Bringing Christ into the Marketplace and Winning the Marketplace for Christ Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and

Professionals Mactan Chapter

December 2013

Message for the Month: "Have courage, do not fear, I Am with you

Chapter Helps Yolanda Victims in Bogo

The northern part of Cebu is one of the badly hit areas as typhoon Yolanda ravaged the Visayas region. As relief operations began, the chapter also made a monetary help campaign for our brothers and sisters affected by the calamity particularly in Bogo. With P42K initial fund coming from the national office, Mactan chapter raised P100K to buy GI sheets and umbrella nails to help those whose

Special points of interest:

Dec 13
Assembly

Some of the recipients of GI sheets and nails

houses were totally wrecked. And so, on November 16, 2013, CH Guy Ceniza with other members of the governance team

of Mactan and Bogo Outreach distributed 10 pieces of GI sheets and 1 kilo of nails to 72 Bogohanons deserving of the
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Inside this issue:

Christmas Message 4 of Pope John XXIII CH Message

BCBP Sends Relief Goods to Leyte Typhoon Victims

Upon the availability of transport to Tacloban, the chapters of Cebu Region and chapters of Catbalogan and Calbayog promptly sent food packs to Tacloban City, the hardest hit by the super typhoon Yolanda. The relief goods from Cebu region were distributed to residents of barangays Marasbaras,

Spiritan Catholic 6 Center Foundation

BCBP Tacloban PSD, Nonoy Gula, distributing food packs

Naga-Naga, and Sampaguita, evacuees taking shelter in Eastern Visayas State University

(EVSU) and UP Tacloban, and residents of V&G subdivision.

Continued on page 2...

If you learn something that improves you, youve made progress. If you learn something that improves others, youve helped change the world for the better.

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Chapter Helps (continued from page 1)
help. The distribution was done at the residence of BCBP Bogo Outreach head Alex Mendoza. It became a very touching occasion as recipients shed tears of joy while looking at the GI sheets and nails they were about to receive. They expressed overwhelming gratitude to those who have made their burden bearable. A million thanks to the donors. You made God happy. National Office, Nelson/Baby Dauz, O r l y / S a r a h M a n u e l , Tex/Julie Bulambot, Rene/ Precy Macasero, Gel/Glo Sanchez, Grace Plaza, Jojo/Titing Matheu, Ram/Mina Loterte, Jun/Carol Pardico, Pardico Unit, Lozano AG, Edwin/ Grace Casinillo, Elpie/Joy Calayag, Kiko/Inday Erediano, Linda Gastador, Nep Roble, Baby Dauzs sisters, Eddie/ Baby Ramirez, Rico/Glenda Ilad, Vito/Nimfa Aballe, Retuya AG, Inday Bahandi, Guy/Eden Ceniza, Mon/Helen Figueroa, Mario/Nene Tamidles, Leo/ Elsie Legara, Frank/Lydia Robles, Guy Cenizas sister, and love offering (assembly).

Distributing food packs

Preparing the GI sheets for distribution

Bogo residents with what remained of their houses.

Humility and inner peace go hand and hand. The less compelled we are to prove ourselves to others, the easier it is to feel peaceful inside.

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BCBP Sends ...(continued from page 1)

Relief goods from Calbayog were distributed to evacuees staying in Phil. Science school, TESDA, Leyeco II, and residents of barangays Fatima, Kalipayan, Sagkahan, and Sampaguita. Relief goods from Catbalogan were distributed to residents of barangays Diit and Abucay, town of Dulag, and evacuees in Phil. Science school. BCBP members who are tyohoon victims were also recipients of the relief goods. The BCBP relief goods distribution is led by BCBP Tacloban PSD, Rogelio Nonoy Gula. As of this time Tacloban residents are still in need of our help. Priority in their need list are blankets, mosquito nets and school supplies. Some schools will open in January thus the need for school supplies. BCBP Tacloban also expressed their gratitude to the BCBP chapters who generously supported them in their time of need.

Giving food packs to Tacloban residents along the

to those in interior barangays.

to those who cannot go to distribution centers.

to those temporarily taking shelter in schools and public buildings. Care should be in action from the heart and not just in words. Anger should be just in words and not in action from the heart.

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Christmas Message of Pope John XXIII
December 23, 1959
Fr. Martin Okafor-Ilozue CSSp - BCBP Mactan BCLP19

Pope John XXIII

To urge the world to remove from the path of peace the obstacles put there by the malice of men. Christmas is with us, the second Christmas of our pontificate. Gazing at the scene from afar, united in spirit with Mary and Joseph on the road to Bethlehem, we taste a few days in advance the sweetness which comes to us from the angelic hymn announcing the heavenly peace which is offered to all men of good will. And thus, from day to day, we reflect that the road to Bethlehem truly marks the path for the right approach to that peace which is on the lips, in the eager desires, and in the hearts of all. We hear an unending invitation, then, to hasten our steps along the roads to Bethlehem, which are the roads of peace for us. In the world of today, how many roads of peace have been proposed and imposed? And how many roads have been suggested even to us, who rejoice indeed, with Mary and Joseph, in the sure knowledge of our path and have no fear of the possibility of going astray? From World War II right up to the present time, what a variety of utterances, what an abuse of this sacred word: "peace, peace" (Jer. 6:14). We pay homage to the good will of the many guides and proclaimers of peace in the world: statesmen, experienced diplomats, and influential writers. But human efforts in the matter of universal peace-making are still far from the point where heaven and earth meet. The fact is that true peace cannot come save from God. It has only one name: the peace of Christ. It has one aspect, that impressed on it by Christ who, as if to anticipate the counterfeits of man, emphasized: "Peace I leave you, My peace I give to you" (John 14:28). The appearance of peace is threefold: Peace of the heart: Peace is before all else an interior thing, belonging to the spirit, and its fundamental condition is a loving and filial dependence on the will of God. "Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless till it rests in Thee" (St. Augustine's Confessions, 1, I, 1, 1, P.L., 32, 661). Social peace: This is solidly based on the mutual and reciprocal respect for the personal dignity of man. The Son of God was made man, and His redeeming act concerns not only the collectivity, but also the individual man. International peace: The basis of international peace is, above all, truth. For in international relations, too, the Christian saying is valid: "The truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). At all times, because true peace is indivisible in its various aspects, it will not succeed in establishing itself on the social and international planes unless it is also, and in the first place, an interior fact. This requires then before all else - it is necessary to repeat - "men of good will." These are precisely those to whom the angels of Bethlehem announced peace: "Peace among men of good will." (Luke 2:14). Indeed they alone can give reality to the conditions contained in the definition of peace given by St. Thomas: The ordered harmony of citizens (Contra Gentiles 3, (III), CCC 146) and therefore order and harmony.
There are things in life that we question a lot. But little do we realize that sometimes answers come when we stop asking. Thats what we call faith.

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Chapter Heads Message

When Will You Decide to Become Disciples?

As I ponder for my message for this month, I am lead to a lot of things which lead me to confusion and I ask which of these things Lord? Few nights had passed and still nothing concrete came up and I dont want to end up empty month again from me most especially December, a year end. Sizing up the needs of our chapter, I was reminded by a very touching but striking story which I receive from a pass on source in the internet that runs like this: Pastor Jeremiah Steepek transformed himself into a homeless person and went CH Guy and Eden Ceniza to the 10,000 member church that he was to be introduced as the head pastor that morning. He walked around his soon to be church for 30 minutes while it was filling with people for service, only 3 people out of the 7-10,000 people said hello to him. He asked people for change to buy food no one in the church gave him change. He went into the sanctuary to sit down in the front of the church and was asked by the ushers if he would please sit in the back. He greeted people to be greeted back with stares and dirty looks, with people looking down on him and judging him. As he sat in the back of the church, he listened to the church announcements and such. When all that was done, the elders went up and were excited to introduce the new pastor of the church to the congregation. We would like to introduce to you Pastor Jeremiah Steepek. The congregation looked around clapping with joy and anticipation. The homeless man sitting in the back stood up and started walking down the aisle. The clapping stopped with all eyes on him. He walked up the altar and took the microphone from the elders (who were in on this) and paused for a moment then he recited, Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. After he recited this, he looked towards the congregation and told them all what he had experienced that morning. Many began to cry and many heads were bowed in shame. He then said, Today I see a gathering of people, not a church of Jesus Christ. The world has enough people, but not enough disciples. When will YOU decide to become disciples? He then dismissed service until next week. Following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ should be more than just talk. It ought to be a lifestyle that others around you can love about you and share in.

We can never go back and change what has been done but we can always earn the lesson learned to make things better next time.

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Chapter Members Supports Spiritans Program
The Spiritan Catholic Center Foundation with its Chaplain Fr. Martin Okafor-Ilozue invited the members of the chapter to a Dinner For a Cause at the Castle Peak Hotel, Mabolo, Cebu City on November 28, 2013, The proceeds of the dinner will be used in the annual running cost of the center that caters to the poor children of Barangay T. Padilla, Cebu City. To recall, some of the scholars of the center are sponsored by BCBP Mactan members. CH Guy Ceniza with wife Eden, Roland/ Lin Tampus and Family, Kiko and Inday Erediano were among those who supported the activity. A film showing of the Centers activity, presentation of the children beneficiaries, and musical presentation from the children of the center completed the nights fellowship. Fr. Martin closed the dinner fellowship thanking the people who constantly support this ministry.

Children of Spiritan Catholic Center Foundation performing for the guests

Family Matters
When the strongest typhoon Yolanda was about to hit our country, we were warned to be prepared. And we did. But there was another preparation that occupied me the day before the typhoon. The patronal visit of the image of Virgin de la Regla was scheduled to be at our chapel from 7pm, (Nov. 7) to 1am (Nov8). Anticipating a heavy rainfall that evening I asked our parish priest that we will shorten the time of the visit to facilitate the transfer of the image to the next chapel. And so the Virgins image only stayed for an hour with us. It was the shortest but the most intimate time with her. Before we prayed the Holy Rosary, one of my prayer intentions is for Mama Mary to cover our country with her protection, especially the family of Jun who are in the Samar and Leyte area particularly Tacloban City. Looking at the devastation brought about by the typhoon the following day, we were anxious of their condition. But with peace in our hearts we kept our hopes high. We trusted in the mighty love of God and the unceasing protection Mama Mary provides for those who believe in her Son. Praise God! we exclaimed, as tears of joy came falling when we heard Juns neice on the phone after two days and a half of trying to reach them. Praise God! Hail Mary! All of Juns relatives are accounted for. Seven of them are now living in a rented house fronting ours. Great time to practice love of neighbor.

Nery Gula

Hardships are one way of proving ones strength. So, if your problem is extra big, be extra flattered because thats how much the Lord believes in you.

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"I have been close to your people, I have seen how great

the pain has been but also how strong the people have been. Faith emerged from the ruins, it came from solidarity in the moment of hardship.
Pope Francis to Filipinos

Our faith does not lie in trusting God to stop the storm, but in trusting Him to enable us to walk thru the storm. For in the midst of it, we begin to see His grace.

Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals

Our Vision: Bringing Christ into the Marketplace and Winning the Marketplace for Christ
The BCBP is a community of like-minded Christian Businessmen and Professionals who have consciously decided to band together to bring about the transformation of the marketplace. Mactan Chapter Chapter Head: Guy Ceniza

BREAKFAST Venue: Crown Regency Suites Weekly Schedule: Saturday 7:30 - 10:00 AM 1st Wk: Mens 2nd Wk: Joint (Mens & Ladies) 3rd Wk: Mens 4th Wk: Simultaneous (Mens & Ladies) Contact Person: Willy Lozano, Mobile: 09173114367

www.facebook.com/BCBPMactan

November Breakfast Sharers

Gad & Carmen Macasero (November 16) BCBP Mactan I learned to forgive my mother, my father, and those who had inflicted me hurts and pains. Tommy Young (November 23) BCBP Cebu South I did not panic, the Brotherhood taught me not to worry...

Edgar Batiquin (November 30) BCBP Cebu North I found peace with the Lord

Luz Balbuena (November 30) BCBP Cebu South God again and again showed me His mercy and goodness.

From every wound there's a scar and every scar tells a story. A story that says "I've been through it all and I made it."