Author: Admin

This month, I interviewed Kuya Eton and Ate Veron Apao from our own Mactan Chapter.  Together, they are the 2020 chapter Breakfast Heads.  Kuya Eton served in many leadership roles including Assistant AGL, AGL, Unit Leader, Programs and Services Director, Mission Director, as well as BCLP 25 Course Leader.  So here in their own words, Let’s get personal …

The Cycle of Serving … “If You’re Happy, I’m Happy!”

January 28, 2020 … I was driving when I got word about being interviewed for the Taytayan Newsletter. 

It got me thinking deeply on what I wanted to talk about.  It came to me right away that I wanted to talk about my service to the BCBP community and how I viewed my attraction to serving and what actually drew me to serving.

I started to reflect and it turns out that serving in various capacities and how it played itself out is the very reason why it attracted me … the sharings during breakfasts, chika-chika, professional nature of the fellowships, and the camaraderie … these were all nice and it was not deeply religious in nature (something that I really related to).  But in the course of these positive experiences, I started to become more religious in nature, in sharp contrast to my wife Veron, who prayed every Friday.

When I joined the BCLP, I realized that it was transforming me into loving Jesus.  When we started meeting with our AGM, my perception went beyond it being just a social venue.  Because when we started reading the bible and discussing our spiritual faith and experiences, it drew me closer to the group because the whole group participated.  The small group allowed me to open up my inner and true feelings.  Soon, my service took me to the Music Ministry, Breakfast Greeter, among others.

The turning point was when we attended the BCMR, where I wanted to go deeper into serving and in turn, allow others to learn from me … to feel the same thing that I’m feeling.  One of the things that I took on with passion was inviting others to join the BCBP community, to bring in as many First Timers as I can to our Breakfast Fellowship.

But just as my focus on First Timers drew out the passion in me, it soon also became the demotivating factor for I was not successful in convincing and bringing in First Timers.  This affected me deeply and I started loosing faith in my capabilities.  I attempted to seek advice and guidance from other members on how best to realize my passion.  In the end, my faith and trust became worst to a point that we began being absent more frequently from BCBP functions (for about six months).  We were now heavily discouraged and disaapointed, with the thought of quitting or going lie-low.

While attending one of the teaching events, there was a talk on the cycle of serving and the various “moods” that govern one’s level of involvement.  This, coupled with missing all the friends we have come to know when we were regular attendees, started to hit us.  But the overriding factor that started our return to BCBP was the personal efforts by other members who called us and to encourage our return to BCBP.  This affected us tremendously and in a most positive way.  This was a far cry from the general notices and announcements that we received, but not in a personal nature as receiving a phone call.

Soon, I was asked and I accepted to be an assistant AGL.  Then, I was asked to be an AGL but declined because I felt I wasn’t ready and again, it was difficult to garner support for the members to attend the meetings.  We became regular members for a year and was asked again to be an AGL.  But this time, I wanted something in return, I wanted to be trained as an AGL.  In response, all the potential AGLs were placed in one group to learn together.  After my AGL tenure, I became a Unit Leader (2007) which began my role as part of the Governance Team.  I then realized that these types of servant-leadership role is a privilege.  It made me realize the impact I had on other people … making them happy, which in turn made me happy. I highly encourage and promote that everyone should serve.  Members should also express their happiness and positivity at the monthly Assemblies on their state of mind and/or vision.

I took my governance role deeper and became Mission Director (2010).  Having gone through the cycle of serving, I can only hope that everyone takes advantage of the opportunity to serve.  Because making people happy gave me such joy and happiness on how I impacted people in the same way.  This is the reason why I continue my active service role now as the Breakfast Head with my wife, Veronica and to also serve as an example for the benefits of serving.

By PilikMata

To the right … to the left … to the right again … that was how we exchanged gifts as a culmination of our Christmas Party Celebration. This happened last December 1, 2019 as we celebrated our Christmas Party and Family Day at Indiana Aerospace University (IAU) which was our venue for some time now. This time we had it at the Gazebo behind the university chapel.

The whole day affair orchestrated by our Family Life Director Kuya Ram Loterte with her ever supportive wife Ate Mina , started at 10am with a Eucharistic Celebration at the said university chapel dedicated to St. Therese of the Child Jesus. After the Mass the members registered according to Unit. For per unit identification purposes, each member came in different attire colors; green for Unit A-Bondoc, blue for Unit B-Canezo, red for Unit C-Matheu, and the latest BCLP 27 graduates came in Yellow attire.

Our able Chapter Head, Kuya Rene Recamara, opened the activity with the warmest welcome and Christmas greetings. We then feasted over sumptuous lunch afforded by Ma. Lina Catering Services. Of course, who will ever forget the famous Lechon Baka which was yummy as well. Then we had games participated by not just BCBP members but family and guests as well. We held a “contestant can’t choose his/her song” singing contest with a gentleman and a lady constestant representing per unit. Ate Mitos Roco came out the champion for the Ladies, the men’s champion was no other than my best half, Kuya Rolly Olalo. Nobody went home empty handed, as we all got something from the raffled prizes, if not from the exchange of gifts.

As I reflected on our festive celebration and fellowship, I recall the Gospel of St. Mathew 14:13-21, when Jesus fed 5,000 people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. Yes we were all blessed … that even to our right and to our left we all got something to bring home.

By PilikMata

(in this corner, we are encouraging members to be contributors, please hand in your write ups to Master YODA)

My work schedule on Sunday is always on morning shift as we hear mass every afternoon. Now with BCBP, I have to find ways so I could arrange to exchange duty on Sundays that we serve in the Eucharistic Celebration as a member of the Music Ministry. Sometimes I get the slot, sometimes not.

Then one time I needed to be free on a Sunday morning not for the Mass schedule but for a sharing in one of the BCBP chapters in the South. I was confident I could get to exchange my slot as I still had time. So yes, we had it scheduled. Then suddenly there was a disruption in my work schedule, I was made to report on a different schedule for an emergency reason of a co-worker. Needless to say, I just prayed and said, “Lord if you think that our sharing, our service to you is also an emergency, please let me find a reliever nurse at this time”. Oh well! Just in the nick of time an Ate nurse from the community volunteered to fill in for me. So everything went smoothly … just the BCBP way indeed.

Our able formation head Mon Figueroa with her bubbly and pretty wife Helen planned to have a joint R & R for both music and intercessory ministry members. Our able formation head Mon Figueroa with her bubbly and pretty wife Helen planned to have a joint R & R for both music and intercessory ministry members.Together with the dynamic music ministry head Alvin and Lelet Leal and the amiable intercessory head Nida Billones with hubby….they all made it happen on the 30th day of December 2019. Some members of the Governance team came to celebrate with us. This was held at The SVD Rest House and it was a fun filled whole day activity.

I was pretty late but I did not miss much, I supposed, because the fun and laughter and exchange of ideas came right after a sumptuous lunch. One game was a blockbuster authored by Grace Casinillo .The SIOMAI ..the SIOPAO and .. SUMAN game.. (Must try…TIP: do this when you are alone…say these 3 words repeatedly and you will end up laughing by yourself) . Our Chapter wife Susan Recamara bested all “bato2pickers” in the game of chance, bringing home the loot money while the other wives were very much happy and contented showing off there bar soaps as winnings from other games.

After the games, was the meeting of the minds. There was a sort of an open forum for both Ministries so that we were asked to separate for awhile. Alvin Leal being the head started the discussion with music ministry members. While Nida Billones and her team were also busy assessing the year 2019. We ended the fellowship with no less than the songs sang with utmost desire from oldies but goodies….and a heart and mind for MUSIC and PRAYER. Godspeed Ministry Members!!!

by Kuya Louie Climaco (Fra Louie)

With our five-month-old soon-to-be eldest baby in her Mom’s womb, my wife and I renewed our wedding vows for the first time on May 20, 2018, the thirteenth year of our marriage. Eleven other couples renewed their vows as well at the chapel of the Holy Family Retreat House, which is owned and managed by the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer or Redemptorists, in Nivel Hills, Cebu City. The renewal of marriage vows on that Sunday, as part of the celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist, concluded the three-day Basic Christian Marriage Retreat (BCMR) 23 of Mactan Chapter of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP), our Catholic charismatic community.

For the sake of the new and future members of the BCBP, I will not share any more details of what transpired during this very wonderful and unforgettable weekend retreat. Believe me, you would rather be spoiled about a movie that you have been dying to see that about this kind of retreat. I will share instead my thoughts on the coincidences between BCMR 23 and other events. Hopefully, they will move every married Catholic who read this article to be more faithful to God, Holy Mother the Catholic Church, each other, their children, and the institutions of marriage and family.

Solemnity of Pentecost

Holy Mother the Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of Pentecost fifty days after the Sunday of the Resurrection or Easter Sunday. It is always held on a Sunday, the seventh Sunday from Easter Sunday, to be exact. The solemnity commemorates the Descent of God the Holy Spirit on the Blessed Virgin Mary, the apostles, and some of the disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks (read Acts 2:1–31 for details). If you recall, the Son promised in the Last Supper that He will send the Holy Spirit when He goes back to the Father. 

Perhaps the following prayer is the most known of all prayers to the Holy Spirit:

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love. Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth.

From the second sentence (which comes from Psalm 104:30), we know that the Holy Spirit renews. Indeed, we read about this renewing action of the Holy Spirit from Sacred Scripture, such as the following passages:

I will . . . put a new spirit within them.

Ezekiel 11:19

A new spirit I will put within you . . . I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances.

Ezekiel 36:26-27

I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and . . . you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act.

Ezekiel 37:14

You were taught . . . to be renewed in the spirit of your minds.

Ephesians 4:22-23

Now, do you remember when the Church celebrated the Solemnity of Pentecost on the year 2018? May 20, the same day we renewed our wedding vows! As soon as it was announced, I noticed this coincidence, and until now, my awe of it has not died down. How more wonderful and meaningful could it be that my wife and I renewed our wedding vows as we commemorated the descent of the Holy Spirit, who renews, in the Eucharist celebrating the solemnity?

Anniversary of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement (CCRM) began in 1967. International CCRM leader Charles Whitehead once described its work as “a sovereign work of the Holy Spirit . . . through which we are asked to hand our lives over to God and to give the power back to him. In a clear and deliberate act of surrender, we invite the Holy Spirit to take control of our lives. We allow God . . . to work in us through his Holy Spirit. . . . The Charismatic Renewal is a work of God, not of man.” BCBP is one of many members of the CCRM.

Do you know when the CCRM celebrates its anniversary? On the Solemnity of Pentecost! Why? Well, though it actually began in January 1967, since the work of the CCRM (as Whitehead puts it) is the sovereign work of God the Holy Spirit, what better feast to celebrate its anniversary than the day that Holy Mother the Catholic Church commemorates the Descent of the Holy Spirit, which is the beginning of His work: the Solemnity of Pentecost!

And when was the solemnity celebrated last year, 2018? May 20, the same day that we renewed our wedding vows! Till now, my awe of this coincidence has not died down: how more wonderful and meaningful could it be that my wife and I, members of BCBP, a member of CCRM, renewed our wedding vows as we commemorated the descent of the Holy Spirit, who renews, in the Most Holy Eucharist celebrating the solemnity?

Feast of Weeks

If I remember correctly, there were 13 married couples who committed to joining BCMR 23. One backed out and one was undecided. When the retreat began, we were only 11 couples. Thank God the undecided couple decided to join in the evening of the first day. Till the end, we were 12.

Anyway, I mentioned earlier that God the Holy Spirit descended on the Blessed Virgin Mary, the apostles, and the disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ “while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks.” Otherwise known as Shavu’ot, the Feast of Weeks is a Jewish festival that happens fifty days after the Feast of Passover. It commemorates God, through the prophet Moses, establishing a covenant with the descendants of the Old Testament patriarch Jacob in Sinai. The Jews believed that God gave the Law to Moses on the Feast of Weeks, which eventually led to the birth of the nation of Israel, the name God gave to Jacob. Since Holy Mother the Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of Pentecost fifty days after the Sunday of Resurrection and the Jews celebrate the Feast of Weeks fifty days after Passover, the solemnity is the new Feast of Weeks.

Now, do you remember how many tribes made up Israel? Twelve. Yes, 12 tribes exchanged vows with God in a covenant! How many married couples participated in BCMR 23? Twelve. Yes, 12 married couples renewed their vows with God and with each other in a marriage covenant! When did we renew our wedding vows? On the Solemnity of Pentecost, the new Feast of Weeks!

Till now, my awe of this coincidence has not died down: how more wonderful and meaningful is it that my wife and I were among 12 couples who renewed their wedding vows as we commemorated the descent of the Holy Spirit, who renews, in the Most Holy Eucharist celebrating its solemnity, the new Feast of Weeks?  

Pamalaye

On the last day of BCMR 23, before the celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist for the Solemnity of Pentecost and the renewal of wedding vows began, there was this moment that overwhelmed me with joy and wonder more than any other time in the retreat. It broke me down in tears, and I had to squat fully to steady myself. You see, this moment took me back in a rush to my pamalaye, the Filipino custom of going to the home of your fiancée; meeting her, her parents, and the rest of her family; and announcing your decision to marry her (and share some of the plans of the wedding and whatnot). Also, this moment recalled to my mind Proverbs 5:18-19:

Rejoice in the wife of your youth . . . at all times; may you be intoxicated always by her love.

Could the Lord have made it any clearer and louder? “Remember the wedding proposal and the wedding itself and everything in between? Remember how you were dying inside to be with each other for life? I want that passion back now! It’s the whole point of the retreat!”

How I wish I could say more, but all I can say is that till now, my awe of this coincidence has not died down: how more wonderful and meaningful could it be that my wife and I renewed their wedding vows, emphatically reminded of my pamalaye, as we commemorated the descent of God the Holy Spirit, who renews, in the Most Holy Eucharist celebrating its solemnity?

A Retreat to Remember

For almost two years since we joined BCBP, fellow members kept trying to whet our curiosity and anticipation for BCMR. Having already known what happens in a typical retreat for married Catholics from testimonies of many participants in other lay Catholic groups, I kept my expectations reasonably low. Never did I realize what the Lord prepared for me on the last night and on the last day of the retreat. I am embarrassed to admit afterwards that I did not to expect the Lord to exceed my expectations.

I hope the Lord exceeds yours as well.

by Kuya Louie Climaco (Fra Louie)

The smallest organizational unit of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) is the Action Group (AG). It is composed of five to seven couples or five to seven individuals, and is headed by an Action Group Leader (AGL). The action group is a significant means of support, formation, and growth for all members. The BCBP continuously trains AGLs to better help members to find and establish their life and service on God’s Word, to work with God in their life, and preach God’s work to others. For such purpose, every year the BCBP conducts a training seminar not only for current Action Group Leaders but future ones as well together with Service Ministry heads.

Objectives, Attitudes, Focus Areas, and Ends

The two-day AGL training has the following objectives:

• Develop a joyful attitude and commitment to service.
• Clarify our leadership roles and responsibilities.
• Learn and apply ways to improve caring for our members.

It invites trainers and trainees to adopt the following attitudes:

• Openness to the Lord
• Eagerness to learn from the Lord
• Willingness to obey the Lord
• Love for others as the Lord loves them

It emphasizes the following aspects:

• servant leadership
• the action group
• the BCBP caring system

It prays to the Lord to achieve the following ends:

• greater service and faithfulness to the Lord
• refreshment and encouragement from the Lord
• strength from the Lord for service

Training in 2018

In 2018, the BCBP Mactan Chapter held its Leaders Training and Worshop at Saint Francis Seraph Retreat House in Maghaway, Talisay City. Day 1 of 2 was February 3. Now are there hints that the Lord would do His part to make the training a success? Well, read the following excerpts from the readings of the Liturgy of the Word of the Most Holy Eucharist of that day, and judge for yourself.

Wisdom and Understanding

The first reading (1 Kgs. 3:4-13) is the conversation between God and young Solomon who just succeeded his father David as king of Israel:

“You have shown great favor to your servant . . . even today, seating a son of his on his throne. O Lord, my God, you have made me, your servant, king to succeed my father David; but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act. I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong. For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?”

The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request. So God said to him: “Because you have asked for . . . understanding so that you may know what is right I give you a heart so wise and understanding that there . . . will come no one to equal you.”

On the day Mactan Chapter AGLs began to be trained to better lead AGs, the Word of God reminded them to imitate young King Solomon: desire wisdom and understanding. The Lord also reminded them that two of the seven gifts from God the Holy Spirit, received in the Sacrament of Baptism, are wisdom and understanding; consequently, the Lord reminded them that BCBP is part of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement, which one of its international leaders described as “a sovereign work of the Holy Spirit . . . through which we are asked to hand our lives over to God and to give the power back to him.”

Also, the Word of God gave them a magnificent model in young King Solomon on adopting the attitudes that the training invites them to adopt.

Teach Me, O Lord

The Responsorial Psalm seems to resonate the prayer of King Solomon: Take the response, for example:

Lord, teach me your statutes.

Psalms 119:12

and some stanzas:

With all my heart I seek you;
let me not stray from your commands.
With my lips I declare
all the ordinances of your mouth.
In the way of your decrees I rejoice,
as much as in all riches.

Psalms 119:10,13,14

On the day Mactan Chapter AGLs began to be trained to better lead AGs, the Word of God reminded them to always come to the Lord all who are weary and will be weary from carrying a heavy burden, such as the burden of leadership, so that He will give them rest; and the Lord also reminded them to learn from Him for He is gentle and humble of heart in taking His yoke, such as the yoke of leadership, so that His yoke is easy and its burden light (Mt. 11:28-30). And was the Lord giving the AGLs rest not refreshment, one of the ends of the training, or was the Lord making the yoke and burden of AG leadership easy and light not giving strength for service, another end of the training.

Come Away and Rest Like Sheep With A Shepherd

Finally, excerpts from the Gospel:

The Apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while. . . .” So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. . . . When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

And the Word of God reminded them that He really intended for them to come away by themselves to a deserted place so that He may teach them to become shepherds. To the AGLs, the deserted place is Saint Francis Seraph Retreat House, and to be shepherds is exactly what AGLs are to AGs.

Curiously, the name “Saint Francis Seraph” comes from the vision of Saint Francis of Assisi at Mount La Verna. While in a retreat of prayer and fasting, the saint saw a seraph with six wings, all on fire, from heaven. As the seraph drew near, a form of someone crucified appeared amid the wings. The seraph gave Saint Francis the five wounds of Our Lord Jesus Christ, otherwise known as the stigmata. As a matter of fact, the Franciscan order, formally known as the Order of Friars Minor, is also called the Seraphic Order due to this vision.

Interestingly, as with Saint Francis of Assisi on Mount La Verna, the AGLs were also in a retreat, training to lead AGs. Moreover, they spent the retreat in a retreat house named after the vision of the saint that reminded him that the Lord, by laying down His life for His sheep on the cross, is the Good Shepherd, which the Lord proved to the crowd by teaching them as mentioned in the Gospel of the first day of training.

In closing, meditate on the following quote from the first pope in history to take the name of Saint Francis of Assisi for regnal name:

You must be shepherds with the smell of sheep.

Pope Francis

by Kuya Louie Climaco (Fra Louie)

The Brotherhood Christian Life Program (BCLP) 24 of BCBP Mactan Chapter was the last BCLP before the chapter was split into two. One held its original chapter name, the other was first called Mactan Midtown Chapter and then renamed to Lapu-Lapu Chapter. The latter was formally installed on March 25, Feast of the Annunciation, in 2017.

With attendance and tithes already low before the split, Kuya Orly Manuel, Mactan Chapter Head shared his worries after the Holy Mass of the first Friday of April 2017 over the effect of the split. Some members got visibly worried. However, God the Holy Spirit never ceases to comfort and console those faithful to Him. And He never ceases to amaze them. Pray tell.

In the evening of the third Friday of April, the praise and worship leader began the session with a greeting of “Happy Anniversary!” Since he was referring to the 37th National Anniversary of BCBP, which was on the following day, the members understood that the session was held already on the eve of the anniversary.

Later in the session, the leader invited everyone to share whatever message or vision from the Holy Spirit. The first sharer shared parts of the Gospel of that day. The parts were about the most memorable breakfast of all time for BCBP: the breakfast of the risen Lord Jesus and His Apostles from a catch of fish so great that the nets were in danger of tearing apart. He began reading from the invitation to haul in the bursting catch to the invitation known to every BCBP by heart:

Come and have breakfast.

John 21:12

As usual, other sharers followed him:

• The second spoke of two ships sailing in the same direction on calm waters in good weather.
• The third spoke of the Lord swearing that He will not fail those who trust in Him.
• The fourth quoted from the Bible how the risen Lord assured His apostles that He is not a ghost by showing His hands and feet and letting them touch such His Body.
• The last spoke of Our Lord extending His hands over the deep blue sea.

Now, consider carefully the following interpretations of the messages and visions:

• The Gospel of the day of the eve of the anniversary of BCBP mentioned the event that inspired the event that began the BCBP, which is the BCBP Breakfast. No mere coincidence.
• The two ships were Mactan Chapter and Lapu-Lapu Chapter! They sailed in the same direction because the two ships have only one captain, Our Lord!
• The vision of the Lord swearing He would not fail those who trust in Him was intended to ease fears and anxieties over the split.
• The quote from the Bible was a reminder of the Lord’s faithfulness to His promises by recalling that He did rise from the dead because He was showing His hands, feet, and the rest of His body to His Apostles, even for them to touch. After all, the greatest promise of the Lord is to raise up on the last day those who are faithful to Him till the end.
• For the vision of the Lord extending His hands over the deep blue sea, I will return to it shortly.

As the One True Captain of the ships Mactan Chapter and Lapu-Lapu Chapter, the invitation of Our Lord to touch His body from the quote was to assure the members that He would be with them sailing the ships. In fact, He offered Himself to them so that they would be able to sail the ships by letting Him sail them in them. For only the Lord is able to sail ships till they reach the shore.

But why would the Lord captain the ships? Because the last sharer said He extended His arms towards the deep blue sea, which was calm. This was meant to remind the members of His unforgettable miracles of

• rebuking the winds and the sea until a great calm swept over the waters before the terrified eyes of His disciples, and
• walking on water until He got into the boat with His disciples and, again, rebuked the winds and the sea.

The last miracle is very much connected to His invitation to touch His Body. When He walked on water, they thought He was a ghost. The Lord so noted this mistake that the next time it happened, He invited them to touch His Body and to give Him something to eat when He appeared to them after His resurrection.

But why the deep blue sea? Clearly, the Lord wanted the members to put out into the deep. After all, the deeper into sea one goes, the bigger the catch. Indeed, the Lord wants every fish caught because He died and rose from the dead to conquer death for everyone, Jews and Gentiles. And when one catches fish, He invites him or her to come to shore, haul in the catch, and “come and have breakfast” with Him.

It seems quite clear that the Lord wants BCBP to grow until it has to split again. He wants more breakfasts. To do that, He needs more ships to catch fish and bring them to shore. May God add more years to the BCBP, more ships, more catch, more breakfasts, not just in one place but in many places, as many as the years to come until either BCBP would “run out of names to call” the newest chapter (to quote a former chapter head) or until Kingdom come, whichever comes first!