Continuing the Nightingale Legacy: BOC Serenades Patients, Doctors and Nurses of PNP CHS

 Lo! in that house of misery

A lady with a lamp I see

Pass through the glimmering gloom,

And flit from room to room.

                        -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow   (on Florence Nightingale)

During the Crimean war, Florence Nightingale gained the nickname "The Lady with the Lamp" from a phrase in a report in The Times Magazine: She is a ‘ministering angel’ without any exaggeration in these hospitals, and as her slender form glides quietly along each corridor, every poor fellow's face softens with gratitude at the sight of her. When all the medical officers have retired for the night and silence and darkness have settled down upon those miles of prostrate sick, she may be observed alone, with a little lamp in her hand, making her solitary rounds.

Last March 21, 2013, a young band named Praise and Rhythm, learned what it means to be a ministering angel and live out the Nightingale tradition to those who are sick, wounded and plagued with infirmities.

“Their voices had soothed a lot of pains and had alleviated sickness if only for awhile…” a teary eyed PCSUPT Maria Angela Vidal who although also suffering from the discomfort of multiple slipped disks has been blessed by splendid songs the message of love from the band.

The band composed of sisters: Arielle  and  Andrea Manuel (Kuya Boi’s daughters), Vencer dela Pena, Jason Despojo and Paul Monteagudo was tapped by the BOC Movement to sing and encourage the spirit of the PNP personnel of the PNP General Hospital. Although dealing with some equipment problem and a last minute change of venue which frustratingly took them from the auditorium to the surgical ward of the PNP, the band soldiered on and became an inspiration to sick policemen and their dependents.

A hearty mix of contemporary Christian music and radio friendly love songs wooed the crowd and gave them hope and encouragement in their dire conditions. Some songs where about Christ’s love towards man, some of man sins, some of our need of salvation and some of God’s enduring love which calls us to be save.

The concert had a bonus too, as both PCSUPT Angela Vidal and Sis Lorna Sevilla of the Thursday Breakfast Club shared God’s Word and encouragement to the sick. Gen. Vidal shared her life on how God has been kind to her and has kept her spirits despite of her current injuries. Sis Lorna shared the Word of God and His message of salvation to the down-trodden. She also led the crowd to a prayer to accept the Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

At the end of concert, those who performed where equally blessed from the crowd that received the blessing of songs.

BOC Quezon: Police Ministry Has A New Champion

Newly installed Quezon Provincial Director PSSUPT Dionardo B. Carlos is a blessing not only to his home province of Quezon, an inspiration to the untiring police of the provinces but also an answered prayer to the police ministers of Quezon province who has a champion and an ally of spreading the gospel to the precincts and stations of the province.

A long-time ally and close associate of the CORPS Movement, Col. Carlos was designated as the Provincial  Director of Quezon after ill-fortunate Atimonan case wherein a score of soldiers and policemen were sacked and charged with murder. Although the incident was a dark and unfortunate one for the PNP, it proved to be a blessing in disguise as the former Metrobank Cops Awardee has now a chance to serve his beloved province.

The ministers and Christian police officers led by PCINSP Elman Sillador was delighted to learn that PSSUPT was a Christian and hurriedly rallied to the programs of the new Provincial Director.

Last March 16, 2013, the members of the BOC Movement led by PSUPT Bernie Banac, Bro Jerry Ong of the Bread of Life Ministry, Bro. Boi Manuel, Bro Jojo Dellosa and Ptr. Dan Afuang met with the new Provincial Director and the police ministry of Quezon extend the Movement’s support to his leadership as well as the group’s support to the pastors of Quezon.

This was warmly welcomed by the new PD as he also thanked the pastors of the province for their untiring love for the lost and their unwavering support to the PNP. He encouraged them to always pray for him and his men and to continue what they are doing in the precincts and stations of the whole Quezon province.

The BOC movement also took in requests and helped pastors assessed the current situation in their province. They were also given new insights on how to build more lasting relationship with the police and how to effectively minister to the police stations. Those who were encouraged by the visit includes Ptr. Willy Tan, Ptr. Roel Pia, Ptr Warlito Delmo, Ptr. Dante Narzabal, Ptr. Renato Talabong, Ptr. Lemuel Tamon, Ptr Ramel Porto, Ptr. Ramon Maralit, Ptr. Julio Santiago, Ptr. Hermie Escobido, Ptr. Randy Formento, Ptr. Romulo Mengge, Ptr. Manuel Maranca, Ptr. Jim Gloria and Sis  Hilda Atienza.

The day ended with prayers for the sustenance of the new PD and the spread of the gospel in the province.

CCF Alumni Reunites for Pizza

 

Cowabunga Dude!

It seems that former CCF cadets –and Pastor Raymond Go too- has a thing for the Teenage Mutant Turtles: Those four renaissance named amphibian who has a deep loathing for evil and a penchant for Italian cooking. This fact was quite evident when the CCF members and former CCFers devoured boxes after boxes of pizza with “kung fu” like agility and marital precision.

Kidding aside, though they really did polish off pepperoni crusted dough one after another, brothers and sisters of the CCF had a grand time meeting one after another last March 15, 2013: sharing life lessons and experiences to each other, joking around to see who among them gained more weight, making fun of the pictures hanging in the CCF hall of graduating cadets when they were still plebes; and reliving unforgettable and forgettable experiences that they had as former members of the CCF.

The event which was dubbed as the CCF Pizza Fellowship was a way to reunite and rekindle old camaraderie of members of the CCF over a box of pizza. Former cadets were asked how they are doing in the field and were refreshed by old Christian ideals they may have missed as police officers. They were honestly also assessed on how they are faring with their Christian walk and where taught how to gather and lead men to Christ in their respective area of influence.

 

The alumni were also given a chance to speak in front of graduating cadets to encourage them to still walk by faith after they have graduated and to be strong in the temptations that they will face. Leading them is former CCF Cadet in Charge of Class 2007 John Rellan who gave them some encouragement and talked of how God has been his saving grace in the Province of Batangas.   Jail Inspector April Joy Bueco of Class 2012 also shared her fresh experience from the field of how God had guided her young career at the BJMP.

As the alumni get together and chat with each other, the graduating cadets of the PNPA Tagapamagitan class of 2013 was greeted by their foster parents from the Capitol City Baptist church led by Ptr. Mike Miguel who gave the batch an open heart, great gusto and more food. The soon-to-be officers of the PNPA talked to their foster parents on how to create strong partnership between the community and the Chruch. They also invited over the future graduates to their homes to meet their families before they report to their respective offices.

The BOC Movement represented by Jojo Dellosa and Joshua Fellowship of GCF by Danao Afuang,  gathered the alumni to consolidate and gather information on “MIA” Christian officers from the different batches of the CCF to help them find journey partners among the churches of the BOC Movement.

Finally, after hours of fellowship they said their adieus and promised a return for next year’s COWANBUNGA pizza experience.