Someone sent me a link on youtube entitled Tessie Aquino Oreta says “Sorry”. Since I don’t have cable television I have not watched what apparently many others have. I clicked on the link and watched the post. I thought it was a pretty good thing, until I read all the comments from those who have viewed the clip.

I guess many of those who made comments are questioning the intent of Tessie’s apology. Unfortunately definitive conclusions cannot be made on the basis of a 59 second video clip, who knows what her true motives are? Which brings me to the reasons why I am writing this post:

First, I met Tessie right after the dancing incident happened when she was still a senator. I have seen her grow as a Christian at close range in the years that followed. It is my hope that this blog will help others know the real story behind her apology.

Secondly, this blog (In Good Company) is all about the interesting people I meet along the course of my ministry as a pastor and Tessie qualifies for a post here. Her transformation has been such that I want my friends and family to know she has become a friend.

Time and time again I have seen how adverse circumstances and situations of helplessness have caused people to call on God. Fact is people don’t realize their need for God until a similar situation happens to them. This truth applies to most people including senators like Tessie. In her arrogance God humbled her, which resulted in her need for God.

I met Tessie during a dinner at her relatives’ home. They were members of our church, Victory Christian Fellowship. I guess not very many people liked having dinner with her at the time. My first impression was a headstrong woman laced with a strong sense of self-confidence. On the other hand, I knew the Holy Spirit was working on her.

Not long after I received a call from her and asked if she could meet with me. Tessie came to my home complete with the entourage of a senator. It was there that I spoke to her about how God brings to light things in our lives so that we can deal with them, things like pride. To my amazement she received my words, yet still with a hint of reservation almost like one who says “I am sorry but…..”

That afternoon Tessie and I prayed in full view of staff and bodyguards. I told her of the importance of reading her Bible and the need to live a life of prayer. But the acid test was when I asked if we could meet once a week to lay the foundation for being a disciple (follower) of Jesus Christ. The look on her face was obvious…..she did not see that coming.

Tessie said she was busy with the Senate. To which I responded, I am asking for 60 minutes a week, surely you have that time for the things of God. I told her to pick any day and any time she was available and I will be there. Now she had no more excuse. Eventually she acquiesced. Tessie said, okay, Monday 7:30 AM.

To this day I still wonder if Tessie said that so I would back off. Sundays are my busiest days and getting up at 6:00 on Monday (my day-off) was a “bummer”. Again I surprised her by saying “I will be there” – (looking back I surprised myself too).

And so it would come to pass that I met with Tessie every Monday morning with another member of our staff. Each week she had questions mainly because she kept reading her Bible. And each week we answered her queries. Gradually Tessie grew in the knowledge of her God.

In time I connected her to Tony and Fenian Moran. It was this couple who relentlessly taught her the foundations of the faith in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Several months after, Tessie publicly declared her trust in Jesus and had herself baptized in her own swimming pool.

It has been about 5 years since I met Tessie. In some of those years I have received phone calls from her reporting how she said sorry to members of her family, friends and political adversaries. I can no longer count the number of times Tessie has told me “Joey, ang yabang ‘ko no.” The once headstrong woman has become a peacemaker, a daughter of the KING.

Last year Gerry Lirio of the Philippine Inquirer wrote an article entitled “Ninoy sister finds renewal, forgiveness” an article based on an interview with Tessie, there he recorded her remorse and publicly ackonowledged her mistake and apologized.

Is Tessie really sorry? I believe she is. All she has done was make public what I have seen her do in private in the last 4 years.

Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven — for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Luke 7:47-48

See also my other posts:
Discipleship and the NCAA
Prayer and the Snails

They are medical doctors and pastors rolled into one. He is also one of the founding directors of the Real Life Foundation. The effectiveness of their ministry is due to a focused strategy.  Their area of focus is Pasig more particularly among the students of Rizal High School.

Rizal High School is located at Dr. Sixto Antonio Avenue, Caniogan, Pasig City, Metro Manila. It has been cited by he Guinness Book of World Records as the “largest high school in the world” since 1993. Today, it has a student population of more than 25,000.

Its Alumnae include former Senator Neptali Gonzales, former Senator Jovito Salonga, former Senator Rene Saguisag, Maestro Lucio San Pedro, and National Artist Carlos “Botong” Francisco, to mention a few.

Clearly this place is a hotbed of future leaders .85 % of its student population however are very poor. They walk to school and come from families with incomes averaging 8-15 thousand pesos (US $ 160 – 300) a month. They come from dysfunctional families that need more than just money.

Yet, in the midst of these, the school boasts of brilliant students who excel in National academic contests, Math and Science Quizzes, Arts, Journalism contests, Sports and Music.

So, who cares for Pasig’s poorest? They are Drs. Joey and Tess Castro. I have known Joey and his wife Tess (both medical doctors) for more than 10 years and have seen them quietly serve this community with everything from providing free medical assistance, counselling and child care. And now through the Real Life Foundation they are providing some of these students with concrete steps to go through college.

What has impressed me all these years with Joey and Tess is the humility and joyful attitude they have in the midst of all the direnes that surrounds them. Where they get the seemingly endless energy and smiles is a wonder.

On weekends their local church Victory Christian Fellowship Pasig hauls squatter kids by the hundreds and bring them to their center. They teach them how to brush their teeth, wash their face, cut their nails and other hygienic practices.

More importantly they have discipleship and leadership programs both for the High School students and little children. But what is most admirable is how they have raised these young men and women to become leaders who make leaders as well. What this means is that all this work is long term and is sustainable.

Last Night I was with Joey Castro at the Van Hagen and Van Hagen Exhibit at the Shangri-la Hotel in Makati. Dutch artists Alex and brother Hans Van Hagen have elected to donate proceeds to the Real Life Foundation. Alex is a member of Victory Christian Fellowship – Fort Bonifacio and is part of our discipleship group that meets at the Every Nation Building on Thursday evenings.

Thank you Joey and Tess for your wonderful example that you both are and thank you Alex and Hans for your generosity and love for our country.

If you wish to know more about or support the Real Life Foundation you can best access them through this link: Real Life Foundation

Jack and the Beanstalk, X-Men, High Schoolers in a Musical, Golum, Eskimos, Penguins, Shrek, Egyptians and many others?”

“Whatever it takes!” That’s their motto. Week in week out this team of volunteers turn a room for 250 kids into a surprise. Some weekends kids ages 9-12 cannot wait to arrive to see what the surpirse will be.

On certain days the place is transformed into a look a like set for Narnia, the following weekend it looks like a pirates ship, the North Pole, a jungle complete with live plants. It is quite an amazing feat.

What’s really amazing is this weekly trnasformation is done by a team of volunteers. They come on Saturdays to work on the props discuss the costumes, lights, make-up when necessary, script and object lessons.

All with the intent of engaging these boys and girls with Bible truth presented in a way that is “un-boring”.

Every now and then I see these guys in action when I am at the building on Saturdays. The team is made up of men and women. Mostly young, single and some older married. Together they inspire, teach, model and impart a life of service to the next generation.

They are the men and women of Kid’s Church at Victory Christian Felowship at Fort Bonifacio. Visit them on Sundays at the Every Nation Building’s lower ground floor.

See them at work in this chronicle of pictures: Whatever It Takes!

See also:   Genie Out of the Lamp

US Ambassador Kristie Kenny, Senator Manny Villar, MMDA Chief Bayani Fernando and other luminaries?

Rather than write a long blog about this party I am linking this blog to Steve Murrell’s (Pastor Meets President Again) who has a full account of the event complete with pictures.

What was impressive was why our friend did what he did. It was his desire to minister to the leaders of the land. Even more amazing was how he had asked everyone to abstain from giving him a personal gift and instead give to the ministry that helps thousands of people.

Why were we even there? First of all the celebrant is a good friend of ours, secondly he decided to rent the Every Nation Building and celebrate his party there. Happy Birthday old friend we have enjoyed many good years of partnership with you and your ministry…….

Pastor Meets the President Again

They came almost 4 years ago and today they have planted over 100 churches with accompanying pre-schools and micro-financing in the direst places in Metro Manila.

The secret to their success stems from the simple act of serving people. The approach starts with providing people with basic needs like generators and water (when necessary), micro-financing for livelihood and education.

Apart from the 100 churches they have 35 pre-schools that have over 1300 enrolled. Average tuition is 200 pesos a month (US$ 4.00).

The organization is known as Urban Church Planting Project (UCPP). A key factor to their success has been the collaboration with other ministries who ably provide their assistance, support and expertise in the various undertakings of the project.

This blog however will focus on 2 men who have been instrumental to the success of the project – Pastor Jim Hayford and Pete Forras.

Last Friday I met Pastor Jim. We had invited him to minister to our staff. His love for God and the poor was so evident that it did not take long to get all of us in the room to be moved by his message. There was no dry eye.

Most impressive was the fact that Pastor Jim is in his sixties and has been in ministry for the last 43 years. Clearly he has not settled on past accomplishments.

Pastor Jim was introduced to us by Pete Forras. Pete is one of their ministry’s team leaders from Seattle but now lives in Manila. While Pete leads this mission he attends the church at Victory Christian Fellowship – Fort Bonifacio.

Pete has gone through every part of our church’s discipleship program. He is a part of my discipleship group on Wednesday mornings. I have been amazed at his humble demeanor and willingness to go through everything we told him to.

After meeting Pastor Jim, it explains why Pete behaved the way he did. Pete is working to implement our discipleship program in their churches.

One of the things I so appreciate with the UCPP is their challenge to new church plants and communities to start and grow within 3 years. This way these new believers do not become dependent on dole outs.

Thank you Pete and thank you Pastor Jim. You are great examples of collaboration and how the body of Christ should be working together.

See pictures of the meeting with Pastor Jim and Pete Forras

To know more about UCPP, visit also Matt Messner’s Blog

My family is questioning the sanity my plans of having yet another blog (my fourth). As I have pointed out in a past blog – Compartments in my life – I thrive better in having compartments rather than having a handbag. After all I am a man.

More than another blog this is just another compartment. It is just easier for me to do it this way.

This compartment (blog) is dedicated to the wonderful people I meet. I hate to lose the memories I have as I encounter these people in the course of a day as a minister and often just as an earth dweller.

A final reason is I would like to leave the tracks for my family and friends. Tracks of people whose values, work and friendship I have been privileged to know of and in many instances learn and benefit from.