VIDEO: Be Vigilant Against Kidnappers

San Carlos City, Pangasinan: Parents here are warned to strictly monitor the whereabouts of their children going to school, even after classes. With the latest report of alleged kidnapping of a 10-year-old, grade four pupil, who happened to escape from three perpetrators, fears mounted among parents and authorities. Thus, vigilance and precautionary measures are strongly advised.

You may watch the complete details here: VIDEO 24 ORAS NCL

Post by 24 Oras North Central Luzon.

Race for Life, Run for Scholars

Race for Life! Run for the benefit of the scholars!

Run for a cause has become widespread. It is being employed not only by running enthusiasts but also by companies or organizations with purpose and cause in mind. And there’s really nothing bad in joining one, unless it’s illegal. By running for a cause, you not only get to be physically fit, you also help in generating funds to achieve one’s goal.

People have varied reasons in joining fun run. I, myself, have personal motivations too. Whether you run to lose weight, gain friends, sweat like hell, or just want to help, running per se far outweighs the disadvantages that you can think of.

And so I run.

Race for LIFE 2013 buddy fun run is a great venue for the entire running community. I believe in the cause of the run, being initiated by the Real LIFE Foundation which is "passionate about providing a better future for underprivileged Filipinos by giving them access to a good education and transforming their communities through community service." 

Proceeds of the fun run will help their scholars go to college as reflected in their motto “Be a buddy, help somebuddy.” That’s why even I was coughing and suffering from colds a day before the buddy fun run, I still join the run to show my support!

Here’s my Buddy, Marco Stephen Abarabar, one of our victory group leaders. I think we just jogged all throughout the 5K distance, and we had fruitful conversations along the way.

The Tuesday Group! 

The Crowd! Aside from Victory members, police force, whole family and some friends joined the fun run too!

Thanks to all the organizers, logistics, runners, even those who were assigned to man the traffic, water station and baggage area. Your labor is not in vain. The Lord be glorified!

You want to run and help? Check this out! Race for LIFE 2013! 

When you run, you learn... Read on!

Renewed Commitment

Fresh from the foggy city of Baguio, I excellently rushed my script for a meeting set at 4pm in Dagupan. After three years of being part of the Graduate Team (GT) in Baguio, I finally I responded to the calling of being a GT member again, this time in my home province in Pangasinan. I would say that my response took so long, but the Lord, I believed, has forgiven my delay. And I embrace this opportunity of serving again, voluntarily, in the ministry of InterVarsity in Pangasinan for His glory.

Together with Gilbert, a passionate Christian friend and a former schoolmate, we proceeded with our first meeting. No students with us, yet. Yes, we are in pioneering stage, and without certainties, only backed up by the calling of serving God through campus ministry. We are also joined by Aiah, a younger graduate, who followed later. Ate Sel, a former staff, who is pregnant with her 2^nd baby, is also part of the team, but she cannot yet join us. But we have set meetings at their house for spiritual nurturing. We have a wonderful team, I must say.

What are we going to do? Where do we start? Well, it’s my idea that we held our first meeting over a cup of coffee. I need caffeine to keep me awake. Gilbert and I proceeded with knowing how our week has transpired, with our works, personal devotions, and our complaints and praises. Then we tried to study together Psalm 130, a heartfelt song of ascents, a prayer of hope.

It’s very refreshing to study the word together, doing a bit of OIA style of bible study. Not only is the word relevant to our personal lives; it’s also what we needed most at that time. HOPE. We are driven by hope to re-pioneer a student movement in Pangasinan universities.

First two verses show how the psalmist cried to the Lord for mercy. I couldn’t imagine how profound the “depth of his cry”, and from where he is coming from. But one thing is for sure, he is in dire need of God’s help and mercy. From captivity, from a place and situation full of unrighteousness, the psalmist pleads for mercy.

In the same way, as volunteer servants in the campus, it’s but through asking mercy and through prayer our action should start. Everything else MUST start in prayer, seeking where the Lord wants us to move and minister.

I should say we are already victor for our first meeting!

The second meeting, Gilbert and I went inside one campus. While Gilbert was waiting, he’d been doing a Jericho walk type of prayer, moving from every corner of the campus to pray. It was a delight to see such initiative. We really shouldn’t miss to pray. And the Lord granted us contactsJ.

As we were about to leave the campus, two students seemed to be “talking” about us. I suspected they just knew me, face familiar, something like that. So we approached them and introduced ourselves, and the quite long casual conversation took place until we bid goodbye having their numbers and schedules for the next meeting.

We’re just in the pioneering stage. I hope to herald more meaningful stories in the days ahead about how the Lord will work in and through us in the campus! Shalom. †