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VOLUME 7 • NUMBER 2

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AcknoWledGemenTsAs always, this a collaborative issue courtesy of our army of volunteer writers and photographers – all doing this for the love of God. We would like to acknowledge the people who allow us to reprint their sharings. Kudos to our photographers John Rich and Mike Villar who are generous with their creative energy and time, making the pages come alive with their pictures. Above all, this issue would not be possible, if the people we badgered and interviewed did not open their hearts and homes to our writ-ers. And most of all, we thank the Holy Spirit who guided and inspired, and continues to guide and inspire, us in our journey in proclaiming God's eternal love for everyone.

ABOUT THE COVEROur cover boy JR Quiring was busy training for the Summer Games (no, not the Olympics,

but the CYA-YA-UD Summer Games) when we interviewed

him. So instead of doing our photoshoot inside a regular studio, we decided to check

him out during the Games at the Marikina Sports Center.

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3 Editor’s Note I’m so stoked!

4 To Believe is To see A miracle at Easter vigil mass

5 God@Work Evangelize – every time, everywhere 9 TeAchinGs The Visitation: A mystery revealed

TRUE NORTH BEAT 13 Open to Call, Open to All The zeal to serve

15 Run to Him A choice from a divine appointment 17 Pilots of the Airwaves Spreading God’s words through mass media

IN THIS ISSUE 21 Committed: Ricky and Brenda spread some love

24 Twogetherness: Blessings twice over

MY TAKE26 Ang Aking Gabay sa Pagsubok A TEAP scholar tells all

28 From Control to Surrender Confession of an Alpha male

10 QUESTIONS 30 Lady of Substance: Of God and Grace

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Our young brother JR Quiring had a change of plan during a seemingly random travel encounter. With the help of the Holy Spirit, he made a very radical decision that led him – and many others – closer to God.

With inspiring stories and counsels, the Kakaiba ka! team is boldly proclaiming the love and work of our Lord through mass media, the very bulwark of consumerism and worldly pursuits. It’s very counter culture., indeed!

You will also read about how many young professionals are using their workplaces as vineyards to harvest more people for the Lord, much like what Anna Sobrepeña is doing in her high-profile job.

In this issue, we also celebrate the victories of our outreaches with stories from a TEAP scholar and a Pathways graduate.

Indeed, the Holy Spirit is working beautifully with those who are open and willing to follow its leadings.

May the Holy Spirit fire us up, and move us to the right paths. And like the early Christians, may we boldly and joyfully fulfill the mission set for us in this life!

ediTor-in-chieFRamoncito dela Cruz

mAnAGinG ediTorAly Sulit-Placino

ediToriAl BoArdGary Mendoza

(coordinator-in-charge)Berry Marfori

Anna SobrepeñaChito Sobrepeña

ArT direcTorCleone Baradas

conTriBUTinG WriTers Mars QuizonTherese PeliasAlvin Samson

Mich Cruz-Villar Ellen U. VirinaJun Viterbo

conTriBUTinG PhoToGrAPhers

Mike VillarJohn Rich Villas

Why TrUe norThIn navigational parlance, True north is a constant that guides travelers. In the course of our lives, our True North is Je-sus Christ, the constant for all times.

True north is a publication of Ang Liga-ya ng Panginoon (www.lnp.org.ph) and its partners – Christ’s Youth in Action, Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon, and the In-stitute for Pastoral Development. LNP is a member of the federation of communi-ties around the globe, Sword of the Spirit (www.swordofthespirit.net).

EDITOR’S noTe

Pardon the language. I’m just caught up with my new mission in the Community. Early this year, my wife Vi and I were assigned to shepherd a group of Young Adults (YA) through their high school years. Being an “Astig” group leader is a big departure from heading the registration team at Pathways Ortigas. Yet I’m so looking forward to this adventure – both for us and for the teenagers.

This may be a “fish-out-of-the-water” experience for me, as I don’t have any formal training on how to deal with teenagers. While my own long tortured years of living in that awkward stage may provide some practical tips here and there, I’m still relying on the guidance from the parents and other YA workers to help me through. More importantly, I’m confident that the Holy Spirit will fill us with the wisdom, understanding, and fortitude to love and care for our young adults.

I take comfort and pride in the fact that the same open attitude is being lived out by many of our brothers and sisters who are featured in this issue – our spirit-led and spirit-filled issue.

Take the case of Jose “Cito” Inumerable. He has been serving Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon (LNP) and several of its outreaches for more than 30 years, and he is still at it with the same zeal and enthusiasm as he had during his early years in the community. Over the years, he was sometimes assigned to tasks that he was not trained for. But he persisted and let the Holy Spirit do his work through him.

I’m so

MONCHING DELA CRUZ

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We Are oPen True north is inviting all engaging sto-rytellers - through words and pictures. We are expanding our pool of writ-ers, editors and photographers for our forthcoming issues. But before we can write beautiful prose and compose in-spiring pictures, we need story ideas too. Interested members of Ligaya ng Panginoon and all its outreach orga-nizations are welcome to email or call monching dela cruz at ramoncitodela-cruz@yahoo.com or 0917 891 7644.

stoked!

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About two years ago, I was diagnosed to have a deteriorating right eye. Some minor arteries in my eye had

collapsed over time due to elevated blood sugar levels as a result of my diabetes. Several consultations with ophthalmologists did not give me much relief and failed to halt the deterioration of my eyesight. I was resigned to eventually losing sight in my right eye. I hoped though that it would not happen soon.

During the Easter Vigil celebration, Brother Mike Joseph went up the stage and boldly proclaimed that he sensed that someone was experiencing healing in his right eye. The prophesy was confirmed by Mon Malinao of South District B. This is his sharing.

When Brother Mike announced his sense that our Lord was healing a brother’s right eye, I started to focus my right eye on objects around me. I felt some slight improvement in my sight and did feel the urge to go up the stage to confirm Brother Mike’s sense. However, I vacillated and felt unsure that healing in my right eye was indeed taking place. I now feel that I was afraid that I might compromise the Lord if healing was not taking place in my right eye. In fact, I told myself that evening that if I was entertaining doubt, then my faith was not enough to bring the healing I needed.

On my way home from the Easter Vigil, I recalled a beautiful passage which I came across in my daily Scripture reading. These were the words of the Lord to Moses in Romans 9:14: “I have mercy on whom I will and I show pity on whom I please.” This was lifted from Exodus 33:19 where it is said that “I will be gracious to whom

I will be gracious and I will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.”

With these words, I came to the realization that the doubt I experienced did not count. With or without doubt, it is by God’s grace that I was experiencing healing. I also realized that what I am, what I think or what I try to do really does not count; and that what truly matters are the grace of God and his love and mercy.

My eyesight has greatly improved. I can now focus clearly on objects even from a distance. I do my desk work in the office with ease, and, most importantly, I can now do my daily Bible reading without strain.

This might have come a little late, but it should not take away the glory due our God who loves me and all of us.

Thanks and God bless.

To Believe is to SEE

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- every time, everywhere

vAngelIze

By Therese Pelias and Mars Quizon

These e-words are supposed to revolutionize the modern world and improve our lifestyle in the 21st century. Yet one e-word, “invented” more than 2,000 years ago, trumps them all, as it continues to renew the world and make our life richer and fuller.

In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus said: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the

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name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…”

The Great Commission to evangelize is our top priority even up to this day and age. Three young professionals share with us how best to evangelize all types of people in all circumstances amid all challenges.

1 Recognize and pro-claim God’s love at

all timesAron Oriondo, who juggles his time working in a graveyard shift for an IT company, serving in Lingkod-Makati, helping his local parish in Laguna during weekends, and spending time with his family and friends, shares that cherishing the

mail, load, banking, games, signature, commerce ...

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GOD@WORK

Lord’s blessings at all time keeps him inspired to evangelize. He said: “The desire to share what the Lord has given me is my fuel. I want my friends to experience the joy that I’m experiencing in serving Him.”

It was Aron’s constant grateful attitude that paved the way for his male officemates to seek the Lord’s ways. “During one of our lunch breaks, we suddenly found ourselves talking about God and our blessings instead of the usual so-called ‘macho’ topics. My lunch buddies have since established their personal relationships with the Lord and have become committed members of Lingkod-Makati,” Aron said.

2 Pursue holiness in all things, at all

timesFred Festin, who manages his own engineering firm is a member of Ligaya ng Panginoon (LNP) – Central who serves the residents of Pamayanang Diego Silang, stressed that evangelizing means walking the talk.

“Having that desire to pursue righteousness in life is already an effective evangelization tool,” Fred said. “I usually evangelize people who I met in my work or during out-of-town trips. They see me as someone just like them, with the same imperfections, struggles,

Aron says:" Your e-line

should always be ready."

Aron Oriondo with lunch buddies Mike Nonesa and

Fernand Villafuerte

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3 Build and cultivate relationships by all means

Caryl Dela Cruz, a successful certified public accountant who works for a multinational company and who has experienced growing up in community life, said it is important to “meet those you are trying to evangelize where they are and get to know them very well.”

“You’ll see entry points when you talk with the person you are trying to evangelize,” Aron said. “Look for his or her interests. Your ‘eline’ (evangelization line) should always be ready. At the right time, invite him or her to specific community activities. Introduce him or her to the brothers and sisters. And never ever forget to follow up.”

Fred further pointed out: “The good thing is that we have the freedom to express our faith in this country. So we have many opportunities in terms of the timing, venue or method that we can use to attract those we are evangelizing.”

But Fred stresses: “We must keep in mind that we are not evangelizing to bring more members to the community, but to bring more souls closer to God.”

Caryl says: “Meet those you are trying to evangelize where they are.”

Caryl Dela Cruz wih sister Evert Dela Cruz

triumphs and dreams. But because of the Godly ideas that you share or the way of life you follow, they will become interested on the things you do and will eventually want to visit community events.”

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PrayNeedless to say, all three agree that it is necessary to pray for the people you want to evangelize and for the people who the Lord will bring to your life to evangelize.

4 Open yourself up to the Holy Spirit

In gratitude, Caryl recalled how the Holy Spirit empowered her to persevere in inviting her reluctant brother to the community.

“I had been inviting my brother to the Community for many years. He always turned me down. While he kept on saying 'no', I did not stop praying that he would someday join Lingkod,” Caryl said. “The Holy Spirit empowered me to be patient with my brother and to keep on praying for him. At the time when I least expected it, my brother accepted my invitation.” Caryl’s brother is now a committed and active member of Lingkod-Marikina.

Caryl says: “ While he kept on saying 'no', I did not stop praying that he would someday join Lingkod.”

After all, even if the Great Commission is a shoutout to all Christians, evangelization is really God’s work. Thus, be assured that even before we embark on this mission, the Lord has already promised us his constant presence, as he said: “…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

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A Mystery RevealedVisitation:

A “full-member visitation” to a community like Ang

Ligaya ng Panginoon (LNP) is one of the main ways that

the sword of the spirit (sos) gives ongoing care and

outside help to one another as member communities. It

is an expression of brotherly love and care among SOS

communities, as well as a valuable protection for each

full-member community.

After a given community has completed its process of

formation and has been recognized as a full-member

community, it no longer receives regular visits from the

members of the regional community building team that

have been responsible for its formation. At that point,

two of the most important elements of ongoing support,

help, care and protection that we offer to one another as

full-member SOS communities are Outside Coordinators

(and Outside Senior Women Leaders) and periodic

visitations (understood to be done about once every 5

years or so).

Brother John Keating, the Outside Coordinator for the

Central Sector, explains the visitation that occurred last year.

Why is the visitation process an integral part of the Sword of the Spirit lifestyle?The visitation team is not assigned to look for the community’s faults, mistakes and weaknesses, but is responsible in a loving way to conduct something like a “spiritual health check-up.” As with any medical check-up, the hope is always to be able to give a clean bill of health. But it is also a good moment to note possible indicators of a developing condition that, if left unattended, could become dangerous, but if dealt with early can be prevented.

And if there are any serious problems to be dealt with, it is better to know what they are and to face them squarely.

Those conducting the visitation, while seeking to bring strength and encouragement to the community being visited, will also seek to be honest in a very loving way in helping the community to know its reality and to make an appropriate response to it.

TEACHINGS

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What kind of preparation goes into it? A full-member visitation is jointly prepared by a combination of leaders: the community’s Senior Coordinator and body of coordinators, the community’s Outside Coordinator, and the Regional Coordinator who has been chosen to lead the visitation. Generally, the leader of the visitation is requested by the Senior Coordinator and the Outside Coordinator. He then becomes responsible to assemble and to prepare his team.

A good deal of time and effort is required in the months before a visitation by each of these leaders as well as by the community’s principal administrator, who is responsible to assemble much of the needed advance information, and to work out the schedules and the many practical arrangements for the visitation.

What process is followed in the selection of the visitation team? A visitation team for a full-member community must fulfill certain criteria among their members. For example, the men and women who form the team should generally be themselves members of full-member communities (rather than of developing communities), so that they understand from their own life experiences the realities and challenges of full-member community life. The team should include at least one other established coordinator and one established Senior Women’s Leader. It should also have someone qualified to work with youth, as well as someone who can review community administration and services.

What process does the team follow? The visitation team leader assigns each of the members of the team to assess some aspect of the community’s life and mission, and interviews are arranged for each team member in accordance with their assignments. The team meets together as frequently as possible during the visitation, to compare impressions, clarify issues and refine their impressions.

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How do the team members know what questions to ask those they are interviewing? Team members are given considerable latitude in pursuing what information that will most serve the community, but all interviews begin with a series of established questions for the

person being interviewed (which vary principally according to their service and their seniority). There are interview questions for coordinators, for Senior Men and Women Leaders, for Pastoral Leaders, for members of the community. While a team member may begin an interview using such a questionnaire, he/she is also free to pursue other important questions not covered by the standard questionnaires.

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What could go wrong in a visitation?Most of the things that could readily go wrong in a visitation can largely be avoided through a combination of good preparation (of the team and of the community), the communication of appropriate expectations as to what the visitation is and what the team will do, and the exercise of brotherly love and good Christian character through the course of the visitation. Among those things to be guarded against are:a. A posture of fear, suspicion or defensiveness on the part

of the community to be visited, with the result that they are not open and honest with the visitation team

b. A negative, judgmental and critical posture on the part of the visiting team, leading the team to fail to listen well, and to make inaccurate and prejudiced judgments about the community

c. Incompetence on the part of leaders and the members of the visitation team

d. Inadequate expectations on the part of the community to be visited, or on the part of the team members who are visiting

e. Inadequate preparations, leading to disorder, confusion and tensions during the time of the visitation

As a rule of thumb, a visitation team that is working with a community of 100-200 members should include about five to seven members. As the size of the community increases beyond this, so also should the size of the team, within reasonable and workable limits.

Can you describe the most significant changes that have taken place in the lives of specific communities following a visitation? As I mentioned earlier, our hope in a full-member community is to be able to mainly give a community a “clean bill of health”, while helping them to address the current areas of greatest challenge that they are facing. All communities face challenges, and having a team of experienced members of other full-member communities visiting can be

an excellent opportunity to get fresh inputs, new ideas and suggestions, and a new take on the overall picture. This almost always happens to some degrees. My observation of most of these visitations is that they are a wonderful opportunity for brothers and sisters from different communities to get to know and more deeply appreciate one another. It is also for the “visited” community to be encouraged and built up, as well as to pick up some new ideas and fresh perspectives on their life and mission. Every once in a while, a more serious issue is detected in the course of a visitation that will require the Senior Coordinator (and the body of coordinators) to work together with the Outside Coordinator (and sometimes with other leaders in the

region) to determine the best way to address the issue.

TEACHINGS

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oPen To cAll OpEN TO ALL

By Ramoncito dela Cruz

Service is his trademark.

has served Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon (LNP) Community faithfully for more than 35 years in various capacities and in many ministries. Through the years, the zeal to serve neither waver nor wane.

“In the early days of LNP, I was the alpha and the omega,” Cito jok-ingly said, recalling the days when he delivered, carried and set up the sound system for community gather-ings in Immaculate Conception Acad-emy in Greenhills. “I was the first to arrive and the last to leave after a gathering.”

JOSE “ciTo”INUMERABLE

He took on that assignment even if he did not have any experience in operating the system. “Initially, I didn’t know how to operate or fix the thing. At times, I would just pray over the sound system that nothing would go wrong,” he narrated. Yet he per-sisted. Cito only received training as a technician when he later joined the Emmanuel Brother household, where he lived with the community titans, including Father Herb Schneider.

“Wherever there’s a need for something to do, I always make my-self available,” Cito declared.

“Be an asset, not a liability” – that’s one lesson from his parents that he keeps in his heart whenever he is serving in a ministry. “My ap-

proach to service is to do it with care, compassion and love,” he added.

After dabbling in a series of other technical jobs, including mimeo-graphing the Kasunduan newsletter, the precursor of True North maga-zine, Cito is now the Building Main-tenance Supervisor of the Ligaya Center.

BEHIND THE SCENEService is in his blood. Even before LNP, Cito was doing “behind-the-scene” services for the cursillo move-ment in his own parish – the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Kamuning, Quezon City. “There was a time when I was assigned to clean the toilets in the parish. So that’s what

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TRUE NORTH BEAT

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I did. Pag service talaga, bigay na bigay ako.”

RESPONDING TO CALLCito was born to a middle-class family. He is the seventh among 12 siblings. He dreamed of travelling around the world, that’s why he took up Nautical Sciences in FEATI Uni-versity. After graduation, he set sail in a domestic cargo and passenger ship as an apprentice crew. He did not like what he saw – many of his crew mates were engaged in theft and other worldly pursuits.

It was difficult for him to be a “Lone Ranger” Christian, as many of my mates hated him. He also con-fessed that there were times when he himself did not live up fully to the Christian virtues. When the ship was sold to another owner, Cito decided

not to join the ship and studied in-stead for his licensure exam. Some months later, the ship met an accident and sank.

“I was then without any work, without any money. It was then when some of members of our parish were invited to attend LNP gatherings in Assumption. Some months after, LNP had its first outreach mission – an LSS (Life in the Spirit Seminar) – in our parish, I participated and got baptized in the Holy Spirit,” Cito recalled.

He admitted that he was ini-tially intimidated by the community brothers and sisters who came from privileged background. “But my initial feeling was unfounded. I never expe-rienced that they treated me differ-ently. They love me so much,” he said. “I was looking for role models, and I found it in them.”

Some community brothers even offered him jobs, includ-ing the one he later took on as the sales and col-lection person for Word of Joy. And in 1981, he became an Assistant Administrator for the Ligaya offices, up until he took an early retire-ment in 2000. In 2007, he came back as the Building Maintenance Supervisor overseeing the facilities in the Ligaya Center.

Aside from the tech-nical side of service, Cito is also in the forefront of the evangelistic call. He is most comfortable work-ing with the less-privi-leged people, he said.

He was in the core team of the Tahanan ng Panginoon when it set

up a group in Joriz, Mandaluyong City in 1995, even serving as the Pastoral Leader. He was also one of the pio-neers of the Pathways movement, one of the outreach missions of the LNP North Sector.

LOVE AND SERVICEIn the early 1980s, Cito was active in organizing LSS for various compa-nies. In early 1985, Lily was looking for resource speakers for the anniver-sary of her company’s prayer group meeting. She was directed to Cito as the person who could help her find the right speakers. After contacting the resource persons, Cito and his mens’ group decided to volunteer to serve. By the end of that year, Cito and Lily got married.

As with love, the zeal to serve as a couple bloomed.

At present, the couple is active in the North Sector’s Pathways activi-ties. Cito is with the healing ministry, while Lily is serving in the Cradle of Joy – Pathways. There was a time when Cito and Lily shepherded a group of Pathways graduates to become full-fledged members of LNP.

Both Cito and Lily are also ac-tively serving the NOW (Nuggets of Wisdom) members of the North Sec-tor, by helping those who are sick and those with practical concerns such as difficulties in going to and from com-munity gatherings. He is also in the Core Team of TNP-E. Rodriguez.

“I don’t get tired in my service. As I have experienced the constant love of God and of the Community, it is my heartfelt gratitude to God that is my greatest motivation in doing what I’m doing,” Cito said.

Cito shares this motto with True North.

“I have this deep desire to serve Him in any capacity. It is a privilege to serve Him with my ability, my person-ality, my character, my heart and my experiences. In serving God, we have no choice but to rejoice!”

At present, Cito dreams of orga-nizing an LSS in his local parish – the Sacred Heart Parish, the very place where his love for service first started.

“It is a privilege to serve Him with my ability, my personality, my character, my heart and my experiences.”

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TRUE NORTH BEAT

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By Berry Marfori

One day during his third year as a student of Public Health at the University of the Philip-pines, JR Quiring thought he was just going for a ride to

Tagaytay City. But he found himself seated at the back of the van alone with Steve Clark, founder of Servants of the Lord (SOW), author of countless books and documents on Chris-tian living and a known lecturer and pioneer in Charismatic Christian communities.

“Are you interested in joining the brother-hood (or Servants of the Word)?” Steve, who within the renewal movement has the stature of a cardinal, casually asked him.

JR had long thought of becoming a doctor, and marrying and starting his own family. But he couldn’t bring himself to simply saying “no” to Steve. Instead, he blurted out that he would think about committing himself to a lifelong service to the Lord as a single man. During the course of the conversation, the elder sug-gested to JR that he discern his future by ask-ing himself where he could love the Lord best.

“Where could I love the Lord best,” JR now recalls. “The idea hit me big time.” Suddenly, he was asking himself if he could be most loving to the Lord as a doctor and family man. Even if he had long wanted to be a physician like his fa-ther and eldest brother, the question made him see that fulfilling that ambition would be more about satisfying his desire for honor, social stat-ure and achievement than serving his Creator.

JR further probed the idea in the succeeding months. He sensed God speaking to him: “If you are going to bring people to me, let them not turn to me because of your credentials. Let them turn to me because of My work in you.” The encounter led the young graduate to put

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they were facing and could thus em-pathize and serve as an older brother in Christ to them.

JR next explored joining the Servants of the Word by living in a SOW house-hold. In his prayer times with fellow residents, he would be touched by a line in a popular worship song: “To see all men acknowledge Him and boldly speak His word.” He adopted the line as a guiding vision of his life.

Soon enough, it became clear to JR that if he really wanted to witness more conversions to God, he would have to give up secular work—even his desire to serve in the area of public health.

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TRUE NORTH BEAT

his medical career on hold and to work in various campuses as a staff member of Christ’s Youth in Action (CYA). Now it was his turn to help stu-dents coming from all walks of life to establish a personal and intimate re-lationship with God by inviting them to CYA prayer meetings and activities and eventually becoming part of a support group.

The young CYA staffer had grown up in Gubat, Sorsogon in a family of achievers. His work put him in touch with many other students like him who had transitioned from provincial high schools where they had excelled to the bigger pond of universities in Manila. He knew the kind of pressure

“I began to realize that for me to make that vision begin to come true, even eight hours of regular work would serve as a big hindrance. I couldn’t afford to be eight hours at work everyday if I were to contribute towards seeing all men acknowledge Him and boldly speak His word,” he recalled.

Some five years after Steve Clark randomly asked JR where he could love the Lord best, the would-be doc-tor now has a few answers. He contin-ues to serve CYA and Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon (LNP) as a worker for the Young Adult program and as a Pasto-ral Leader in LNP’s University District. He is also a resource person to youth workers in Indian charismatic com-munities affiliated with the Sword of the Spirit. Which is an umbrella orga-nization of communities around the globe to which LNP belongs.

In his most recent visit to the Phil-ippines, Steve enticed the budding evangelist once more: “JR, let’s build the kingdom of God together.” It seems the young man has responded fully to that call.

A choice from a divine appointment

"To see all men acknowledge HIm and boldly speak His word"

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TRUE NORTH BEAT

AIRWAvesPilots of the

Ultimately, it is the Lord who is really kakaiba and made all this possible.

It’s four o’clock on a Sunday afternoon at Radyo Inquirer. The “On Air” sign is lit, and for the next one and a half hours, the airwaves will be filled not with

news, gossips or fiery commentaries, but with a different kind of talk program – one that speaks of grace and inspiration.

This is Kakaiba Ka! – a Christian radio program that features ordinary people doing ordinary things. What makes them extraordinary though is what God has done in them, through them and for them.

By Mich Cruz-Villar and Photography by Mike Villar

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What started out as a trial program for three months is now on its second year, with an initial timeslot of one hour extended to 1-1/2 hours. From a lean organization in late 2010, the Kakaiba Ka! team has grown into its present composition of brothers and sisters from the Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon: Rene Alimbuyuguen as Executive Producer; Benedict Buhain as Producer; its pool of anchors consists of Nadz Gawat, Bobby Quitain, Carlos Mangahas, Liezel Uy, Cris Moreno and Christine Caoile, who also heads the writers’ pool. Pastoral Overseer is Gary Mendoza; Creative Director is Eric Teotico with Ampi and Joey Teotico and Joey Villamor as the Creative Team.

“Initially, we really didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into. The first step was really obedience,” said Rene, who likened the radio show to a mission. “It’s as if the Lord was saying, ‘This is My project’.”

So what makes Kakaiba Ka, well, kakaiba?

While other secular or commercial programs on radio focus on conflicts and negativity, Kakaiba Ka! aims to bring in something positive and inspiring, stories about people who are able to rise above the challenges and live a victorious life.

Christine, who has had previous experiences working in both radio and television, said: “Ibang-iba doon, walang God doon. It’s a secular program, people empowerment doon. But here, in this program, we let the people or the listeners see that it’s not us, it’s not our power that’s doing all this, but it’s the Lord doing this for you. It’s the hand of the Lord doing this, moving you.”

spIRITUAL ACTIVITYGod is present in every aspect of the

show. “This is a very spiritual activity such that even before we start, we pray; even before we go on board, we pray; even before we do the script, we

TRUE NORTH BEAT

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TRUE NORTH BEAT

pray. Even in choosing the guests, we ask ‘Lord, is this the right person?’,” Rene said.

Being a Christian program in a secular station, Kakaiba Ka! reaches out to a wide range of people– regardless of religion or sect. Thus, the team tries to make Kakaiba Ka! an ecumenically sensitive Catholic program. “We have a lot of listeners who are non-Catholics and we receive comments like ‘we’re not Catholics but we’re very inspired listening to you’,” Rene shared.

Nadz added: “We don’t even have to go outside. God placing us here in this place already affects the people working in the station – tech people, anchors of previous shows, and security guards. Dito pa lang na-e-evangelize na namin sila. There was a time when the anchor of the next show arrived early and told us tuwang tuwa siya, at na-inspire siya.”

MIRACLEs ON ANd Off ThE AIRBeyond talking about God’s love and inspiring people to turn to the Lord, Kakaiba Ka! is moving one step forward by encouraging its listeners to look for support groups and communities.

In the course of their different kind of ministry, the Kakaiba Ka! team has felt the hand of the Lord guiding them in every step.

Bobby shared that they’ve experiences miracles on and off the air. “The very first time na may tumawag na umiiyak sa phone was because he was touched by what’s happening and he was going through so much in his life.” The caller was going through dialysis at a very young age and felt that his life was going nowhere. “Right there and then, we were moved to pray for that person.”

There was also a time when a guest got sick on the day and backed out for the Mother’s Day episode; but as her replacement, she sent her mother and her sister. “So wala sa script namin. But it was one of those times na sabi ni Rene, ‘Alam nating trabaho ng Panginoon ito’ kasi who would have thought that on Mothers’ Day we’ll get a mother and daughter,” he added.

There have also been challenges encountered, such as when they have guests who held back from sharing their testimonies on air. “And then may tatawag ‘pwede magshare’? And that would give life to the program. So the Lord always comes to the rescue.” Nadz said.

As the anchors say in every episode, “Ang nakikinig ay nag-iiba”, Kakaiba Ka! has touched the lives of many people, including the team itself.

"The first step was really obedience"

Spreading God’s words through mass media

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GOd’s pLAN For Nadz, being a part of Kakaiba Ka! has taught him to listen and trust in God’s plan. Nadz had always wanted to try a career in media. He even auditioned for a commercial FM station, only to realize in the end that it wasn’t part of God’s plan for him, as the lifestyle that the work promoted would compromise his community life. Until later on, he was led to Bobby, who then suggested that Nadz would be a suitable co-anchor for Kakaiba Ka! He felt the Lord telling him, “I’m listening to your prayers. If that is your desire, I will give it you but in the context of service.”

Today, as anchor of the show, Nadz is able to put the values of listening and trusting into practice. “Though we have a script, still we are able to trust in the Lord. We remind ourselves that God is in control of this program, and we are open to the leading of the Lord,” Nadz said.

fAITh sTRENGThENEdFor Christine, serving in Kakaiba

Ka! is a way of thanking the Lord for extending her life as she battles with

Be part of this new (air)Wave of Evangelization. Call or Text KAKAIBA KA! to find out how: 09186869028 / 09228008105 / 09189281352

cancer. As head of the writers’ pool, she gets a first-hand account of the stories of their guests. Listening to stories of different people who suffer from different problems help her realize how blessed she is, even as she goes through a difficult time herself. “I keep getting inspired with how they go through their lives with the Lord so it strengthens my faith as well. It’s an inspiration, an eye-opener and a way of giving back to the Lord. What I can give with what I have, trying to make use of the talents that He gave us.”

Carlos further said that serving in this ministry is simply doing his share in spreading the Good News.

Ultimately, it is the Lord who is really kakaiba and made all this possible.

Now that the Lord had started His work in Kakaiba Ka!, the team hopes for greater things in the future—television, social media and even apps—aimed towards mass evangelization.

However, in all these plans, Bobby cautioned that they should always take their cue from the Lord. “My vision is to just go where the Lord leads us. If the Lord tells us to stop doing what we’re doing tomorrow, we’re willing to drop it. Unless the Lord builds, we labor in vain.”

He further said: “But as long as the Lord gives us people, guests, funding and the support of our leaders in the community, then we’re good to go. We will come here every Sunday because we’re finding life in what we do. And I think that’s a good sign that the Lord is giving us the grace to keep on doing what we’re doing.”

With this leading, the team continues to go by the show’s tag line: Bubusugin namin kayo sa pag-asa at inspirasyon—sharing stories of hope and inspiration to its countless listeners, one episode at a time.

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A good marriage is a wellspring of joy – a good foundation for a vibrant community, particularly for one that calls itself Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon. This must be the motivation of the South Sector, spearheaded by ricky and Brenda dagelet. They are investing in a seven-session Marriage Course that leads couples not only deeper into each other’s hearts but ultimately into a deeper relationship with God.

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TN: What is the Marriage Course? Ricky and Brenda (R&B): It is a seven-session course for married couples who wish to enrich their marriage. They listen to talks, answer questions in a workbook, and have time to discuss among themselves. There is no counseling involved. Couples work on their own using the workbook as a guide in their discussions. They are never asked to share anything about their relationship other than their partner.

By Aly Sulit-Placino

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TN: How is it done? R&B: Part of the DVD set you purchase is a video guide on how to start the course. You have the option to give the talks using live speakers or just play the recorded talks from the DVDs. There is a manual that serves as a diagnostic tool to help identify areas where spouses are strong or weak. The sessions may be held at home or at any location that offers privacy and enough space for couples to discuss.

TN:How does it compare to the ECLS (Empowered Christian Life Series) or Pathways’ Choices programs?R&B: Unlike the ECLS or Choices programs where the primary objective is to bring us closer to God, the primary goal of the marriage course is to strengthen the relationship of the couple. It is for married couples only, and is open to non-Christians. We even have Muslims or Iglesia ni Cristo members who joined the course. But we do use Scriptures and the teaching of the church in many of the sessions.

TN: Why is it effective in drawing couples into the renewal? R&B: The program does not require couples to open up their difficulties with someone else, or are they grouped with other individuals. Discussions are between the couple alone. It is therefore more appealing to those who are not open to sharing their lives with others. It’s also a softer approach to evangelization since the goal in bringing them to Christ is indirect. In the last session of the Marriage Course, we always mention the importance of having a relationship with God and being part of a support group to sustain their relationship as a couple. This is when we invite them to the Pathways program.

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TN: How is it different is it from Marriage Encounter? R&B: Marriage Encounter is a weekend activity while Marriage Course is usually done over seven weeks. Studies show that it takes about seven weeks to break a habit. It gives couples enough time to absorb each session and practice what they learn in their lives.

TN: Can you tell us a little history behind the program and your work with it at the South Sector? R&B: We found out about the Marriage Course from the Alpha group in Australia where we were living before. We first did the course in our district (South E) and got positive feedback. We decided to open it to other couples in the sector and to those outside our community. Ever since, we have been giving this course in parishes, schools, companies, villages, and even in homes where a number of couples gather together each week. The course is open to anyone married but we get mostly young couples married between five and 15 years.

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Seven SeSSionS to a Better Marriage:

BUildinG sTronG FoUndATions Couples see how their lifestyles impact their marriage,

and how to discover more about each other’s needs and desires.

The ArT oF commUnicATion Couples practice communicating their feelings and

listening to one another more effectively.

resolvinG conFlicT Couples discover how expressing appreciation to each

other enhances their intimacy; recognize individual differences; learn to negotiate disagreements; and pray for each other.

The PoWer oF ForGiveness Couples learn to resolve hurts so we don’t create a

backlog of anger and resentment. Couples look at the process of healing through identifying the hurt, saying sorry and forgiving.

The imPAcT oF FAmily Couples recognize how their family background affects

the way they relate to each other. They also consider how to build a good and healthy relationship with their parents, in-laws and wider family, and how one’s hurt from childhood can be healed.

Good sex Couples are encouraged to talk about their sexual

relationship and to recognize where they need to make changes.

love in AcTion This session looks at five ways of expressing love –

through words, time, touch, presents and actions. Couples discover which expression of love is most important for their partner and how to put this into practice.

The high moments for Ricky and Brenda are hearing the sharings of those who have graduated from the program. The story of a couple who was headed for separation but learned to work out their differences after the course is one of the many stories that gives them joy and fulfillment. The added benefit is that they are able to apply the things they learned in their own relationships with each other and with their children.

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TWOGETHERNESS:

Best friends since birth, MARIE (left) and ChRIsTINE (right) Amarra are members of South Singles District. Gone are the days when they were made to wear matching clothes most of the time, receive the same birthday or Christmas presents, or to be compared as to who was better at what. At present, one’s into computers and the other one’s into art. For them, the fun part is observing people’s reactions upon finding out that they are twins. Once, Marie (without Christine who was at work) went to Baguio to trek Mt. Pulag. She went inside He-brews, a coffee shop run by Lingkod-Baguio. Marie bumped into a brother who was so happy to see her (thinking she was Christine, his former blockmate) and started a conversation right away. Marie had to politely interrupt him and reveal that she was Christine’s twin sister.

AMARRAs

Even in biblical times, twins had influenced salvation history. The most famous of which were Esau and Jacob (Gen. 25). Some say that Jacob’s wives Leah and Rachel were also actually twins. There were also Perez and Zerah from the somewhat scandalous liaison of Tamar and her father-in-law Judah (Jacob’s son) (Gen. 38). Even Joseph’s (he of the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat fame) sons, Mannaseh and Ephraim could possibly be twins (Gen. 41). Nevertheless, God destined that Jesus be descended from them.

In the New Testament, Thomas (John 11) is called Didymus (“twin”) but his brother is never mentioned in Scripture.

In Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon, we are able to muster six sets of twins ranging from the Friends of Jesus (FOJ) to the singles and the married districts. We hope this helps to distinguish one from the other, because we might just be talking to the wrong twin right now.

Blessings Twice Over

As twin brothers, pAUL ANdREW (right) and pAUL WILLIAM (Powell) Perez (left), are both blessed to be part of Ang Lingkod ng Panginoon-Bacolod. Initially, joining the community didn’t actually interest Powell that much, despite being prodded by Paul Andrew a number of times. One day, probably to let Powell attend, Paul Andrew told him that he wanted to pull a surprise for his brothers and sisters in Lingkod. Paul Andrew asked Powell to go inside the prayer meeting venue first. Then, Paul Andrew followed—to everyone’s surprise as they didn’t know he actually had a twin. It was indeed fun, but that “prank” paved the way for Powell to serve the Lord and later become the Branch Leader of Lingkod Bacolod. Their sister, Lucille (extreme left), is now even part of Lingkod Makati.

PEREZes

By Jun Viterbo

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TWOGETHERNESS: Blessings Twice Over

Bong and Arcie Dreu of the North District are proud of their handsome nine-year-old twins from FOJ, JOsEph (left) and fRANCIs (right), who are now studying at Morning Dew Montessori, Cainta.

Arcie recalls that during their preschool days, the twins had a naughty habit of exchanging their IDs in school. Their teacher would discover this many times and when she would ask Joseph to recite, she would realize that he was wearing Francis’ ID. For a time, Bong and Arcie had always wondered why they would arrive home wearing the wrong IDs.

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University District’s college students dAVE (left and from UP Diliman Business Administration) and dAN (right and from UST Mechanical Engineering), are twin sons of Romy and Fe Cruz from North District D. They had a peculiar experience as twins in their senior year in high school. At that time, they were in different sections and both were busy practicing for plays that they would perform in an upcoming contest. From the second floor of the school building, Dan was peacefully watching the class of Dave as they conducted their dry run when suddenly, a voice screamed at Dan, “Dave kanina pa tayo nagprapractice nandyan ka pa din?! Anong ginagawa mo dyan sa taas!” It was actually Dave’s class adviser scolding him out of nowhere. A classmate of Dave had to approach the adviser and explain the faux pas, and it was only then that the adviser realized that Dave was already there practicing with them and he was scolding the wrong guy.

CRUZesThe community’s only lawyer twins, LOT sAN pABLO-CABAsUG (right), married to fellow lawyer Judd Cabasug and mother to Nathan and Elijah, is now with Central District B, while sOL sAN pABLO (left) is now the Branch Women’s Moderator of Lingkod Marikina. The twins are somewhat unique: they were

born on different days (Lot on Dec. 28 and Sol on Dec. 29), in different cities (Lot in Tabaco, Albay and Sol in Legazpi City) and different ways (Lot by normal delivery and Sol by caesarian section). In college, Lot became an industrial engineer and Sol, an accountant. They are actually really different in many ways – different hairstyles, different distinguishing moles, preferences, personalities, likes and dislikes. Still, their father and Lot’s son, Nathan, can still confuse one with the other. By some strange coincidence, both decided to take up law.

Back when Lot was in college, she got sick with mumps and couldn’t go back to Manila in time for her summer class. Sol, an accounting major, had the challenge of her life as she had to attend classes (as Lot) for two weeks and to sit through difficult physics and chemistry lectures. While Lot’s classmates just sat relaxed in their chairs, Sol was sweating trying to copy everything on the board, at the same time taking down what the teacher was saying so Lot would not miss anything. Anyway, after that two weeks, the class discovered that Sol was the “the other Lot” and not the real Lot. But amid all this confusion, Lot and Sol both have the same identity –daughters of God, striving to imitate Him as best they can.

SAN PABLOs

Our brother Edwin Silang has the rare distinction of having twin sisters in both coasts of the US. pORTIA sILANG-pILApIL, married to Dennis Pilapil, was from the North District and has just recently moved to the East Coast in New Jersey. Her twin in the West Coast is pILITA sILANG-MORAN, married to John Moran. John and Pilita are now part of a SOS community in Los Angeles called City on a Hill, a community composed of many Ligaya and Lingkod alumni. From the University District, Portia and Pilita also served in Lingkod Greenhills where they met their respective spouses. Francis Iturralde, former Lingkod National Director, recalls that the twins were both gymnasts who could dance comparably to the 60s/70s TV “head throw” dancing icons, the Aldeguer Sisters.

SILANGs

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MY TAKE

Ang Aking Gabay sa PAGsubok

Nabubuhay ang aking pamilya sa isang simple, maingay at mataong lugar. Mahirap ang buhay kaya kailangan kumayod. Isang karpintero ang tatay ko noon at iyon ang ang ikinabubuhay namin. Si Mama na naman ay simpleng maybahay na mabait at maalalahanin. Siya ang lagi naming

kakampi. Istrikto ang aming ama kaya lahat kaming magkakapatid ay takot na takot sa kanya. Mabilis uminit ang ulo niya. Kahit ang mga batang kaibigan namin ay takot sa kanya. Hindi ko maikakaila na nagtanim ako ng galit sa aking ama at may mga pagkakataong isinusumpa ko na mamatay na siya.

May isang pangkakataon sa aming buhay na wala na kaming makain at bumabagyo pa. Matanda na kasi si Tatay kaya napirme na lang siya sa bahay. Para maibsan ang gutom namin, nakaisip si Mama ng isang pagkakakitaan. Iyon ay ang pagtitinda ng balut.

Nagtinda si Mama ng gabing iyon at napansin namin na hindi mapakali si Tatay. Iyon pala ay nag-aalala ng sobra kay Mama at nagseselos pala. Sinundo niya si Mama sa pwesto niya na may dalang pamalo. At doon nag-init ang dugo ni Mama. Nagkasagutan sila at bigla na lamang naglabas si tatay ng kutsilyo, pero mabilis na naagaw ni Mama ang kutsilyo kay Tatay. Akmang sasaksakin na ni Mama si Tatay nang niyakap siya ng kapatid ko.

Nahimasmasan si Mama at umiyak, maging ang Tatay ko ay gulat na gulat

din sa mga pangyayari at pinapili niya kaming magkakapatid kung kanino kami sasama. Pinili namin si Mama dahil sa sobrang takot namin sa kanya. Lalong tumindi ang galit ko sa aking ama at hindi namin siya pinapansin.

Hanggang isang araw ay nagkaroon ng maliit na Bible Study sa aming kapilya at sumali doon si Mama. Nakilala ni Mama ang Panginoon sa tulong ng kanyang mga lingkod at isa na dito si Sister Rose Padre. Hinimok niya si Mama na sumali sa Legion ni Maria at hindi siya nag-atubiling nagmiyembro dito. Minsan, magpilgrimage sila sa Lipa at binisita ang Our Lady, Mary, Mediatrix of All Grace. Dito nakita niya si Maria na papalapit sa kanya at hinihilot ang kanyang dibdib.

Dumating ang panahon na lumaki ang Bible Study at tinawag na Tahanan ng Panginoon. Sa tulong

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Ni Ivy Cullon Patnugot ni Ellen U. Virina

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ng patotoo ni Mama ay nahimok ding sumali ang aking ama. Nakita namin ang malaking pagbabago sa aming ama – humaba ang kanyang pasensya at higit sa lahat siya ang nagkukusa na magsimba at magdasal kaming mag-anak. Naging parte siya ng music ministry at banduria ang tinutugtog niya. Isa rin siya sa mga unang lalaking naging miyembro ng TNP Clinicville.

Mula noon, naging pala-dasal, pala-simba at tagapaglingkod na ng Panginoon ang aming pamilya. Maging ako rin ay nakaranas ng pagmamahal ng Diyos.

Naging dahilan ito para magpursige ako sa pag-aaral at balang araw ay maipagmamalaki rin nila ako. Nagtagumpay ako sa layunin kong iyon, naging honor student ako at nakilala sa eskwelahan dahil sa pagsusulat at nanalo ng iba’t-ibang parangal sa ibang school. Nguni’t sa kabila ng kasiyahan ay may naghihintay pala na isang matinding hamon.

Nagkasakit si Tatay at bago siya mamatay ay ipinatawag niya ako at kinausap. Sinabi niya na alagaan ko ang aking mga kapatid at si Mama. Humingi siya ng tawad sa lahat ng mga nagawa niyang kasalanan sa amin at di nagtagal umagos ang luha sa kanyang mga mata. Nagsisisi si Tatay at nagpasalamat sa amin. At ang mga huling salita niya ay ang di ko malilimutan: “Mahal na mahal ko kayo”, iyak ako ng iyak ng marinig ko iyon sa huling pagkakataon. Doon ko lamang narinig ang mga salitang iyon mula sa kanya.

At sa ikalawang pagkakataon ay sinisi ko ang Diyos kung bakit kinuha agad si Tatay. Hindi ko man lang naipadama sa kanya na mahal ko rin siya dahil kung wala siya di ako mabubuhay sa mundong ito. Tinalikuran ko ang Panginoon, nagalit ako at naging suwail na

anak. Natutunan kong maglayas at mabuhay ng mag-isa.

Nguni’t sadya talagang napakabuti ng Panginoon dahil hindi Niya ako pinabayaan sa mga panahong kinalimutan ko Siya. Nagising ako isang araw na umiiyak at punong puno ng pagsisisi, tinanong ko ang sarili ko ano ba ang ginagawa ko? Nagnilay-nilay ako at namulat sa mga kasalanang nagawa ko. Buong pusong isinuko ang sarili ko sa Panginoon. Nagbalik loob ako sa Kanya at pati na rin kay Mama. Iniisip ko ang pangako ko sa aking ama na hindi ko pababayaan ang mga kapatid ko at si Mama.

Kaya sa aking pagtatapos sa kolehiyo inaalay ko ang lahat ng paghihirap at karanasan sa buhay sa Panginoon, sa mga lingkod ng Tahanan ng Panginoon at Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon at sa aking ama na naging inspirasyon ko.

Gaano man kalayo ang maling direksyong dinaraanan mo, hindi pa huli para mag-“U-turn”. Ang Diyos ng biyaya ay kumikilos sa puso ng

mga anak Niya, pinapagkumbaba ang mapagmataas at itinataas ang mga mapagkumbaba. Tungkulin nating panghawakan ang mga biyaya ng Diyos para malabanan ang mga pagsubok sa buhay, maging matiyaga at hindi mapapagod.

Sa kabila ng ating pagkakaroon ng hangganan, ang ating buhay ay nasa kamay ng Isang nakakaalam ng lahat, kung ano, bakit at kung kailan tayo haharap sa unos ng buhay. At habang nagtitiwala tayo sa Kanya, gagabayan Niya tayo sa daang nais Niyang lakaran natin.

Gaano man kalayo ang maling direksyong dinaraanan mo, hindi pa huli para mag-“U-turn”.

Si Ivy ay isang iskolar ng TEAP Educational Assistance Program. Siya ay nagtapos ng BS Accountancy mula sa Technological University of the Philippines nitong Mayo 2012.

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I have a controlling nature. I always knew and got what I wanted. I wanted to marry someone who had certain qualities. I met a beautiful lady named Laurie Faustino who had them all. So I pursued her and ended up marrying her. After

Laurie and I got married in February 2000, she flew back with me to Silicon Valley in Northern California where I was working at that time.

Soon after we settled down in the States we found out Laurie was pregnant with our first child, Bea. My wife wanted to move back to Manila to get more support from our families in raising our baby. So we sold our place and moved back to Manila after she was born. A year after we moved back, our second daughter Gabbie was born. Soon after, we were able to buy a place near my parents’ house in Pasig. I felt that God was on my side and I could do nothing wrong.

But things started to turn for the worse. It was a very slow process. Slow enough to not really see it. From the outside, things looked pretty good. But in the inside I was lost, because I was forcing my ways. I did only what I wanted to do. My passionate nature would always be directed towards

one hobby to the next, one sport to the next, one activity to the next. My relationship with my wife deteriorated. I was a terrible husband to Laurie and an absentee father to Bea and Gabbie. And yet, God still gave me two more daughters, Andie and Talia. I was blessed with other things as well. But I did not acknowledge them as gifts from God. I failed to appreciate the blessings I was given.

At the totally lowest point of my life, I went to mass on a Friday evening in Christ the King Church in Greenmeadows. It was the church we used to go to every Sunday when I was a child. Apparently there was a celebration that night for the conclusion of the year of the priests. After the mass, it started raining hard and I didn’t have an umbrella.

When I saw that they were serving food and drinks, I decided to stay and try them out. Then I discovered there was a concert. So I sat down on one of the pews at the back and watched the performance. I couldn’t help but notice the Risen Christ statue in the background. I felt like He was looking straight at me with His loving eyes. I felt like He was smiling at me and bidding me to come to Him. So I imagined myself running to Him and hugging Him. And I honestly felt Him embracing me ever so tightly and telling me that He loves me very much. He made me feel everything was going to be all right. He made me feel safe. He made me feel His peace. I didn’t want that moment to end.

A few weeks later, sometime in July of 2010, my sister Anna invited me to attend one of their prayer group meetings. At first I was still a bit hesitant because I couldn’t see myself attending these meetings on a weekly basis. But somehow I felt the urge to try it out. So Laurie and I decided to go. We had the pleasure to meet my sister’s group. When we left the meeting, I still couldn’t see myself doing it on a regular basis. But I was intrigued about the community.

A few days after that, my sister called me to say that there would be a Choices Seminar in Poveda. I was again quite hesitant to commit that soon. And again I felt the urge to just say yes and see how it goes.

MY TAKE

From Control to suRRENDER

By Caloy Atilano

Confession of an Alpha Male

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I am far from a finished product. I still have my own share of faults and failures. I still fall. But what I can say is I rise up a lot faster now. Even if I lose my way, I end up on the right path a lot sooner and all of this because of the Lord. I have come to embrace the fact that I am weak but I am confident for Christ said in 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”

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my connection with the Lord. This connection with the Lord is vital. Through this community I’ve realized that the Lord is my only source of true love, peace and happiness. Since this source is all perfect, I always get my fill not just for myself to have but also for me to share with others. I have come to truly love the Lord’s commands. I have learned to want Him to direct all my steps. I have discovered the beauty in surrendering myself to Him.

Even though the seminar was for the hundred or so people in attendance, I felt God was talking to me on a personal level. Through the sharings of the speakers, I started to see how God works in people’s lives. These sharings were quite inspirational. I saw a common thread—people did their own thing and went their own way (which I did). They got lost so they called on God (which I also did). God heard their call and led them to Him (which happened to me). As they connected to Him they started doing His will. The Choices Seminar taught me how to connect to Him and how to maintain that connection. It taught me how to develop a real relationship with God.

Through this community, I’ve realized the need to endlessly improve

"my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

From Control to suRRENDER

Caloy is now an underway member of LNP Central District E. This is an abridged version of his sharing.

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What 12 adjectives you consistently hear in your honorings over your 35 years in Ligaya ng Panginoon?

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10 QUESTIONS

Of God and GRACElady of substance:

Forgiven. Grateful. Blessed. Evolving. Happy Wife. Mother, Daughter. Sister. Good Eater. Introvert

1Describe yourself in 12 words.

passionate. Committed. holy. prayerful. Articulate. Effervescent. smart. Good listener. Impeccable taste. Creative. Artistic. Talented. That’s 14 words, but only 12 adjectives.

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Before we got married, Chito expressed a preference for a full-time wife. I was happy to take on that role. It gave us time to adjust to one another and build a strong foundation for our married life. Some

3Who is the domesticated Anna? had said then that I gave up much

when I chose to stop working but in truth, I received more than What I gave up.

We have three children, Gabriel, Rafael and Michaela, who are my breath. Chito is my heartbeat. It was good to be there as the children

were growing up. It was good to be available to join Chito during the very demanding days of his government service. I was doing some writing during that time. It has always been something that brought me much pleasure and personal satisfaction.

Anna sobrepeña

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Prayer happens throughout the day – an hour and a half in the morning before everyone wakes up, 45 minutes after Chito leaves for work, in the car when I am traveling, before meetings, during meetings, randomly in situations, when I am shopping or find an opportunity to share about God, and before sleeping.

6When do you pray?

Pope John Paul II

7If you could invite a holy person to your home as a dinner guest, who would it be?

Conversation and good company. I will also invite a preferred company to join us —probably have Gaita Fores prepare a dinner with Filipino touches and accompanied by Veuve Clicquot, Grand Crus from Burgundy, La Tache, and Chateaux d'Yquem.

8What would you serve him?

Exodus, The Little Prince, St. Francis of Assisi, Paul's letter to the Romans.

9What books have had the most im-pact on you?

You're on track to your best life. Stay the course.

10Given the chance, what would

you tell your 18-year old self?

She is a member of North District B. Currently the Editor-in-Chief of Lifestyle Asia, she also sits on the board of different groups and companies, in support of artistic talents, education and charities. Anna was True North's first Editor-in-Chief who put the magazine together with other volunteers.

How do you balance your life as a high society editor-

in-chief and as a Ligaya member?

On an average, 10 to 12 a week. It isn't a question of enjoying or not enjoying the events. Being there is part of the job. Attending functions and events are opportunities, not just to mine the occasion for possible feature articles for Lifestyle Asia, but also to give the magazine visibility. I am effectively the face of Lifestyle Asia and being present promotes the publication, increases awareness and connects to the target market.

Brothers and sisters tell me that they see me a lot in the papers. More importantly, they see me at the community gatherings. I make an appearance in social events, sometimes staying for just a few minutes to honor the invitation or to connect for the purposes of the magazine. When I am in a Ligaya event, I am there for the entirety.

4 How many social events do you

attend in a week? Do you enjoy them?

Wherever God places us be-comes our mission field. Who I am precedes what I do and I am God's daughter. That identity determines

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my conduct, my appearance, my conversation.

As Editor-in-Chief, I am in a posi-tion to pass on values to my team and give them not just an assignment but a direction defined by integrity, excel-lence and kindness. The industry we are in exposes us to many enticements. Just telling them that they are worth more than a designer bag or a trip abroad sets the standard for the sub-stance of the magazine. I encourage them to give their best and to compete with their last issue, to go beyond their reach and aim for the stars.

This is the prologue to telling them to follow God's lead, acknowl-edging Him as a matter of course when difficult assignments are accomplished successfully, or when blank walls become canvasses. Our weekly meetings begin and end with prayers which I randomly assign to the members of the team. Adopting the tradition of honoring birthday celebrants has not only fostered a team spirit but encourages positive speech and a culture of affirmation in the workplace.

“Then and Now”

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John 20:21

"Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me,

so I send you."

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