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.
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