Vacation 2019: Negros Occidental #1 - Light in the City Church

For more info on 'Light in the City Church' please visit their FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/lightinthecitychurch/

Indiegogo Campaign: Help Build 'Light in the City Church'

The Light in the City Church located along the coastline of Silay City in the Philippines has been existing for over a decade with little or no support from anyone apart from the little they could get from members who are mostly small fishermen. The Church building used to stand in a stilt that every time a storm ravages the sea, the waves leave it unusable. The members then had to pool scant resources to rebuild it, and the same cycle repeats every year, God knows how many times in a year. Now they have decided to shift to a much safer location courtesy of one member's generosity to offer part of his backyard. The makeshift worship center has just been started gradually as little help comes in a trickle. I hope and pray that their dream to build a decent and safe worship center be realized by God's grace and your precious help. Praying for you all and God bless everyone. 

Click link below to donate and 

don't forget to share this Indiegogo Campaign!

For God is not unrighteous 
to forget your work and labour of love, 
which ye have shewed toward his name, 
in that ye have ministered to the saints, 
and do minister. ~ Hebrews 6:10

Thumbs Up: Carlos Celdran - ¡DAMASO!

This photo taken around 7PM shows Carlos Celdran still behind bars at the MPD station in Ermita, Manila.

Carlos Celdran, an artist/performer, is famous for his walking tour of Manila. Although I haven't tried his tour yet, and haven't really experienced any walking  tours in general in some of the historic parts of Manila, but I always make sure that I regularly read his blog - 'Walk This Way! I've never seen anyone who is so passionate about a place, a place he loves and cares so much about - Manila. His description of Manila from his blog goes:

"I believe that Manila can be a reflection of your state of mind. Being a city of extreme contrasts it’s easy to see how it can become an intense personal experience. Manila can be chaotic and spiritual, dirty and divine, gritty and gorgeous all at once. If you don’t find beauty and poetry here, you will never find it anywhere."

In his blog, you will not only see his itineraries, the tour dates and rates, but you can also read about some of the most pressing issues that he feels strongly about,  like the Reproductive Health Bill. It is because of this issue, that he became one of the enemies of the Catholic church. He constantly maintains his position against the church's meddling of the affairs of the state, especially on the issue of reproductive health.

Early today, he was apprehended for interrupting a mass at the Manila Cathedral. He was wearing a 19th century costume, (almost the same that of Jose Rizal's), and used a placard containing the name "DAMASO" and held it up in the middle of the mass while shouting, “bakit mahihirap lang pinagbabawalan sa family planning?” (Why is it only the poor are prohibited in family planning?) and "Stop getting involved in politics!". While handcuffed, he apologizes for the method he used, but not for the message.

Damaso is a character in Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere. He is described as a powerful friar who wields his power to get what he wants. He is one of the most notorious characters in the novel, which touches on the abuses of the Spanish friars (belonging to the Roman Catholic Church) during the 19th century.

I'm happy! I'm happy not because Carlos Celdran is in jail, but because someone has finally found the courage to speak up against these modern Sadducees. This will certainly be the topic of every group conversation for years to come. I support you Carlos. I support the Reproductive Health Bill. Thumbs up. And damn those Damasos!

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV



Related: CBCP head: P-Noy Might Be Excommunicated For Contraceptive Stance.

Blog: Celdran's Brush With Damasos - ¡SOY NEGRENSE!

Facebook: Boycott Sunday Mass As A Sign Of Protest!

Declaration of Support for the Immediate Passage of the Reproductive Health Bill into Law