Month: February 2020

An Interview by JoReMi on Orly & Sarah Manuel (BCLP 1)

It was only recently that I met Kuya Orly and Ate Sarah and in relating this to the article here, it was hard to imagine the reclusive and disconnected character that Kuya Orly describes of himself.  We always made eye contacts at gatherings but never a deep conversation. This changed when we were both involved in a late-night breakfast team fellowship.  We were the only three men left and we discussed everything from politics, do-it-your-self home projects, preferred alcoholic drinks, and local happenings in the community. This was not the man as he described here at one time so it is indeed a paradigm shift to say the least. In a sense, I can relate because I myself grew up an “airline brat” where we would move every 2-5 years in the 50+ years that I spent in the States. So while I had many friends, I had no close friends. In the case of the Manuel couple, what magic BCBP does to a person! Read for yourself and you’ll know what mean …

“A Pattern of Life Lived for a Long Period Speaks Volumes of One’s Attitude and Personality.”

Many years prior to BCBP, I have had few friends and they were limited to those in my most immediate circle.  One could be a next door neighbor, a seat mate in school, an office mate or someone closest by virtue of a circumstance, but were simply momentary friends because they would be readily disconnected as I move to another segment of my living and existing. Thus, high school friends were gone since I was already in college, office mates or drinking buddies vanish after a transfer to a new workplace.  Mostly, they were just surface relationships akin to unrelated stories and episodes made irrelevant at every turn of a page in my life’s storybook.  Friends ordinarily come and go simply because I do not get in touch anymore.  In short, I do not keep, nurture nor cherish relationships. 

Obviously it comes easy to imagine that after I left my work in a bank and moved to a multinational company, my new set of acquaintances has again relegated the others offstage. Yes, new bunch of friends came along but the strings of relationships were readily tossed away all in a similar pattern as my career saw me through 6 different employments. May be, it is neither surprising that at one point later, I adopted a home to office and office to home daily routine; thereby, keeping my world revolve just around myself, my work, and my family. And so understandably, it follows that I and Sarah rarely had social interactions apart from people in our workplaces.  

With so much time for one another, Sarah and I were blessed with 5 children in 11 years after our marriage in 25th of May 1980. And as God’s destiny would lead us, we moved here in Mactan in 1987, without knowing anyone in the place. Predictably again, in the 7 years that followed, we managed for forge friendship with our next door neighbor only. One occasion however, like a gas that cannot be suppressed in a container, Sarah’s cordial personality led her to venture out in the neighborhood and become a Matron Queen of Barangay Gun-ob in one of its festivities but unfortunately for her, I couldn’t be persuaded to be her escort up in the stage on coronation night. 

Then BCBP came in 1994.  Right soon after finishing BCLP 1, in a lottery pick, I was tasked to head the Music Ministry. And as time rolled on, we were called to serve in different capacities within the chapter and in mission outreaches in the cities of Ormoc, Zamboanga, and Bogo. And finally as chapter head of Mactan in 2015 – 2017. Although we found joy in what we were doing, all along, I incessantly felt doubtful and uncomfortable like I was some kind of a roundly contoured figure forced into a square peg. Suffice to say, not in my wildest dream, if I were to chart my own journey. 

Yet all the twists and turns in our service involvement led to a new perspective. As God paved a new way of life for Sarah and me, He also made possible a transformation in outlook and attitude in life.  And who could have imagined, from a reclusive manner of life to become someone who now has learned to relate, circulate, forge deeper relationships aplenty. And I may have not completely overcome my old nature but it amazes me how God, though the 26 years of BCBP membership, brought changes in how I look at life, put value in my relationships, and showed Sarah and me a meaningful, fulfilling and gratifying world apart from our own selves.

A paradigm shift, by God’s grace it is! Glory to the One, the Lord of all!

By Vicky De La Peña

February 14 of every year is designated as Valentine’s Day or Heart’s Day all over the world. Singles, couples, families who believe in love, consider this day special, an occasion to celebrate and express a positive, feel-good hormone which induces an emotion recognized as love.

February 14, 2020 was no exception. Being a Friday, a weekender, the streets teemed with vehicles rushing to malls, restaurants and places purposely prepped up with red hearts, flowers and balloons, all symbols of love. Prior reservations were arranged to accommodate celebrators of the occasion. Lovers and non-lovers enjoyed candle-lit dinners, eyes locked on each other, savoring the moment and the ambiance, while listening to the band playing one love song after another, making more memories before the moment explodes to oblivion. End of day.

But wait, the BCBP Mactan Chapter cooked up a post-Valentine celebration. February 15 was a joint breakfast fellowship, but more than the usual shared “breaking of bread,” a surprise awaited everyone.

Kuya Rolly and Stef Olalo, heads of the Celebrations Ministry, came up with an idea of an after-breakfast “love event” for the attending couples. “Co-conspirators” Family Life Ministry Head, Kuya Ram and Ate Mina Loterte and Breakfast Ministry Head, Kuya Eton and Ate Veron Apao spruced up the venue of the breakfast fellowship by prepping the venue in red and putting up a “love-seat” cum “photo booth.” Colorful swatches of cloths draped the seat’s backrest. Red was still the favorite color of the attendees and everyone was in the “mood for love.”

The couples were then called to the front for the renewal of vows, officiated by no less than Fr. Solis. As in wedding ceremonies, they faced each other, held hands, looked into each other’s eyes and on cue, recited the vows they made on their wedding day. It was a kilig moment even for the single members of the community. Love truly pervaded the air. The “you may kiss the bride” command of Fr. Solis highlighted the ceremony.

Of course, the event wouldn’t be complete without the participation of Kuya Joe and Ate Lynne who acted as light sponsors, and Chapter matriarch Ate Susan Recamara, who inspired the “just-remarried” couples with her message on love and marriage.

Finally, the couples lovingly held each other and danced to the song, “How did you know,” rendered by Ate Vicky de la Peña. Love needs to be experienced or shown not only on Valentine’s Day, but every day of the year. As a line in Frank Sinatra’s song goes, “each day is Valentine’s Day.”

I was one of those given an assignment by our Editor in Chief kuya Edwin Casinillo to do a random chitchat with kuyas and ates on such a big question. Furthermore, others verbalized what they can give back.. Way to go ates and kuyas!!!!

“We are more or less 17 years in this community” says Ate Pat Cordova. “BCBP is the only community we felt we are at HOME. In fact, our love for the community made us chose Cebu as where we will stay for good. We will be here for service as long as BCBP needs us. To be honest about it, BCBP made Kuya Cords more religious”

Ate Tata Argota …. “it made us do tithing regularly” She added that she felt the closeness in the community with all other members. She said that they were “shepherd” well.

“Camaraderie….bonding and the culture practiced in BCBP made us stay and we will be in service in whatever capacity we have” from the words of Kuya Toto Chato

“I was at my lowest low when BCBP came into my life. I saw God in the midst of this community thus I found comfort and peace within me. I am committed to be of service. ” said Ate Grace Plaza

Kuya Jun Baynosa said.. ” It is like a 50/50 equation. I am working say 9.5hrs a day… Iife without God is incomplete. By far BCBP is the one that fits and suits me.”

Ate Rose Ayag spoke words when asked .. shepherding…Apostolic works…Gods calling. Plus the prodding of her mom in law Ate Virgie ☺️. She explained that before she became a BCBP member, she was active with another charismatic community but she felt differently now. She said that she can give back by supporting mission services.

This month, I interviewed Kuya Eton and Ate Veron Apao from our own Mactan Chapter.  Together, they are the 2020 chapter Breakfast Heads.  Kuya Eton served in many leadership roles including Assistant AGL, AGL, Unit Leader, Programs and Services Director, Mission Director, as well as BCLP 25 Course Leader.  So here in their own words, Let’s get personal …

The Cycle of Serving … “If You’re Happy, I’m Happy!”

January 28, 2020 … I was driving when I got word about being interviewed for the Taytayan Newsletter. 

It got me thinking deeply on what I wanted to talk about.  It came to me right away that I wanted to talk about my service to the BCBP community and how I viewed my attraction to serving and what actually drew me to serving.

I started to reflect and it turns out that serving in various capacities and how it played itself out is the very reason why it attracted me … the sharings during breakfasts, chika-chika, professional nature of the fellowships, and the camaraderie … these were all nice and it was not deeply religious in nature (something that I really related to).  But in the course of these positive experiences, I started to become more religious in nature, in sharp contrast to my wife Veron, who prayed every Friday.

When I joined the BCLP, I realized that it was transforming me into loving Jesus.  When we started meeting with our AGM, my perception went beyond it being just a social venue.  Because when we started reading the bible and discussing our spiritual faith and experiences, it drew me closer to the group because the whole group participated.  The small group allowed me to open up my inner and true feelings.  Soon, my service took me to the Music Ministry, Breakfast Greeter, among others.

The turning point was when we attended the BCMR, where I wanted to go deeper into serving and in turn, allow others to learn from me … to feel the same thing that I’m feeling.  One of the things that I took on with passion was inviting others to join the BCBP community, to bring in as many First Timers as I can to our Breakfast Fellowship.

But just as my focus on First Timers drew out the passion in me, it soon also became the demotivating factor for I was not successful in convincing and bringing in First Timers.  This affected me deeply and I started loosing faith in my capabilities.  I attempted to seek advice and guidance from other members on how best to realize my passion.  In the end, my faith and trust became worst to a point that we began being absent more frequently from BCBP functions (for about six months).  We were now heavily discouraged and disaapointed, with the thought of quitting or going lie-low.

While attending one of the teaching events, there was a talk on the cycle of serving and the various “moods” that govern one’s level of involvement.  This, coupled with missing all the friends we have come to know when we were regular attendees, started to hit us.  But the overriding factor that started our return to BCBP was the personal efforts by other members who called us and to encourage our return to BCBP.  This affected us tremendously and in a most positive way.  This was a far cry from the general notices and announcements that we received, but not in a personal nature as receiving a phone call.

Soon, I was asked and I accepted to be an assistant AGL.  Then, I was asked to be an AGL but declined because I felt I wasn’t ready and again, it was difficult to garner support for the members to attend the meetings.  We became regular members for a year and was asked again to be an AGL.  But this time, I wanted something in return, I wanted to be trained as an AGL.  In response, all the potential AGLs were placed in one group to learn together.  After my AGL tenure, I became a Unit Leader (2007) which began my role as part of the Governance Team.  I then realized that these types of servant-leadership role is a privilege.  It made me realize the impact I had on other people … making them happy, which in turn made me happy. I highly encourage and promote that everyone should serve.  Members should also express their happiness and positivity at the monthly Assemblies on their state of mind and/or vision.

I took my governance role deeper and became Mission Director (2010).  Having gone through the cycle of serving, I can only hope that everyone takes advantage of the opportunity to serve.  Because making people happy gave me such joy and happiness on how I impacted people in the same way.  This is the reason why I continue my active service role now as the Breakfast Head with my wife, Veronica and to also serve as an example for the benefits of serving.