Devotional: ………………….…… “Lesson From A Tumbleweed” …….….…..…… Lillian C. Javellana Editor’s Thoughts: ……..………...………“Non-Action is an Action” ………..…… Joy Caballero-Gadia

Post-Yolanda Relief Efforts Stories 1. The Gagatams of Capiz, Iloilo 2. The MVCians at Thailand 3. MSH Care Mindanao Foundation 4. The Ryan Culima Team 5. Ian Catolico Team

6. Waterman Visayan Filipino Church

7. Inland Empire Filipino Church 8. 1Bukidnon Help Movement 9. West Visayan Conference

SULADS Corner: Shernalyn …………………………...…… Ranny de Vera | Gospel Outreach Worker CAMPUS News ……………………………….…………..……………………………………………..……. Group Effort

1. Paulican, Cabana, Receive Awards at IAMURE Asian Conference 2. Sumagaysay, Sibilang, hold PGTS Advisory for CPUC and SPUC 3. Sadernas Join MVC Faculty 4. Guidance Office Hold Stress Debriefing for Yolanda Victims 5. Asok Conducts Seminar In Lake View Academy 6. MAPEH Students To Present “The Perfect Gift”

Post-Yolanda Rebuilding (Rehab)Efforts Stories

1. Gospel Outreach To Rebuild 10-15 SDA Churches in Central Philippines 2. Canadian Union Conference To Help Rebuild Churches in Central Philippines 3. Western Visayan Academy Co-op Project “Oplan Kabuhayan” 4. Other ….

CLOSING: From The Mail Bag| Prayer Requests | Acknowledgements |Meet The Editors |Closing Thoughts

“Unceasing PRAYER is the unbroken union of the soul with God, so that life from God flows into

our life; and from our life, purity and holiness flow back to God.” -- Steps to Christ, ch. 11, p. 98

Devotional: “A Lesson From the Tumbleweed” By Lillian C. Javellana

“But He that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately

it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:49 KJV

One windy night in the fall, I was driving home from work and there coming straight towards me was a tumbleweed! There was no way I was going to miss it! I groaned inwardly as I heard it and felt it crashed against the car. Tumbleweeds are no strangers to the high deserts. You see them mostly piled up against some fences by the roadside. Most of the tumbleweed I have seen come from the matured plants of the Russian thistles that grow and thrive by the roadsides and the ditches on the road that I take to work day by day. They are intimidating weeds, bushy and prickly. They look boastful, all "puffed up". But they don't live long. They are annual weeds with no significant value. I have learned that as the thistle maturs sometime in the fall, it detaches itself from its roots. And as the merciless desert heat beats upon it, it becomes defenseless and quickly dries up. And when the desert wind blows, it gets blown away whichever direction the wind blows it to. It has no direction of its own. It just tumbles, tumbles, and tumbles away until it get caught mostly by a fence which would become its final destination joined by other tumbleweeds becoming a fire hazard to the community. What a short meaningless life - but dangerous. You might say, "Well, it's just tumbleweed." Yes, it is just tumbleweed but do you know that the life we live could be just like a thistle or tumbleweed depending on the decisions we make? Depending on the foundation we choose to build ourselves upon? A life that has not chosen Jesus Christ as its foundation would be just like the thistle or the tumbleweed. It is puffed up and boastful. It is a meaningless, dangerous, short life. It is prickly and abrasive to others. It tries to depend upon its own ability to survive disconnected from the Water of Life. It won't last long. When the heat of trials and temptations come, it will dry it up easily; and when the winds of strife blow it will be blown and tumble away because it has no foundation. It will be good for nothing but a fire hazard to those who are around it, influenced by its dangerous, meaningless life. I am reminded of the verses in Matt.13:49,50 KJV "So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." The life we live will influence others either for God's kingdom or for destruction. God will hold us accountable for the salvation of the precious souls around us. Let us build ourselves on the True Foundation, Jesus Christ, and allow His Holy Spirit to work upon our lives, so His beauty will shine through us, and when the heat of trials and the winds of strife come we will be able to stand. Our destination will be certain, it is toward our heavenly home together with those whose lives we have touched and influenced and won for God's kingdom.

"Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was

hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me." Matt. 25:35-36. KJV

-- Lillian C. Javellana writes from Palmdale, California, where she SHINES ON! as a nursing administrator, a gardener, a mom, and a wife.

Editor’s Thoughts : “Non-action is an action” Joy Caballero-Gadia

Have you seen this phenomenon before? Why do we do this?

I sat with many fellow freshmen at the Pearl Hall worship hall desperately trying to study for our chemistry exam the following morning which was going to be held at the cafeteria at 4AM. And the fact that our instructor scheduled our exam so early in the morning … this created such a stir at the dorm. Many seemed truly upset. Some strong statements were being said. As I recalled, nobody said anything in class when the instructor verified in class that very day if we were still ok with our 4AM schedule. Truly puzzled, I asked why these individuals did not say anything in class. The commotion abruptly stopped; everyone stared

at the new girl (me) with a mixture of surprise and disgust. None answered my question but one by one they picked up their books and left. So, why didn’t they say something to the instructor if they were not in favor of having the exam so early? Why wait till they were at the dorm to murmur bitterly like the Israelites in Moses’ time when they could have simply answered the instructor’s questions with a simple, “No”? Have you seen this phenomenon?

The same phenomenon often happened in our singing group. Whenever our leader would

ask us which set of uniform should we wear on a specific appointment, nobody would say anything. Any choice was fine with them, they would say. But on the day of performance, we would hear complaints why we were wearing this set instead of the other. So why did they not speak up earlier when they were asked? Have you seen this phenomenon?

Likewise, during elections I hear individuals proudly say that they choose NOT to vote

because they don’t like the candidates. But later these same individuals complain about the leadership style of the elected officers. Perhaps if they voted, someone else would have won? Why didn’t they vote when given the opportunity?

Have you seen these types of phenomenon before? People do absolutely nothing or stay neutral, but when the outcome is undesirable they bitterly complain behind people’s backs. Personally, I’d rather take my chances, make my choices, and face the consequences for the decision to do nothing or stay neutral is actually an action in itself, and a decision to allow others to do what you should have done yourself. You left the decision making to others? Then chin up – live with your decision! Last Sunday evening I changed my mind about this week’s issue of CyberFlashes. Instead of writing about foreign missionaries, I felt strongly compelled to write about the relief and recovery efforts MVCians around the world are doing to bring help to the victims of super-typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). Interestingly, when I started contacting these alumni members blinked in surprise saying that they only did a very little bit. However we can be sure that to those who got helped, their help meant a world of good! It is my hope that as you read this week’s issue of CyberFlashes, you will be inspired to act – to do SOMETHING proactive. Whether it is to help with the ongoing relief efforts or with the rebuilding efforts, or whether to change something in your life or in your circumstances. Let us wake up and realize that we have the power to do much good and it starts with us making that choice to take ACTION. Choose wisely – because either way we choose, so many lives are affected either for good or evil. Choose – don’t be a tumbleweed that is detached to its Source of Life and is blown around with no direction of its own. Don’t be that prickly, abrasive tumbleweed that loudly announces its presence but has no function in itself except be a ghastly hazard. ACT. Today. Choose. Wisely.

For I was hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me." Matt. 25:35-36. KJV

Post-Yolanda Relief Efforts Stories

yphoon Yolanda, known as Typhoon Haiyan around the world, was an exceptionally powerful tropical cyclone that devastated portions of Central Philippines early in the morning of November 8, 2013. It is the deadliest Philippine typhoon on record killing at least 5,632 T

people and displacing many others. At about 6PM the previous day, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), a taskforce located in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which is shared by the US Navy and the US Air Force clocked the typhoon’s winds fury at 315km/hr (196 mph). At the aftermath of Yolanda, MVC alumni around the world leaped into action to coordinate ways of bringing relief to the storm struck areas and working together in true MVCian fashion. I will not be able to report on all the efforts made by MVCians for there are many but I will select about ten. [Disclaimer: Relief teams not mentioned in this issue of CF are equally as important as those who are mentioned. We may not have space to list all the efforts made in this endeavor or know of every single individual who put much effort in bringing relief to the ravaged areas, but God’s recording angel has listed every deed and thought we all have made. Thank You, Lord, for your faithfulness and love!]

1. The Gagatams of Capiz, Iloilo

n November11, 2013, as soon as word was heard from Capiz, Iloilo, Artie Hamann, an Adventist school teacher of German ancestry, sent out the following message to his family and friends: “Good news for my wife's family. Her four aunts and one uncle are all safe.

The house that Madelene built for her mom and family was one of only a few houses that escaped destruction. Now it serves as a house for 5 other families who lost their homes. Food, water, and clothing are the needs there now. Especially out in the provinces where they live. Starvation could happen if the aid does not get there because all communication is still down. Maddy still cannot reach her aunts on Panay Island. Roxas City is the nearest city from where her family lives and it was severely damaged. May we continue to pray for this dear country and its people of whom 10,000 or more have died. One day, Jesus will come and reveal His longsuffering love, and expose an enemy who rejoices in destruction like this. The veil will soon be removed. Let us never forget Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9, and 2:9-18. God is with us-----in every aspect right now and for eternity. Thanks for your prayers.” Two days later his wife Madz posted this message: “In response to what Yolanda has done in Western Visayas, my brother Melvin Gagatam (Dodoy) is flying out there on November 19 to lend a helping hand- especially to the people of Iloilo and Capiz. We are soliciting funds for groceries, water and tarps to be given to those who have lost their homes. He is already coordinating with the district pastors in the West Visayas Conference- so the needs will be met in a timely and organized manner. We thought it best for him to personally be there to coordinate the distribution. The plane fare has already been donated by a generous American. Time is running out for most of our people. We have to counter the hunger and homelessness before disease and more problems set in. We who have been blessed a thousand times over are God's hands and hearts to touch a world in need. If willing to participate in this effort, pls contact me or Dodoy. If you are donating to a specific district, he will see to it that it gets there. The people of Western Visayas will know that they have not been forgotten. Thank you!” On November 13-16, during the MVC Alumni of Western USA reunion at Northern California, the plight of the Yolanda victims was a constant topic among the alumni. Strong concern for the victims and the equally strong desire to help was the driving force. Groups brainstormed what they could do; actions were being taken. And Melvin “Dodoy” Gagatam, a member of the Northern California Alumni Chapter, was among the alumni who volunteered to return to the Philippines to bring help.

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In Northern California MVC, our alumni chapter worked hard to quickly gather what goods and funds they could so that they could send it through Dodoy who would be coordinating relief efforts from the Philippines. Judith Teves volunteered to work extra shifts. Joey Causing solicited funds and goods from family and friends. On November 19, Dodoy flew out of California. He arrived the next day and was met by his best friend (from grade school thru college) Pastor Jemuel Lamboso. Together, they met with the West Visayan Conference (WVC) to volunteer and to coordinate their efforts with the relief work spearheaded by the conference. The West Visayan Conference provided volunteers to help repack the goods that Dodoy and Jemuel purchased. The team’s goal on that first round of delivery was to bring relief to 250 families. Each pack of food distributed held approximately $12 (PhP 500.00) worth of food and water. In Wisconsin, Dodoy’s sister Madz Gagatam-Hamann, her husband Artie and their kids, their friends, and their co-workers, worked together with urgency to gather goods and funds to send to the Philippines. Fliers were posted at work; social media and phone calls were utilized. Boxes of shoes were purchased. These joined the clothes, tarps, and other items into shipping boxes as Madz rallied in urgency to bring help to Capiz and Roxas City as quickly as possible. Today, Dodoy Gagatam is still in the Philippines. He and Jimeul are working to get a few more rounds of relief delivered to just a few more families. They have traveled all over the devastated areas in the Panay Islands distributing goods. This week they were in Tacloban disturbing tarps, malongs, mosquito nets, food stuff, and clothes, which they purchased. Judith and Joey in Northern California are still working tirelessly to send help to Dodoy. Madz her team work in Wisconsin have not slowed down either. There still is much to do! If you would like to be part of the Gagatam team and are interested in sending help through them, here are your points of contact:

Judith Teves in Northern California – reachable via Facebook. Madz Gagatam-Hamann in Winsconsin – reachable via Facebook Melvin “Dodoy” Gagatam. Still at ground zero. Reachable via cellphone +63 915 264 9777

To see details of the team’s work, see the photos posted by Melvin in his Facebook account. He provides photographed reports as often as he could. ie: in areas where communications system is up. Note the photo below where the team slept outdoors while at ground zero.

-- Madz Gagatam-Hamann (BSN ’91), Melvin Gagatam (BSN ’94?), Jimuel Lamboso (AB-Theo ’94?), Judith Teves (BSN ‘ ), and Joey Causing are MVCians that make us proud! SHINE ON!

2. “One Voice” - The MVCians at Thailand (The Leaders’ story)

lanning for a concert is suppose to be fun to do, but when we planned for the “ONE VOICE” concert, it’s entirely for a different purpose – not to have fun but to raise funds for the victims of typhoon Haiyan a.k.a. Yolanda.

Right after the typhoon, pictures and videos about what happened during and after the storm flooded the Facebook walls, showing the extent of the devastation brought about by the strongest storm ever recorded in the world’s history. Most Filipinos were glued in front of their screens trying to understand what just happened to the Central part of the Philippines. Few weeks before that, Visayas was reeled by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake which caused a lot of damage in the region, then came the typhoon. There seems to be no end to the disasters the country is going through. Bernie just got back from Nongkhai (border of Laos and Thailand) to deliver some Art materials for a charity organization that gives free art classes for the kids in the far flung areas of Laos. He didn’t get to see what happened in Visayas until Sunday morning. When he did, he didn’t stop crying for the lost lives and livelihood of the millions of Filipinos for a day. After that he decided that it’s time to do something, instead of wasting his time crying about it. He started a small fund raising drive among our friends. Most of our friends responded right away. THE CONCEPTION The idea of having a concert for the Haiyan victims and survivors just came up 11 days before the event on the 23rd of November. Bernie called up Khun Aninda who was a former manager of Central World and asked if adventchores.org could host a fund raising concert there. She made it possible for us to get in contact with Khun Supitchaya who is in-charge of the Marketing Department. After a series of phone calls, we were given two dates for adventchores to have a fund raising event – November 16 and 23. THE PLANNING November 13 - Bernie formed the core group of the “One Voice” concert; composed of Mr. Elcid Quinto, Mr. Clandestine Claro, Ms. Arpha Vida Buga-ay, Mr. Edgar Eleguen and Mr. Ali Bernie Buga-ay. After the meeting it has been decided that different singing groups who will be willing to sing and to buy t-shirts at the same time will be involved. The same shirt will serve as the official uniform for the whole event. We only had 9 days before the 23rd event. Committees were formed and contact persons were established. We were talking about having t-shirts printed and yet we haven’t contacted a company that could print it yet. Then, out of nowhere I got to know Ms. Joan Tinamisan on Facebook that night, she’s a Filipina working with Logonet and their company prints just about any kinds of fabric and garments. She happened to be working with a former co-worker Ms. Yui. Together, they made it possible for the shirts to be printed at cost. After Bernie finished the design, the printing started and even the Logonet Owner and Manager was overseeing the printing of the shirts. That same night, I was chatting with Mr. Chulayuth ‘Tan’ Lochotinan and he just offered to let the Bangkok Charity Orchestra play for the fund raising campaign. Who would say no to a conductor offering his orchestra to play for the event? It just keeps getting more exciting.

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November 14 – We met Khun Nichapa to discuss about the November 16 fund raising event, sponsored by our Thai Musician Friends. We also met Khun Tan, the conductor of Bangkok Charity Orchestra at Central World, to discuss how things are going to be. We had to be honest with them and tell them that we had nothing. No sound system, no keyboard, no nothing… November 15 – We still didn’t have a keyboard and a sound system. Out of desperation, I made a post on Facebook, asking for anyone who could let us borrow a keyboard. Khun Lapisara, the owner of Marcato Music Company who is also a very good friend answered in just a matter of 5 minutes. Her husband, Khun Chanakorn also helped us get a sound system. That afternoon we had our first meeting with the Central World Marketing Staff, everything went smoothly. We were allowed to use the venue for free. The day was not over yet, we had to get the keyboard from Khun Chanakorn’s house and that was 12midnight already. We drove for about an hour outside of Bangkok. The mother of Khun Chanakorn was waiting for us and despite being so ashamed that we woke up an old woman in the middle of the night, we had to swallow our shame just to secure a keyboard for the first event the following day. Our midnight trip did not end there. We proceeded to get the speaker and microphone from Khun Jim, a friend of Khun Chanakorn’s. At 1:30 am he was waiting for us in front of his house. He gave us the things we needed and before we left he handed his donation for the Haiyan victims. That really blew our minds. That was totally amazing… the man we woke up early in the morning gave us more than we could ever be grateful for. FIRST WAVE November 16 – The first wave of the fund raising campaign began. Khun Rapee ‘Mika’ Napawan invited many of her friends to play their musical instruments for free. From 11 am to 7pm, the musicians were playing non-stop. In the afternoon, the Yanhee Voices singing group led by their conductor Dr. Jeremy Valleramos sang for more than an hour. People were happy listening to the music and gave willingly. While the first wave of fund raising was going on at Central World, the rest of the members of the team were rounding up all the singing groups and they had their first Mass Choir rehearsal at Ekamai International School. When we counted the donations that night we got more than 98,000 Baht excluding the 20 Bahts. When we finally got to counting the 20’s we were able to have a total of 109, 220.00 Baht. All made possible because of the wonderful Thai Musicians who played their instruments wholeheartedly and selflessly along with the Yanhee Voices. November 18 – finalizing the repertoire with the different conductors of the singing groups. Ms. Gretchen was assigned as the program coordinator and the one in-charge of the proper sequencing of the program, Mr. Clandestine Claro took the responsibility of being the Technical Coordinator and Dr. Edgar Eleguen was designated as the conductor of the Mass Choir. November 19 – Some t-shirts were ready to go. We had lots of orders already and we were getting a lot of positive feedback about the event. We were hoping against hope that people, especially Filipinos would come and attend the event. We received an email for the embassy telling us that the Ambassador will be gracing the event with her presence.

November 20 – for the first time we met the lady who made the printing of the t-shirts possible… Ms. Joan Tinamisan. We had a brief meeting about how things are going to be done during the whole event. Joan was assigned to take care of the finances. Ms. Gretchen’s program is ready to go, Elcid is getting lots of orders with the shirts and more and more people pledged to attend the event. November 22 – after work, the core group met together with some volunteers to set up at Central World. We were so blessed that Central World allowed us to use the mall’s carpet for the event. The whole week we were having a problem where we could get a 150 sq. meters carpet which could have cost us a lot, then we got it again for - free. We finished setting up at Central World at about 3am. Had a only about an hour sleep and had to go back to Central World to finish the other things that needed to be done before the opening of the event. THE FINAL WAVE November 23 – ‘ONE VOICE’ fund raising event – there were food booths, Filipino friends from Nonthaburi cooked delicious Filipino food and foreign friends from Little Dragons International School did a bake sale with cookies and cupcakes. There was an art booth and they had postcards on display and the biggest hit was the umbrella painting. There was an art exhibit participated in by artists from different countries. More than 20 singing groups volunteered to sing for free (we were not even able to give them water, because we were saving all that we can for the typhoon victims). The orchestra ballooned from just 50 musicians to 70 musicians and all of them dedicated their time and effort together with their conductor for – free too. The ‘ONE VOICE’ fund raising was a whooping success. People from different cultures backgrounds, nationalities, religions – came together to reach one goal and that was to raise funds for the Haiyan victims and survivors. Our efforts paid off – that day we were able to raise 407.735.62 Baht (Four Hundred Seven Thousand, Seven Hundred Thirty Five and Sixty Two Baht). Even the conductor of the Bangkok Charity Orchestra couldn’t believe that we could pull it off in just 10 days. After all, who plans for a storm to happen? He has not done a concert at such a short notice - but, everything just sort of fell in its place. From having the venue at Central World, the Bangkok Charity Orchestra, all the singing groups, the keyboard, the sound system, the food and art booths all for FREE. Finally seeing all the wonderful people who have come to help, it’s an overwhelming show of love for the people in Central Philippines. Just like the theme of the event, that day we were able to raise ‘One Voice’ for the Haiyan victims and survivors, for the Filipino Community in Thailand and for our Thai and Foreign friends who dropped everything else just to be a part in raising awareness about what happened to the people in Visayas and to raise funds to help relieve whatever pain the typhoon victims are going through. To all of you – MARAMING SALAMAT PO AND MABUHAY PO KAYO!!! Written by: Arpha Vida Buga-ay In behalf of the organizer Ali Bernie Buga-ay, AB-English 1997, and a SULAD missionary at Bulalang Mission School

3. “One Voice” - The MVCians at Thailand (The Participants’ Story)

em Gagatam and Jeaniveb Lubay-Gagatam serve as teachers at Ekamai International School, one of the largest Adventist schools in Bangkok. They and fellow MVCians prayed together as Central Visayas prepared for the onslaught of super-typhoon Yolanda. And as the

storm abated the group waited with baited breath to see how our people fared. As soon as they heard news of the devastation Yolanda brought, they all pooled their resources, used social media and the phone lines to garner support from the community, and then sent volunteers, relief goods, and funds to Central Visayas. Ekamai teacher Lily Escara Lare was with them and many other MVCians. Lily, who tragically lost her husband a few years ago in the mission field, was very worried. Yolanda’s path had hit the little village where her parents-in-law lived. Because communications were down, she had no way of knowing how they were but could only pray and hope for the best. But instead of being paralyzed with grief, the indomitable Lily started coordinating teams to help with the relief efforts. Showing much energy and enthusiasm, Lily refocused her efforts in rallying her troops. Putting ideas into motion, encouraging others, and giving directions, Lily’s students, colleagues, and friends, were pretty soon busy gathering relief goods and packing them into read-to-distribute packages. Her Thai students and their parents participated. Her neighbors helped. The congregation of Bangkok International Church received summons from her, asking for extra helping hands. The MVC Alumni Bangkok chapter was mobilized. Pretty soon teams were formed and the work was done quickly in assembly-line efficiency. Late into the night of November 17, Lily Lare posted the following message: “To RISDAC, TAIC, MAIC, Omnoi Church Members.. .Your generous contribution is greatly appreciated! To the anonymous donors of the rice and other essential items, a BIG "thank you" to all of you! To the EIS students of Ms. Aims Angelo … your generosity is much appreciated! To ALL who contributed (and will still give), may God continually bless you... Good night!” But Lily and a few others wanted to do more. Soon enough the idea of doing a Hallelujah Chorus Concert took shape. They called it “One Voice”. And on Sabbath afternoon November 23, MVCians, their family and friends, and members of the Bangkok International Church (BIC) arrived at Central World, one of Bangkok’s larger malls, to sing the Hallelujah Chorus to the general public! Those who were not involved in the singing were stationed in strategic areas around the mall and carried with them empty boxes for donations. Their signs read, “One Voice. Haiyan. November to Remember. A Concert For A Cause” Later, Faye Alvarez a “One Voice” participant posted the following message: “A memorable singing experience under the baton of Conductor Chulayuth. Ma'am Lily Lare thanks for inviting me to sing the Hallelujah Chorus with the BIC mass choir. Pls. keep me posted for your upcoming concert for a cause... “ Suzette Jocson posted the following three days after the concert: “My prayers today are for Alize Bernie and his team who will be travelling all the way from Bangkok to Cebu and Leyte to minister to the needs of the typhoon Yolanda victims. Thank you for campaigning hard for this cause through the ONE VOICE concert held in Central World last Nov 23. And for Arpha Vida. I salute you for your untiring effort to see all this materialize. Our deep gratitude goes to the many Filipinos (to mention a few Ruben Ray Budayao, Lily Lare, Ching Ching Lo Gonzales) in

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Bangkok who have pooled their sources together to maximize delivery of relief. Most of all to all the Thai people who have in any way responded to our country's call for help we, from the Philippines, thank you.” Lily Lare reports that the next Hallelujah Chorus concerts will be on December 7, 2013. It will be held at the local Adventist Church in Bangkok (BIC) that morning then at the Emporium at 2PM. For those who are unable to go to Thailand to hear the Hallelujah Chorus of Lily and her friends, they have posted in youtube a recording of their November 23 concert. Click on this link to see and hear “One Voice” Hallelujah Chorus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0km4S6rr_1M

-- Lily Escara Lare, Dem Gagatam, and Jeanveb Lubay-Gagatam, education graduates from MVC from 1988-1990, are MVCians that make us proud! SHINE ON!

4. MSH Care Mindanao Foundation

n their Tacloban Mission Trip, the MSH Care Mindanao Foundation partnered with colleagues from their sister institution the Adventist Hospital in Cebu (formerly Miller Sanitarium & Hospital) and volunteers from the Harvard University Medical Center.

MSH Care Mindanao Foundation is composed of staff members from the Adventist Medical Center Iligan (formerly Mindanao Sanitarium & Hospital). For them, going out a couple times each month as volunteers on medical missions is a norm. Donating their time, effort, resources, and expertise, the team has learned the joys of serving thru volunteerism and self-sacrifice. Below is a brief account of their Tacloban Mission Trip. Thursday November 21. The team arrived in Tacloban. Speechless for many moments as they stared at the devastation and suffering so severe that no words could describe it, they went on to survey the needs (sometimes called a “walk-thru”). They found many wounded people in need of immediate medical attention. For many wounds, infection had already set in. They saw many who were sick, many who were obviously suffering from dehydration and exposure, and many who obviously needed trauma debriefing from mental health professionals. They glanced at the vans that carried their supply of medicines and became painfully aware that they did not have much to share. They also stopped to visit the damaged-but-still-standing Tacloban Adventist Church and the East Visayan Conference building. With tears in their eyes they inspected the damage around them as they tried to get their bearings in an island shred to pieces by a storm’s wrath. Everywhere they turned they saw destruction, death, and suffering.

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Friday November 22. Arriving at daybreak at the San Fransciso Village in Alang-Alang, Leyte, they quickly set up temporary shelters /canopies for their triage and treatment stations, which is something the team is accustomed to doing at every mission trip. Nearby was an elementary school whose space they utilized for exam rooms and a make shift pharmacy. Very quickly a large crowd of wounded formed lines and patiently waited to receive help. Within minutes the medical team, some of them sitting in child-size chairs, began to triage and treat people. Nearby, their vans covered with brightly colored signs announced that the Adventists were in town bringing free medical help. The make-shift clinic opened stayed open until late when the supplies for that day ran out. Sabbath November 23. Although the team arrived back at base camp late the previous night, the team was up again many hours before daybreak and loading up gear and medicines into their vehicles. Today on Sabbath the team would travel to a very remote village called Langit. Situated up in the mountains of Leyte and having no access to medical care, the village was still destroyed by the storm but had no way of getting help. So early that morning the team drove out of town where they met up with two helicopter pilots. The two helicopters airlifted the team up the remote village along with their gear and medical supplies. They were dropped off at a clearing. Then the team had to hike to their destination, carrying their gear and medical supplies on their shoulders. Team leaders Rene Pueblo and Todd Generato did a quick scan of the situation. Like in the previous village, they noticed many walking wounded their wounds nolonger fresh many of which had varying levels of infection. They saw how the trees, gardens, and vegetation had been ripped out of the land. The mountain roads had been misshapen, and what used to be homes were now literally make-shift shelters. It was not a wonder that many were suffering from dehydration and exposure!

When they arrived at Village Langgit, they found many sick and wounded already waiting for them. Some villagers had a look of hopelessness in their eyes. It was a heart breaking sight. Painstakingly

and thoroughly they worked to see and treat as many of the people as they could until all their supplies run out. Then they hiked back to the clearing, caught a ride with the two helicopters that brought them down the mountain, and then they drove that last leg of the journey back to base camp. On the drive, overcome with hunger they pulled over at the deserted roadside, brought out the food that they had cooked before leaving camp, and they had dinner illuminated not with candlelight but with their vans’ headlights. What ambiance! Their menu: Bananas, sardines, rice, and fried tamban , eaten in near silence. They had seen so much and a few of them worried if they would even make a small difference with their help. Sunday November 24. Today the group was assigned to provide medical care at 3 different barangays in Tacloban. Loading up the last of their medical supplies and all their gear on to their vans, many hours before sunrise, and starting the drive to their assigned location early in the morning, they made it to the barangays around 8AM where they triaged and treated as many people as possible until it late that day. At each of the days the team served at Tacloban, the team was able to treat hundreds of wounded and sick individuals before all their supplies and time ran out. They left Tacloban early Monday morning and arrived in Iligan at 8PM Wednesday November 27. Today, back at their jobs at their respective hospitals, they are still haunted by the memory of utter devastation that they saw in Tacloban and the great need for medical help. They remember distinct cases that they treated and wonder out loud if the antibiotics they dispensed would be adequate to fight the infection. They think of possible sepsis, of the cases of dehydration and exposure, and the great need of so much. The team wants to go back and donate their time and efforts again but first they must raise funds to buy the needed medications. First they must dig deeper into their own pockets and/or invite others to join in their endeavors. If you have the desire to help the team with their medical supplies or would like to join MSH Care Mindanao on any of their mission trips, simply let them know! Here are ways to reach them:

Facebook: MSH Care Mindanao Pastor Roger Lopez: CP No. 09269220331 Executive Director: Dr. Requel Legaspino. CP No. No. 09173067694. Email: msh_drlegaspino@yahoo.com.ph; msh_caremindanao@yahoo.com Website: www.mshcaremindanao.com

-- Rene Pueblo (BSN ’92), Don Generato (BSN ’91), and the team’s executive director Dr. Requel Legaspino (BS Bio 1980s) were among the team leaders of MSH Care Mindanao who went on the Tacloban Mission Trip two weeks ago. They certainly are MVCians who make us proud! SHINE ON!

5. Ryan Culima Team

ovember 11, three days after super-typhoon Yolanda hit Leyte, there was up-to-the-moment news from foreign news anchors but we did not have someone we personally know at ground zero. This changed when an alumna from the Philippines contacted me requesting

for assistance in getting hold of some MVC alumni members in California. She informed us that MVC alumna Ryan Culima, also known as the youngest city councilor of Butuan City, was enroute to Leyte with three truckloads of relief goods and a team of people of Tacloban.

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This information perked my interest. Not only is Ryan someone who was at MVC Academy my senior year at the academy, but his presence at Leyte (while the whole world was still reeling with shock at the devastation) meant that we will now have eyes and ears at ground zero long before communications is set up and long before other relief organizations arrive. It also meant that a few people will be getting helped sooner because of the team. That day I started keeping track of his Yolanda-relief team’s activities. Each day, whenever he was able to, he would post reports and photos on Facebook informing friends and donors where they were at and what they were doing. Here are two examples of Ryan’s posts which I had promptly posted at the Mountain View College FB Page: Ryan: Surigao Lipata port for Leyte. We need to transfer 3 pickups full of relief goods to a bigger

city govt truck and medicines/vaccines to the pickup. 4 hours waiting in the port in the name of our brothers in the typhoon stricken areas —

Ryan: Main Street where Gaisano was looted ,heart of the city is almost like a ghost town | No hotels or pensione house to stay, my team has to sleep in the car near the police for safety. I can understand why the looting is happening here in Tacloban, an unimaginable devastation, people are so hungry. God save the typhoon victims — in Leyte, Philippines.

As Ryan posted messages, MVC alumni around the world responded to this reports. Some sent funds and many sent words of encouragement. It was during this time, as Ryan’s team inched their way into Tacloban careful not to run over debris that would endanger them further and careful not to run over human remains or victims needing to be rescued … It was during this time that people around the world bitterly criticized the lack of response from the Philippine government. As I stood back and observed human behavior I learned some very important lessons …. While a very few MVCians were tossing out criticisms about the Philippine government’s lack of

response to the post-Yolanda crisis posting these comments in social media, many more MVCians were quietly working together to get help to the devastated areas! I learned that while a few MVCians are complainers, a bigger chunk of MVCians are effective doers. Leaders. That made me feel very proud to be MVCian!

As Ryan and his team were risking limb and life to be one of the first ones to reach post-Yolanda Tacloban with relief goods which they would hand personally to the people. Through the photos he posted and the descriptive reports he sent out, we saw and learned that the streets were barely passable! Large trees, electric lines, and human remains blocked the roads making them impassible. Ryan reported that that the strip of road that normally takes 15 minutes to travel took them more than 4 hours to traverse. No wonder it was difficult to bring help into Tacloban immediately! Off-roading over all that debris in true Hollywood fashion would have been wrong in so many levels. As I watched, I learned that there is much more to things than meets the eye.

As the devastation wrought by Yolanda became known, many MVCians stood up to ask “what can we do to help?” I learned that MVCians are not afraid to work hard or give much for the right cause. I learned that MVCians are not territorial. (Nobody said “This is my project. Go find your own.”) I learned that the bonds of brotherhood among MVCians is so strong that when it became known that MVCians were at ground zero helping in the relief efforts, others who did not even

know Ryan and his team stepped forward to ask how they could help. Trust was there because there was an MVCian there. Is that all the credential and recommendation needed? Just to be an MVCian? AMAZING! How humbling and touching as well. Makes me want to guard my actions more as, no matter how long ago it was that I left the portals of MVC, I still am forever an MVCian and others who do not know me will trust me simply because I am an MVCian. What a legacy! What a sacred trust to protect!

I learned from observing human behavior that pointing fingers at others during a crisis not only is pointless but it is cruel and ignorant. Doing something to help others is far more powerful and lasting. Helping others selflessly is what Jesus would want us to do.

-- Hon. Ryan Culiman SHINES ON! as a civil servant working in Philippine government. In 1988, dressed in his PE uniform and playing a tune on the grand piano at Florence Kern Auditorium while everyone else was playing all sorts of games at the audi, I asked Ryan if he would pursue an education in music since he is so musically gifted or would he pursue an education in Theology since he is very passionate about Biblical things. He thought carefully before responding. His response was, “wherever God sends me I will go.” Today he states that working in government has been his higher calling. If you research Ryan online, you will find much information. You will also notice that he advertises that he is a Seventh-day Adventist Christian. His office has an open-door policy which allows anyone to contact him. A teenager asked him once what his advise would be on dealing with young people. He responded by telling the story of Daniel. Ryan continues to “Dare To Be A Daniel!” Shine on till Jesus comes!

6. Ian Catolico Team

ooling their resources together Ian Catolico and his friends are organizing a benefit concert featuring Ric Junasa, the saxophonist/keyboardist of the famous band Southborder. The group of friends are expecting a fun evening of ballad, love songs, and Christmas favorites.

The ticketed event ,which includes a buffet dinner, will be held on Sunday December 15 at 6PM-9PM at 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga CA 91730. Proceed of the concert will go towards relief and rebuilding efforts for the typhoon Yolanda victims. Tickets are $25/person and they are selling fast! To make reservations or to inquire, contact Ian Catolico in Facebook. -- Ian Catolico, a graduate of Matutum View Academy, is always mistaken for a MVCian. He talks, walks, and thinks like one. Pastor Ian, as the youth in Southern California call him, has a degree in AB Theology and is working on his Masters in Divinity at Oakwood College. He SHINES ON! as the youth pastor of Inland Empire Filipino Church in Redlands where he is known to preach present truth.

7. Waterman Filipino Church

he members of the Waterman Visayan Filipino Church in San Bernardino, California, have been working together tirelessly in the past four weeks to gather relief goods and funds for the relief and rebuilding efforts of in Leyte. Working in teams, groups of people young and

retirees alike, work together to sort and pack items into boxes. The goal is to have enough packed boxes to fill the 60-foot long shipping container which will be shipped directly to the East Visayan Conference. Clothes, books, shoes, household and kitchenware, have been sorted and packed by teams working together as fast and as efficiently as they could because of the urgent need at hand.

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And in true spirit of pahina sa Waterman (work bee) some folks also station themselves at the church kitchen cooking for the team. Waterman’s senior pastor Elbert Moralde reports that they are still accepting donations for Tacloban and that there is still space in the 60-foot long shipping container that they are sending. If you are interested in donating goods simply go to Waterman church between 9am-4pm Sunday-Friday. Someone will be there to assist you. Toiletries, school supplies (pens, paper, crayons, etc), water purifiers, hygiene and sanitation kits, are needed. And as families rebuild their homes, kitchenware and household items, building materials like nails, or basic tools like hammers or saws (not power tools) would be very helpful.

Waterman Church Address: 882 S Waterman Ave San Bernardino CA 92408-2301 Pastor Elbert Moralde: (951) 452-2631 or message him in Facebook.

-- Elbert Moralde, AB Philosphy 1975, is the incoming MVC Alumni Association president for Western USA. He previously served as a district leader in Leyte and had formed many close friendships with the brethren there. He currently SHINES ON as the senior pastor for Waterman Visayan Filipino Church.

8. Inland Empire Filipino Church

r. Jun Israel announces that everyone is invited to come to the Inland Empire Filipino SDA Church for their 11th annual Christmas Cantata at 7:15PM Friday, December 20, 2013, and again the next day at 10:45AM. More than 100 singers and a full orchestra will be

participating in the cantata and after the Sabbath morning performance, a free lunch is available at the church. The event, which occurs during the Sabbath hours, will be held free of charge however since it is a fundraiser even for the victims of super-typhoon Yolanda, a free-will offering will be collected. Plan on coming with your family and friends! And plan on giving generously to the cause! Remember, your freewill gift will go a long way. For more information, Dr. Israel can be reached in Facebook. -- Dr. Jun Israel (BS Bio in the early 1980s) serves as a volunteer music director for the Inland Empire Filipino SDA Church alongside Pastor Ely Sacay & Pastor Ray Trasporte.

9. 1Bukidnon Help Movement

ep Apa is a full-time working student at DXCR who loves mountain climbing and helping others. He is working towards getting his training in Theology as he hopes to be a pastor one day. But on November 19 his troubled heart shows we chat. He tells me that he strongly

feels that he should go to Tacloban to do whatever he could to help. “Here I am training for the ministry so that I could help others. And there are people in Tacloban who could use my help right now but people are hesitant for me to go. Why?” Surely he wanted to be like the good Samaritan in Jesus’ story, and not like the Pharisee and Levi who carefully walked away from the wounded man that needed their need. I learned that Nep had made arrangements with his teachers and his work supervisor, explaining to them that the call to go help Tacloban beat strongly within his heart. He obtained their permission to miss school and work. I also learned that he had made arrangements with the school and his family, explaining that his going to Tacloban was a personal endeavor and that the college was free of any liability should anything happen to him there. I also learned that in MVC there were 9 other

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like-minded individuals who were joining Nep in the mission trip; three of them are current MVC staff members. Volunteers from Valencia City Government, many of them MVCians too, and others from all over Bukidnon joined them. Together, their team was called 1Bukidnon Help Movement. On the night of November 21, the 1Bukidnon Help Movement team rode down the windy mountain road towards Leyte in an orange colored bus with a banner on this front proclaiming that they were on their way to bring help to Leyte. In their convoy were two yellow dump trucks marked “VALENCIA CITY” in fire engine red paint. The trucks were full of items repacked and ready for distribution. Traveling by land, they arrived at Tacloban a few days later shortly after midnight. What smells and sights that assaulted their senses when they arrived in Tacloban was indescribable. And as dawn broke into day, they stood in horror as they took in the enormity of the destruction around them. What exactly did the group do? Since some of them were media-personnel, they documented what they saw in Tacloban and broadcasted the footage as they were able to. They distributed food and clothing. They helped put away debris, clearing the roads to allow more vehicles to pass. They righted-up vehicles that lay at roadsides like discarded toys. They chopped down fallen trees that had been uprooted or were leaning against buildings. They cleared debris from inside an SDA Church in Tacloban. The met people. And they helped with body retrieval. Nep shared a story which, in my mind, exemplified the devastation, loss, and pain that came with super-typhoon Yolanda. First he showed me before and after photos of the SDA church: before the debris was removed from the yard and after the debris had been neatly piled up and put away. He showed me photos from inside the church – the walls that remained were waterlogged. The wooden pews were in disrepair but usable. There was much debris and some water on the floor. The next photo he showed me was markedly different. Half of the church – the one closer to the pulpit, had been cleared of debris. The pews were arranged in U shaped formation, 4 or 5 pews in a row. The pews were occupied by people sitting attentively as they listened to the speaker who stood in the middle of the U formation. Some of the listeners wore the blue 1Bukidnon Help Movement shirts. The last photo he showed was of some of the team members standing in front of the church. A few local people, dressed in their Sabbath clothes, stood with them. Nep explained to me that this Seventh-day Adventist church had more than 300 members. That Sabbath less than 50 members worshipped with them in the most touching and humbling worship experience. The rest of the members are either dead or still unaccounted for. Now, that’s a very large number! Does that mean less than one out of 6 members is accounted for? My mind raced a plethora of words, images, and calculations tumbled through in my mind in rapid succession. Waterman Visayan Filipino Church has about 300 members. Inland Empire Filipino Church has about 300 members. Tacloban Adventist Church had 300 members. And out of the 300 members LESS THAN 50 were saved? I image they have had church socials and church retreats together, a Pathfinder Club and an Adventurer Club, a few singing groups, a women’s ministry team, a men’s ministry team, Sabbath School classes, and small groups. My mind cannot fathom the depth of anguish these people must be going through. Below are links to some footage Nep and his friends recorded. Click on each to view. Maryfel's video: "Job well done 1Bukidnon Help Movement Team" Nep's video: description of Tacloban post Yolanda They had worship with SDA survivors. Nep's video. where people in Tacloban live post Yolanda Excellent reporting. Heartfelt. Factual.

West Visayan Conference Team

hen Yolanda hit the West Visayan Conference territory on the morning of November 8, 2013

we heard no news until two days after when the West Visayan Academy (WVA) Pathfinder

Club mobilized under the leadership of Chaplain & WVA Pathfinder Director Julieto

Gonzales to bring drinking water to those in need. Although waist-deep in flood water themselves, the

Academy family rallied together with the conference leaders and church members to provide assistance to

those in need. Very quickly we got introduced to the esprit-de-corps of West Visayan Conference!

Previously, when everything was going well, West Visayan Conference Executive Secretary Pastor

Kerry Estrebilla created a Facebook group page for the conference and its constituents. The purpose of

the tool was originally to create a platform where the WVC family could share news, stories, and

encouragement. It was supposed to be a communication tool. It is social media, after all. With the advent

of technology, plus the Filipino’s love affair with their cell phones, the idea of a Facebook site garnered

interst. WVC members outside the country used the site to catch up on news and to keep in touch.

Then suddenly – tragedy struck. Yolanda. With communications all down, families had no way of

knowing how others had fared. Getting hold of everyone was nearly impossible. Then slowly, as some

areas got communications restored, members of the group started posting messages. Conference leaders

started posting instructions, district leaders started posting reports and photos, constituents started

checking in to let others know they were fine, and relief coordinators began listed the areas needing help

and organized their resources, transparently posting all on the page. Overnight, the Facebook group of the

conference became a critically needed virtual bulletin board! And when both constituents and leaders saw

the posts, they received a better idea of WHAT else was needed and WHERE.

At first some of the district leaders were unaccounted as communications were down but little by little

district leaders and church members throughout the territory posted reports and photos to show the extent

of the damages in their areas and reported here any good news they had. Words of hope and

encouragement were posted. Photos of conference leaders working tirelessly for the relief efforts were

posted beside photos of students and family members diving in to help with the cause. Whenever anyone

in the devastated areas had a chance to check the Face book site, they at least had a better idea of the

situation. In turn, these individuals who checked online for up-to-the-moment-updates would turn and

relay the updates to the brethren around – sometimes traveling long distances just to bring news to those

with no access otherwise.

Conference Executive Secretary Pastor Kerry Estrebilla also did a wonderful job moderating the site: only

authorized members were allowed to see postings. Inappropriate postings were removed. Messages sent to

the conference via other methods were funneled into this Facebook site by Pastor Kerry who is also the

site’s admin. Thus, all communications were centralized in one area! To see examples of their creative

“bulletin board” here are a few postings. I did not however include the names of the different individuals

who posted the messages…

* “Inday Virgie kinanglan ipakita naton wala kita ya pinilian sa hatagan. Imol man o manggaranon

pantay pantay ang hatag….” “Yes, with ADRA the goods are for everyone regardless of creed and

status in life”

* “A lot of my co-workers, non- Adventists and some atheists have come to me and expressed their

concerns. And some have offered their prayers. Hopefully they are also helping financially…The company

I work for is matching every dollar we donate to Americares. Have faith. We are praying for you,”

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* Another message from Dubai: “Me and my friends here are trying to organize help and donations for

Yolanda victims. I'm considering you to help us facilitate whatever small help we can extend from our

end… We will be collecting donations in 4 successive Sabbaths.”

* "Initial help coming either tomorrow or Monday." Thanks Dr. Neda June Daguro Salazar. The message

is posted to inspire everyone, that there are people who truly care. God bless everyone

* “The church here is also raising funds for you there. Whatever we get we'll send to WVC..... I'll show

the video in church today. Many church members here have families who were affected in the Phils. In

fact some have lost their families...yet they are still willing to send help to others.” Thanks a lot Brother

Rehel J. Sausa for the prayer and support.

* Thanks Ker. Nag promote kami dire sa bilog nga Gulf Field, which covers the entire middle east

donations in cash and pledges for the next 3 weeks. Sir Jesse Colegado will send the donations to CPUC.

What I have personally collected will go to WVC.”

* “Doc Nedz, we were in Dubai Church this morning. Jessie had the chance to promote the fund drive

and the result was so inspiring. They were able to gather an approximate amount of 8k dirhams.

Whatever collections made today will be sent this coming Monday. We're sure more inspiring results will

be coming from different churches of the Gulf Field.”

* “Thanks Ma’am Annie Pinuela Sweet for the 70 sacks of rice (20 sacks for Crossing Tacay, 20 sacks for

Dacuton, 20 sacks for Roxas City and 10 sacks for Sibariohan), 1,000 cans of sardines, 3,000 noodles

and 250 bars of laundry detergent. I hope that I have the correct data, not less than what you gave. I

know very well your overflowing support to several ministries of the church. You are such a generous

Christian. Thanks also for the generator to be used for pumping water from the well of your brother. I

understand this is an approach which is better than buying drinking water to be delivered in the places of

your ministry. I really appreciate your wisdom and generosity. God bless you more!”

* “Pastor, there will be a prayer rally in our church today. The Filipino churches from greater Toronto

area will be coming for this event. Parliament members of Canada and members of the Philippine

consulate to Canada are expected to come as well. This affair will also raise fund for the typhoon victims.

The Canadian government has promised to give a one on one money to whatever we can raise today.

Please help us pray for it."

* “out of the 2535 packs of ADRA the next after Pawa, Capiz distribution, 800 packs were delivered to

Cauayan, Carles, 800 packs to Gugo, Estancia and the last 335 packs to Mambusao, Capiz”

* “last Wednesday the Manila Adventist Medical Center Church brought us a 20 feet container van

through TO GO ship St Michael containing 1000 blanket, 1000 pails, 1000 pair of slippers, 1000 malong

like, 7 balikbayan boxes of used clothes,1000 2.5 liter bottled water, 40 sacks rice, 52 cases noodles, 30

cases oranges, 1000 cans beef loaf, matches, candles. etc. prepared to be given out to Batad, Estancia

and some islands of Carles. besides we bought 50,000 worth of goods for 200 families for Concepcion.

each pack contains 4 kg of rice, 5 beef loaf, 2 orange, 1 pack bijon. More than 1500 people were blessed

by their presence. Praise the Lord and thanks a lot to the MAMC folks for coming!”

* “Yesterday and today we've packed 250 grocery packs worth P100,000 given by Melvin Gagatam. The

contents are 6 kg rice, 1 kg sugar, 1 kg salt,1/2 liter oil, 1 pack bijon, 5 cans beef loaf. The donor will give

us the content they wanted to and the worth of a pack and tell us when to deliver. The conference folks

with the ACSIC (Adventist Community Service Iloilo City) volunteers joined hands to meet the target the

moment we are task to do, we send text message to the ACS directors and district pastors, by and by

volunteers are there and all of us are happily doing our best to help the storm victims.”

* A message from a supporter of WVC who will be sending about P500,000.00 for a barangay which she

and her group have adopted: “I hope the recipients (Adventists and non-Adventists) of these funds will

experience the love and compassion of God because we, His people, cared. That is all I really hope to

achieve, that people around through this help will experience the loving grace of God, that in spite of

desolation and tragedy, they are not left alone and there is a God who really loves them and I hope they

will come to know Him. God bless you all.”

* yesterday, the 250 grocery packs were delivered to four barangays of Mambusao, Capiz. this was

financed by Melvin Gagatam. Praise the Lord for His continued blessing.

* Thanks Madz Gagatam Hamann for facilitating goods for the typhoon victims. Please extend also our

thanks to your group. God bless you more. “

* You're welcome, Kerry. We are the body of Christ- if one hurts; all of us feel the pain. We are

continually praying for all of you. We have just shipped a total of 6 balikbayan boxes to different

recipients in Iloilo and Capiz. We are packing more as donations are still coming in.”

* We sent 5 boxes bound to West Visayan Conference. It ‘s the relief donation from our church, Sharjah

SDA Church. Cash donations are being collected in 3 successive Sabbaths and channeled thru Gulf Field

c/o Jesse Colegado our treasurer. I hope our church family will be given priority. Thanks a lot.”

-- Anyone can easily create a Facebook group. But managing a closed group and maintaining the quality

of information and keeping the atmosphere wholesome is something that the WVC admin can be

applauded for. Then, by creating the tool ahead of time allowing constituents time to use the tool – helped

the WVC family have a contingency plan when most of their communications went down after Yolanda.

Pastor Kerry Estrebilla and Pastor Julieto Gonzales are only among the many of MVCians who SHINE

ON brightly from this part of the world. May this tribe increase!

“Shernalyn” ………………… by Ranny de Vera | Gospel Outreach Worker Shernalyn is an orphan having lost both parents when she was two years old. She worked with an Adventist family as house help. She came to me and asked many questions regarding the Islamic faith. Wondering why she had so much interest I asked her, “Why are you so interested in the Islamic faith? ” She then related to me her very intriguing story.

Her mother was a Muslim who was being set-up against her wishes for marriage to a distant relative. She ran away and was hunted like a fugitive because she brought shame to the family. This is punishable only by death. The family became more furious upon learning that she got married to a Christian. With the marriage, Shernalyn was born. At age one, her father died, the following year the mother died as well. Shernalyn, being an orphan, was handed from family to family who had the heart to take her in and take care of her. When she grew to adulthood, she was hired as house-help by an Adventist family where she later became an Adventist herself. In our conversation, Shernalyn related that her relatives were looking for her and finally found a way to communicate with her via cell phone. She was invited to come home to war-torn Basilan for a vacation. That was why she was asking me so much about the Islamic religion. I gave her tips on what to do. At one point she overheard her grandmother crying in the background because they were missing her although they had have never seen each other ever. So arrangements were made and tickets were provided for Shernalyn to come home to visit for the first time. She called me this morning saying that as soon as she got off from the ship, relatives flocked to her with tears and hugs. She could not believe the welcome treatment she was getting. She arrived back a couple of days ago and told me that upon her arrival, there was excitement among all her rela-tives. It appears that the shame caused by her mother then, was now forgotten and what remains is the fondness for Shernalyn. She is what is left of the once run-away bride who, fortunately was not found during her lifetime, otherwise she would have been dead for bringing shame and disgrace to the whole clan. Now that Shernalyn was home, it was as if the anger and hate were all gone. Shernalyn relates that she was asked about her background and where she lived. Then she was asked what her religious persuasion was. She answered that she was an Adventist. Of course the next question was, "What is that?" She then had all the opportunity to narrate what she had learned. When asked what her food preferences were, she explained that as Adventists abominable foods are never eaten. The relatives listened intently and were very delighted at her explanations. Then she showed the Qur’an we gave her. That really blew the minds of her relatives. They were so glad she had a copy of their Holy Book. She shared what she learned and even told me her regret because she failed to bring with her copies of "Allah's Solemn Warning". One of her relatives teaches at the local Madrazza, Muslim religious school, as an Arabic teacher. Shernalyn is now getting close to that relative so she can share her faith. As of this moment, Shernalyn keeps sharing her faith among her relatives in Basilan, many of whom are members of the dreaded Abu Sayyaf rebel group. Please include Shernalyn in her efforts of sharing Jesus to her family and the whole community.

© SULADS International, Inc. If you would like to support this mission program dedicated to taking the Gospel to the people of Mindanao, please write a check to Gospel Outreach. Mark it for the SULADS and send it to: Gospel Outreach P.O. Box 8 College Place, WA 99324 You may also donate to the SULADS using your credit card by logging on to Gospel Outreach's donation site (www.goaim.org) and follow the directions. Again, mark it for SULADS. If you would prefer, you may write your check to the General Conference of SDA and mark the donation for SULADS and send it to: General Conference of SDA Donations 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904 Thank you for your support of this very important project

CAMPUS NEWS By Dr. Nelson Madriaga, his colleagues, and his students

Paulican, Cabana, Receive Awards at IAMURE Asian Conference

t the Asian Conference on Multi-Disciplinary Research in Higher Education (ACMRHE), held at the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City, on November 26-28, Apolinar Paulican, Ph. D., statistician of the Center for Research and Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences,

received major awards: Outstanding Researcher of the Philippines 2013, Best Abstract Award 2013 (Mathematics) and an IAMURE World Publication Award 2013 (Pearl).

He also received awards for his presentation entitled, “Location Model in an Emergency Medical Services System of Davao City, Philippines.” At the same conference, Veneracion Cabana, Ph. D., F.A.H.A., Director of the Center for Research also received major awards:

Outstanding World Researcher 2013 and Excellence in World Publication Award 2013.

She also delivered a Plenary Talk entitled, “Globalization of Food Consumption, Inflammation, and Coronary Heart Disease” and sat as one of the judges of the parallel research presentations. One unique feature of IAMURE conferences are the performance of talents by the attendees themselves showing that even researchers and scientists can sing, dance and display other talents because talents are part of the scoring for the presentations. In fact, the conference opened with choral renditions by the “Voices” of the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (AIIAS). The attendees of this ACMRHE came from various places in Asia, even from the Yolanda-devastated regions where some of their laboratories and research facilities have been demolished by the super typhoon in spite of the high cost of attending the conference ($600 registration plus travel and five-star accommodation expenses). Some institutions have sponsored many of their faculty to attend the conference. One institution even sent more than 20 of its faculty, all expenses paid. Congratulations, Drs. Paulican and Cabana on a job well done and for the world-class recognition! Dr. Veneracion G. Cabana SHINES ON! from MVC and throughout the world in her active leadership in the field of research. Previously from Chicago, IL, she now serves as Director of MVC’s Center For Research (CFR) inspiring budding scientists among the student body and professionals alike.

Sumagaysay, Sibilang, hold PGTS Advisory for CPUC & SPUC

tty. Wilfredo Sumagaysay, Associate Director of the General Conference Office of Planned Giving and Trust Services (PGTS) Department, with headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA, and Pastor Happy Sibiang, PDTS and Stewardship Director of the Southern Asia-

Pacific Division, Silang, Cavite, are leading out in the Planned Giving and Trust Service Bi-Union Midquinquennium Advisory meeting in Mountain View College, December 4-7, 2013.

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An AB Theology graduate of MVC, Sumagaysay taught in the Social Sciences Department for a few years. Later, he studied law, took the bar exam, and passed it. Before coming to the General Conference, he was the managing partner of the Sumagaysay/Obial Law Office in Silang, Cavite. He is an ordained minister of the SDA church. His current position brings him to all the church’s divisions around the world.

The theme of the Advisory meeting is “Focusing on What Really Matters.” The meeting aimed to: (1) have the directors of the SSD Trust Services in the two unions get acquainted; (2) provide orientation for the mission and conference directors; (3) evaluate what has been done by the Trust Department for the first two and a half quinquennium; (4) make additional plans for the rest of the years of the quinquennium; and (5) provide spiritual enrichment for each participant. The participants are Pastors/Misters Gideon Napigkit, Benonie Bailado, Heber Bacolod, Ephraim Reyno, Alex Fernandez, Eben Loriezo, Abner Dinoy and Mariano Salloman Jr. from the Central Philippine Union Conference and Danielo Palomares, Benonie Llanto, Hanani Nietes, Rolly Jun Ursonal, Leoncio Guting Jr., Ronald Hazel Ramos, Elmer Dulang, Asterio Maloloy-on, Agapito Orendain, William Nacorda, Felomino Delgado and Dante Dabucol from the South Philippine Union Conference.

–-by Lovelane Balajadia SHINES ON! at MVC campus as a Campus Journalism Class Student

Sadernas Join MVC Faculty

iss Catherine Avon Sadernas, a Bachelor of Arts, major in History, graduate of Mindanao State University-Main Campus, Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, has joined the MVC faculty as a part-time teacher in the School of Arts and Sciences, History Department.

Born and raised in Iligan City, she finished her elementary grades from the La Salle Academy, Iligan City, with honours and her high school from the Montessori School of Iligan, Incorporated. Before coming to MVC, she taught history at the Mindanao Sanitarium and Hospital College (formerly College of Medical Arts Foundations, Inc.) in Iligan City for four years. Later, she went to Abu Dhabi, UAE, and became a Training Coordinator for two years at the Howard Technology Middle East. She came back to the Philippines and taught history at the Saint Michael’s College, Iligan City. She lists singing and travelling as her hobbies. “I love being here in MVC because of the warmth of the people and the healthy environment. Even if I am away from my family, the bright smiles of the people around gives me a sigh of relief and makabawi pud ug kamingaw,” (ease loneliness) she said. At present, she is taking her Masters of Arts in History at the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology. She travels every Tuesday and Thursday to Iligan City to pursue her studies and hopes to graduate soon. Welcome to MVC, Ma’am Christine! -- Jediah Bais SHINES ON! at MVC campus as a Campus Journalism Class Student

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Guidance Office Hold Stress Debriefing for Yolanda Victims

ifty-eight MVC students whose families were affected by Typhoon Yolanda underwent a stress debriefing on campus, November 18 and November 27. Out of the 33 victims in the first batch, 22 students and 6 faculty members attended; in the second batch, 19 out of 25 attended. This

debriefing was conducted by Assoc Prof. Ester Mojica, Guidance Director, and Asst. Prof. Emelita Baul, College Counselor. Stress debriefing is “the psychological first aid for survivors; a disaster response during the first to three weeks of the incident that focuses on practical, pragmatic needs, information on support and referral systems, education of normal response to trauma, and coping.”The number of students and the School they belong to whose families were affected are:

School of Education – 10; School of Arts and Sciences – 13; School of Theology – 12; School of Computing – 4;

School of Agriculture – 1; School of Business & Accountancy – 15; School of Nursing –2; and Automotive Technology – 1.

Eleven are from West Visayan Conference, 14 from the Central Visayan Conference; 31 from the East Visayan Conference; one from Davao Mission; and one did not indicate his mission/conference. Their places of origin are Cebu, Leyte, Tacloban City, Iloilo, Samar, and Davao. “The participants in the stress debriefing expressed their ordeal,” Prof. Mojica said. “They may appear to smile on the outside, but they are actually anxious of the future, although hopeful in Jesus. They need our support and prayers.”

-- Star Mojica SHINES ON! at MVC campus as a Campus Journalism Class Student

Dr. Asok Conducts Seminar In Lake View Academy

r. Gemini Asok, School of Education Secondary Education Department Chair, conducted a seminar in Lake View Academy, Don Carlos, Bukidnon with the theme: OUR BASIC NEEDS: Building Happy Families last November 24. 2013. The program started with a devotional by

Pastor Teddy Asok. Teachers and the students’ parents participated in the seminar. Dr. Asok introduced the Choice Theory. She reminded them of the basic needs of an individual which are the following:

Need for belonging; Need for power; Need for freedom; and Need for fun.

Dr. Asok also talked about the Leadership Theories so that parents and teachers would know how to lead and guide their students and children. She also spoke on Glassers Seven Caring Habits namely:

1. Negotiating Differences; 2. Respecting; 3. Trusting; 4. Supporting;

5. Encouraging; 6. Listening and 7. Accepting.

-- Ropher Herebias SHINES ON! at MVC campus as a Campus Journalism Class Student

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MAPEH Students To Present “The Perfect Gift”

elected MAPEH students will lead out in the Vespers program tonight at the Alumni Church. Headed by the overall coordinator Prof. Loida Rodrigo, the program is divided into three parts.

The first part will be presented the Hilltop Rondalla members who will play Come All Ye Faithful, Hark the Herald, Silent Night, It Came Upon the Midnight Clear, and Joy By and By. The second part, entitled Christ Is Born will feature four speakers: Margarret Glacy Flores, Rona Jene Talde, Rojean Ivy Canillo, and Krissel Blaire Guinsatao. Fernce Lady Joy Lepiten and Irish Kaye Tigley will sing and Dan Carlo Inato will play the violin. The third part of the program is a play entitled The Perfect Gift. The play will be participated in by the following:

Townsman -- Joys Roland Balajadia; Mr. Zedwanzie -- Remy Lamputi; Mrs. Zedwanzie -- Irish Kaye Tigley; Musician -- Robert Chris Flores;

Baker -- Roen Shane Ramonal; Child= -- Erika Mae Barnuevo; and Emperor -- Paulmarc Arbe Caberte

Pastor Clyde Sumatra will lead out in the collection of the love offerings while Louvi Emverda, pianist, and Shelomi Luces, cellist, will provide the music. Pastor Felixian Felicitas will give the closing remarks and Mr. Dindo Paglinawan will offer the benediction. The following faculty/studens are also involved in the program:

Emcee/Trainor: Dr. Mennen Pearl Talibong; Pianist: Mrs. Sheila Dayahan; Props/Costumes: Dr. Gemini Asok; Slide Show Presentation: Prof. Leodegario Elona ; Documentation: Rachel Valera and KC Barioga

The Hilltop Rondalla members are: Precious May Aribal, Dann Merck Arellano, Joys Roland Balajadia, Paulmarc Arbe Caberte, Louvi Emverda, Hearttiliannie Geal, Krissel Blaire Guinsatao, Remy Lamputi, Fernce Lady Joy Lepiten, Roen Shane Ramonal, Rona Jene Talde, Irish Kaye Tigley, Lester Mesa, Shelomi Luces, and Prof. Loida Rodrigo. The trainer is Robert Chris Flores.

Post-Yolanda Rebuilding Efforts Stories When super-typhoon hit Central Philippines, some individuals wrote to ADRA International asking if they have any plans to help rebuilt the churches and church schools. ADRA responded by saying they are a relief agency and rebuilding is not part of their program. Likewise, some individuals wrote to Maratha Int’l asking what they were doing for the Yolanda victims. Maranatha wrote back saying that they are not a relief agency and mentioned that ADRA International is currently on site working to bring relief to the devastated areas. Relief work is very crucial. Relief such as money, food, shelter, water, etc, is given to the victims of a disaster. This is usually granted on a temporary basis which means this will quickly end.

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Work towards finding a more permanent solution to the needs of our brothers and sisters in the Yolanda-hit areas need to be found so that when the temporary help ends, the more permanent help would have started to take root.

Some MVC alumni members have started programs geared towards the rebuilding of livelihood. Here are their stories and their programs.

1. Gospel Outreach To Rebuild 10-15 Churches

r. Fred Webb, who understands that up to 200 SDA churches in Central Philippines have been damaged by super-typhoon Yolanda, reports that Gospel Outreach has set up an account called, ‘Philippine Emergency Fund’ which will be used to help build/rebuild at

least 10-15 small churches in these devastated areas. Webb is in touch with East Visayan Conference President Pastor Benjamin Mahinay. He also points out that at this time one of the major needs is for the livelihood of our church members who have lost their homes, their church, and their farms to the devastation of Yolanda. If you or anyone is interested in helping in the Gospel Outreach project, you can reach them by: 1. Writing to them at: Gospel Outreach. P.O Box 8, College Place, WA 99324 OR 2. Calling them at (509) 525.2913 OR 3. Visiting them at www.goaim.org

2. Canadians To Help Rebuild Churches

he Canadian Union Conference (CUC) is working with its members towards helping rebuild the SDA churches that were destroyed by the super-typhoon Yolanda, reports Pastor Charles Aguilar II who is employed with the CUC and is helping facilitate the project by

communicating with leaders of the Central Philippine Union Conference, the East Visayan Conference, and the West Visayan Conference to gather information on which churches need repairs or rebuilding. If you have photos or information about churches destroyed by super-typhoon Yolanda, please forward this to Pastor Charles Aguilar II via Facebook. Meanwhile, Executive Secretary for the West Visayan Conference (Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and Antique) Pastor Kerry Estrebilla is among the team of conference leaders providing CUC with photos and data about the damaged churches and schools. We learned that communications (phones and internet) is still down at the Tacloban and Ormoc area however the Pastor A. Catane and his team who are in Cebu City, are also working to provide the Canadians the needed information. For more information about the project our contact person for the Canadian Union Conference is Pastor Charles Aguilar II, an MVCian.

3. West Visayan Academy’s Project “Oplan Kabuhayan” http://giveaboat.yolandavictims.com/

“Give a man fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”

-- Chinese proverb.

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The KASAMA Multi-Purpose Cooperative, the 7-year-old cooperative run by the West Visayan Academy for its endowment funds for scholarships, strongly believes in that axiom. And while teams around the world work to bring immediate relief to the Yolanda-devastated areas within the West Visayan Conference territory, the KASAMA co-op works towards rebuilding homes and villages demonstrating that they believe in building for a lifetime. Because the Panay Islands in the Central Philippines (Northern Iloilo, Capiz, Antique, and Aklan) have many fishing villages that were destroyed by the super-typhoon, the co-op chose to create a program designed to help fishing villages get back on their feet and become self-sustaining once more. They aptly named the program “Oplan Kabuhayan.” Below is more information about the program.

Project Objective: To help Yolanda-devastated fishing families/villages get back on their within or feet up to a 36-month period by providing them with fishing boats and monthly livelihood enhancement training.

The People Involved: Three parties are involved in this project The donors, The project participants or fisher folks, and The KASAMA Multi-purpose Cooperative or the co-op

The Process:

The donors have three types of options. As donors individuals can participate in the program by

choosing any or all of the options below. There is no limit of the number of sponsorship a donor may want to be part of.

Options: Amount the fishing folks will receive

Duration of program

Option A: Adopt-A-Family. Sponsor-A-Fishing Boat @ US$ 500.00 per sponsorship

$500.00 36 months (3 years)

Option B: Repair-A-Partially-Damaged-Fishing-Boat @ US$250.00 per sponsorship.

$250.00 24 months (2 years)

Option C: Purchase-A-New-Motor-For-A-Fishing-Boat @ US $120.00 per sponsorship.

$120.00 12 months (1 year)

Program Participants of the Oplan Kabuhayan project are fishing folks from the Yolanda-devastated

areas of Northern Iloilo, Capiz, Antique, and Aklan. To become part of the program, they must first complete an application form and submit it to the co-op for consideration.

1. When accepted into the program, they will take a loan from the co-op to be used as capital

towards the repair or replacement of their fishing boat. They can choose to be part of any of three options.

Fisher folks’ Options: Option A: Loan of an equivalent of US$500.00 for capital to get a fishing boat. Repayment program begins at the fifth month after the loan is received at an equivalent of $15/month and at 0% interest. The goal is to have the loan fully paid off within 36 months or 3 years of receipt of loan.

Option B: Loan of an equivalent of US$ 250.00 for the repair of a partially damaged fishing boat. Repayment program begins at the fifth month after the loan is received at an equivalent of $15/month and at 0% interest. The goal is to have the loan fully paid off within 24 months or 2 years of receipt of loan.

Option C: Loan of an equivalent of US$ 120.00 for the purchase of a new motor for an existing fishing boat. Repayment program begins at the fifth month after the loan is received at an equivalent of $15/month and at 0% interest. The goal is to have the loan fully paid off within 12 months or 1 year of receipt of loan.

2. While the loan is being paid off, the program participant will attend a monthly meeting with the

co-op. These meetings will include the following free of charge as provided for or facilitated by the co-op: a. livelihood skills training, b. marketing skills training,

c. face-to-face dialogues for feedback purposes,

d. group support.3. The program participant will also work with the co-op to provide project-related reports for

monitoring and accountability purposes.

The Co-op (KASAMA Multi-Purpose Cooperative)

1. The co-op will provide administrative and clerical support for the program, providing leadership, mentoring, and record keeping as appropriate. It is also responsible for collecting payment from the program participants.

2. Loan repayment funds collected from the project participants will be properly accounted for and placed in an endowment fund that will earn 10% annually. This will be used for further livelihood or relief operations.

3. The co-op will be responsible for facilitating /providing monthly livelihood and marketing skills training for the loan participants. It will also be responsible for providing quarterly reports to the donors on how the project is going.

Reporting Every three (3) months the project leaders will provide donors a copy of the project report.

For those interested in donating:

1. How would you want to help? Which sponsorship option are you interested in giving towards? 2. How do you want to give your donation? One time? Monthly? Quarterly? Annual? 3. Method you would like to send your donation: credit/debit, PayPal, or Send Cash 4. If you have a special purpose for your donation, please let the WVA co-op know.

For more information about the Oplan Kabuhayan Project contact: Pastor Kerry Estrebilla Chairman KASAMA Board West Visayan Conference Jalandoni-Ledesma Streets, Iloilo City Cell No.: 09209734046 Email: kcestrebilla@yahoo.com.ph

Option A: Adopt-A-Family. Sponsor-A-Fishing Boat @ US$ 500.00 per sponsorship

Option B: Repair-A-Partially-Damaged-Fishing-Boat @ US$250.00 per sponsorship.

Option C: Purchase-A-New-Motor-For-A-Fishing-Boat @ US $120.00 per sponsorship.

Jerome Jael Board Member, KASAMA Board West Visayan Academy Bongco, Pototal, Iloilo Cell No.: 09207959525 Email: jeromejael@yahoo.com

Julieto D. Gonzales Vice Chairman, KASAMA Board West Visayan Academy Smart Cellphone: +63939-158-9260 Globe Cellphone: +63935-866-9260 Email: julieto_gonzales@yahoo.com Facebook: Julieto Gonzales -- Kerry Estrebilla (AB Theo 1993) and Julieto Gonzales (AB Theo 2003) SHINE ON! as pastors and church leaders from the West Visayan Conference Territory.

4. Other …

e have not gotten wind of plans for the rebuilding of church schools destroyed by super-typhoon Yolanda, nor have we received a list of all the churches, church schools, SDA offices, or institutions damaged by the storm. We have, however, sent our inquiries and

are yet waiting for a response. We will be sure to share with our readers the list, should we get one.

Alumni News & Announcements

1. An experienced OB-GYNE, preferably female with a minimum 5 years of experience in OB GYNE, is urgently needed to join the Kanye SDA Hospital team in Botswana, Africa per the open call at the General Conference level. At this time, Dr. Arthur Lasta is the only general surgeon in this hospital and ends up doing a lot of OB-GYNE surgery cases meant to be performed by OB-GYNE specialists. This also takes him away from doing his general surgery cases. If you know of an OB GYNE who is willing to serve as a missionary to Africa, please have that person contact Dr. Lasta at artlasta@hotmail.com or artlasta@gmail.com. 2. INVITATION: For the December 27 issue of CyberFlashes, share your thoughts, hopes, and goals, for the New Year 2014. Email your contribution to etabingo@gmail.com before December 23. 3. www.DXCR.org the brand new website for DXCR continues to grow. Visit it often to see upgrades, news, and to listen to DXCR.

Did you know? On the Home Page you can click on a button to listen to DXCR life! Did you know? On the “Schedule” Tab you can listen uninterrupted to a continuous play of

heavenly hymns and music. Did you know? DXCR.org offers you a whole new world of opportunities for ministry. Visit us

4. Youth-related initiatives include a new pathfinder honor. Realizing that the future of our church depends upon the commitment of young people to its prophetic mission and message, the White Estate is creating a new Pathfinder honor. It will introduce Pathfinders to the Gift of Prophecy and alert them to its end-time importance. After being introduced at the 2014 International Camporee in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where 40,000 Pathfinders from over 100 countries are expected to attend, the honor will be made available worldwide as an app. [Adventist News Network Dec 3, 2014]

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Prayer Requests

1. For the bereaved families of Miahdel Moralde Urboda, EmEm Sanes, Jeremiah Obena, Dinah Rodrigo, Ana Teorima-Faigao, Archie Villagracia, Calape Damayo, DarlindaMullaneda, Corneta, Eunice Ferrer-Layon, Landon Alamo Merginio, Priscilla Arafiles, Sarah Zaulda-Samillano, Esterlita Ba-al, and others who have lost loved ones recently. 2. For Alumni and friends who are ill: Allan Magie, Florence Rivera-Alconcel, Ave Catalon- Lorieza, Benny Banaag, Betsy Costanos-Wooljer, Doug Holstein, Evelyn Lipay-Florendo, Ivy Catolico-Robles, Jil Fadre, Jo Tortal, Nefre Dichoso, and Violeto Bocala. 3. For all who were affected by the super typhoon Yolanda and those who are working to bring relief to the victims, including alumni &friends who are working to send/bring help to the devastated areas. 4. For Gospel Outreach, the British Columbia Conference in Canada, ADRA International, and other agencies that are working to help rebuild the Yolanda-torn areas in the Philippines. 5. For our missionaries and their families all over the globe, including the SULADS who are ministering in dangerous places: for their health and safety, for strength and wisdom, and for their own walk with God. 6. For the Seventh-Day Adventist Church leaders, the leaders of our nations, and our world leaders. 7. For MVC, her students, her faculty and staff, and each of the alumni and friends around the world. 8. For DXCR and the work being done to keep her on the air. And for the ministerial seminar of MVC. 9. Let us also pray for each other. We need it.

“When men have to swim against the stream, there is a weight of waves driving them back. Let a hand

then be held out, as was the Elder Brother's hand to a sinking Peter” -- EGW. Our High Calling, page 177

Acknowledgement

heartfelt THANK YOU to the following: To Lilian Javellana who so graciously shares with us her insights about God and the lessons she learned from nature. To the following MVC Alumni who shared their Yolanda relief and rehab related-outreach endeavor stories: Madz

Gagatam Hamann, Melvin Gagatam, Arpha Vida Buga-ay, Ali Bernie Buga-ay, Lily Escara Lare, Dr. Requel Legaspino, Hon. Ryan Culiman, Ian Catolico, Elbert Moralde, Jun Israel, Nep Apa, Kerry Estrebilla, Julieto Gonzales, Charles Aguilar II, and Fred Webb. Thank you to Ranny de Vera and Gospel Outreach for the SULADS stories. And to Dr. Nelson Madriaga who mentors his students in journalism and faithfully coordinates it so that alumni worldwide have fresh news from the hilltop each week. Thanks also to Dr. Cabana, to Lovelane Balajadia, Jedia Bais, Star Mojica, and Ropher Herebias,

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Meet The Editors Today’s issue of Cyberflashes is coordinated and edit by Ardys Joy Caballero-Gadia in lieu of Jess Colegado who is on year-end travel. Next week’s issue will be coordinated by Raylene Rodrigo-Baumgart. Please direct all entries and contributions to her or to any of the editors.

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Closing Remarks

Ants are tiny creatures but they are capable of carrying objects 50 times their own body weight. Together as a team, they have been known to accomplish seemingly impossible feats. The wisest man that ever lived advised, “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!” Prov 6:6. MVCian eye witnesses who have been to Tacloban have reacted similarly: in anguish and disbelief initially and then they dove in and worked hard to bring help to the people. We can all join hands and together, work towards rebuilding our churches, church schools, and community. The word TEAM means Together Everyone Accomplishes Much!. \

Let’s do this! Go TEAM! We can do this! Sabbath Blessings to all!