Top Bible College's Officials Lead J.Santiago Clan Reunion 2012

30 April 2012, Masaguisi, Or. Mindoro. - Two members of Juan Santiago (nee: Felipa Union), who are top officers of the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement's bible seminary the International Christian College of Manila (ICCM) lead this year's homecoming of the said family. College President Arthur M. Santiago and BOT Chair Dr. Josue Santiago Falla spearheaded over a hundred participants from the extended families of J. Santiago to a 2-day of merriment the Christian way.

Activities include greetings and group dynamics, games and recreation, singing with viodeoke, Family devotion, beach swimming, and what have you. Dining together made this reunion interesting, as if one is attending a Convention or a Camp.

It is worthy to note that several members of the clan are into full-time ministry having formally finished Theology course from either Manila Bible Seminary and the ICCM. 

This year's reunion was organized-hosted by the Francisco Santiago clan, where ICCM president Arthur belongs. Next year shall be hosted by the Geronimo Santiago clan with Digna Santiago-Galicha as the overall coordinator. (JSF reports)  

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)

PhilSCAT Officials Get Ready with Work & Financial Plan; Set 1st Council Meeting Next Month

29 March 2012, PhilSCAT, CLSU, Nueva Ecija. The management committee of the Philippine-Sino Center for Agricultural Technology (Phase-II) get its 2012 work and financial plan ready, as the Department of Agriculture released today some P8 millions for its operation and maintenance.

Each Program leader for the Center's second phase of operation presented and discussed the W/F plans including (1) Hybrid Rice, (2) Agri-Mechanization, (3) Biogas Technology, and (4) Knowledge Management programs.

Part of its total manpower requirement have started reporting for work, while screening of some incoming staff are underway. Over 40 full-time employees shall be contracted for the entire Phase II operations plus those who will work part-time as seconded by the implementing partner agencies like CLSU, PhilMech, PhilRice, ATI and DA-RFO III.

As of today, only 3 of total 6 Chinese experts have arrived as foreign counterpart lead by Mr. Cheng Liangji. The Filipino counterpart is being headed by Dr. Emmanuel V. Sicat of CLSU as director, to be assisted by deputy director from the Dept. of Agriculture, who is yet to be identified and deployed. Two Division chiefs who are carry-over from Phase I are Dr. Carlos Abon, Jr. (Research Division) and Dr. Josue S. Falla (Extension Division)(which division nomenclature were changed under Phase II).

Meanwhile, the first-ever meeting of PhilSCAT Advisory Council (PAC) is set within April 2012. PAC is created under Phase II operations to provide, among others, the Center's policy-direction. It is chaired by DA Under-Secretary for Operations, with all heads of partner implementing agencies as members. (JSF reports)