Chaplain Service Award

Recently our Air Operations Wing/Auxiliary Tactical Operating Forces under the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary held their awarding ceremonies for deserving chaplains in the region.

I was one of the recipients in receiving the Long Service Ribbon and Good Conduct Ribbon (with one start) from Commodore Antonio T. Uy PCGA, AOW Wing Commander for Mindanao together with Capt Reynaldo C. Quilaton PCGA, Deputy Wing Commander concurrent 817th Squadron Commander, PCGA-CGAD-SEM.

This activity meant so much to us as volunteer chaplains because the PCGA-AOW organization recognizes the following officers who have rendered service to the organization and community.

Grace and I together with our son Brian continues to conduct chaplaincy work in the different civilian and military institutions in the Philippines.

Family Medical Mission

Last May 29, 2006 my wife Grace led our children JJ & Stephen in assisting a medical mission activity in one of the depressed area in our community. The Foursquare Gospel Church who hosted the activity was able to gather fifty (50) families who needed medical attention.

Grace who has some experience in medical mission administration helped in dispensing medicines to the patients, John Paul, who is on his final year as a student Nurse assisted the doctor in checking the patients while Stephen was in-charge of calling the names of the patients.

This was one of the activities that our family really enjoyed. I was even blessed to see our children get in involved in this ministry.

I’m sure there will be more medical mission activity in the future.

Sports Ambassadors - Hardeman Team

One of the athletes who made a name for himself with the Ventures for Victory/Sports Ambassadors team is Coach Tine “The Legend” Hardeman, currently the Spiritual Sports Director of Faith Academy, Manila. In fact, most of his life as a missionary athlete in the Philippines has been dedicated in coaching young kids and making sure they have heard the gospel and has accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

I had the chance of working with Coach Tine for the last five (5) years now. Together we have been doing Coaching Clinics and has helped him with the Hardeman Cup held every February at Faith Academy, Manila.

This coming June 19-29, 2006, I will have the privilege of being part of Venture For Victory/Sports Ambassadors Hardeman Team, composed of his children and grandchildren with an average height of 6’4. This is the first time that this has happened with the Hardeman family. Gathering all his children and grandchildren who some are now living abroad.

I had the chance to helped in the setting-up of the trip in Negros Oriental and Siquijor Island. To me this is one trip that I don’t want to miss, I am looking forward for the historic trip with Coach Tine.

To Coach Tine, I salute you sir!!!

Sports Ambassadors - Singapore Team

On June 07 to 18, 2006 in Cebu City, Visayas I will be leading a Ventures for Victory Sports Ambassadors Juniors Team from Singapore. David Erickson, a former SA player and now a missionary to Singapore will be joined by ten (10) junior & two (2) adult players.

Most of our games will be played in the different junior high schools and barangays (a small communities) in Cebu City. A committee mostly members coming from the different chinese evangelical churches is helping us set up the games.

We are estimated to play around twenty-five (25) games, reach 10,000 to 15,000 people. This is really going to be exciting because we are going there not just to play but to share our testimonies, give away gospel tracts and be a blessing to the christian community.

My Friend Richard...

It has been almost six (6) years that my friend Richard Henderson and I have been working together with Philippine Challenge doing Sports & Recreation Ministry.

Our relationship as partners in our ministry has gone a long way. We both are passionate in our line of work. And one thing I like very much with my friend Richard is that he has really adapted to the culture especially how ministry is done in the Philippines. I know sometimes as a missionary to the Philippines, he continue to face some culture shock. With Richard flexibility is always part of his system that’s why he and his family has stayed in our country for more than fifteen (15) years now.

Richard and I already had so much experience doing sports ministry together but we still believe we have so much more to learn.

Last week, Richard and family went back to the United States of America for their regular furlough. Which means that I would be handling our sports ministry alone for awhile. Usually things are not the same without Richard but I have to face reality. I know he will be back early next year, so I would be looking forward to his return.

I’m really going to miss my partner, but for sure both of us will be praying for each other.

So to my friend Richard & Marla, thanks for the love and friendship…