasi ang hudyat para makasal na din sila. At para pang minamadali ako. Hmmm…domino effect ba ito?

Kaya nga nung minsang nagmeeting kami (February 2009) at sabihing kong ikakasal ako, gulat na gulat sila. Ang bilis naman daw! April 25, 2009 kasi ang napili naming date ng kasal. Siyempre excited ako nun pero somehow malungkot din kasi nga iiwan ko na ang pagiging single. At ibig sabihin nun, iiwan ko na din ang SFC lalo na ang newsletter. Then na-realize ko, oh no, gone are the days na napupuyat ako dahil may meeting, pati na rin ang maraming pagkain at chikahan sa meeting. Naku, hindi na rin pala ako mape-pressure kasi wala pa akong article para sa Peekaboo eh bukas na ito due for release. Haay, ang dami-dami ko palang mami-miss. Willing na ba akong i-give up lahat ng mga ito kapalit ang bagong stage ng buhay ko kasama ang GG ko?

 

 

 

Pero naisip ko, siguro nga ito na ang tamang panahon, matagal na rin naman ako sa SFC at marami din akong experience dito na ite-treasure ko habang buhay. Masuwerte din ako at naging member ako ng newsletter team bago ako nagpakasal.

At ngayon nga, isa na akong maybahay. Tuluyan ko nang iiwan ang single life ko at haharapin ang married life. Well, hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin naman nagsi-sink in sa akin na misis na ako. Siguro dahil bago pa lang, feeling ko kasi mag-gg pa rin kami ng husband ko. Pero ganunpaman, may mga bagay na nakasanayan ko mang gawin dati ay hindi ko na siya gagawin ngayon. Isa na dyan ang pagsusulat para sa newsletter. Ito na marahil ang huli kong article para dito. At gaya ng nabanggit ko sa simula, mami-miss ko ito (hikbi).

Paalam and enjoy reading brothers and sisters!

*writer’s note: Finally… ang title ng article for 2 reasons:

1. Finally ikinasal din kami matapos ang maraming taon, at

2. Ito na ang final article ko for the newsletter

One in mind and in Heart

SAGIP team agreed to start the year with a blast, kaya naman last March 1, 2009 the first ever site conference ng Arkong Bato ay naganap. Kids aged 9 to 13 were invited to attend at makisaya sa mga activities na inihanda ng mga ate’s and kuya’s. The activity was entitled TEAM CONFERENCE and follows its anchor verse One in Heart and in Mind from Acts 4:32. It was a whole day activity specifically tailored-fit to introduce the household amongst the SAGIP and encourage them to always work us a team and personally practice the 7 values of a good team player which our obedience, loving, prayerful, honest, respectful, diligent and generosity.

 

Pagkatapos ng nakakapagod na mga activities umuwi ang mga SAGIP kids na may dala-dalang mga bagong natutunan. It was really a victorious day hindi lang para sa mga bata kundi sa mga ate’s and kuya’s din. Sobrang nakakatuwa dahil maraming brothers and sisters from other chapters helped us that day. Parang Sector Assembly talaga ang araw na yun kumpleto ang lahat, meron from ICC, from Upper & Lower Taguig at hindi rin nagpahuli ang Sta. Rosa at St. Francis ang kulang na lang AVP from each chapter sector assembly na talaga yun.

 

It was just one of the proof that Central B mapa B1, B2, B3, B4, B5 and so on and so forth pa we are just ONE TEAM, One in Mind, One in Heart for our only One God.

Santacruzan

 

In many places in the Philippines, during the month of May, many processions are held in honor of the Virgin Mary. Sometimes, one is reminded only that it is the month of May when one meets such a procession downtown or in a sidestreet of the city. That is the Santa Cruz de Mayo. Many versions of the procession have evolved through the years. And this makes it interesting to find out what it was really like inthe time of our grandfathers.

The Santacruzan was a novena procession commemorating St. Helena's mythical finding of the cross. St. Helena was the mother of Constantine the Great. According to legends, 300 years after the death of Christ, at the age of 75, she went to Calvary to conduct a search for the Cross. After some archeological diggings at the site of the Crucifixion, she unearthed three crosses. She tested each one by making a sick servant lie on all three. The cross where the servant recovered was identified as Christ's. St. Helena's feast day falls on August 8 but the anniversary of the finding of the Cross is on May 3rd, in the Philippines, this celebration took the form of the Mexican Santa Cruz de Mayo.

As another legend puts it, Constantine the Great, facing a battle against the Mighty Roman Emperor, Maxentius in the year 312 A.D. turned despairingly to the new Christian God for help. Constantine cast his eyes heavenwards and saw in the nightsky a glowing sign of the cross with the words "In hoc signia vincit", meaning "By this sign thou shalt conquer". He adopted the Cross as his battle insignia with the words and forthwith went to vanquish the Roman Army and entered Rome a victor, pledging his faith in Christianity.

The Santacruzan is a procession that differs from most other religious processions in that it does not parade images of patron saints. Instead, biblical and historical characters are represented by the local people dressed in appropriate costumes.Nine days of prayer, (a novena) in honor of the Holy Cross preceds the Santacruzan. On the 9th night, the procession is long and colorful. Bamboo clappers herald the procession led by the bearded Methuselah, bent with age, riding a cart where he is toasting grains of sand in a pan over a fire. This is a reminder to everyone that all that glitters will end up as dust like the sand he is toasting. Behind him walks the Banderada, a lady in red carrying a miniature Philippine flag, symbolizing the Christian army. Next follow half-clad boys, their bodies blackened with soot, representing the Negritos or the Filipino pagans and finally Reina Mora in a Muslim costume representing Muslim Philippines.

Today, the Santacruzan is a cross between a beauty pageant and a religious procession. Now the highest tribute that could be paid to a woman's beauty is to be selected as Reina Elena. Gone are the days when people, candle in hand, crowded the streets to pay homage to a Catholic myth and throw Sampaguitas at the passing beauties. Gone are the days when or could enjoy the dazzling splendor amid; the flowers of May and the smell of burning native candles. The Santacruzan played an important role in the spiritu, and religious life of our forefathers. It was a bayanihan endeavor and a community show. The current Santacruzan is just a remnant of what was once a grandise tradition. But it still lives. And come May, for whatever reason, girls line up th streets in procession, invoking that which is holy, searching for the true Christial spirit.

---------------------------------
By Eileen S. Guerero 

Salamat, Sis Dely…

Marami ang nakakabasa ng SFC Newsletter na kamakailan lamang ay tinawag nating The Herald.  Maraming beses na nating nasilip kung paano nagbago ang ating newsletter sa bawat issue.  Ngayon  naman ay ating kilalanin ang isang member ng newsletter team na nagbigay buhay at pagbabago sa The Herald.  Sya si Dely Antolin, kilala ng lahat bilang Sister Dely, sa iba naman sya ang kapatid ni Ate Let.  Sa April 25, 2009 ay haharapin nila ni bro Erich ang bagong yugto ng kanilang buhay.

 

Nasa ibaba nito ang bahagi ng aming panayam kung saan mararamdaman natin kung paano binago ng SFC ang kanyang buhay:

 

Who invited you at SFC?  When was that?

• Ate ko. Kakatapos din lang nila ng CLP nun. June 1999 pa yon.

 

Who is your inspiration at SFC?

• Madami. Pero siyempre una na dun ate ko. Sobra kasing committed siya sa service nya, minsan hindi ko alam kung paano niya nahahati  yung time niya between work and SFC. Marami ding SFC akong nakilala na sobrang hanga ako sa service nila kay God, yun bang parang hindi sila napapagod. 

 

What made you decide to stay at SFC?

• Si God, pati na rin yung kapwa SFC ko. Pati na rin ang iba’t-ibang experience ko dito sa SFC – minsan mahirap pero kadalasan masaya. Iba kasi yung samahan dito, hinding hindi mo makikita sa labas

 

What is the impact of SFC in your life?

• It helped w/ my faith. Naging mas deeper ang faith ko kay God. Sobrang naiinspire ako sa iba’t-ibang kwento ng mga brothers and sisters natin, w/c somehow  served as inspiration para maging stronger ako sa pagharap sa mga problems at laging maging positive ang outlook.

 

What are your unforgettable moments at SFC?

• Sobrang dami, mula pa lang sa pag-join ko sa  CLP hanggang ngayon, especially yung mga moment sa conference. Isa sa mga hindi ko makakalimutan ay yung first time kong umattend ng conference – yung Intimacy conference sa Baguio. First time ko din kasi nun sa Baguio kaya ang saya saya ko. At siyempre sobrang especial yung mga moment naming sa newsletter. Every meeting sobrang masaya at unforgettable talaga.

 

What are your advices to fellow SFC members?

• Keep the faith. Hindi perfect ang community natin, pero kung naka-focus sila kay God, anumang imperfections na makikita nila ay magiging inspiration nila para itama ito or tumulong na mabago ito. Lagi lang nilang iisipin na everything has its  reason. May reason kung bakit sila tinawag ni God na maging bahagi ng SFC at maging inspiration sa kapwa SFC. 

 

Alam namin na mamimiss ka ng The Herald Reader’s at  siyempre ng Newsletter Team. Mamimiss namin ang mga light moment naten, ang food trip, mga jokes, senti times at marami pang iba. 

 

Hayaan mong magpasalamat kami sa iyo sa pagbabahagi ng iyong Time, Talent & Treasure.  Sa mga panahong busy halos ang lahat, mag-isa kang nagpupuyat para tapusin ang paglay-out at pati si Erich iniistorbo din namin madalas.

 

We know that God will bless you more and your married life.  Wala ka man sa SFC at sa Newsletter Team, hindi natatapos ang lahat.  Narito pa din kami, mga kaibigan mo na nagmamahal sayo.

 

We love you sis – Newsletter Team

Should We

Who would ever expect such thing could happen

Is it true my mind has been beaten?

For so long I believe that I am full and complete

Until such time I felt my heart beat

Something is inside that is quite confusing

I can’t explain, why I have such feeling

My heart keeps on telling that something is missing

But I can’t accept the fact that I’m longing for something

For so many nights I think and I pray

Thinking and wondering why am I feeling this way

At first I thought am I going insane

Coz’ everything I feel was really not the same

I don’t know what was happening

All I know is that he keeps me smiling

It’s a feeling so comfortable and gentle

It makes my heart melt like candle

Every time he looks at me and smile

I felt I was in heaven for a while

And when he speak words to inspire

It only gives me more reasons to admire

Oh how sweet his words are

I wanna be captured by his arms

There is this feeling I can not deny

It’s on him I want to rely

As I’ve come to know him better

I find my feelings grow much deeper

And as we share our thoughts and dreams

I’m realizing that I am falling for him

Thoughts of him occupied my mind

His sweetness and care got me blind

Does he find me the prettiest and the best?

Or for him I am just like the rest

Oh my, is this feeling so true

Or it is because he took me out of the blue

Is it him I’ve been waiting?

Or am I just day dreaming

I wanted him to know

I’ve got so much love to show

But I know he’s just a friend

How I wish his feelings would extend

Oh, why wouldn’t he ask?

I know the feeling that he has

Is he as afraid as I am?

When would our fears be gone?

Doesn’t he recognize my feeling?

Can’t he feel that I am just waiting?

I know both of us got something

But we both keep on pretending

Should we take the risk?

And wait for our fairy tale kiss

Or ignore our feelings for fear

That one would be rejected and bring the other to tear

SMB Snapshots

Images from SMB 2009...