The
Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC), held a thanksgiving
prayer for the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of
the Philippines (AFP) for their significant role in having a credible
national elections.
Held at the Greenhills Christian Fellowship main office in Ortigas, Pasig
City on May 13, the gathering served as thanksgiving to God for answering
the prayers of having a generally Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections
(H.O.P.E.). Bishops, pastors and leaders of different evangelical churches
and organizations graced the event.
PNP Chief Director General Jesus Verzosa came to personally thank PCEC
for guidance and support during the elections. In his impromptu comment,
he expressed appreciation to the guidance and moral support provided by
religious leaders in their aspiration to have HOPE.
For his part, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General
Delfin Bangit sent different commanders in the Philippine Army, Philippine
Navy, and Philippine Air Force to represent him in the prayer rally.
In turn, the leadership of PCEC prayed for the police and military officers,
as they continue the task of being the in forefront of maintaining peace
and order in the country.
Prior to the elections, Bishop Tendero and other religious leaders spent
time with Gen. Bangit and Gen. Verzosa, giving them guidance and encouragement
in the aspiration to have HOPE. The police and military have received
affirmation and encouragement from the counsel and prayers provided by
other religious leaders like Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines
(CBCP) Nueva Vizcaya Bishop Ramon B. Villena and Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal.
Bishop also had prayer and encouragement with Gen. Verzosa and the key
officials of Camp Crame at dawn of election day.
In the same gathering, Bishop Tendero presented the PCEC statement on
re-building the nation (see PCEC Statements).
PCEC, as a network of 30,000 local churches nationwide, did not endorse
any political candidate but actively participated through voters’
education and poll-watching. Many of their staff and constituents served
as volunteers with Namfrel Bantay ng Bayan and with OneVote Movement.
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More
than 10,000 Filipino voters attended the pre-election presidential forum
on April 26 at the Araneta Coliseum, and simultaneously in 16 other cities
in the country. This was organized by the Philippine Council of Evangelical
Churches (PCEC) with Christ’s Commission Fellowship (CCF) as a major
partner, also in cooperation with Far Eastern Broadcasting Company (FEBC),
News5 and VoteNET, a coalition of non-partisan evangelical organizations
committed to voter education.
Titled “Puso sa Puso: A Night of Prayer for H.O.P.E. (Honest, Orderly
and Peaceful Elections),” the forum was broadcast live on radio
via DZAS 702 to the 16 other satellite gatherings. CCF founder and senior
pastor Rev. Peter Tanchi served as the main speaker, while FEBC President
Dan Andrew Cura and DZAS Broadcaster Maloi Salumbides were the program’s
hosts.
All nine presidential candidates were invited, but among those who came
were Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, Councilor JC Delos
Reyes, Sen. Richard J. Gordon, Sen. Jamby Madrigal, Nicanor Perlas, Bro.
Eddie Villanueva, and Sen. Manny Villar. They were set on a one-on-one
interview one at a time, answering a uniform set of questions that focuses
on their motives, strength of character, and how they will address graft
and corruption.
Aside from telling what is in their hearts, they were also asked to sign
a covenant indicating that when elected, they will seek the best interest
of the Filipino people, fight graft and corruption, and promote integrity
and righteousness. They were also covenanted not to resort to any form
of cheating and respect the results of the coming election.
“Puso sa Puso” concluded with the evangelical community praying
for the COMELEC, the military, the police, the teachers and the voters,
with a profound desire to have honest, orderly and peaceful elections.
PCEC National Director Bishop Efraim Tendero at that time clarified that
as a council, they are not endorsing any candidate, but they are very
much involved in voters’ education, and they affirm that mature
electorate produces good governance. He said that in Romans 13, “every
authority is instituted by God, and in a democratic country as the Philippines,
such choice of leaders is delegated by God through the ballot, making
elections a Christian duty and a sacred trust.”
He also said that voters should be careful to elect
people based on character, competency and track record, since government
officials are God’s ministers in governance to promote good and
restrain evil.
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The nationwide worship songwriting competition that
concluded in 2009 once again converged in one grand night of singing
praises, this time in the land of the Pampangueños.
The PCEC Worship Commission held “Sambang Pinoy sa Pampanga:
A Worship Experience from the Heart” at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention
Center, San Fernando, Pampanga, April 24.
Themed “Likas Pinoy sa Pagsambang Nagkakaisa”, Sambang
Pinoy (SP) sa Pampanga gathered the SP artists in one grand night of
singing praises. Abraham Gorospe of Lifeline Creative Ministries and
Ptr. Eric Maliwat, Station Manager of Far East Broadcasting Corporation
(FEBC) served as speakers. Sambang Pinoy finalists Mikko Maducodc with
Leah Calamiong, RJ Santiago, Haydee Sampang, Robert Buccat, and Rosalie
Rabino led the worship numbers.
Also present for a special participation were the Pampanga Praise and
Worship Team led by Ptr. Jun Gorospe, Aeta Pastors, and Ptr. Cris Calalang,
and Ptra. Jennifer Laurie Muñoz.
SP sa Pampanga was directed by Ptr. Leo and Joanne Hernandez of Vision
HIMpossible Ministries and PCEC Worship Commission Director Robert More,
and hosted by Ms. LJ Salceda (DZAS Announcer).
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