TAYTAYAN

July 2015
"Bringing Christ into the Marketplace
and Winning the Marketplace for Christ"

Brotherhood of
Christian
Businessmen and
Professionals
M actan Chapter

What's Inside:
BCLP 22 Successfully
Culminated

BCLP 21 & 22 Joint

Culture Talks

Fathers Day
Celebration

Emcees Workshop
Part Two

Flores de Mayo

Same-sex Marriage
Threatens the Family

Let Us Rejoice & Be

Glad
Planting the Seed

Intercessor Of The
Month: Our Lady of
Mount Carmel

June 2015 Breakfast

Sharers

BCLP 22 Successfully Concluded

So they continued to lift up

their plans, concerns and
thanksgiving to Him, and He led
William & Liza Cejas, the course them further in Matthew 1 9:26,
leader of the 22 nd Brotherhood With God all things are
Christian Life Program of BCBP possible. He assured them of
Mactan in as many years as a heavenly aid thru St. Joseph - the
chapter. The beautiful and loving worker, the discerned patron
couple further quoted scriptures saint and intercessor for BCLP
as their guiding light and 22.
inspiration to courageously push And so on April 1 8, 201 5, the
thru with the program despite the journey began. Brothers and
odds, in Joshua 1 :9, the Lord sisters from different market
says, Have I not commanded sectors responded to His calling
you? Be strong and courageous. and listened to His words for nine
Do not be frightened, and do not Saturday evening sessions. They
be dismayed, for the Lord your personally reconnected with the
God is with you wherever you Creator and they embraced the
gifts of the Holy Spirit as they
go.
It was a long overdue
mission, and the Lord has never
given up on us, thus said

continued on page 2

Each day means CHANCE. Chance to enjoy life to its fullest. Chance to correct our
mistakes. Chance to forgive. Chance to ask forgiveness. Chance to love and be loved.
Do not miss the many CHANCES that you have received today and everyday of your life.

Taytayan

Page 2 of 8

BCLP 22 ...

(continued from page 1 )

personally experienced it during

the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
The program was concluded
with their commitment to the
In-formation program on July 3,
201 5. All in all, there were 26
graduates who are eager to live
a renewed Christian life and
have a closer relationship with
our God.
From William and Liza: In

behalf of the community, we

are forever grateful to our
committed
and
faithful
servants
who
positively
responded to the call of
service: the Governance, the
DGLs, ADGLs, our Chief
Servant and his team, our
Asst. Course Leader, the
Speakers who were sent to
deliver
Gods
word
and

wisdom
and
the
Unit
presentations
who
successfully look after the
food of the servant team. It
was
indeed
an
entire
community effort that made it
possible.
And now on to our Information program

To God Be the Glory!

the course leader, William & Liza Cejas

formal turn-over of the BCLP 22 graduates by the Course Leader

& Mission Director to the Formation Director & Chapter Head
from left: CL William Cejas, MD Eton Apao, CH Orly Manuel & FD
Jhun Pardico

Baptism of the Holy Spirit

the BCLP 22 graduates taking their oath of commitment

to go on with the In-Formation program

the BCLP 22 graduates signing their commitment cards

symbolic burning of the written contritions & supplications
Life is better when youre happy, but life is at its best when other
people are happy because of you. Always be a blessing to others.

Page 3 of 8

July 2015

BCLP 21 & 22 Joint Culture Talks

With both BCLP 21 & 22
conducted and concluded in
close
succession,
BCBP
Mactan decided to fuse
together some In-Formation
teaching tracks and programs.
Thus last June 27 the chapter
held the well attended culture
talks for both BCLP batches.
One of the topics in these

BCBP Culture talks acquaints

or re-aquaints each attendee to
prayers, scriptures and spiritual
gifts, God's gifts to help and
guide anyone who begins to
embark on a spiritual journey
and
a closer personal
relationship with Him. The rest
of the topics impart ideas and
guidelines on how the new

large attendee turn-out

more attendees

BCBP member can relate well

in a Christian way not only to
his or her fellow brothers or
sisters in the community but
foremost to his own family,
fellow
professionals
or
businessmen, and even to the
rest of humankind, either in
speech or in deed.

Fr. Chiji Umunnakwe (green shirt) is excited to

hear the talks too

the speakers

Jun Gula - Prayer, Scripture &

Spiritual Gifts

Guy Ceniza - Speec h &

Wrongdoing

Father's Day Celebration

Last June 20 right
after the Breakfast
Fellowship graced by
powerful sharers from
BCBP Talisay, the
community celebrated
Father's Day with a
simple but fun-filled
program. The fathers
were serenaded by the
women music ministry
members, treated with
flowers and chocolates
by the ladies. There
were games and trivias
exclusively for the men
while the ladies merrily
cheered and watched.

the fathers, grandfathers,

expectant fathers, aspiring
fathers, and father priests posed
before the ladies

winning fathers

Vic Ocon - Business Dealings

Sim Lanaria (Northern Cebu Region

RCD) - Submission to Authority

Emcees Workshop Part Two

The Breakfast Team held its 2nd practicum

workshop for identified members with emceeing
talents. This time three men, all coming from the
just graduated BCLP 21 batch dished out their
emceeing prowess as they were made to undergo
different possible scenarios in the conduct of BCBP
breakfast fellowships.
And what is
sure, all of them;
the 1 st and this
batch, who made
the effort to serve
the community by
becoming
an
emcee, will be the additional emcees; (from left) Warren
powered
and Demecillo, Alvin Leal & Resty Baclayon
guided by the
Holy Spirit when it's time for them to do the actual
emceeing.

Be grateful to God and begin your day with a smile

because success happens when you have optimism in life.

Page 4 of 8

July 2015

Month of May: The Grand Flores de Mayo Celebration with the

Children of the Spiritan Catholic Center Foundation. May 28, 201 5
in Barangay T. Padilla, Cebu City
Fr Martin Okafor-Ilozue CSSp

On the 28th of May, with

temperatures soaring more than
35C, the children of the
Spiritan Catholic Center filled
into the Chapel near the center
to mark the culmination of this
year's Flores de Mayo, a
popular annual event in the
church during the summer
break to teach Children
catechism, talents and prayers
in the month of May. We joined
the Philippine church in
observing the same tradition
with the scholars of T. Padilla.

This year over 75 children

participated but sad to say that
we could only sponsor about 62
children for the school year
201 5-201 6. But that was an
increase of 7 more children
from the number last school
year at 55. Some of these
children are being sponsored by
some members of BCBP
Mactan Chapter through annual
sponsorship fee of 3,000 pesos
only.
The occasion started with a
Holy Mass concelebrated by

Frs. Floribert Ouambe, CSSp

and Martin Okafor Ilozue, CSSp
at 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
This was followed by the
Santacruzan procession with
band boys from the area
featuring all the queens and
kings of the Flores de Mayo. I
was really surprised & amazed
at the beautiful costumes used
for the occasion, thank God
they were all borrowed. After
the
procession
were
presentations, dancing and
dinner.

Fr. Floribert & Fr. Martin poses with the children for
the group picure taking after the Holy Mass

the Santacruzan procession of the queens; Queen Faith,

Queen Charity, Queen Justice & Queen Hope

Ave Maria placards for Mama Mary

Queen Justice & Queen of the Stars, and more

A better life is when we expect little, attempt big, do more, need

less, smile often, laugh a lot & pray always. Have the best of life.

Taytayan

Page 5 of 8

Pope Francis: Same-sex Marriage Threatens Family

Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service

(In light of the recent controversies

regarding same-sex marriage, I am reprinting a news article by the Catholic
News Service published last Jan 16,
2015 during the Pope's visit here in the
Philippines)

MANILA, Philippines (CNS) -Appealing to the traditional values of

Filipino Catholic families, Pope
Francis made one of his strongest
calls as pope against movements to
recognize same-sex unions as
marriage.
"The family is also threatened by
growing efforts on the part of some to
redefine the very institution of
marriage," the pope said Jan. 1 6,
hours after warning that Philippine
society was "tempted by confusing
presentations of sexuality, marriage
and the family."
"As you know, these realities are
increasingly under attack from
powerful forces which threaten to
disfigure God's plan for creation and
betray the very values which have
inspired and shaped all that is best in
your culture," he said.
Pope Francis made his remarks at
a Mass in Manila's cathedral and then
at a meeting with families in the city's
Mall of Asia Arena.
At the latter event, the pope called
on his listeners to resist "ideological
colonization that threatens the
family." The Vatican spokesman,
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, said
later that the pope was referring to
same-sex marriage, among other
practices.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of
Manila, who was present at the

reporters' briefing, cited claims by

African bishops that foreign aid to
their countries is sometimes offered
on the condition that they accept
"alien" views of sexuality and
marriage.
Civil law in the Philippines does not
recognize marriages or unions
between people of the same sex.
The pope's comments came less
than a week after a speech to Vatican
diplomats in which he criticized
"legislation which benefits various
forms of cohabitation rather than
adequately supporting the family for
the welfare of society as a whole,"
saying that such legislation had
contributed to a widespread sense of
the family as "disposable."
In November, Pope Francis told an
interreligious
conference
on
traditional marriage that preserving
the family as an institution based on
marriage between a man and a
woman is not a political cause but a
matter of "human ecology," since
"children have the right to grow up in
a family with a father and mother
capable of creating a suitable
environment
for
the
child's
development
and
emotional
maturity."
As archbishop of Buenos Aires,
then-Cardinal Jose Maria Bergoglio
opposed same-sex marriage in
Argentina, calling it an "anti-value
and an anthropological regression"
and "destructive of the plan of God,"
and writing that it expressed the
"envy of the devil." But he did not
repeat such statements following his
election as pope.

When asked why he had not

spoken about Brazil's legalization of
abortion and same-sex marriage
during his July 201 3 trip to the
country, the pope said the "church
has already spoken quite clearly on
this. It was unnecessary to return to
it."
In an interview published in
September 201 3, Pope Francis told
Jesuit Father Antonio Spadaro: "We
cannot insist only on issues related to
abortion, gay marriage and the use of
contraceptive methods. This is not
possible. I have not spoken much
about these things, and I was
reprimanded for that. But when we
speak about these issues, we have to
talk about them in a context. The
teaching of the church, for that
matter, is clear and I am a son of the
church, but it is not necessary to talk
about these issues all the time."
The pope's latest statements come
during a year of preparation for the
October 201 5 world Synod of
Bishops on the family, following an
October 201 4 extraordinary synod on
the same topic.
At the earlier gathering, a midterm
report stirred controversy with
remarkably conciliatory language
toward people with ways of life
contrary to Catholic teaching,
including those in same-sex unions.
While
such
unions
present
unspecified "moral problems," the
document stated, they can exemplify
"mutual aid to the point of sacrifice
(that) constitutes a precious support
in the life of the partners."
That
language continued on page 6

A short hello makes one glow, a short hi makes one smile, a short
text makes a day great, but a short prayer will make a big difference.

Page 6 of 8

July 2015

Chapter Head's Message: Let Us Rejoice & Be Glad!

Orly Manuel - Chapter Head - BCBP Mactan BCLP 1

Congratulations
and cheers to all
our
dedicated
servants, to those
who have given
their share of participation and
support in the BCLP, and
everyone in Mactan Chapter and
Bogo Outreach; for the glory of
our Lord!
A couple of weeks back,
participants of BCLP 1 1 in our
Bogo Outreach and our very own
BCLP 22 in Mactan completed
the course. Bogo participants
had their Commitment to the New
Formation Program during their
Outreach Praise and Worship
Assembly of June 26 while our

BCLP 22 participants had their

turn during our 1 st Friday Mass
of July 3.
It was a partnership of sort.
God in his wisdom, initiated the
move, drawn the participants'
attention, stirred their interest,
and with their eventual openness
to the Lord's invitation, and our
members answering the call to be
involved in sharing our vision of
bringing
Christ
to
the
marketplace
through
the
program, we brought 39 new
members to a meaningful
spiritual experience in the BCLP.
With the abiding grace of God,
hopefully, they shall continue to
find joy in learning and knowing a

Planting the Seed

Nery Gula - BCBP Mactan BCLP 1

The
greatest
reward of serving
God
and
His
people is the joy
that lifts our spirit. It is such a
joy to see the gradual
transformation
of
our
participants. From people of
lukewarm faith they now
personally relate to a loving
God. From shy individuals who
would only smile when
requested to lead the prayer to
confident pray-ers who verbalize
their inner longings. There must
be great rejoicings in heaven as
God is pleased with what has
become of His people.
Serving as Discussion Group
Leader
of
the
recently

concluded BCLP22 was made

possible only through Gods
grace. In the initial set-up of the
BCLP team we were back-up
servants who eventually became
DGL. We are aware that these
things happen for a purpose. It
is for us to stay intensely
connected to our God. As we
intercede
daily for our
participants we saw God
working powerfully in their lives.
Witnessing Gods awesome
work builds our faith. This faith
is what sustains us.
And so we continue to work in
Gods vineyard aware that we
are here only to plant the seed.
It is up to God to make it grow.

new way of life in our Lord Jesus

through BCBP.
God entrusted them to us. Let
us all welcome them and accept
them with the thought that they
are His gift to our community, and
with our brotherly help and
cooperation, with their welfare
kept in our minds, in our words
and actions, they too shall grow,
blossom, and come to flowering
and fruition in God's gracious
time.
The Lord has given us a
wonderful harvest; let us hear the
Psalmist say ... How good and
delightful to see brothers living
together in unity! (Psalm 1 33:1 ).

Pope Francis ...

(continued from page 5)

was absent from the final report,

which quoted a 2003 document from
the Congregation for the Doctrine of
the Faith: "There are absolutely no
grounds for considering homosexual
unions to be in any way similar or
even remotely analogous to God's
plan for marriage and family."
In a December interview with
Argentine journalist Elisabetta Pique,
Pope Francis described the midterm
report as "merely a first draft," and
said it had mentioned "positive
factors" of same-sex unions in an
effort to help families support their
gay members.
"Nobody mentioned homosexual
marriage at the synod; it did not
cross our minds," the pope said.

Everyday I smile and act like nothing is wrong. It is called

putting everything aside and simply being strong with the Lord.

Page 7 of 8

July 2015

July 201 5 Calendar of Activities, Birthday & Anniversary Celebrants

Chapter

Anniversaries

Birthdays

Formation

Man of the Month: Cito Retuya | Unit Sponsor of the Month: Unit C (Cabasagan)

Mission

Programs & Services

Holidays

Please inform the chapter secretariat of missed names or corrections

Intercessor of the Month: Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Our Lady
of
Mount Carmel
Feast Day: July 1 6

Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the

Patroness of the Carmelite Monks,
who take their name from that
beautiful promontory in Israel facing
the Mediterranean Sea. Since the time
of the prophet Elijah, Mount Carmel
was considered a holy place and
symbol of fidelity to the Lord. There
Elijah assembled the people of Israel
to demonstrate the supremacy of God
over Baal. In 1 1 50, St. Berthold
founded there the order of the
Carmelites, placing it under the
patronage of the mother of God. Their
rule was severe, prescribing poverty,
abstinence from meat and solitude.
Among the several orders of

Carmelite nuns, the best known is the

Order of Discalced Carmelites,
founded during the 1 6th century by
St. Teresa de Avila. The devotion of
the Scapular of Mount Carmel is
based on a Marian revelation. On July
1 6, 1 251 , the Blessed Mother
appeared to St. Simon Stock, General
of the Carmelites at Cambridge,
England. She gave him the brown
scapular with the promise that those
who wear it would receive special
protection and heavenly graces.
Thereafter, the devotion spread
throughout Europe.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, please
Intercede for us!

I hope the Spirit of love woke you up gently and may joy and optimism fill
you as you walk thru life today to enjoy the abundance of God's blessings.

Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals

Mactan Chapter
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.
BREAKFAST --- Venue: Crown Regency Suites - Mactan
Weekly Schedule: Saturday 7:30 - 10:00 AM
1st week: Men's
2nd week: Joint (Men's & Ladies)
3rd week: Men's
4th week: Simul (Men's & Ladies)

Contact Person: Breakfast Head

Felix Angana
Mobile: +63.925.8335698

June 201 5 Breakfast Sharers

https://www.facebook.com/BCBPMactan

Atty. Medi Lapus (June 6)

BCBP Cebu South

"With all the catastrophes; trials & tribulations I experienced, even up to the death of
my wife, I did not panic, nor complain to the Lord, I just lifted up everything to Him,
whatever is next."
"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my
lifes refuge; of whom should I be afraid?." (Psa 27:1)

Atty. William & Anne Roiles (June 1 3)

BCBP Consolacion

"It is when we immerse ourselves in genuine service that we can truly find the
essence of living in a community, and so we continue to claim Gods promise."
Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken
down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with
which you measure will in return be measured out to you. (Luke 6:38)

Eng'r. Roger & Eng'r. Annie Laurente (June 20)

BCBP Talisay

"The BCBP community is the best gift that the lord has gifted us. Though there are
still ups & downs, trials & harassments, we manage to endure them. For the Lord is
only a prayer away."
"Happy are those who remain faithful under trials, because when they succeed
in passing such a test, they will receive as their reward the life which God has
promised to those who love him." (James 1:12 )

Eng'r. Leopoldo "Jun" & Maylaine Jabatan (June 27)

BCBP Cebu East

"Being contented with what we have makes us live better lives. Our family are Gods
masterpieces, we could never imagine we would have. The joy & happiness they
bring humbles us before God, He truly is a wonderful God."
"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want
and it will be done for you." (John 15:7)
When we start to count flowers, we cease to count weeds. When we start to count blessings, we cease to count
needs. When we start to count laughter, we cease to count tears. When we start to count happy memories, we
cease to count years. It is a new day, face life with renewed strength and strong faith in Gods providence.