Free (Undenominational) Filipino Christians Holds 98th National Convention

20-22 April 2012, Davao City, Philippines – Over a thousand non-denominational Christians flocked to this “most livable city” of Davao in southern Philippines, for a general biennial convention of the Churches of Christ/Christian Churches rooted from the USA Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement. With the theme, “Di Natitinag na Katapatan Magbago Man ang Panahon”, the Convention was jointly organized by the CACD (Convention Action and Coordinating Directorate) and the Churches of Christ in Mindanao.

Its objectives as put by Bro. Arthur Santiago, chair of Program Development committee, “ang Convention ay isang pambansang fellowship, upang magkumustahan, magpalakas sa isa’t isa, at tumanggap ng mga bagong hamon at pagpapala sa mga paksang tatalakayin tungo sa ikalalago ng iglesia”.

It was held at CAP Development Center. Featured in this convention were show of various God-given talents among the participating local churches and individuals, and a “Ministry Fair” where regional and national para-Church organizations (of Christian youth, women, male leaders, ect.) discussed once again their mission, vision and programs towards church development and towards spreading of the gospel. A novel financing scheme for conventions called HOPE was likewise presented and discussed. HOPE, which is an acronym for such project hopes to solve the perennial problem of funding various activities of the churches of Christ in the country.

The Convention was concluded through mass Sunday morning celebration typical of a local Church, which included Praise and Worship, Bible Study, Message, Offerings and Communion. It was attended by the thousand Conventionists and an estimated 500 brethren from the neighboring local churches. Dove-tailing the Sunday worship program were other peripheral activities like the turn-over ceremonies of CACD leadership, acknowledgement of resource speakers, and a few announcements.

Posted along this 98th Convention abstract is a collage of photographs featuring our group composed of family members from Oriental Mindoro and Nueva Ecija, with some brethren from Mindanao. (JSFalla reports)

40 Children in the Vicinity of STCC Pastorate Completed Weeklong DVBS

As a regular Church activity during summer when children are not in their schools, the autonomous local church of Sto. Tomas in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija conducts Daily Vacation Bible School (DVBS) as part of its child evangelism program.

For this summer, the DVBS was held at the Sto. Tomas Church of Christ pastorate from April 9 to 13, 2012 with the theme "Servanthood". It was participated by 40 children in the vicinity, mostly farmers' children as the Pastorate is surrounded by rice and vegetable farms. Serving as DVBS teachers were the members of KFCI (Kids for Christ International)based in ICCM, Antipolo City, namely, Mark Anthony Tobias, Harold dela Cruz, Elizabeth Miralles and Jasmin Cielos, who are also Theology students of ICCM. Jonnamicah Torres, STCC-SS teacher for children also served as teacher.

Teaching methods include song learning, story-telling, puppet show, group dynamics and craft-making. Serving as DVBS mother-facilitators were the Church deaconesses Rose Falla and Imelda Salazar, while moms who feed the pupils as well as the teachers were Norma Sagun, Betty Pantanilla, Emma Flores, Sis. Anita, and Rosie Torres.

The STCC congregation sponsored the Bible school with donations from Danna-Rose Falla, Lota Anog, Med Bolivar and Ian Falla.

This DVBS is being rotated-held in the surrounding villages of the STCC where the needs for children evangelism is felt. For the last 2 years, it was held in Magtanggol and Caanawan. (JSF reports)

LongPing Hi-Tech Conducts Rice Field Day

13 April 2012, Brgy. Sapang Cauayan, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija - Some said it's a bad omen today, Friday the 13th, but our Chinese agriculturists counterpart in this Science community proved otherwise, as the Chinese agri-research organization, the Longping Hi-Tech (LPHT)conducted a Field Day to show to the Filipino farmers that rice varieties originated in China can be profitably adopted locally.

In this Field Day, as participated by select farmers, Chinese and Filipino breeders and agronomists, LPHT "boosts" for new 19 Chinese rice varieties introduced locally which lowest theoretical yield (with code LP2099) is recorded at 7.90 tons per ha. while the highest one is 10.20 (coded LP2017). These were compared to two non-LPHT varieties, namely, PSBRC 82 which yielded 8.55 tons/ha, and SL-8 with 10.13 tons per hectare.

The seed company (LPHT) also demonstrated the three PhilSCAT-developed varieties, with the following yield per hectare performance: LP106 (12.90 tons), LP330 (12.80 tons) and LP331 (14.50 tons). PhilSCAT stands for Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology, a bilateral program between RP and PROC.

The Field Day included tour of LPHT's 6-hectare Experimental area in this village (Sapang Cauayan) including their greenhouse facilities.

The LPHT-Philippines is bent on commercial adoption of Chinese varieties under local conditions, as it partner with Allied Botanicals (a local company) to handle the marketing aspects of the technology, and with the Philippine Department of Agriculture to handle the sustained R&D works in rice.

The Field Day was capped through a diplomatic dinner hosted by LPHT manager Mr. Mao and his 6 Chinese agronomists/breeders with over ten staff from the Allied Botanicals, and PhilSCAT officials in attendance.

Finally, above is the collage of photos during this successful Field Day. (JSF reports)