Some years ago, we were made to write something about “IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS” During my Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) class.  I wrote about being married by that time and having children.  I wanted my son to be named ISRAEL AIDEN after my favorite author, A.W. Tozer (AIDEN WILSON TOZER).  Many of this generation may not hear of him anymore since he passed away even before I was born.  He died in 1963 from heart attack.

A.W. Tozer - my favorite author.

In that CPE class, several of my classmates asked me why would I name my son after a distinguished pastor?  They asked me if I was going to let my son read the books of A.W. Tozer.  Then asked me if I was putting pressure on my future children to be like Tozer one day?  Then they told me that I should let my children find their own identity and not pressure them to live up to someone else’s expectation, let alone my expectation.  It made me feel guilty that just because I was naming my child after an author I was putting undue burden on them.  I was beginning to think I was in the wrong class.

I was hoping that it would be a boy for our first child.  It turned out to be a girl.  My wife was smiling when she came back from her check up on her fifth month.  Immediately I knew why she was smiling – it was a girl.  The question was, “what do we name her?” since we have only prepared a name for a boy.  You couldn’t possibly name a girl ISRAEL AIDEN, could you?  Well I could, it just wouldn’t sound right and it will be too pushy.

We ended up naming our first child REE AIDEN.  REE is the second name of JANNA REE (January) and AIDEN is the name of Tozer.  He doesn’t use his name in his books.  I don’t know if they ever call him as “Pastor Aiden.”  It’s a very good name.

REE AIDEN, 3 years old

I love to honor the great men and women who have given their life in service of God by naming them after my children.  Among the names that I would choose from are the following:

 LORETO – my dad who I learned what faith really is.

ALBERT BENJAMIN SIMPSON – loved his book and his life as written by A.W. Tozer

OSWALD CHAMBERS – Who wouldn’t know “MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST”?  I cried reading his biography.

PHILIP YANCEY – His book “WHAT’S SO AMAZING ABOUT GRACE?” got me hooked for he asked question nobody wants to ask God.

ANDY STANLEY – He’s just different.

DINNO RIZZO – of the Healing place Church.  Here is where we learned about SERVOLUTION and started our own and called it PASA LOVE.

TIM TEBOW – I don’t know so much about football but this guy got me interested in watching this game.  It’s more than his game but his passion to honor God.  He’s even raising fund to build a hospital in the Philippines.  How does TEBOW ISRAEL sound like?

No ladies?  Only a few..

JUDITH – my mom who’s full and faith and a whole lot more.

JOCHEBED – the mother of Moses

Our second child came out last January 9, 2012.  It’s a healthy young boy.  And we’re still naming him after A.W. Tozer.  His name is TOZER ISRAEL.  We have AIDEN and now TOZER.  Now both of our children carries our names and I’m happy with it.

Our second child, TOZER ISRAEL.

It seemed obvious that if you name your child after someone great and noble, you’d want him to follow his footstep and be like him one day.   That’s not bad.  But for some, like those in my CPE class thinks it’s an undue burden for our children to do such thing.  I don’t quite understand that or probably they have nothing to say or they just want to talk.  If naming our children after great person creates undue burden on them, then those who have named their children after prophets and apostles must have the biggest burden after all.  Can you imagine the pressure to be like Jeremiah, Isaiah, Elijah, David, Josiah, Peter,  John, Paul, and Jesus?

But it’s just normal for parents to name their child after someone they admire.  It’s fine to have expectations and hope that one day their child will follow their footsteps.  Children need someone to look up to and have a guide for their life.  And knowing and learning where they got their names can do that.  It can provide inspiration for them that they can be like this and even better.  I’d rather name my children after someone great and committed to God than name them after someone because they are cute but have no value at all.

I won’t force or even attempt my child to be like the person they are named after.  I will seek God’s help to become a better parent in looking for what God’s purpose is in their life and join that.  If he becomes like Tozer, that would be awesome!  And if he doesn’t and turned out to be ISRAEL, great!  But if he becomes someone else because God has a unique plan for him, then that would be best.  And that’s what I want to happen.

 SO, WHY TOZER?

Even before I graduated from college, I was already offered a job to join a ministry in Mandaluyong City.   It’s a ministry among the street children of Manila called Alay Pag-asa Christian Foundation.  I was to work as a Psychologist for the kids.  I graduated in college with a degree in Psychology.  I refused.  I don’t like kids that much and street children are totally different.  I don’t like city life.  I don’t like the fast pace life of the cities.  And at that time I’m not excited to practice psychology.  I was having issues at that time why I chose this course.

I applied for jobs and found none.  I ended up as the errand boy and dishwasher for my mom’s canteen.  One day as I was washing dishes, I felt so humiliated by what I’m doing.  I graduated in college with a degree in psychology and with an award to go with and here I was washing dishes.

One day, Graham Ballesteros, a dear brother of mine visited and shared his book.  It was A.W. Tozer’s book, “THE PURSUIT OF GOD.”  He has not read it that much but he wants me to check it out.  And I did.  One night as I read the book I found myself crying and on my knees.  I could no longer recall which part of that book God used to break me, but there I was broken and undone before the Lord.  God wants us to seek Him because He already found us.

The following day I told my dad that I would accept the call to ministry.  It would be working with street children in fast paced life practicing my degree would lay the foundation for what I want to become and simply want – a servant of God doing His will. It would be also in that place where I found a bookstore selling A.W. Tozer books which I have been collecting ever since.

One day, if I ever get the chance to go to USA, I would love to visit his grave.  It will mean a whole lot than to go to Disneyland or to an NBA game.  He would be one of the people I’m excited to see in heaven.

—

In a world getting worse each day, children can get added inspiration and motivation to live for something better and greater when they know who they were named after.

Every PASA LOVE has an orientation on what we should do and on individual responsibilities. We can't afford to be chaotic. Insert: The items we gave to the kids: diapers, fruits and TOY STORY 3 toys.

I thought I am strict enough to abide with all the rules I have made.  It would be different this time.  There are different rooms in the Pedia Ward of Region 1 Medical Center of  Dagupan City.  Each ward  brings different emotions for us as we meet different patients.  The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) room is where newborn and less than a year old are in critical condition (that should be obvious).  Most of the kids there have an apparatus attached to them.  Aside from the dextrose inserted in them are other apparatus that monitors them.  It’s hard to see babies with so many attachment in them.

The scenes that broke us.

One child, barely a year old had the most apparatus attached to her.  She was suffering from meningitis.  The nurse was doing something with the apparatus when we went in while the mother was wiping her child.  I motioned my team to wait until the nurse leaves before we give the gift pack.

The child with meningitis. She had so many apparatus on her and the mother was told to move her to a different hospital.

Watching them breaks my heart.  The nurse was trying to fix something from the apparatus.  But she was doing it half halfheartedly.  She  seemed to know that it was hopeless for this little child.  After all, 1 out of 20 survives from meningitis.  She was just going through the motion but she was not giving any signs of hope.  She seemed to know what was inevitable and she was trying to do motions to convey that at least, she was doing something.  But there was no more hope in her face.

It was obvious the baby was stiff.  The mother was wiping her child but she was not moving and her body was like frozen.  It was stiff.  She seem to be wiping a baby doll.  There was no movement in the flesh.  It’s like she was wiping wood.  The scene was heart wrenching.  Only a mother can keep doing this.

The PASA LOVE team praying for the patients and their families and sharing the gift packs. Everyone kept holding back their tears as they prayed for them.

The wiping stopped when the nurse spoke.  The nurse told her that she needs to transfer her child to another hospital.  They have done the best that could do and they simply don’t have the equipment or medicine to cure this.  My heart broke when I heard the nurse said that.  I knew what that means.  She was not saying it, but it’s the same as saying, “Your child will die soon.  Move her out.”  I have seen what meningitis can do to a child.  I have prayed for one and it still died.  It’s a powerful disease.   It attacks the brain rapidly.  It’s hard to hope for healing and miracle but my hope is in God who knows what He’s doing.

When the nurse left, my team went to the mother and gave her the gift pack. Something I believe the child will never see or even taste.  I was taking pictures at that time.  She was crying when our team prayed for her.  While looking at the whole thing I was being pulled back and forth because something or Someone was telling me to give more than the gift pack.  I felt that I ought to give more – like money.

I was frozen at the end of the bed.  I tried to brush it away because probably I was being carried away by my emotions.   But it simply won’t go away.  I had to reason out that we have rules.  We can’t do this!  What about the other patients?  She’ll need a large amount.  My money won’t make a difference.  Suddenly all the verses about helping the poor flooded my mind.

Their smiles gave us so much joy. Some of us forgot that the we're not supposed to go the Isolation Room because the condition of the kids are contagious. Ooops! God has shielded us and not one got sick after the event.

Why was I resisting something that I know is a prompting from God.  Maybe I also needed the money even more?  Maybe I was more concerned about rules than sick and dying children?  Maybe I know that I only have less and it wouldn’t make a  difference.  “I should have left my wallet,” I said to myself.

The prompting would not be ignored.  I was reminded that we can only give what we have.  God never asks us to give what we don’t have.  It’s what we give that gets multiplied.  This was an opportunity to do what is good and right.  My time was running out as my team was getting ready to leave.

I surrendered and said, “Okay Lord, I’ll obey.  I would not like to keep something for myself if others would have better use for it especially if it would mean that they would know You!  You have been good to me and my family and I’m not giving money….  I’m simply investing it in You.  Thank You for reminding what PASA LOVE should truly be.”

Top Left: The PASA LOVE team with Dr. Canto. Top Right: The team leaving the Hospital. Below Left: Carrying our left over items. Below Right: The Servolutionist of Pasa Love.

I am reminded with this powerful verse: Proverbs 3:27-28, “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow”—when you now have it with you.“

Yes, I broke our rules but the promptings of God is far more important.

Yes, I could have gained something with what I gave, but it will be temporary.  I’ll never know the extent of what I gave but I know God can multiply what little thing I have.  An investment in obedience is an investment for eternity.

God was not interested how much I have, but how much do I love Him enough to obey and trust Him.

Truly, this PASA LOVE is more than an event, but a breaking experience.

Top left: The Pedia Ward entrance. Top right: The kid was in the Isolation Room because he has complications from chicken pox. It never stopped me from holding him as I prayed for him. Below left: With the Chief Nurse thanking them for the opportunity. Below right: We always end up with a prayer and giving glory to God!

—–

PASA LOVE is a ministry engaged in doing acts of kindness in our community focusing on the marginalized and poor sector of the society believing that acts of kindness are the best way to show how much God loves them (Matthew 5:16).  We also believe that we are to intentionally reach out to them because God commanded us to do and is the very example Jesus showed us (Isaiah 58, Luke 4:18-19).

For more information and on how you can be part of this, just write to us and we’ll be more than glad to let you know what PASA LOVE is.  Just write to: easy_rael@yahoo.com.

Thank you to Kuya Harv Vard for the Toy Story 3 toys and to all for those who prayed and supported us.  It really means a lot.  God bless all of you.

Christmas is around the corner and everyone is rushing to find the best gifts for their love ones.  People rush from one mall to the next looking for the best buys and sales malls have to offer.  In our rush, we blur our surroundings to focus on what we need to buy.  But probably if we broaden our view a bit and slow things down we may see different perspective of what Christmas can be.  As we give gifts to our family, loved ones and other friends, maybe we could extend it to the least among us.

PASA LOVE @ THE HOSPITAL seeks to bring Christmas to the children at the Pedia Ward of Region I Medical Center, Dagupan City on December 3, 2011.  This hospital is one of the largest in the region and caters to thousands of patients.  The Pedia Ward caters to children with different sickness.  Some of them may spend their Christmas at the hospital along with the nurses and doctors.  Some of them are no longer thinking about Christmas when the priority is paying the bills.  So this Christmas, we’ll take care of their gifts.

PASA LOVE will bring bag of treats containing toys and fruits.  We will also take time to be with them and pray with them.

Each gift pack will contain toys and fruits.  Sponsorship for each child is only P100.00 ($2.50).  For more information, write to easy_rael@yahoo.com.  You can send your support through bank or any other money courier services.

——–

PASA LOVE & Project PEARLS @ THE DUMPS brings the love of Christmas among the least of our fellowmen: the garbage collectors on December11, 2011. This Christmas will produce a lot of trash and from that trash these people will hope to find something they can have for their Christmas.  Instead of having them scavenge so they can have something for Christmas, why not share our blessings to them?

The PAYATAS (MAIN) Dumpsite in Tondaligan, Dagupan City is very large dumpsite. There are families living here.  All of them are living off the leftovers of the leftovers of the other dumpsites.  After the garbage has been scavenged already in the barangay level, here is where it will be dumped.  As it ends up, the garbage they will scavenge have already been scavenged.  Such is the condition of the people here.

Some of the kids in Payatas Main. Even under the pouring rain, these kids would still scavenge something they can sell to feed themselves.

This Christmas, PASA LOVE and Project PEARLS, a long time friend have joined  to make Christmas meaningful and joyful for the people at the dumps.  We will throw them a Christmas party, treat families with food, give them grocery items, and give kids gift packs.

PASA LOVE & Project PEARLS driven by a common desire to help underprivileged children in the Philippines.

Each gift pack will contain toys, hygiene kit (toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, shampoo, and towel) and goodies. Sponsorship for each child is only P100.00 ($2.50). For more information, write to easy_rael@yahoo.com.  You can also visit www.projectpearls.org to know about this wonderful group helping the underprivileged children in the Philippines. You can send your support through bank or any other money courier services.

———-

Isaiah 58:7-8

⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;

HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

A child runs after his father in the mountain of trash.

It’s different when you watch from the TV and when you’re actually there.  While television can provide us with several angles, it’s quite different when you’re there in the dumpsite where you can see the bigger part or the whole of it.  It’s different when you get to stare at it for a long time.  We may hear their stories from the speaker of the television, but it’s a different experience when you’re face to face with them and hear their voice from their tired and dry mouth.  We’ll never smell anything from our television.  But when you’re there at the dumps, every unimaginable stench comes alive and you can even feel it.

"Anything left for us?" Most of the garbage here have been scavenged already because they came from the mini dumpsite of other barangays. They would be lucky if they would still find some other scraps they can sell.

Such is the condition of the people in Payatas Main in Bonuan Tondaligan, Dagupan City.  They live in several hectares of  land just to accommodate the garbage of Dagupan City.  It happens to be near the sea also.  It’s a wasteland because all you see are waste.  One side mountain of trash, the other side cemetery.  Shanties are on the beach.  It’s very hot and dry.  And you’ll see juices of concentrated trash leaking towards the cemetery and into the sea.

On the left side is the mountain of trash. On the right side is the cemetery. Our youth is walking on the walls of cemetery to get to the houses where the garbage collectors live on the other end.

The garbage collectors living in here consider it a privilege to live there because they have no where to go. They could not possibly afford to live outside of the garbage area. They have to live here.

Will it ever change?  Will their condition change?  How will it change?  What can we do?  Where do we start?

The shanties of some of the garbage collectors who live inside the dumpsite. They just live near the beach.

We’ve always felt that we can do something about this.  It may not be big but we can always do something about it. We decided to do ministry among the garbage collectors right in the dumpsite.  We’re going to feed the kids of the dumps every Saturday.  And we’re going to have learning lessons and play time with them, right there at the very dumps.

In a barren wasteland,  where people consider it as home and livelihood, an act of kindness can inspire hope in them to live for something better.  Their life and condition is not hopeless, we simply need to be there and share our life with them.  And who knows, their life may change because we took the initiative to reach out to them.  For us, it is simply an act of faith, that God can multiply our efforts and produce result.

Right now here are some things we will do and maybe you can help us out.  We want to partner with anyone who desires to be part of providing hope for children and families of Payatas.

 NEEDED ITEMS:

Clothes

Hygiene packs – soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste

Vitamins & Medicines – for cuts and infections

Food Items

Finances – for fare and for the food we will cook.

One thing that were very bent on having is to provide a makeshift hall to do our activities.  There are no shades where we can seek refuge and have our kid’s lessons and crafts.  We intend to bring some tarpaulin and other materials to provide a shade for us but we’re hoping for something more permanent as the project starts.

We hope to find sponsors for the hall and build it soon…

It's a dry and barren land, we need to build a makeshift hall for our activities.

 Proverbs 3:27, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.”

Even under the pouring rain, they would not stop scavenging. They have to eat....

The Payatas (Main) Outreach will begin on November 5, 2011.

You contact the following persons:

Israel Tarlit – easy_rael@yahoo.com

The church may not be affected but our members are.  We immediately had someone go to our members to provide some rice, canned goods and some cash assistance.  We never had to wait for anything to come from any organization.  Everyone is busy with some form of relief operation and we can’t wait for anything to come before we start giving. We’ll give what we have.

Typhoon Pedring would eventually leave but another typhoon was on its way: Typhoon Quiel (International Name: NALGAE) .  And this was worse than Pedring.  Stronger winds and larger volume of water would come our way. Waters would rise submerging houses and livelihood.  Many would scamper towards the evacuation center.

The scenes of the PASA LOVE serving the evacuees with a hot arrozcaldo to warm them and ease their hunger.

One evacuation center in Dagupan City is Dagupan City People’s Astrodome just beside our church.  More than a hundred families close to five hundred individuals sought shelter in this astrodome most of them are kids.

October 2, 2011, we still held a worship service knowing that only a few will come as some are flooded or the streets leading the church are flooded.  We worshiped the Lord praying for the many families that are affected.

Most of the evacuees are children. In spite of what has happened, they are still able to smile especially when they received lollipops.

After the worship service, we went inside the Astrodome and saw for ourselves the condition of the evacuees.  What we saw broke our hearts.  There were many kids, even babies all over the place and it was so hot.  They only have few food and they are simply waiting for the next relief goods to come.  Babies are crying everywhere and mothers are having a hard time about it.

I went back to the church telling myself that we should do something about this, and not just praying.  We can pray all we want but these people will need more than prayers.  The following morning I could no longer take it that I told my wife we have to do PASA LOVE.  I can’t stand the sight that we are a church and the people in need are just beside us.  We can’t turn a blind eye.  We have to do something!  Let use the funds that we have and don’t look back anymore.  These people need our help.  I think it’s bad stewardship to save up money when right in front of you are people needing help.  As far as I know, as a church, we’re committed to serve people and not save money.

The scene inside the evacuation center. Many mothers are happy about the arrozcaldo because it's also good for the babies and kids.

There wasn’t a moment to lose at that time.  We called on our team and started purchasing all the necessary materials to feed the evacuees.  We sounded the alarm for the volunteers to come and help out.  It wouldn’t take long that they would come and PASA LOVE would do what it do best –serve the people.

We cooked our famous and favorite arrozcaldo (chicken porridge) and served more than 400 individuals, many of them are kids.  We also gave lollipops to the kids. Some of the kids brought pots and pitchers but we can only serve them in cups.  But later we asked them to come back for seconds which they did. Many of them were pleased and grateful with what we served them.

The PASA LOVE volunteers. Loving every moment of serving God by serving the people.

Looking at the tired faces that brightens with every cup comforts us knowing we did the right thing.  I look at our team mostly youth who took time to serve and I’m extremely proud of how they understood what it means to love God by serving the people.  We call PASA LOVE “UNCOMFORTABLE,” because of the effort and sacrifice put in here, but we’re totally okay with this.  We love what we do.

Every PASA LOVE event begins with prayer and ends with prayer. We could not imagine what will we do without God leading the way for us. PASA LOVE is not about what we can do but what God can do through us.

If that wasn’t enough, PASA LOVE hit the streets feeding the tricycle and jeepney drivers.  We usually create traffic when we do this.  Some private vehicles would even stop and ask for some arrozcaldo when they saw that it’s all free.

PASA LOVE often asks, "Who else can we serve?" They look around and saw the tricyle and jeepney drivers who are plying flooded waters for them to earn as well. So we decided to serve them too by bringing the arrozcaldo on the streets.

Where is the church when a typhoon hits?  They should be praying, but most importantly, they should be SERVING. 

—–

Want to know more about PASA LOVE?  Just click here.

You can be part of PASA LOVE by praying for this ministry but also by giving resources that can be shared to the needy people.  For more information just visit www.psycheasy.com or email at easy_rael@yahoo.com.

How can we not do something about illiteracy?  Project BLESS is our way to solve the growing problem of illiteracy.  The stakes are too high for a child to be deprived of education.  Here’s why.

It’s been a month now since we started Project BLESS.  Project BLESS is a literacy project meant to help indigent children to read and write and somehow give them better opportunities in life.  Education is a key for a child to progress in life.  Without it their future becomes unstable and may just end up as another street child that can end up as petty thief or a criminal one day.  We take this seriously because we can do something different that will cause a child to take a different course in life.

We only have 9 kids so far as 1 kid dropped out after the first week due to her parents needing to work.  We are currently looking for a replacement.  We only have a handful of students because the goal is mastery.  After 5 months, the kid should be able to read and not just complete the program.Here are some tidbits of what is happening so far…..

 REALITY CHECK

Everyone’s spirit is high at the beginning.  You have this feeling that everything will be a breeze.  It’s not a breeze, it’s a hurricane!  We’re teaching kids that have not been to school or have dropped out.  And have come from a family that discipline is not a value.  The first week was a joy.  The second was trying our patience.  The third week needs adjustment.  The fourth week needed recharging.  We all need to go back why we did this in the first place.  And it was because of our love for God.  And simply an obedience to God to take care of these little ones.  And from this simple concept we needed to go deeper than ever before to teach the kids with more love, patience and assurance that God will see us through – all of us.

 SIMPLY DIFFERENT

Phonetics is hardly taught in Philippine school.  From what was revealed to us, a Filipino child will read by Grade 4, when he is about 10 years old!  That’s quite sad because what is he doing the first three years in school?  And this is where Project BLESS is totally different.  By teaching phonetics this early, they are given a head start in reading.

Orville (left) is the lead teacher. Israel (right) helps on the drilling of phonetics at the same leads the Bible stories.

There is also the combination of animal stories that makes the learning more fun.  And there are also the Bible stories for the values formation.  All the exercises revolve around this.

 WHEN SNACKS IS A MEAL

We provide their snacks and lunch.  For some of these kids, that snack is their breakfast.  And their lunch is probably their last meal for the day.  It may sound ridiculous but it’s true just the same.  Some of the kids have many siblings.  Only one parent is working and it’s not enough to feed them all.  They don’t have enough to eat to be filled.  Free snacks and lunch somehow eases both hunger and cost for them.

Their fare is also sponsored. One reason why they don’t go to school is that they don’t have any money for fare and they just can’t walk.  Some of them have to cross a river.  We have two students that need to cross a river.   It’s just a small amount, but enough to get through and a step closer for having a better life.

FUNDING

Project BLESS is an expensive project.  The reason why not so  many churches would have this as part of their ministry is because of the cost.  The Project would cost at least P50,000.00 – P70,000.00($1,00.00 – $1,700.00 ) or more  for just one run for 5-6 months.  And that is not something that a church would be willing to spend on.  Many people would be surprised that we also don’t have that amount to run the program.  But we’re always big on risks and faith.  A big project requires us to extend and push our faith to a different level.  We have seen how God works so we have been relying on a tried and tested formula: FAITH.  And we love doing that.

We have not completed the whole project cost yet, but we can’t wait for that to happen before we start the project.  We have started with whatever we have right now and we believe the rest will follow.  It’s amazing how God uses different people to provide for our needs.

 THE LIGHT SHINES

After four weeks, we made some breakthrough with some of the students.  Some have quickly learned and are now progressing.  One letter at a time.  One sound at a time.  It’s a joy when a child can begin to read even if it’s just two words.  One sound, two letters, and a word – they all contribute to a good reading.

Just check out the video below.

Somehow, we won’t simply get through this project…… we will prevail.

—–

THANK YOU

We are thankful for all who are praying for us.  We deeply appreciate this.  We are also thankful for those who are promoting this project.  It means a lot for us to have this project known because it is a great investment.  And we are thankful for those who are supporting us financially.  This project can be costly but what you give is an investment for nation building but also to the kingdom of God

CARE TO HELP

We continue to ask for your support for this project.  We welcome ay help you have in mind.  We welcome any financial help you’d like to invest.  You can send this through bank or through any money courier services.  We need juice and biscuits for their snacks.  Clothes good for 5-8 years old are appreciated also.  And anything you find your heart to do is very much welcome.

You can contact:

ISRAEL TARLIT – easy_rael@yahoo.com

1. THE PROBLEM IF PEOPLE CAN’T READ.
The cycle is too obvious to ignore. Crime rate is largely attributed to poverty. The many criminals we see are from poor family who have opted to do crimes to have a means for living. And poverty is largely attributed to lack of education. The lack of education limits people to have better opportunities to improve the quality and the condition of their life. A lot of Filipinos cannot afford education even from the elementary level. Thus the cycle of crime, poverty and illiteracy just keeps going and getting worse. What’s really worse is that we as a nation would barely make any progress at all.

2. THE PROBLEM IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM
I don’t need to point out that there is a flaw in the education system. We have been producing graduates after graduates in the college level who can’t read properly. And the same is true in the high school level. And when you look at what is going on in the elementary level, there is not enough quality education given to the students to be able to read properly. We have overcrowded students, dismal learning environments, and underpaid and overworked teachers. Education is taken for granted and we just allow passing students with or without them learning properly.

The Department Education has just made it mandatory for a child to an additional two years to address the deteriorating quality of education while slashing the budget for education. How ironic!

3. THE SOLUTION
Education starts with the child learning how to read. If we ever want to produce children who will be this and the next generation leaders they simply need to learn to read. In the days of old the responsibility of teaching the child to read was with the parents. By the time you reach the first grade it is expected that you can already read. This is not happening right now. Have some quality education at the basic where a child can read. If we can teach children to read – the possibilities will be endless for what the child can become and accomplish.

4. PROJECT BLESS – THE READING INITIATIVE
BLESS or Basic Life Empowerment and Support Services was conceptualized to address the educational needs of the indigent Filipino children, whose families cannot afford to send them to school. It helps children early in life with a solid phonetic approach to reading and century old values based learning methods that will guide them toward a life of fulfillment and impact. It is designed to nurture the character and stimulate the mental capability that will bring the future into a reality as each child finds their unique place in God’s grand scheme of life. It is offered as a FREE program for children who will qualify for the project. The child doesn’t have to pay for anything for the next 18-20 weeks.

The Host will shoulder all necessary expenses so that the child may be able to read to better equip him as he face life.

5. WHO QUALIFIES FOR PROJECT BLESS?
The following are the qualifications for a child to be part of Project BLESS.
 Children ages 5-8 only
 Indigent. Parents cannot afford to send him to school
 Out of school. Has already studied but poverty kept him out of school.
 Passed the Reading Readiness Test.
 Parent agrees with the terms and conditions of Project BLESS

6. HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
For the child – absolutely FREE. The child will not pay a single centavo. It will be the host who will run the Project BLESS that will shoulder all cost for the child. One run/cycle of Project BLESS can cost P50,000.00 to P70,000.00 for the 5 months depending on location and resources available for the host. The host will cover many items such as transportation, meals, school supplies, snacks, medicines, and other overhead expenses. The child need not be burdened with anything that’s why the host would have to do everything. It seems expensive but when you talk of the life of the child – it will all be worth it!

6. HOW CAN I HELP?
a. Sponsor a child for the next five months worth P1,000.00 ($25.00). You can give it in installment within four months. You can also give a one-time financial support to any amount you desire.
b. Promote Project BLESS to other people or organization who may be interested to support initiatives like this.
c. Give in kind. It will help lessen the cost. We will need rice, juice, biscuits, soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, towel, medicines, and clothing.
d. Volunteer. We need assistants that will serve as cooks, servers, assistant to the teacher, and as an older brother/sister for the kids.

7. WHEN WILL IT START?
Project BLESS Dagupan will open on August 1, 2011.

8. WHO CAN WE CONTACT?
ISRAEL TARLIT – MRI 1, Project BLESS Dagupan.
easy_rael@yahoo.com

or visit us at:

Full Life Baptist Fellowship, Inc.
272 Tapuac District, Dagupan City, Philippines
(Across Lyceum Northwestern University, right after Dagupan Astrodome)

9. WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?

We simply cannot afford NOT to. With the crime rate increasing every day and with poverty widening the gap, we can no longer sit back and watch people be a victim of crime or each child remains illiterate because they were never given a chance. Each child deserves a chance to have a better life. Project BLESS is our way of showing how much we love this country and how much we long to see a generation of leaders that will build this country. But most of all, it’s our commitment to God to serve Him among the least.

There’s too much at stake for a child not to read!
TEACH A CHILD TO READ. EDUCATE HIM FOR LIFE! BUILD A NATION!

We wrote this article to shed light on what PASA LOVE is all about. Many have been asking what this is all about since it has been some time right now that people have seen articles and pictures in Facebook. This is an attempt to explain PASA LOVE.

1. WHAT IS PASA LOVE?

PASA LOVE or SHARE LOVE is a ministry involved in sharing love and kindness in practical ways to the least of our fellow men in our society. The foundation of this is found in a verse in Matthew 5:16 of the Bible that says, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” We believe that the best way for people to see God is through acts of love and kindness in a very practical way.

2. HOW DID IT START?

It all started from a personal CRISIS and CURIOUSITY that probably there’s a better way of doing church. This led to a DISCOVERY and a JOURNEY that we are pursuing until now.

3. WHEN DID THIS START?

It was in December 2009 when an unknown couple gave several relief packs to our church for the victims of typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng. We were surprised since the typhoon was in September/October. They wanted to give it to us – for the families of our church. We choose not to give it to us – instead after the church Christmas Party, we went out bringing those 30 gift packs and shared it with the night vendors, prostitutes, pimps, balut vendors, beggars, and street children. We have not stopped doing this activity ever since. The following video is what we did last year (2010) which is how we celebrated the 1st year anniversary of PASA LOVE - by going out at night and sharing love.

4. WHAT ARE THE ACTIVITIES OF PASA LOVE?

The activities are simple and practical only. Anything that can help the least is worth doing. Among the activities we have done so far are the following:

Feeding of Kids in the community.

Feeding at the Hospital

Giving of School Supplies to underprivileged kids at an Elementary School and community.

Giving Free Palamig during the Bangus Festival.

Cleaning of Dagupan City High School after May 10, 2010 election.

Blessing the Children of Garbage Collectors

Reaching HAVEN – A Center for battered women

Some of the things we did as we shared love in practical ways.

Just check the following sites and click the PASA LOVE category if you want to learn and watch what we have done so far.

www.psycheasy.com

www.orvillebarba.com

www.jonathantamondong.com

5. WHO ARE THE RECIPIENTS OF PASA LOVE?

The foundation of PASA LOVE is found in the bible and so are the recipients. It may surprise you that acts of love and kindness among the least and unfortunate ones is what God desires from us. We also don’t have any bias against religion, race, or politics. We simply help people in need.

Luke 4:18-19, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, ¹⁹To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

POOR – they are all around us

BROKEN HEARTED – those that are hurting for a number of reasons not just because of relationship

CAPTIVES – those that are in jail whether deserved or undeserved

BLIND – those with disabilities

BRUISED – those that are experiencing injustices

My description on these categories are limited and they can be expanded. These people are all around us. What is so revealing is that Jesus went after them intentionally bringing the love of God. And these are the same people that we can reach. Anyone who is need and hurting can be a recipient.

5. HOW IS PASA LOVE SUPPORTED?

PASA LOVE is not an organization. It is a ministry under Full Life Baptist Fellowship located in Dagupan City. It is not big nor it is a rich church. The church is only big on RISKS and FAITH. The church does not have enough funds to do a regular PASA LOVE events. It may surprise you that the church only gives minimal funding and at times zero funding for the event. But we are able to do the event costing large sums of money. And this happens because of the many people who wants to be part of sharing love and have willingly shared their resources.

6. WHO ARE THE PEOPLE BEHIND PASA LOVE?

Not really behind but they are all in front and all over in the event.

ISRAEL TARLIT – The curious and serious one. And probably why this ministry has worked. He always emphasizes quality preparation for every event.

JANNA REE TARLIT – Cooking and organizing extraordinaire. She leads the group when it comes to cooking and organizing stuffs to be given away.

JONATHAN TAMONDONG – He leads the communication aspect of the event. He goes to the person in charge to ask permission when we do event. He’s very good at this being gifted in approaching people.

ORVILLE BARBA – Orvz as we call him now leads in documenting the whole event. Most of the videos are done by him. He has greatly improved on this.

NIKKA ILUMIN – She leads the technical aspect of the event where she creates promotional posters and anything related to graphics. She also creates the “thank you” posters where we tag or give to our sponsors.

The CORE staff of iFull / PASA LOVE

We are proud and grateful for the volunteers who help us pass the love!

7. WHY WE CREATED PASA LOVE GROUP IN FACEBOOK?

- To INSPIRE people and other organization to do acts of kindness in their community and wherever love is needed.

- To create a NETWORK of similar minded people and organization in spreading the love.

- To have a better STRATEGY in reaching the least among us by sharing resources and ideas.

We know we can work better if we work together. It would be great not just to pass the love but to spread the love to everyone.

8. HOW CAN YOU HELP?

A. PROMOTION. When an event comes up we promote heavily by using blogs and Facebook. You can help us by promoting it among your friends online. You can also promote it by word of mouth or simply sharing it in your conversations. If you have a blog site, you may want to write an article on it. Some bloggers have helped us by promoting it in their blog sites.

Some of the kind people who promoted us are the following:

Melissa Villa

Joseph Austria Quaimbao

Ka Loren

B. RESOURCES. We do ask for financial help that usually covers food, transportation, tokens, and other items as the need arises. The budget is usually big. Although we have several events that doesn’t require so much funds. You can also give other items such as clothes, toys, food items, school supplies, and other useful stuffs.

C. VOLUNTEER. If you’re available you can join us on the events we have. As long as you desire to serve and be willing to act on tasks given you then we want you to be part of this.

9. DO YOU PARTNER WITH OTHER GROUPS?

Yes, we partner with other groups also. This kind of work can never be accomplished by an individual or a single organization. We’re glad with the partnership we have made. Among them are:

This wonderful organization ministers to the children at Ulingan, Tondo, Manila. This is led by Ate Melissa Villa who is a family of PASA LOVE.

Irene Ferrer leads this ministry among the children in Baguio City.

Abet & Steve Nuguid – PIBC

If you have any questions about this you can always send us a message.

SHARE LOVE. SPREAD LOVE.

But it’s never easy. HAVEN FOR WOMEN, while it is a government institution, it does not have all the resources to adequately run it well. While there is subsidy, the center has to rely on private entities, NGOs and other well meaning corporation and individuals to provide the other necessities.

It is hard to turn a blind eye on them when you hear their traumatic stories of the hell they went through. Being physically abused not only scars the body but the emotions as well. Being sexually abused is also the same. It goes beyond the physical aspect but reaches to very soul and spirit of a woman. What makes this difficult is when you actually see the face of an abused woman and some of them happens to be just 3 years old or 14 years old.

I’ve heard one say, “The conscience of the country is revealed in how it treats the poor and the helpless.” Or was that “The greatness of a country is measured by the way it treats the poor and the weak?” Either way I believe it is true. But I would rather apply it in the church.   The church can always be measured by its obedience to God as revealed what the Bible said.

Somehow this is the part where I believe the church needs to have a second look in its ministries and evaluate what their metrics and see if they are missing out something in their obedience before God. I find this so strange that taking care of the poor, helpless, widows, orphans, and the suffering is part of the LAW. God instituted laws that specifically commands us to take care of these people. When Jesus came, majority of the people He came in contact with are the poor, helpless, widows and most of sinners. And when you look at the verses involve, you’d see that there is a tremendous blessings involved if you obey God on this thing. This is something the church should carefully evaluate.

Just prayerfully consider the following verses:
Proverbs 21:13 “If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.” (NIV)

Proverbs 31:8-9 “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (NIV)

Proverbs 28:27 “He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.” (NIV)

Isaiah 58:10 “And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” (NIV)

It is my prayer that the church be more EXTERNALLY FOCUSED where it truly reaches the people God wants reached and not INTERNALLY FOCUSED where 70%-90% of its resources and manpower is spent on themselves. I believe that if a church will help a community change, it is because they went out and took care the lost and the least in Jesus’ name.

It is for this cause that our youth group (girl group) is doing a PASA LOVE for the women of HAVEN. We want the PASA LOVE as a lifestyle and not an event. We want every small group to do PASA LOVE as an initiative and not as a directive. We want PASA LOVE to be part of the DNA of every member where every way you cut us we will bleed PASA LOVE.

The girl’s youth group is led by Nikka. She has her small group and she preaches on our Student Takeover, our youth church.  Our youth group is not so much into fellowship but we train them to reach out and see the real world.  We only gave her a subsidy on the finances, but it will be up to her to raise the other funds. The control is with her. I’ll just be providing gudiance. the program, management, fund raising an other stuff will be with her. It’s all part of the training.

Nikka (center) will lead this PASA LOVE event along with her small group.

The PASA LOVE is called, “REACHING HAVEN.” They will hold a program and fellowship among the clients of HAVEN. They will also be providing hygiene kits. And they will also have some snacks afterwards. This will be on March 5, 2011, 3pm – 5 pm at HAVEN for Women, Bonuan Binloc, Dagupan City.

You can be part of this PASA LOVE event. You can donate any of the following: toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, towels, and other infant items such as milk, bottles, dress, and others you would see fit. You can also give money which can be used to buys those items and other things for the event.

HAVEN IS JUST A HAND AWAY…. REACH OUT AND EXTEND HELP. YOU’LL BE GLAD YOU DID.

For more info write or call:
NIKKA – nikkailumin@yahoo.com (09076182225)
YSAE – easy_rael@yahoo.com (09194522756)

I keep coming back to the very first message Jesus gave at a synagogue. Luke 4:18-19 (KJV), “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

If you carefully look at these verses you’d see the kind of people Jesus sought to reach because it’s the kind of people God also told Him to reach. Jesus was seeking the poor, the broken hearted, the prisoners, the physically disabled and them that are oppressed. And when you read the Gospels you’d see that Jesus did go out seeking them and bringing them the good news. JESUS WENT OUT TO THEM. If there’s one theology the church should strongly learn is this: JESUS WENT OUT!

You may find this obvious but probably ironic: The people Jesus sought to reach is not inside the church. The poor is always everywhere. You can find the broken hearted at a bar or at strip a club. The prisoners are in jails. The disabled are at a welfare house or on the streets. And the oppressed are outside the justice courts. Most of them are really not inside the church.