A meeting of Christian leaders

Bishops and pastors and lay persons from various Christian evangelical churches filled Club Filipino’s social hall to the rafters as they celebrated the  49th year of founding of  Capitol Christian Leadership, which was  formed to bring to fruition “the life-changing message of Christ Jesus.” The ecumenical organization was founded on Feb. 17, 1968 by crusading journalist and publisher Atty. Leon O. Ty, international evangelist Dr. Greg Tingson, then fiscal Cornelio W. Wasan, and the famous Filipino musician Dr. Eliseo M. Fajaro.

The four were devising means to contribute towards helping “stem the tide of criminality and immorality in the country,” and “add wings to their prayers, a program that would be positive and practical, informative and inspiring, scriptural and Christ honoring.” The breakfast fellowship met every Tuesday at the  Sulo hotel in Quezon City. Free-wheeling but respectful  discussions, not fire-and brimstone  sermons, were the order of the day, their guiding theme, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). CCL’s vision and mission being aspired for in government and society is “Building a godly nation by advocating  righteousness in government, business and in other sectors.”

Speakers and guests were ambassadors, foreign dignitaries, government officials, politics, businessmen and missionaries. Later, the venue was moved  to the Faith Baptist Church on West Ave., Quezon City. Speakers  have included Engr. Andrew Luison, Speaker Sonny Belmonte, former President Fidel V. Ramos, Bishop Emerito Nakpil,  the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, movie actress Pilar Pilapil and former Sen. Leticia Ramos-Shahani.

To be sure, many of last Tuesday’s guests showed up to listen to Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella, the program speaker. They came bearing the hope that an evangelical could make a difference in today’s state governance.   (A good many Protestants believed that President Ramos, a Protestant attending Cosmopolitan Church, would make a difference; I think, he did make some.) In fact CCL has honored such evangelical members of President Duterte’s Cabinet, as Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Rivas Yasay Jr., Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones, Solicitor General Jose C. Calida and Spokesperson Abella, who all carry the burden of coveted  positions,  in implementing President Duterte’s dreams and aspirations.

Abella, in his early 70s, is soft-spoken and always wears a smile. He graduated with a master’s degree in Divinity from Silliman University and later, another master’s degree in  social development from the Asian Institute of Management. His good character was chronicled as having been a founder of the Hope of Asia and the Christian charismatic group Jesus Fellowship  Inc. He became a preacher in Davao for several years until his abduction by ethnic bandits in 1996. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte negotiated for his release within 24 hours. That was when he became an ardent Duterte admirer, actively campaigning for him in the May 2016  presidential  elections through his newspaper column in Davao City.

No open forum followed after his short, engaging talk but he answered what must have been foremost in the audience’s minds.  As spokesperson, he said, he serves as “a conduit between the press and the president.” Just listen to what I say and what the press reports what I said. It’s a tough job, but realizable.

Abella believes in the mission of his President. That the chief executive wants good things to take place in this country. This is evident in Abella’s  holding up II Corinthians 5:17, of born-again Christians turning their lives around as in new wineskins.

He said his spiritual quest began upon his mother’s death. “I began to look for streams in the desert.” A vital realization was seeing incarnation “not as a mystical thing but (as) the presence of God in the midst of men.” The life of Christ, he said, “is a living force that enables man to walk (like Christ)  on earth.”

Once a dynamic head of a splinter group of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, he must have attracted a multitude of followers; the talk was that he had formed a new sect. But this he disavowed by closing down the church which was making a lot of money. You can become rich, there’s money in religion, he said. Humbly, he went up to Tagaytay, became a social entrepreneur involved in the manufacture and distribution of organic-based fertilizers to commercial banana growers. 

His dream, he said, is “of a nation that we can be proud of, of its people being worthy of their nation.”

God bless Spokesperson Abella. And God bless President Duterte.

*    *    *

Another well-listened-to speaker at the celebration was Dr. Andrew Liuson, co-founder, former president and currently vice chair of Cityland Group of Companies which has received various awards as a real estate company. It was noted that on top of Cityland’s high-rise buildings are the words, “IN GOD WE TRUST.”

Liuson spoke about the importance of prayer. He has two honorary doctorates, the Doctor of Humane Letters  by the California Graduate School of  Ministries and the Doctor of Divinity by the Asian Theological Seminary. He is the author  of the  “certified best seller” book, The Debt-Free Lifestyle published by Church Strengthening Ministry, which is claimed to have helped tens of thousands of young and old, rich and poor.

*    *    *

Mention must be made of important figures in Capitol Christian Leadership:  Rev. Jose “Jojo” Gonzales, tireless CCL chairman; Bishop Juan Pring, vice-chair; Gilda Delegencia and Atty. David D. Aguila, Rev. Eduardo Viray, Aida P. dela Cruz, Jean M. Puno and  Dr. Esther Fe Gusto. Retired Supreme Court Justice Reynato S. Puno is honorary chair.

*    *    *

Our condolences to the bereaved family of Dr. Armi Reyeg Guillermo,who passed away recently. Armi was a well-loved member of the UP  Diliman Tennis Club. She will always be remembered for her gentle, caring ways. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Ray Guillermo, and children  Karen, Kim and Ram and siblings Joji Vea, Yoli Jones, Tonet,   Ime  Callanta, and Mina.

Our heartfelt sympathies to Tessie Roque, a member of the Philippine Constitution Association (PHILCONSA), whose son Michael Bautista passed away.  Michael, 41, was a chef.

Email: [email protected]