Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Special thanks to everyone who browsed www.familymatters.org.ph or availed of the free legal information and Biblical counseling services of the website and its related blogs: [1] “Legal Updates” at www.famli.blogspot.com; [2] “Baptist Churches in the Philippines” at www.baptist-rp.blogspot.com; [3] “Families of Faith” at www.families-of-faith.blogspot.com; [4] “Salt and Light” at www.-salt-and-light-.blogspot.com; and [5] “Campus Connection” at www.campusconnection.blogspot.com.

Deepest thanks to everyone who received every Monday morning at 8:30 to 9 AM my “FYI – new article …” text messages and forwarded them to others.

Tender thanks to the women (betrayed, battered or abandoned by their husbands) who e-mailed me, with the hope that the legal information I provided has helped even in some small way. Psalms 68:5 says, “A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.” James 1:27 also declares, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

Sincere thanks to the BMP-HELP pastors and church workers for their love gift during their Tagaytay, November 23, 2006 conference; it enabled me to pay for the next quarter web hosting fees of the Family Matters website.

Heartfelt thanks to Bro. David Witta (from Massachussetts, USA) and his family for their gifts of books and CDs. Same for Ptr. Norwin Cruz of Grace Bible Baptist Church, Dasmarinas, Cavite (and Doha , Qatar), Bro. Nazario Angeles Jr., missionary to Saipan, Ptr. Joey Conui of Christ Baptist Church, and Ptr. Manny Orara of Maranatha International Baptist Church for their words of encouragement and affirmation for the value of these Internet ministries.

Appreciative thanks to Ptr.Gerardo Nable and my Bethany Makati churchmates, especially Coty Cataluna, Ligaya Gutierrez, Cherry Molina, Lyn Solis, Jonas Pimentel and Deacon Mario de Ocampo Jr.

Grateful thanks to spouses Robert and Ela (Flores) Questadio for their faithful reading and discussion with others of my Salt and Light articles. Ditto for Mylah Reyes-Roque, Rizal High School Class ‘87, for the affirmation to continue writing (George Bernard Shaw once said, “He who can, does. He who cannot, teaches.”)

Earnest thanks to webmasters Armand Serrana of Moriah BBC for the technical info on HTML and Dreamweaver, and Erin Cabanawa of Pasig BBC for the hyperlink to my website.

Warmest thanks to the pastors, church workers and members, Bible school students, teachers and students who attended my lecture-seminars (legal, covenant marriage and photojournalism):

[1] Legal seminars, Landmark Baptist College, Pasig City, February 28 and March 7, 2006

[2] RA 9262 seminar for NSTP students, L.D. Woosley Bethany Colleges, March 4, 2006

[3] Covenant marriage seminar, Baptist Men and Women’s Joint Fellowship, Baptist Bible Church, Sta. Mesa, Manila, under Ptr. Joseph Boyd Lyons, February 26 and March 26, 2006

[4] Family Code seminar, Maranatha International Baptist Church, Parang, Marikina, under Ptr. Many Orara, February 26, 2006

[5] Legal seminar, Grace Bible Baptist Church, Dasmarinas, Cavite , under Ptr. Norwin Cruz, March 18, 2006

[6] Legal seminar, Single Parents for Christ, led by Sis. Linda Pawhay, March 19, 2006

[7] Baptist College of Leadership, Faith Baptist Church, Novaliches, under Ptrs. Gary Phillips and Lance Gotcher, April 6, 2006

[8] Legal seminar, Biblical Fundamentalism Conference, Christ Baptist Church, Muntinlupa, under Ptr. Joey Conui, May 11, 2006

[9] Paralegal training and Introduction to Law, Christ Baptist Church, Muntinlupa, under Ptr. Joey Conui, June 19 and 26, July 3 and 10, 2006

[10] Photojournalism seminar, Maria Montessori Christian School, Pembo, Makati, August 19, 2006

[11] Photojournalism training and contest, District 5, Division of Pasig City and San Juan, Caniogan Elementary School, September 7 and 8, 2006

[12] Family Code seminar, Christ Baptist Church, Paliparan, Dasmarinas, Cavite, under Ptr. Paulo Malabanan, September 17, 2006

[13] True Love Waits lecture, Promised Land Bible Baptist Church, Dasmarinas, Cavite, under Ptr. Renato Dognidon, September 17, 2006

[14] Panel discussion, Psych 118, UP College of Psychology , October 10, 2006

[15] Photojournalism contest and Division Press Conference (grade school level), Division of Pasig City and San Juan, October 5 and 10, 2006

[16] Legal seminar, Nicanor Ibuna Elementary School, San Juan,Metro Manila, October 23, 2006

[17] Legal seminar, Pinagbuhatan Elementary School, October 25, 2006

[18] Photojournalism seminar, Santolan High School, October 20, 2006

[19] Photojournalism lecture and contest (high school level) Division of Pasig City and San Juan, November 7, 2006

[20] Regional Schools Press Conference, Region III, Talavera, Nueva Ecija, November 14-17, 2006

[21] Family Code seminar, Moriah Bible Baptist Church, Marikina, under Ptr. Efren Padua, November 12 and 19, 2006

[22] Legal seminar, Baptist Missions Partners (BMP), Annual Pastors and Workers Conference, Tagaytay, November 23, 2006

[23] Family Code seminar, Grace and Truth Baptist Church, Kawit, Cavite, under Ptr. Cornelio Datur, December 3, 2006

[24] Legal seminar, God’s Grace Christian School, Santolan, Pasig City, December 20, 2006

[25] Technical writing seminar for Student Council officers, Division of Pasig City and San Juan, December 27, 200
“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Proverbs 4:18

To God be the glory!

Monday, December 04, 2006

Legal and Biblical seminar on “The Family Code of the Philippines” and “The Biblical basis for marriage” at Grace and Truth Baptist Church, Kawit, Cavite, December 3, 2006

The GTBC, under the leadership of Ptr. Cornelio Datur, held the seminar as part of its family emphasis month, with church members, barangay officials and others in attendance. I gave the lecture on the essential provisions of the Family Code of the Philippines and Republic Act 9262, while Dr. Roberto Joe Livioco, pastor of Foundation Baptist Church in Pasig City, gave a message on the Biblical foundations of marriage and the family, as provided for in the Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy.

GTBC, now on its 9th year of existence, is located at Lot 5, Blk 13, Cavite Viejo Village, Gahak, Kawit, Cavite.

Sunday, November 26, 2006



Ptr. Boyd Lyons of Sta. Mesa BBC welcoming the participants from youth groups of various churches in and outside of Metro Manila



Ptr. Gerard Mateo and Sis. Bel from Sta. Maria, Bulacan

Ptr. James Montenegro and wife, from San Ildefonso, Bulacan

Pastors, missionaries and wives testifying on God's call on their lives





Special number from LD Woosley Bethany Colleges, a ministry of Bethany Makati

Special number from Academy of Light Alumni Quintet, from Caloocan BBC

The Sta. Mesa BBC choir



Ptr. Dennis Potts from Gospel Light Baptist Church, Quezon City, giving the message

Missionary Abcede Garcia, Indonesia, with Ptr. Boyd and Ptr. Potts

Msnry. Garcia, Ptr. Lyons and Sis. Gina Elagor, on deputation for Cambodia

Delegation from Bethany Makati, led by Bro. John Art Hernan, prayer director



Students from Asia Baptist Bible College with music teacher Sally Galacio-Dim

Girls from Sta. Mesa BBC

Good friends and ABBC batchmates Msnry. Garcia and Bro. Dok Apawan of Sta. Mesa BBC



Delegation from Laloma BBC





Senior ABBC students





Friday, November 24, 2006

Baptist Mission Partners (Philippines) Pastors and Churches Annual Bible Conference, Tagaytay, November 22 - 24, 2006

Some 150 national pastors and church workers attended the three-day conference sponsored by the BMP Philippines, in cooperation with the USA-based Help Evangelize Lost People ministry. BMP Philippines and HELP USA have been in partnership since 1995 in the Hope 2020 project (Hastening of People's Evangelization).

As part of the activities, I gave a lecture on “Divorce and remarriage from the Philippine legal standpoint” and the essential provisions of Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.

Ptr. Edwin Tan presiding over the activities of the conference
Ptr. Renato Morada (on the right) still going strong even after 50 years of faithful service to Christ

The BMP's motto: Dignity, Integrity and Equality


Venue of the conference - Tagaytay Mission Camp


Tagaytay boasts of breathtaking views and a cool climate, providing the conference participants a welcome respite from their church responsibilities

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

In memoriam: Ptr. Pedro Narvaez, 1st death anniversary, November 6, 2006

November 6 marks the first death anniversary of Ptr. Narvaez, beloved pastor (Independent Baptist Church, Pateros) and professor (Asia Baptist Bible College, Sta. Mesa, Manila, and Baptist Bible College, Bethany Makati). You can view pictures of his funeral services by clicking 2005-11-13 and 2005-11-20 (after the pictures of the ABBC Choir concert) at the Archives section on the right hand column of this blog.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Soul Winning Revival Conference,
Asia Baptist Bible College Alumni Association,
Hosted by Moriah Bible Baptist Church,
October 23, 2006


Theme of this year’s conference: “Restore the Power, Renew the Glory, Revive the Fire”

Ptr. Efren Padua is pastor of the host church, Moriah BBC.



Bro. Ireneo Bogtong emceeing the program

The ABBC Choir

Moriah BBC choir

Ptr. Reuel Palit-ang (San Mateo) giving the devotional
Evangelist Francis Roy Simeon (Tagbilaran, Bohol) defending the King James version of the Bible

Ptr. Joseph Boyd Lyons, president of Asia Baptist Bible College, exhorting the crowd on Luke 19:10
Ptr. Velasco "Billy" Legasi (Tuguegarao) expounding on "the judgments of the Lord"