Re-started "Hour of Discovery" Radio Ministry February 1987...

M E M O R I E S: Life and Time of Pastor Rudy Bernal, his Glimpses on History & the People’s Struggle for Freedom

Chapter 51– Re-Started “Hour of Discovery” Radio Ministry February 1987, with budget for 3 months, but the Lord made it possible to broadcast for about 17 years... …

My involvement in radio ministry doing social, economic, political, advocacy and religious broadcasts was built on simple faith. If God wants me to do a certain kind of work, He will provide the way and means so that the work can be started until it was finished. This was my simple experienced in life and in my ministry.

In February 1987, we started “Hour of Discovery” broadcast at Station DYRP, in Iloilo City. We have money enough only to pay 3 months broadcast time. Our broadcast time was 4:30 -5:00 PM every Wednesday. My wife, Hesther and my friend, Frank Carilimdiliman, who’s ecumenical perspectives was strong, were with me facing each other in the radio station, on our maiden broadcast.

I told Hesther and Frank: “We are venturing into a broadcast ministry. This is a hard goal. It is a venture in faith. If God opens the way, Hour of Discovery broadcast will continue for a year and more. If it was not His will, we must be ready to stop Hour of Discovery in 3 month time.

I gave my message. It was a a simple message. It carried our dream. It was sustained by a strong faith. A belief, that with God’s leading our dreams, faith and hope will never fail. Hour of Discovery was launched on the air that Wednesday afternoon. And it went On the Air for nearly 25 years, moving to DYFM Bombo Radio when DYRP decided to close their broadcast business.

When we ventured in this ministry, we learned a little and developed some knowledge and skills on Project Proposals, Project Feasibility Studies and Project Plannings. We have learned from observations and experiences working some years with the Convention’s Urban Industrial Mission (UIM) and its New Frontier Ministries (NFM), from 1976, that that simple but organized writing skills were very important for generating of needed resources

Project Proposals and Feasibility Studies, has the power to reach local, national and international agencies and entrepreneurs for possible links, partnership and joint ventures so that important projects that cannot be done alone, can be done together – whether evangelisms, education, development works, cooperatives, broadcasting, organic farming, printing and publishing and even in the revolutionary struggles, the skills of Project Proposals and Feasibility Studies will be needed.

For organizations and associations with at least 3 years registration and legal personalities, potential board of directors, credibility and good program can, and often get access to technical, management and financial resources, within and outside the country. Many national and international organizations had technical resources and money in their hands.

But they do not know what programs were needed and where they have to put this resources. A Project Proposal or a Feasibility Study will make this possible. The donors and donee, meet together in the act of partnership or joint ventures, reaching to those who need the programs and services in the local communities direct to the people in need.

Before we started “Hour of Discovery” broadcast, we developed a wide group of possible listeners. We wrote letters to churches and pastors of the Convention Baptists who were our friends. We wrote simple letters, telling them of our broadcast dates and time. We shared with them our dream for a broadcast ministry.

We wrote letters to members of PANELFU, a labor union we knew with 400 chapters in villages and towns in Panay and told them of our broadcast. It was a direct advertizing and promotions work we made. Militant students, we knew and have relationships, were asked to tell their friends of our broadcast date and time.

Then, about 5 months, we decided to transfer” Hour of Discovery” to DYFM-Bombo Radio. By that time, Bombo Radio was the Number One radio station in Iloilo in terms of listener. According to surveys during that time, Bombo Radio has 37% listeners preference in Iloilo City, with some 7 radio stations, AM and FM stations operating.

DYFM-Bombo Radio gave us a 15-minute radio time, on Sundays at 2:00 PM.

We continued to work and build relationship and partnership. We partnered with Rev. Greg Tingson, an Internationally known Evangelists, residing in Manila and Kabankalan, Negros Occidental for a a possible joint broadcast. We will managed the project and promotions.

I asked him to pay the monthly broadcast time. He will speak on the 3nd and 4th Wednesdays. I will speak on the 1st, 3rd and on 5th Sundays. Rev. Gred Tingson, sent a Check for the next month’s broadcast. This arrangement continued for more than a year.

We proposed a joint venture with the National Council Churches in the Philippines (NCCP). And Mrs. Prima Formelleza responded and assisted us several months. Hour of Discovery has now started a little partnership in the broadcast ministry.

Some churches in Panay also sent some amount for Hour of Discovery. Some friends in the churches, in the labor union and farmers association also assisted us. We were able to strengthen our broadcast ministry.

Then , through Rev. Olof Lindstrom, I sent a Project Proposal to Farsta Church in Sweden. In about 3 months time, Farsta Church supported our broadcst ministry for 3 years. Then, the renewed their support for the next 4 years, a total of 7 years. For more than 7 years, Farsta Church supported us, enabling us to open broadcast to 3 stations in Panay and Negros and also in Bukidnon and General Santos City, in Mindanao. .

We then tried to make wider coverage of our broadcast in in Iloilo City, with another broadcast center in Iloilo City. We started broadcast with GMA Iloilo City at 4:30 on Sunday mornings. Former Governor and Senator Rafael Palmares, was leading the Catholic broadcast with reflections and prayer at 4:00 AM on Sundays. I arrived early, and listen to their broadcast. We sometimes have conversations and sharing. He often stay with us at the station and listen also to our broadcast.

It was great to have some little time with a former Governorr and Senator of the country. Rafael Palmares, now a preacher in radio, who in his time. Played big role in the political life of our country. Now, he played another important role in life, by leading reflections and prayers for Catholics every Sunday at 4:00 AM.

To reached out to more radio listeners, Hour of Discovery started also a program with DYRI-Iloilo. It was at 2:00 PM every Sunday. I discovered that radio listeners in Panay have their favourite radio stations, favourite radio announcers, radio newscasters and radio comentators. One way to reach radio audiences was to have a radio programs in different radio stations. And and we did just that. We opened “Hour of Discovery” to different stations in Iloilo City.

Some of our topics where for strengthening of the faith of our people, regardless of the church membership. Most deals with social, ethichal and political issues. Issue that deals on some needs for opening the minds of our people, seeing clearly the issues on Protections of Human Rights and Human Rights violations, like the following messages in radio and later printed and published as a pamphlet and later published in a book.

1. THE APPLE TREE AND THE SPADE, a Reflection of Rev. Birgit Karlson, General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Sweden, which we requested her to tape record when he was here in the Philippines as speaker during the Annual Aseembly.

2. HUMAN RIGHTS : DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE FARMERS AND MILITARY HELD AT THE PROVINCIAL HALL OF ILOILO – By Pastor Rudy Bernal

3. CELEBACY AND THE MARRIED PRIESTS – By Pastor Rudy Bernal

4. SELLING WOMEN’S FLESH: LAST WAY SOME WOMEN DO TO LIVE –By Ms. Lucy Francisco, officer of Gabriela Women’s Party

5. SISTERHOOD IS POWERFUL! – By Pastor Liza Lamis, Coordinator, Women’s Program of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP).

6. THE LOVE ROAD –By Rev. Olof Lindstrom, Secretary for Information & International Relations of the Baptist Union of Sweden.

7. THE BAPTIST YOUTH & THE POLITICS OF CHANGE – By Pastor Rudy Bernal

8. A GOD WHO CRIES! – Rev. Gunnel Andreasson, Swedish Baptist Union, Secretary for Asia and Eastern Europe.

9. NEVER REMAIN IN THE TEMPLE –Pastor Leo Claridad, Faculty Member, North Negros Baptist Bible College.

10. THE STORM OF GALILEE – Rev. La Verne Mercado, General Secretary, NCCP, Manila.

"Hour of Discovery" Radio Ministry, which was first started in 1974 and ended in 1977. . Re-started in 19 78 and ended in 1981. Then re-started again in 1987 and closed in in 2006. God bless our radio ministry. Then, God helped us, open a new - a small printing and publishing ministry.

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We started a small business, selling Salter Peanuts, Broiled Peanuts, Banana Cakes, Cupcakes and Brownies in Iloilo City and learning the arts & technics of selling...

M E M O R I E S: Life and Time of Pastor Rudy Bernal,his Glimpses on History & the People;s Struggle for Freedom

Chapter 51– We started a small business, selling Salted Peanuts, Boiled Peanuts, Banana Cakes, Cupcakes and Brownies in Iloilo City and learning the arts & technics of selling…

My letter of resignation from CPBC due to conflict with its leadership was effective 60 days after I sent the letter. We started a very small business October 1987. We need it to be able to to earn something for our food and other basic necessities. It was very hard to be jobless, after 12 years of being employed. It was not easy for me to go back to work in the church under the situations of the time. I cannot think of anything to do to earn an income, except to go selling. And selling something to eat as snacks, I think, a bit easier for me.

I talked with my wife, Hesther. “I am now jobless and we have two small children to care. What shall we do?”

We studied our alternatives. She knew some baking. She always bake Banana Cakes. She said, she knew how to make Salted Peanuts. And her sister Mrs. Rosea Saplada, in Bacolod City has a small bakeshop. They produced and delivered Cupcakes and Brownies in Bacolod City, down to Victorias City in the North and reaching Kabanakalan City in the South. Hesther called her up and discussed sending some of her products to Iloilo City.

That day, we decided we will produce Salted Peanuts. Three kinds of Salted Peanuts – the Ordinary. The hot Salted Peanuts. And the Very Hot Salted Salted Peanuts. We decided to bake Banana Cakes. We have a small a small handy gas-operated Oven. Hesther used this to make cakes for the children. We have a young man, 14 years old, a student in high school, who was living with us.

We gave him some allowance. We asked him to help us make Salted Peanuts and other peanut products and Banana Cakes. Also helping us was Daday, Hesther’s relative who helped care for our younger son will also helped us produce our products. I will deliver our products two times a week. We will produced our products late afternoons and evenings.

We studied our business methods. We will sell our products on consignment. We will leave the products to the stores. We will changed the unsold items. We started making Salted Peanuts on Sunday evenings.

We will go to church Sunday mornings. And Saturdays we will prepare all the peanuts we will make. Then, I will deliver it on Monday morning. It will be in the market for 3 days. Then, on Thursday morning, we will deliver new peanut products, pull-out those which were not sold. Collect the sales the past week. Then, I deliver new stocks of Salted Peanuts.

We have three kinds of salted peanuts for sale. The ordinary Peanuts. The Hot Peanuts. And the Very Hot Peanuts. The very hot salted peanuts were intended for those who drink beers. We put native peppers on our salted peanuts. The many the small peppers, the more hot… the peanuts become.

On Tuesdays, we made Banana Cakes. This could go through until Saturdays. We make collections on Saturdays. Then, we get the returned items. The returned banana cakes, I brought home as feeds for our two piglets. I bought 2 paper bags to put our items for sale. I carry the two paper bags to the passenger jeepenys and deliver our products to possible sales outlets. There were different outlets opened for our venture – big, medium and small outlets around Iloilo City. We also deliver our salted peanuts and banana cakes to sidewalk vendors.

Our strategy for selling? We started at CPU Student Enterprise. There we deliver Cupcakes and Brownies. We deliver also to some small stores inside CPU. We distribute to several stores are the front of CPU. At the back of CPU church, there were many homes, and some have stores. There we deliver salted peanuts and banana cakes. Around Jaro Plaza there were a number of sidewalks vendors. We consigned to them salted peanuts and our banana cakes.

We got Iloilo Mission Hospital canteen to get our Cupcakes, Brownies and Banana Cakes. We consigned to them also Salted Peanuts. There were several stores at the back of the hospital where several stores were around. We delivered our goods at 3 canteens of Iloilo National High School, two canteens at Don Benito Hospital, and two canteens each at West Visayas State College and Western Institute of Technogy. Along the way, we drop our products at several vendors.

Inside and around La Paz Plaza and La Paz store, we were able to deliver our goods both to small stores and street vendors. We sold at Provincial Capitol, Philippine National Bank canteen, St. Paul’s Hospital canteens and at different stores along the highway. We delivered at University of San Agustin, University of the Philippines, Iloilo Doctor’s Hospital canteen and stores nearby stores like “4th of July” and other stores along San Agustin Unieversity.

At Plaza Libertad we have vendors that sell our products. Iloilo City Hall canteen, Development Bank of the Philippines, to venders near Ker & Brothers, inside City Hall and vendors at the seaside areas to the port goint to Guimaras. And we leave our products to vendors along Plaza Libertad and stores around. Then we moved to roads to the pier, where many vendors sale our Banana Cakes and Salted Peanuts.

Then, we moved on to the areas in Mandurriao with two small canteens at West Visayas Hospital and in small stores along the Mandurriaw highway. We saturated the different places around the Housing subdivisions.

After six months, we bought a 2rd or 3rd Hand Jeepney from Mr. Ramos, who stood as sponsors on our Weeding Day. He sold me his jeepney for P20,000. We paid P5,000 down payment. And the remaining amount, payable in 6 months time. We still carry our paper bag, but only from the jeepney to the stores.

We also got business to two stores at West Visayas Hospital in Mandurrriao and in small stores along the highway. We sold our products at the Iloilo Airport and several stores around. There, we deliver lots of Cupcakes and Brownies. We saturated the different places around the Housing subdivisions and stores near Iloilo Airport.

Then, we moved on to Molo and some areas nearby and around.

In a year time, we have about 106 outlets selling our products on consignment. And during all those time, their was no outlet that were not able to pay the consignment we gave them. Every 3 days after delivery of Banana Cakes, and one week after delivery of Salted Peanuts, Cupcakes and Brownies, the payments were made ready for for our collection and another delivery.

I was during this time, I discovered how business works. Producing and selling food items were continuous. For daily, men, women, youth and children eats…and always they eat, somethings. And money comes, just small amount, but continuous. This was after our sixth month time, when our deliveries were scheduled daily, in 6 different areas of Iloilo City.

We discovered, God’s grace was sufficient for us. And, it was a really hard, hard works.

It was during this time, with a little money we saved, we started to think of opening a Radio Broadcast ministry again. Hesther and I were in Radio Ministry for some time in in Bacolod City. And we thought of starting a radio ministry again. To reached out to them, thru the Air Lanes, was a ministry opened for me at that time.

I negotiated with Radio DYRP, for a 30-Minutes radio broadcast once a week. The manager gave me, 5:00-5:30 PM every Wednesday, where “Hour of Discovery” will be broadcast every Wednesday late afternoon.

Two weeks before our maiden “Hour of Discovery” broadcast, we made some Flyers, a whole Short Bond Paper, which was photo copied and sent to CPBC churches in Iloilo City and Iloilo province. We sent also copies of our announcement to other churches in Iloilo City and the province.

The following week, we sent copies of “Hour of Discovery” announcement to Convention Baptist Churches in Capiz, Aklan and Antique. Then we sent copy of our announcements to our friends who were PiC Priests in Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan and Antique. We tried to reach out to churches, telling them “Hour of Discovery’ has On the Air.

When, we were about to re-start “Hour of Discovery” broadcast, many churches in Iloilo and Panay have took hold of our announcements and knew we will soon be On the Air. God, we believe was leading us to this special Christian ministry.

Some Baptist Convention youths & pastors during Martial Law & their fight for jusice, human rights and feedom...

M E M O R I E S: Life and Time of Pastor Rudy Bernal, his Glimpses on History & the People’s Struggle for Freedom

Chapter 49– Some Baptist Convention Youths & Pastors During Martial Law & their Fight for Justice, Human Rights and Liberation…

Philippine President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos was elected President in 1965. He was re-elected in 1969. His rule after his re-elections has brought economic difficulties, human rights violations, growing deep poverty reaching to wide circles of our people in the country. There were reports of hard and continued injustices.

The political opposition, the Liberal Party, has also grown in influence and it’s leadership was said , the capacity to topple President Marcos on a peaceful elections. On the other hand, the revolutionary party headed by the Communist Party of the Philippines and the NPA have grown into a strong political and revolutionary forces from 1969 to 1986.

Many Pastors and Church leaders of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches who were poor, have felt the hard realities of poverty growing widespread during this time. However, some of the top leaders of the Baptist Convention has supported President Marcos’ martial rule. Some of them, were members of the group that supported Emie Marcos, President Marcos eldest daughter. Most CPBC leaders, were mum during martial law years. But were the ordinary and poor people, felt the hard life of this time and joined the people in the struggle against President Marcos’ dictatorship.

What remained of the little political stability before the proclamation of martial law has began to collapsed. The people worried on the growing instability in the country. Resistance against President Marcos and his military rule gained strength. The forces of the underground have become strong, challenging President Marcos’s rule in Manila, Luzon and some other parts of the country.

Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr., the most prominent opposition to Marcos leadership, together with Sen. Gerry Roxas, Sen. Jovito Salonga, former President Diosdado Macapagal, together with other LP could have defeated President Marcos in an election in November 1972, if he did not declare martial law in September 21, 1972.

In about 12 years after President Marcos declared martial law, the Communist Party of the Philippines became a strong political and revolutionary force that challenge the rule of President Marcos. By that time, reports said, the New People’s Army (NPA), which was organized in March 1969, were now operating in some 75% of the provinces and villages nationwide, fighting the military in different parts of the country.

As the government intensified its fight against the NPA, there were increasing reports of ambushes, raids and military encounters between the government forces and the NPA. There were reports of killings of military informants by the NPA. There were also continued military raids of suspected homes, seminars and workshops, and offices of organizations, both churches and secular organizations. NPA that were captured were tortured, some their hands tied with small wires, that were too tight, the wires reached the bones on the hands of the victims.

I saw, for instance, the wounds of Edward Oliver de la Fuente’s hand, the small wires tied tightly on his wrest that reached the bones. These were some of the kind of tortures the military did to some NPA they captured. I saw this when I visited Edward's wake in their home in Jaro, Iloilo City. I only grit my teeth, feeling the pain and silent desperations.

Some of these Convention Baptists members, most of then young people who were victims of injustices, joined the NPA. They said, they fought for freedom, justice and liberation.

In Iloilo City, Virgil Ortigas, a student at Central Philippine University, joined the Kabataang Makabayan, and was killed by the military in Antique. His parents, Rev. Restituto Ortigas, a former General Secretary of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches and Mrs. Felisberta Ortigas, a woman Baptist minister and Treasurer of the Iloilo Kasapulanan of Baptist Churches, accepted the death of the their son as contribution to the struggle for freedom, justice and the struggle for liberation.

His elder brother, Fluelyn Ortigas, a very fluent, brilliant and young leader was elected President of the first President Kabataang Makabayan of Iloilo. He was a Baptist youth leader during his time. They were the first Baptist youth leaders in Panay who responded to the call and participated in the struggle for revolutionary change in Western Visayas. In February 11, 2017, I heard him spoke to some of his friends, the !st Quarter Storms in its 11th Reunion, in Iloilo City and his words that were soft and powerful, continue to stir the hearts.

John Herbert de la Fuente was killed by the military in April 11, 1983, Jaro, Iloilo City. He was a prominent Baptist youth leader who helped re-organized and revitalized the Convention Baptist Youth of the Philippines (CBYFP), national Baptist youth organizations, and helped strengthen provincial and regional youth organizations in the country.

Nicolas Bunda Jr., a young man and member of Capiz Evangelical Church was arrested and detained at Camp Delgado Stockade in Iloilo City for several years.

Rev. Nestor Bunda, a Baptist Convention pastor, was arrested by military elements in a restaurant near Jaro Plaza, brought by the military who arrested him to some secluded places. His companion during his arrest, Rev. Ronie Luces, saw his arrest and how he was forced to ride a jeep. Rev. Luces notified many Baptist pastors and church and ecumenical leaders, in Iloilo City and organized friends to find him.

They organized a group that visited the different police stations and police headquarters in Jaro Police Station and the Police Headquarters in the city, inquiring from the desks officers, the whereabouts of Rev. Nestor Bunda. He was not found in the different police stations, creating fears among his friends and associates that he was hidden, and feared he was being tortured. The group, searching for him, included Mrs. Sandy Mosher, an American Missionary assigned as Correspondent for CPBC.

She joined the group searching for Pastor Bunda almost the whole night, visiting and calling the Police Station every few minutes asking for Pastor Bunda’s whereabout. In late part of the night, with many friends searching for him in different, isolated places, he was found, in the rice fields on the western side of Iloilo Airport. He was left there by the military that arrested him, after a jeep with group searching for him, stopped near that area, with their headlights on full blasts.

Pastor Hortada, from Capiz and former student of CPU College of Theology, went underground, joined the New Peoples Army in Capiz. He became a top leader of the revolutionary movement. I cannot remember if he was captured or surrendered. But he left a legacy of his revolutionary efforts in Capiz, that were remembered by the people today.

Charles Herbert de la Fuente also a prominent Baptist youth leader, who worked for several years in a bank in Iloilo. He was also a former President of the Baptist Youth Fellowship of the Philippines. But he left his job in the bank that offered good salary and high income. He joined the New Peoples Army. He felt, it was cause, God or the people called him to undertake. He was captured in an encounter with the military, tortured and killed somewhere in Aklan

A Baptist young woman, from Bagong Barrio Baptist Church, in Bag-ong Barrio, Tapas also joined the revolutionary movement. , was killed by the military, in what was said an encounter. I heard, the hard economic situations and tyranny of the military, made him joined the NPA, rised to NPA leadership as Finance Officer in Capiz revolutionary movement. She fought in the hills of Central Panay.

She was killed during an encounter with the military. Her body was recovered and brought to municipal building of Tapaz, by a friend, Mr. Romeo Giloryao, a public school teacher. He went to get her body in the mountains of Tapas and brought it to the Municipal Hall. Then, it was transferred to their home, with the permission of the Mayor of Tapaz, Capiz. There, she was given a necrological service at Bag-ong Barrio Evangelical Church, before she was buried.

Mario Bunda, Baptist young man who have a deep commitment to the cause of labor and the workers, decided to go underground, as a way to protect himself, after he has tagged as a rebel and put under surveillance by the military

In Negros Occidental, Pastor Rodio Demetillo, working as pastor, evangelist and health worker, was kidnapped by armed men, believed were military and CAFGU officers. He was never seen alived again. His remains was found more than 10 years later. I was told his remains showed, he was tied to a tree, left to die with thirst, hunger, pain and hardship, tied with his hands on his back and tied on a tree. After his remains was recovered, many Baptist Pastors and church leaders and members came to join his remains to Bacolod City.

There, Pastor Demetillo was given proper church burial by his family and friends. Rev. Olof Lindstrom, a Baptist minister from the Baptist Union of Sweden, helped his family, specially her two children, both girls, some kind of supports for their high school and college education, Ruby and Ruthie, who were able to get good jobs.

Pastor Samuel Antonio and his wife, Leonila Antonio, both joined the NPA in the Upper South Negros, both fought the martial rule regime. Pastor Sam Antonio was a pastor and educator, and later a fighter and Commander of the NPA. His wife Leonila Antonio who joined him, fought thei cause, not with guns, but with ideas. She became a translator to Ilongo of the Communist Party’s educational materials from English and Tagalog to Ilongo or Hiligaynon. This translation works, were needed for the Communist Party’s education of members in the Mass Movement.

Many Convention Baptist young people from different parts of Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Antique and Negros Occidental have been involved with NPA and other activist movements and participated in the struggle for freedom and dreams for economic, social and political change..

People’s suffering were never seen before, as in the time of martial law when hamletteting were happening in different provinces and municipalities. This happened in many towns in Western Visayas – in Caridad in San Remigeo, Antique; in Sipalay, Negros Occidental where thousands of people from the mountain villages went down, when the war between the military and the New People’s Army intensified with civilians running for safety. This dangers and fears were doubled, when mortar fires were fired on villages where rebel forces were said to be working.

Many people all over the country stood up and rallied against the Marcos dictatorship. The military has become deadly and brutal, thinking, perhaps that under a tyrannical rule, the people will be frieghtened, kept silent be quiet and bow their heads down. But the people stood up. The resistance against Marcos and his martial regime has become stronger.

During that 14 years time, from 1972 to 1986, some 400 Filipinos in Panay alone, have died or missing, struggling and resisting Marcos martial regime under his deadly military elements in Panay and Negros. But the people continued in resistance, until, President Marcos was thrown out from power and sent in excile by his American President friend to live and die in a foreign la

The resignation of Pastor Rudy Bernal, coming of BUS & EZE to discuss the UIM problems, the failed negotiations, UIM Project funding stopped & GS telling 34 UIM trainees to go home...

M E M O R I E S: Life and Time of Pastor Rudy Bernal & his Glimpses on History & the People’s Struggle for Freedom

Chapter 48 – The resignation of Pastor Rudy Bernal, coming of BUS & EZE to to Discuss the UIM problems, the failed negotiations, UIM Project funding stopped, & the GS telling 34 UIM trainees to go home…

Resigning as Director of the New Frontier Ministries, the development arms of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches, was one of hardest decisions, I made in life. This was sometimes, in the 2nd Quarter of 1986.

UIM was the flagship of the New Frontier Ministries, CPBC's development program. It was there we tried to experiment the different potential projects that will be relevant and effective in development education, community organizing, livelihood projects, people's associations, cooperatives, advocacy works, labor education and sugar cane workers organizing..

The decision of the General Secretary, the President and the Chairman of the CPBC New Frontier Ministries to terminate the UIM staff was final. That day, I sent the General Secretary my Letter of Resignation. I made an Office Secretary signed that she received my resignation letter, on the time and date.

Then, I went back to my office. I sat behind my my desk. I looked outside the window, where I can see the wide blue sky. I prayed. I asked stremgth from God. . I asked Him for guidance. I have made a hard decision. A decision that will have some hard implications on my ministry, the CPBC development ministries and the future of some, who were presently working in the New Frontier Missions.

Under the new leadership, which lacks the needed first hand experiences, in community organizing, livelihood projects and technology transfers, animal trainings and dispersals, labor education and organizing, where 34 staff were being trained wthout the assistance of the trained UIM staff, the potentials of the project to grow was limited. It was possible, that it will lose in certain given time

My Resignation Letter was simple. I addressed it to Rev. Penuelito Sacapano, General Secretary. I tried today, to recollect the best I could my letter of resignation. It said:

New Frontier Ministries
Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches, Inc.
Fajardo Street, Jaro, Iloilo City

Rev. Penuelito Sacapano
General Secretary

Dear Sir:

I have the honor to tender my resignation as Director of the New Frontier Ministries of the Convention, effective 60 days from today.

I have worked with the NFM for nearly 10 years and have given it the best that I knew and have.

There are two reasons, that made me decide to resign:

1) First. The termination of the 4 staff of UIM, who were trained and have lots of experiences in running the UIM program that will be expanded to some municipalities in Panay, Capiz and Aklan. Without, these UIM 4 staff that have training and experiences on the UIM ministry, it would be hard to implement this big project with several million budget in 3 years.

2) Second. Presently, 34 persons are being trained as full time staff. The training, now for 3 day, was conducted without my participation. I felt, it is a pressure for me to resign, for if I continue to be director of NFM under this circumstances, I will be a director of NFM, without authority. I will be a Flower Base in that office.

Thank you for the privilege to work with you.

Truly yours,

Pastor Rodolfo C. Bernal
Director, CPBC New Frontier Ministries

I left a copy of my resignation for who Rev. Lopez and Atty. Lobaton at the CPBC office.

That morning, I sent a telegram of my resignation to Rev. Olof Lindstrom, BUS, requesting him to inform Mr. Heinz Havercorn of EZE in West Germany.

My Telegram simply said: Dear Rev. Olof Lindstrom, BUS, Baptist Union of Sweden.

“The 4 UIM Staff that we trained and worked for 3 years were terminated by the Convention. They have only 30 days left for work. The official letters of their resignation was given by General Secretary. I felt, I cannot worked effectively, with 34 new staffs with not experiences in the kind of work were doing. I have resigned as Director of the New Frontier Ministries. Please inform Mr. Heinz Haverkorn of EZE, Germany my resignation. Sincerely, Pastor Rudy Bernal.”

I called RCPI and dictated my telegram with the address in Sweden. I asked the Operator to read to me the message and the address 3 times. I want to make sure that my message will reached clear and on time.

My telegram was received that day in Stolkholm. Rev. Olof Lindstrom was in Hongkong when my telegram was received. The initial fund was ready and will be transmitted the following day to Manila. Rev. Lindstrom instructed his staff in Sweden to hold the transmission of funds for a few days. He sent a message of the situation to Mr. Hienz Haverkorn in West Germany. He also called Mr. Leo Liljengren in Sweden and told him of the problem.

The action of BUS was fast. Mr. Leo Liljengren was advised to go to the Philippines immediately and discussed the situation and problems with CPBC leaders. Three (3) days after, Mr. Leo Liljengren arrived in Iloilo City. The following day, he and the CPBC top leadership - Rev. Edwin Lopez, Rev. Penuelito Sacapano, Atty. Angel Lobaton and Mr. Bonifacio Eslaban, Treasurer met at the CPBC office. They discussed the problem. The termination of the 4 UIM Staff, the resignation of Pastor Rudy Bernal. The training of the 34 new UIM staff that have already started. What will happen to the Panay Integrated Development Project.

Mr. Liljengren, early the previous night, while we were alone, asked me. “Rudy, we will make a proposal for CPBC. If, CPBC will agree that you work again with NFM and helped train the 34 new UIM staff under training, will you work again with CPBC?”
and help train the new staff?"

I told Mr. Liljengren: “Yes, if I am needed, I will continue to work with CPBC and train the new staff, even if, I have already resigned”.

Mr. Liljengren told CPBC, that BUS will pay my salary for the next 3 years. My salary will not be taken from the allocation of the UIM budget. It was his way to make it easy for CPBC, in case another person was already assigned as Coordinator of the UIM project.

But CPBC leadership was strong on their decisions. They said, the 4 UIM staff were already terminated. Pastor Rudy Bernal has resigned. They said, nothing can be done about that anymore.

Mr. Leo Liljengren told me that he have acceded to the termination of the 4 UIM staff. But the new staff, must be trained with my presence and guidance. He said, it will be difficult for the new project to succeed, in line with the project proposal, if there was no one, who have the experiences of UIM implementations, of the new UIM project.

Because nothing more can be done, at about 12:30 that noon, the CPBC-BUS meeting was ended. Mr. Liljengren did not took lunch with the CPBC leaders anymore. He went back to the hotel. I met him at the hotel for lunch. He told me the sad decision that was made. He said, the CPBC has rejected all his proposals. There was nothing left but go back to Sweden the following day. Germany’s EZE and Sweden’s BUS will have to make the decision, on the Panay Integrated Development Project.

After our lunch, he asked me to find another hotel where he could see the island of Guimaras and the sea. Some years ago, during his first visit, he and Rev. Lindstrom went to Guimaras Island. They were accompanied by Pastor Rodio Demetillo for sightseeing on the island. Later however, Pastor Rodio Demetillo was taken by uniformed people, and was never heard of again.

Perhaps, Mr. Leo Liljengren wants to feel the sea breeze and calm his heart and mind. He needs the cooling effect of the sea and looking at the mountains of Guimaras Island, which he visited quite a number of years ago. The following morning, Mr. Leo Liljengren flew to Manila, and then to Sweden.

The following day, about 4:30 PM. Rev. Edwin Lopez visited me at home. We have a conversations. He asked where Mr. Leo Liljengren was. I told him, he left very early that morning. He was in Manila and tomorrow, he will be flying to Sweden. Rev. Lopez asked me if I could communicate with Mr. Leo Liljengren and tell him, that after discussions yesterday with the CPBC leaders, they have decided to accept Mr. Leo Liljengren’s proposal – that I will be employed again as Director of the New Frontier Ministries, that the 4 terminated UIM staff be taken back and I will helped in the training of the 34 new UIM staff. I told, Rev. Lopez, I will try. But I knew, it will be hard.

Rev. Sacapano, after the end of the meeting with Mr. Leo Liljengren, about 3:30 PM,, after they have talked of there decision, realized the implications of the decisions made, called Hotel del Rio asking to talk to Mr. Liljengren. He was told that Mr. Liljengren had checked-out an hour ago. He called other hotels but he was told, Mr. Liljengren has not checked- in. I was later told that CPBC leaders have made some realization. But it was quite late.

Three days letter, Rev. Sacapano received the telegram from Sweden. The Panay Integrated Development Project will not be implemented. The fund intended for UIM will not be released.

The 34 staff that were training for UIM at the CPBC Board Room week, were told by Rev. Sacapano that the project will be stopped temporarily. Meantime, they must go home. They will be notified when to come back. The project ended, before it has started.

This was one incident that pulled down CPBC’s development works, and took some years to recover. After three years, when most of the funds for the projects were used that were supported by agencies in Europe with the World Council of Churches (WCC), no funds has ever came to CPBC again from Europe, like - Bread for the World, EZE, Christian Aid, Stechting, Dan Church Aid and World Council of Churches (WCC), until today.

Assisting CPBC was BIM, Australian Baptist World Aid and Baptist World Alliance. Few years later, with the leadership of Mr. Wilzon Guanzon, Sr., the new CPBC President, the Baptist Union of Sweden (BUS) and Diakonia of Sweden came and became partners again of CPBC in some of its ministries.

When I resigned, the different projects of the New Frontier Ministries has an amount of about P3,600,000 that was in the CPBC Treasurer’s office. It did not include the the Children programs – the Kinderhomes, and the SAO Projects for children were on diferent accounts. After utilization of project funds, CPBC struggled hard.

On the last year of Rev. Sacapano’s leadership as General Secretary, the CPBC, has a very few staff that remained. . Support from Local Churches have gone down very low.

When I was called by the Convention leadership thru Mr. Wilson Guazon and Rev. Delbe Dianala to assist CPBC as Special Assistant to the Relief Ministries, with Mrs. Feraz Baclagon Legita, newly appointed Director of CPBC Relief Ministries, the project funds in the Treasurer’s Office was only, P21,000 that comes from NCCP.

Under leadership of Mr. Wilson Guanzon and Rev. Delbe Dianala, CPBC again make a break through with the Baptist Union of Sweden and Diakonia, coming back assisting CPBC Relief Ministries. It was during this time, the Relief Ministry, was change to Relief and Development Ministries under Mrs. Feraz Baclagon Legita, Director..

The decision of top CPBC leaders to terminate the 4 UIM staff without valid cause, starts training of 34 new staff for Panay Integrated Development Project without it's director participations caused Pastor Rudy bernal to resign...

M E M O R I E S: Life and Time of Pastor Rudy Bernal, His Glimpses on History & the Struggle for Freedom

Chapter 47 – The Decision of top CPBC leaders to terminate the 4 UIM staff without valid cause, starts training of 34 New Staff for Panay Integrated Development Project without it’s director participations, caused Pastor Rudy Bernal to resign…

The decision of the top CPBC leaders to terminate the services of the 4 UIM staff without valid causes and started training 34 new staff for UIM, was I think, an unfortunate incidents in 1987, under the leadership of Atty. Angel Lobaton, President; Rev. Penuelito Sacapano, General Secretary; and Rev. Edwin Lopez, Chairman, Committee of the New Frontier Ministries. This decision to terminate the 4 UIM staff, without justifiable reasons, except their 3 years contract was going to end was I believed, not right. This project, Integrated Development Project was approved for funding support by the Baptist Union of Sweden and EZE of West Germany.

The four terminated staff were - Rev. Job Santiago, Project Coordinator, Hernani Bautista, Project Agriculturist, Hector Belloga and Bonifacio Castronuevo, Community Organizers. There terms as staff of the project were ending, but they were part of the new project that we presented and approved by the CPBC Board of Trustees.

Pastor Rudy Bernal, NFM Director was one of the key persons supposed to train the 34 new recruited staff, with assistance by the 4 UIM staff. The trainees came from Central Iloilo, Aklan and Capiz. The President, the General Secretary and the Chairman of the New Frontier Committee could led the training. 

The Panay Integrated Development Project, part of the UIM ministry, was planned to help the project participants get trained and organized for a wide range of development works. Our project proposal was approved for fund resources of P 3 million a year, for three years. It was the biggest project of the New Frontier Ministries with 34 full time staff, being trained for the project.

The New Frontier Ministries (NFM) was tasked by the Convention General Assembly of 1977 to formulate developments projects for the future – it will train, develop, organize, empower, and mobilize people, churches and communities and resources from local and international sources and assist the people under difficult economic situations of that time.
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With proper directions and implementations of the CPBC projects, we saw a brighter future for CPBC churches, its members and the communities with strong livelihood associations and cooperatives working for improvements of people’s lives. With a components of well trained and highly committed staff, the possibilities for success was very high.

The exploitations of the Filipino people during the colonial government of Spain in the Philippines, followed by the deadly colonization of the United States, with the US-Spanish Treaty of Paris of 1898, that returned all Spanish properties already taken over by Philippine revolutionary forces, including properties of the Roman Catholic churches in the hands of the Iglesia Filipina Independente (IFI), and returned them to the Spaniards and their descendants was one unfortunate decisions for the Filipinos those times.

This evil land ownership system of the Spanish era in the Philippines and perpetuated by the Americans from 1898, was the major causes of more than 200 revolts by the Filipinos against Spain in different parts of the country. It was also the cause of the continued wars by the communists and other rebel forces in the Philippines since 1938 until today, June 2017.

To help alleviate the economic and social situations, the New Frontier Ministries, in its little ways, expanded with some kinds economic development projects that covers the area in the country where CPBC churches were organized and operates. It provided project participants with development education, leadership formation, peasants, workers and fishermen organizing, community based health projects, programs for the development of the disabled, practical farmers training, appropriate technology, organizing of cooperatives and farmers associations, legal education, labor education and labor organizing, rehabilitation programs for victims of disaster and human rights violations.

It’s Biblical studies touches the evils of Roman Imperialism experienced by the people of Israel, who continued the struggle and fought for many decades, that was exemplified by the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ. There’s was a struggle similar to the Filipinos struggle from the Spanish time and the American rule that were fought hard by the nationalist Filipinos and the Communist Party of the Philippines for more than a century.

With the CPBC Assembly mandate, despite some apprehensions and fears, under Marcos martial rule, we undertook the implementation of New Frontier Ministries and Urban Industrial Missions, pushing to make it a real national development arms of the Convention. It started with building core groups in different municipalities, that covered Panay Island, Negros Occidental, Romblon and Mindoro, some part of Manila and Luzon and some areas of Mindanao.

From the experiences of this involvement, we move fast and organized development projects in Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Central Negros, Upper South Negros, Romblon and Northern Negros, as a response to call of the Convention Assembly for a dynamic program that responds to the need of the people under martial law.

We started preparations for the implementations of “ Panay Integrated Development Project” jointly assisted by Diakonia of Sweden and EZE of West Germany, thru Rev. Olof Lindstrom of Sweden and Mr. Heinz Havercorn of West Germany.

With the implementations of UIM – Panay Integrated Development Project, the resources committed by International funding partners in Iloilo and Capiz will be transferred to Mindanao and some area in Luzon where CPBC churches and communities were already organized.

The New Frontier Ministries with strong financial resources and a potentials of nearly a hundred full time staff trained in organizing and mobilizations, was becoming a strong spiritual, social, economic and political force in the Baptist Convention and some parts of the country .

Three things have developed in the social and political situations during that time.

First, the top leadership of the Baptist Convention from 1980 onward has started to weaver. There were two things that they were deeply concerned. They began to feel there leadership will be weakened with the emerging strength and political forces of the UIM and NFM staff that have strong holds on the leadership of churches in the provinces. Some top leaders of the Convention began to feel that their leadership will be weakened with the emerging new forces. But these fears were unfounded. We have no plans against the leadership.

Second, the leadership wavered at the strong pressure of the military/ With the four raids made by the military, at CPU College of Theology, the two raids and arrests of UIM & NFM staff in Cabudian Baptist Church, Duenas and Guevera Beach, Oton, Iloilo, in 1984, I think the CPBC leadership felt a grave apprehensions.

Together with with this, was the arrest of Rev. Nestor Bunda at restaurant near Jaro Plaza one night, brought to unknown place until he was left at the rice fields near the Iloilo airport, with hundred Baptists and ecumenical groups looking for him, visiting the police stations, calling radio stations asking for his whereabouts through the night, with an American missionary, Mrs. Sandy Mosher, joining and leading the search, was an event that time.

This was also followed several months later, when a ecumenical rally of more than 50 people were arrested and detained at the Jaro Police Headquarters for a night and day together with Ms. Sharon Joy Ruiz Duremdez, CPU College of Theology professor in Jaro, Iloilo City.

In the national level, the arrests and detentions of several NCCP staff and raids of other NCCP related projects in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, has chilling effects on the top leadership during those days.

By that time, the military seemed to have succeeded in their propaganda that the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), where the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches (CPBC) was a member, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) and the Philippine Independent Church (PIC), together with some 30 other national organizations in the country, were communist front organizations.

This developments s affected the faith of some CPBC leaders. Pastors and church leaders who showed the spirit of militancy and were not submissive to President Marcos’ martial law regime, where subjected to raids and arrests. And some, where subjected to possible job terminations, if they were employed at CPBC. There were efforts during those time, pushing for CPBC to leave the NCCP and join with another national church organization that supports the martial law regimes.

The strategy adapted by CPBC leadership was to terminate the UIM and some NFM staff whose contracts of 3 years were ending. The first group for termination was UIM. These will be will be followed with the termination of Urban Rural Mission staff. Rev. Joel Valdes and the staff of the Woodcrraft and Bamboo Craft Projects.

The 4 full time UIM Staff were sent official termination letters. Their contracts was ending that month.

The termination letter of Rev. Sacapano was clear. The work will end that month. They were advised to return the Honda Motorcycles assigned to them. They will work only until the end of the month

When I came to the General Secretary and asked him why I was not involved in the training of the 34 new UIM staff, he told me it was on the direction of the President. And when, I went to Rev. Lopez and asked why he did not involved me in the training, he told me it was the instruction of the President. I felt, I am now given a strong message. I am not needed in the Convention anymore. I have to tender my resignation. It was a painful feeling. But it sometimes happened in some organizations, both in secular organizations and churches.

I left the room where the new 34 UIM staff were having their training under Rev. Lopez. I looked at them. I have helped identified some of them as potentials for the UIM works when given the needed trainings, motivations and directions. But now I have to leave them. I have no choice.

The CPBC leadership has done to us, what it had done previously to other projects, related to CPBC like the “Health Aid to the Needy for Development (HAND)” headed by Johnny de la Fuente, former President of CPBC. The same thing happened to the Center for Education and Research (CER), formerly headed by Rev. Conrad Brown and now headed by Rev. Sammy Formelleza - two potential development and educational programs of the Convention several years ago. These two projects were terminated, under the leadership of Rev. Edwin Lopez. And UIM and NFM will now follow.

I prayed, asking God if my resignation was right. Was I not going away from the Lord'w call?

But I felt the pressures. It was a strong pressure. To continue working under the situations, will be very hard. I will be director of the 4th Program of CPBC without authority. I will be a big “Flower Base” in the CPBC Office.

I gave my letter of resignation to Rev. Penuelito Sacapano. I left a copy for the President and the Chairman of the New Frontier Ministries Committee.

Then I went to my office. I sat on my desk. I looked out of the window. The blue skies was growing a bit darker with some heavy clouds forming some lines on the eastern horizon. I felt sad. It was not sadness for myself. Neither was it sadness for losing a job.

It was sadness for a lost opportunities of service we could have worked together, I and the 4 staff of UIM that were terminated, the 3 staff of Sacada Development Project that will soon, be terminated when their contracts end in by 5 months time. I felt sad for the lost opportunities we and CPBC could have done for our churches and the people of communities we have committed to serve.

I prayed for God’s guidance and strength. It seems, I heared His voice, whispered in my heart: “I will not leave you, nor forsake you.” I closed my eyes again. I tried to capture deeper the meanings of the Lord’s words. “I will not leave you…”

New Frontier Ministries (NFM) Consolidated & Integrated Programs of CPBC for Churches and Communities for 1977-1987 (Part 11)

M E M O R I E S: Life and Time of Pastor Rudy Bernal, his Glimpses on History & the People;s Struggle for Freedom

Chapter 46 -New Frontier Ministries (NFM), Consolidated & Integrated Development Programs of CPBC for Churches and Communities from 1977 -1987… (PART 2)

6. In Mindoro, a Bible School with Practical Agricultural Training was started in Bongabong, Mindoro in 1985. It was headed by Rev. Sammy Fabila with three full time staff – 2 teachers and an agriculturist with training on community organizing. The project bought six hectares of agricultural land near the river. It built several permanent buildings with two small dormitories, a building with 4 classrooms, a staff house and office. The fund was provided by the Baptist World Aid Australian Baptist Churches and Baptist World Alliance.

The school was envisioned to provide theological and practical agriculture training for young people in Romblon, Mindoro and Southern Luzon churches, with community organizing component. It also became hot with the military leadership. At the height of martial law, the school stop its operations and one of the school buildings was used by the CAFGU for their shelters.

7) In Aklan, in 1987, a project was also started under the leadership of Ptr. Domingo Bernal, Ptr. Dionita Irao –Villanueva, Mr. Iguiz and another staff. The project was serving churches and communities in Kalibo, New Washington, Balete and Libacao, in Aklan through livelihood assistance. The project was assisted by Bromma Baptist Church, whose President Mr. Ake Svalfors his wife Mrs. Kikki Svalfors visited the Philippines, together with representative of the Baptist Union of Sweden.

Rev. Olof Lindstrom was responsible for mobilizing Bromma Baptist Church for this project. One of the works initiated by the project was planting of timber trees on some 95 hectares of mountain areas, through Rosal-Ortega Farmers Association in Barangay Ortega, Libacao, Aklan to help reforest the mountain area and prevent erosions of the mountain sides that affects the farming communities every rainy season. The members of the Association were paid or their works of planting and caring of the trees. Fifteen years later, the big trees were harvested by the members of the association, providing them with income for some years.

During this time, encounters between the military and the NPA were always in hinterland villages of Libacao. One time, in Can-awan Baptist Church, Libacao, where our project operates, the shootings happened in the church, between the military and the NPA units and several bullets hit the hollow block portion of the church.

Rev. Bernabe Pagara, had started his educational journey to become the Dean of CPU College of Theology. It was a long but sure way for Rev. Pagara. While serving as Pastor of Ochando-Dumaguit Evangelical Church, in New Washington, Aklan, he started he started his masteral studies with assistance from Bromma Baptist Church. Then, he went on and finished his doctoral studies in Manila. He was appointed professor at the College of Theology, moving on to become the Dean of the College of Theology until today.

His higher educational journey was started at New Washington Baptist Church were Ake and Kikki Svalfors lived for a week during their exposures in Aklan, with development projects, assisted by Bromma Baptist Church in Sweden. This was an investment of Bromma Baptist Church and the Baptist Union of Sweden in training some CPU Theological students thru the ministry of Dean Bernabe Pagara, with the College of Theology.

8. In 1983 when we implemented the CPBC Woodcraft Project with Toymaking & Bamboo Craft, Iloilo and Panay was in the midst of a political upheaval. Peoples’ rallies and students demonstrations were going on in differents parts of Panay and Negros. Thousands of rallyiests marched from the hinterland vllages in Iloilo marchings to Iloilo City to bring to the country’s leadership the problems and suffering of people under the martial regimes. In some areas,

in Negros their were hamlettings going on. The same were true with the situation in Aklan, Capiz and Antique, with hamlettings in some towns and villages in Western Visayas region.

Rev. Joel Valdez was the Coordinator of the Project. His skills in training the Wood Craft and Bamboo Craft projects, provided skills and income for out –of- school youths and provide business for some community members

As Project Coordinator, Rev. Joel Valdez has 3 full time staff working under him. He was assisted by 2 carpenters, Eric de la Cruz and Norberto Bernal. The bamboo craft projects were done by 5 self-employed young people from Romblon and Iloilo. The project was funded by Church a association in Norway with the World Council of Churches (WCC). They have different kinds of equipments, electric operated for fast and fine production

Rev. Joel Valdez and church and community leaders in the area helped much in strengthening the spiritual, social and political awareness of the church and community leaders,in the slum areas of Jaro, Iloilo City and in Alimodian and Leon. After their training, the people organized themselves and participate actively in peaceful people’s marches and rallies from Southern Iloilo to Iloilo City, until President Marcos and his martial law regime was overthrown in 1986 by the People’s upheaval in Manila.

Rev. Joel Valdez helped much the rally participants during the years when people’s marches and rallies were happening all over the country. In Iloilo City, he has a big part in mobilizing Pastors and church leaders to serve as “Negotiating Panels” whent there were conflicts rising among marchers and the military in the “People’s Marches”.

Pastor Edwin Lariza, helped me and Rev. Valdez in some tasks in the Woodcraft Project. He often served as Resource Person on seminars held – at the Woodcraft Project and with UIM seminars going on in many areas in Iloilo. There were times, when I am quite busy, I request him to write some of my message for my radio program. A five minutes reflection, which I expand 10 minutes for my 15-minutes radio program at DYFM, Iloilo. I gave him “Love Gift” for assisting me with ideas for my radio message – a way of sharing on thought to enrich our reflections.

He was struggling to continue with his Theological studies. He talked to Rev. Olof Lindstrom, if he can be assisted in his studies. Rev. Lindstrom talked to me on day. He said, Edwin Lariza was struggling with his finances but wants to finish his studies. What, I think of him as a person. I told Rev. Lindstrom, if he can found some financial resource, to please assist Pastor Lariza.

I told him, we have some problems with him, but he was also struggling to change. Rev. Lindstrom provided amount for his studies at the College of Theology. He later, also provided some funds for his studies on Social Work. When he decided to pursue his Masteral studies on Social Works, Rev. Lindstrom provided the needed fund for him to pursue his studies in Manila.

The fund for his studies was coursed to me. I gave it to him every Quarter of the Month, as Rev. Lindstrom instructed. But when he transferred to Manila, for his Masteral studies, I asked Rev.Lindstrom to sent the money direct to him in Manila.

It was a mission, Rev. Lindstrom made, to help develop a pastor with strong social, political and revolutionary perspectives, that could influence future students of social workers who were at the Social Work Department of CPU. The investment of the Baptist Union of Sweden and some churches there, have helped much in the development of the CPU Social Work Department, specially when Rev. Edwin Lariza, was assigned as OIC of the Social Work Department at CPU.

8) In 1987, The North Negros Development Project was implemented with 3 staff, with Mr. Benedicto, coordinating, assisted by Rev. Jessie Belza and another staff. It operated in 6 municipalties in Northern Negros. It was funded by World Council of Churches (WCC). About a year earlier, I wrote the Project Proposal and sent it to the Wold Council of Churches, requesting WCC to find a group that will assist our project. But circumstances made me resign from CPBC, which changed much the scenario of our development ministries.

It has a story I would like to share. One morning, I went to Bank of Philippiine Islands in Jaro. The bank staff, who I often do business, saw me. He came to me, and asked if I have received the money at their head office in Iloilo City. He said it was addressed to me and it was there for several months. I told him, I did not know. I will follow-up. At the head office, I Iearned there was amount, sent in response to our proposal, course thru the NCCP.

Because I was unemployed after my resignation from CPBC, I was tempted to implement the North Negros Development Project, recruit the staff the 3 staff needed to implement it, with myself as Coordinator. It was a kind of a temptations.

I looked again at the copy of the project proposal sent to WCC. The proposal has no signature from the CPBC Board. It apprears not a CPBC Project. I prayed for guidance. God seemed to tell me “No”. I will lost my name and relationship with CPBC in the future. I could not return in leadership, even if CPBC leadership have changed.

The following morning, I went to the CPBC office. I talked to the Treasurer, Mr. Bonifacio Eslaban and the General Secretary, Rev. Penuelito Sacapano. I told them there was money for North Negros Development Project at the main office of Bank of Philippine Islands. It was in my name. I will released it to the Convention. We will go to the bank now, and I will sign the Withdrawal Slip.

But the amount must be re-deposited immediately in the Account of the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches. I will accompany them to the bank and deposit the money. The North Negros Development Project was implemented, three staff, two were Pastor Jessie Belza and Mr. Benedicto. They third staff, I could not remember the name.

The New Frontier Ministries (NFM) became a forceful program for development and change. The community organizing empowered the poor and weak. The labor education and organizing, awakened the minds and potentials of sugar and farm workers. The farm workers began to realized the power they have when they were trained and organized. NFM became a powerful advocate for human dignity and human rights protections. It helped much in exposing human right violations in Iloilo City, brought cases of abuses to Manila thru NCCP and to other parts of the world.

Each of this NFM projects, the staff and participant have wonderful, beautiful, hard and painful stories and experiences to tell. But we will leave that for the moment, and for them to tell at the given time.

The martial law regime became violent and tyrannical until it has fall down with President Marcos excile to Hawaii. But UIM and NFM staff and trained participants, joining hands with other sectors of society in Panay and Negros fighting with the instruments they have on their hands – some only with truth and justice.

But the revolutionary fighters - the NPA and CCP - who were working in most villages NFM and and UIM were also working, stood against Marcos martial law, fought with truth, and mimeographed News Letters in villages, and with guns to protect their lives and the causes they stood for.

And UIM and NFM experienced military raids and arrests. We stood and fought. We brought our case to the media and national and international churches and organizations. We helped kept the peoples’ struggles for change alive and the work for development and advocacy going on. They continued to fight, during the presidency of Cory Aquino and President Fidel Ramos, on to the next political leadership in the country.

New Frontier Ministries (NFM), Consolidated & Integrated Development Program of CPBC

M E M O R I E S: Life and Time of Pastor Rudy Bernal, his Glimpses on History & t he People;s Struggle for Freedom

Chapter 45- New Frontier Ministries (NFM), Consolidated & Integrated Development Programs of CPBC  Churches and Communities from 1977 -1987… (PART 1)

The first phase of my ministry with CPBC started in 1977 with the Pilot ministry on Urban Industrial Mission (UIM) under Rev. Moley Famillaran and Rev. Edwin Lopez, CPBC President and General Secretary respectively, with focus on education, organizing, livelihood assistance and labor education.

Our ministry expanded with the UIM projects in 6 municipalities in Central Panay - Duenas, Passi, Lambunao, Bingawan and Calinog in Iloilo and Tapas, in Capiz. UIM was assisted with funding from the Protestant Association for Cooperation in Development (EZE), a church program in West and East Germany.

During the CPBC General Assembly in Roxas City, May 1977, the delegates “expressed grave concern on specific areas of life, specially –poverty, malnutrition, ill-health, human dignity, environmental problems, violations of human rights and mental and physical tortures” suffered by many Convention Baptist constituents and the general populace under the military of President Marcos dictatorial regimes.

To respond, the CPBC leadership expanded the ministry of Urban Industrial Mission (UIM), and organized the New Frontier Ministries (NFM), with wider mandate and program coverage to meet the pressing needs of our people. The aim of NFM was to help provide relevant and responsive ministry to people presently struggling and suffering under an oppressive, unjust, and exploitative economic and political system, that existed since the colonization by Spain of the country.

This was followed up under the imperial designs of the United States from 1898 to the 1946, a colonial rule that took more than 2 million Filipino lives by the American soldiers, from Luzon, Visayas and the Muslims in Mindanao. This situations was aggravated further with the imposition of martial rule by President Marcos.

The exploitations of the Filipino people expanded under the colonial government of the United States, with the Treaty of Paris of 1898. The Filipinos could have improved their lives after they defeated the Spaniards in 1897. But the Americans came, defeated the Philippine revolutionaries and returned all Spanish properties taken over by Philippine revolutionary forces, including properties of the Roman Catholic churches that were already taken over and were now in hands of the Iglesia Filipina Independente (IFI).

The Americans returned this properties to the Spaniards and their descendants. This evil land ownership system of the Spanish era, was the major cause of more than 200 wars and rebellion fought by the Filipinos against Spain. It was also the cause of the continued wars waged by the Communists and other rebel forces against the government of the Philippines since 1938 to the present.

The New Frontier Ministries, CPBC’s development arms, now expanded with projects that were implemented in strategic areas in the country. These were pilot projects, in strategic areas to serve as center for peoples' education and training. It provided beneficiaries & partners development education, leadership formation, peasants, workers and fishermen organizing, community based health projects, projects for the disabled, practical farmers training, appropriate village technologies, organizing of cooperatives and farmers associations, labor education and organizing of sugar workers.

It’s Biblical studies touches the evils of Roman Imperialism experienced by the people of Israel, who continued the struggle and fought for many decades, exemplified by the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ. These Jewish struggle against the Romans, were similar to the struggles of Filipinos fighting the Spaniards, and then, the Americans to regain the land given them by God, but taken over by the powerful and rich Filipinos and Americans and their descendants. Filipino nationalists, the communists and Muslims continued the fight to regain these lands for almost a century.

With the CPBC Assembly mandate, despite some apprehensions and fears under Marcos martial rule, we undertook the implementation of UIM and New Frontier Ministries, pushing to make it a real national development arms of the Convention. It started with building Core groups in different municipalities, that covered Panay Island, Negros Occidental, Romblon, Mindoro, some part of Manila and some areas of Mindanao.

Here were some of the development projects under taken by the New Frontier Ministries, with strong staff components, adequate financial resources and continued expansions to help members of the Baptist churches and the communities within its parishes. We foresaw , that with the continued implementation of this project in 20 years time, from 1977 to 1997, the Convention Baptist Churches in rural areas will be lifted economically, socially and politically together with the communities, that were made part of the CPBC’s strategic development efforts.

1) In 1978, the Urban Industrial Mission project was undertaken in 6 municipalities in Iloilo – in Duenas, Lambuna, Calinog, Bingawan, Passi and Tapas, Capiz. The project has a component of 4 full time staff and one parttime worker to help on some needed tasks. It’s program was community organizing, labor education and labor organizing, practical farming trainings with appropriate village technology, animal dispersals and community health trainings.

The staff were Rev. Job Santiago, Project Coordinator, Hernani Bautista, agriculturists and Hector Belloga and Bonifacio Castronuevo, Community organizers. To enable them to move will in the area of operations, they were provided each with a 125-CC Honda Motorcycle with assistance for gasoline. After working for 3 years, they have helped strengthen our village churches and have reached out to nearly 1,000 villages in 6 municipalities were development education, community organizing, livelihood projects and labor education and organizing. It was funded by EZE of West Germany.

2) In 1978, In Upper South Negros, CPBC started 3 female carabaos, 5 horses and 3 female cows. It was under the leadership of Ptr. Sam Antonio. The horses were envisioned to provide transportation to pastors and lay pastors working in Upper South Negros mountain areas. While the cows and carabaos will provide labor and meat. It was assisted by Board of International Ministries of the American Baptist Churches, USA.

During that time, Pastor Samuel Antonio and his father, Rev. Antonio were working in 24 mountain churches, under the Upper South Negros Conference. After two, years the horses, cows and carabaos were expaned and doubled. The projects were invisioned to help strengthen our ministries in the mountain areas of the Upper South. The project was supported by the Board of International Ministries, USA.

Pastor Samuel Antonio, with intensified military raids in Upper South Negros, later joined the New People’s Army together with his wife.

3) In 1979, at Camp Higher, we started a Pig Breeding Project and Dispersal, that was conceived to provide sustained sources of piglets for pig dispersals to churches and communities in Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan and Antique. The piglets provided people, now suffering from ill-health and poverty due to intensified military and NPA activities, some sources of food, rice, vegetables, chickens and piglests

We raised 36 sows and 5 boars at Camp Higher Ground. After 18 months, the project was able to dispersed nearly two hundred piglets to churches and communities in Panay. The dispersed piglets were paid by the projects that were now implemented and existing in different areas in Panay – Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan and Antique.

The piggery project also envisioned to provide continues sources of manure and compost fertilize for use in some Camp Higher Ground properties, about 50 hectares, so that it will be made productive and helped provide needed food for the people – upland rice, corn, vegetables, bananas and root crops. In the small river way down, we have started planting maggui, for fiber and possible weaving projects in the future.

The Camp Higher Ground Pigs Projects in 1979 has two (3) full time staff. It was headed by Ptr. Amec Buenafe, a graduate of the Agriculture in a government school and a graduate of College of Theology. The project was assisted by the Australian Baptist World Aid of the Australian Baptist Convention under Rev. Geofrey Parish.

We dreamed that at Camp Higher Ground we would have developed a bigger piggery project, with sustained source of piglets for the New Frontier Ministries livelihood projects, under that difficult situations of martial law. We have started to make a nursery for planting seeds of cacaos and rattan to be planted beside the trees, for future use. The piggery project, will surely provide the needed manure and composts to expand farming in the area of CamP Higher Ground. Under the new leadership the piggery losses and in 2 years was closed.

4. NFM have also started 1985 SACADA Development Project, serving churches and hinterland communities in 7 municipalities of Antique -- Barbasa , Culasi, Vaderama, Patnongon, San Remigio, Sibalom and San Jose. Two full time staff were employed for 3 years - Rev. Felomino Mosquera and Eupresito Galuego, a CPU agriculture graduate. They were assisted by one part time worker. The project has labor education and organizing components, community organizing, pigs dispersal and livelihood assistance, and organizning of farmers associations in villages. It has a Bible Study component with Biblical and historical guides.

It was designed to enable the sacadas who go to Negros every sugar cane crop season to be organized and involved in unionism in Negros. And those who remained in Antique, will be trained and mobilized for skills development and income generating projects. Sacada Development Project was supported by the Board of International Ministries and the Baptist Union of Sweden.

After working for about two year, in hinterland villages where NPA operates, the project became hot with the military. But the staff remained committed and worked with ingenuity, sometimes training also NPA cadres on farming technologies and technology transfer.

Despite the hot political situations and military suspicions, the project continued in its mission. Rev. Felomino Mosquera, who became politically hot with the military, joined the elections, running for Councilor of Patnongon, under the left political party, headed Bernabe Buscayno, known as Commander Dante, who ran for Senator with other senatorial candidates of the Left.

5) In 1985, the North Iloilo Relief Assistance Project was undertaken in response to the devastation of Typhoon Ondang. Three villages in Batad, 6 villages in Estancia, 2 villages in Balasan and 6 villages in Carles were assisted and supported by the Baptist Union of Sweden and EZE in West Germany.

The villages selected were areas where other agencies have not come and provided support assistance. The project has a component of 8 staff-- Betty Solacito, Social Worker, Pastor Jessie Albestor, Susan Panes, Lorna Lapido, a Nurse, Evelyn Saavedra, Social Worker, Melinda de la Cruz, Teacher, Pastor Rex Abanilla and Ms.Frash Ortiz. Partime Staffs were Ptr. Delfin Domingo, Pastor Anting Coloso, Ptr. Raffy Lamputi and Ernest Carvajal.

They staff all worked hard to implement the project – rice distributions, some cash assistance, providing materials to help build the victims homes -- bamboos, nails, coco lumbers for the “sintas” and “sukog” of the homes. Education and training for livelihood assistance.

The project provide half sack of rice per family and P500 cash assistance . We purchased several thousand pieces of bamboos from Maasin, Janiuay, Badiangan, Pototan, Calinog, Lambunao, San Miguel, Alimodian and Leon with some 15 pieces of bambos per family to help rebuild their small homes.

We bought 5 Chain Saws and mobilized 10 operators to cut fallen coconut trees, making them coco lumbers to provide families with coco lumbers to them rebuild their destroyed homes. It has a community organizing and cooperative development works.
(To be continued)