UNICEF reports that 44% of the children in Philippines live in poverty. The greatest number by percent, 69% live in Mindanao, 820,000!! Pray for these kids who suffer from lack of food, shelter, education, and clean water.
To read the full news story Click HERE.
The church of Jesus Christ in Charlotte purchased Pepito a motorcycle. He had been in a traffic accident and broke his leg and could not work. Now he can travel to minister in the various churches and also hire the motorcycle out like a taxi and earn enough money to buy rice to feed his family.
In this video he is thanking everyone for the motorcycle. He is speaking cebuano but you can still understand the emotion of thanks and our names. Please click Pepito to view the video.
Another Journalist was killed. This one in Davao Oriental province in the town of Manay. He was a broadcaster. The country is still in shock over the political murder of 65, many journalists, last year. Continue to pray for peace in Mindanao and for President Aquino as he takes control of the government.
Go HERE for the complete story.
Families are having to evacuate in Basilan due to fighting with the Abu Sayyaf. Please pray for these families and for peace in Mindanao. Click HERE for the news story.
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The Mindanao Examiner is reporting that the Abu Sayyaff has killed three more Philippinos. They were kidnapped by the group on May 27 and held for 3 million pesos ransom. The group is connected with al-Qaeda and has been hunted for many years. Their numbers have been estimated to be about 400 but that was prior to a camp being captured and about 40 members were killed. The group responsible for the latest killings are led by Puruji Indama. The three latest victims are, Claudio Mananita, Rolando Francisco and Dariel Quintella. For complete details link to the story HERE.
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The new Phlipppine President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III is shaping his government. He was elected President in the May elections. He is the son of the late President Corazon. The election was a landslide victory, winning 42 percent of the vote. For a story by the Asian Sentinel click HERE.
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An interesting video of the Abu Sayyaf. According to this video many of the members are wanting out, but the group remains a threat to many in the Philippines. Please pray for peace in Mindanao.
Please click HERE to go to UTube Video.
An Abu Sayyaf camp was captured by the PHP army on Friday. The camp was being defended by about 50 fighters, of the estimated 450 Abu Sayyaf terroritst, and the aid of terrorists Radulan Sahiron was confirmed killed. It was not confirmed if Sahiron was killed, he has a $1M reward for his capture issued by the US. Please pray for peace in Mindanao and a lasting solution to the questions of Muslim autonomy. For complete details and to read the story click HERE.
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Please take a look at the page describing the natural wonders of the Philippines. The Philippines is a beautiful country. This article has pictures of the most recent volcano that theatened to erupt, the famous underground river of Palawan, the Hundred Islands, and even the "chocolate hills."
Click here to read, about the five natural wonders of the Philippines.
Huge news from the Philippines, the military found a camp used by the Abu Sayaff, a terrorist group, to and build bombs. The Abu Sayaff has about 400 members and have conducted terrroists activites throughout the Philippines including kidnapping for ransom.
Pray for peace...in Mindanao and Jolo island.
For a news story click Here.
According to this article there are an estimted 117 private armies in the Philippines who are for hire. Since the recent massacre of 57, the stage is set for this to be the most violent election season in the Philippine history. Please pray for peace in the elections. For the news story click HERE.
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The Washington Post is reporting that Albader Parad was killed by Philippine troops on Sunday, Click HERE for the news story. He is reported to have been a major leader in the Abu Sayaff and the groups spokesman. He was on the US State Dept. list of terrorists and was involved in the kidnappings of members of the Red Cross last year. He was killed on the island of Jolo an Abu Sayaff stonghold and the center of the groups operations, they have been using terror tactics to try to win Muslim independence from the Philippine government. Wendell Fertig was an engineer and was living in Mindanao at the time of the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. The Americans surrendered the Philippines to the Japanese, only later to come back and assist in the liberation of the county, landing first in Leyete.
I am called on to lead a resistance movement against an implacable enemy under conditions that make victory barely possible even under the best circumstances. But I feel that I am indeed a Man of Destiny, that my course is charted and that only success lies at the end of the trail. I do not envision failure; it is obvious that the odds are against us and we will not consistently win, but if we are to win only part of the time and gain a little each time, in the end we will be successful.[2]
.......We left Indianapolies the first day of April, 1908, my wife and self and seven children and four others. We had our tickets to Africa but no money for personal expenses in route except $1.50...(at this point in the narrative Dr. Lake relates several remarkable Providences of God Which supplied their expenses n route.).Read more...
Throughout my knowledge of the immigration laws of south Africa, i know that before we would be permitted to land, I must show the immigration inspector that I was possessor of at least $125.00. We prayed earnestly over this matter, and about the time we reached the equator a rest came into my soul concerning it. I could pray no more.
About eight or ten days later we arrived in Cape Town Harbor, and our ship anchored. The immigration inspector came on board and the passengers lined up at the purser's office to present their money and receive their tickets to land. My wife said, "What are you going to do?" I said, "I am going to line up with the rest. We have obeyed God thus far. It is now up to the Lord. If they send us back we cannot help it."
As I stood in line awaiting my turn, a fellow passenger touched me on the shoulder and indicated to me to step out of the line, and come over to the ship's rail to speak with him. He asked some questions, and then drew from his pocket a traveler's checkbook, and handed me tow money orders aggregating $200.00. I stepped back into line, presented my orders to the inspector, and received our tickets to land.
Johannesbourg is one thousand miles inland from Cape Town. Throughout the voyage and on the train we earnestly prayed about the subject of a home. We were faith missionaries. We had neither a Board nor friends behind us to furnish money. We were dependent on God. Many times during the trip to Johnanesburg we bowed our heads and reminded god that when we arrived there, we would need a home. God blessed and wondrously answered our prayer.
Upon our arrival at Johannesburg I observed a little woman bustling up. She said, "You are an American missionary party? " The reply was, "Yes." Addressing me she said, "How many are there in your family?" I answered, "My wife, myself and seven children." "O," she said, "you are the family. The Lord has sent me to meet you, and I want to give you a home."
That same afternoon we were living in a furnished cottage in the suburbs, the property of our beloved benefactor, Mrs. C. L. Goodenough , of Johannesburg, who remains to this day our beloved friend and fellow worker in the Lord. She is now a resident of Forida and has visited us in the West.
The US and the Philippine Army have been working jointly since 9/11 in the Philippines to end the terror caused by the Abu Sayyaf. The group has been responsible to terror attacks all over the Philppines, including bombings and kidnappings. The group is said to only have about 400 members. They are increasingly using more and more sophisticated methods to try to find the hideouts of the remaining terrorist targets. Ulitmately, it will take the cooperation of the local population to completely end the groups activity. That cooperation will be won by nationbuilding. This is one area of assistance that the US has engaged. The following quote is taken from the article found HERE. This task has spurred US troops to build schools, dig wells, and build roads, while helping the Philippine military to roll out its own projects. The location of projects is guided by intelligence reports on where militants are dug in, so that troops can move in and try to win over villagers in the area.
This is for those who know almost nothing about the Philippines. This site gives a concise history of the land, people, governments, and life of the Philippines. There are a couple of areas of generalization that are simplistic, but that is necessary to make the article a brief read. Click HERE to go directly to the blog.
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The Phlippine elections are coming May of this year and much prayer is needed. The Philippines is listed as being a country subject to nepotism, bribes and unethical practices. However, with the coming elections there is hope of electing leaders who are committed to bringing peace and prosperity to the people. There are many candidates running and it is a crucial time for the country. The country has imposed a ban on guns until the elections are over and already have detained over 70 people on weapons charges. In December the was a mass murder of 67 people, all politically motivated. 
A Catholic church was firebombed in Jolo, this was probably the work of the terrorist group, Abu Sayyaf. In this incident the Fr. and the alter boy were the only two poeple there at the moment. The church had been firebombed before and a priest was killed HERE. However, this firebombing may be connected to a Supreme Court ruling in Malaysia allowing the use of the word "Allah" to refer to the Christian God by a Catholic publication. According to Jihad Watch CLICK HERE, the Supreme Court suspended the ruling in an effort to calm the Muslims who have firebombed several churches. There have been four or more, depending on the news reports, of firebombings in Malaysia, believed to be realated to a court decision. Jihad Watch HERE reports that the 10% Christian poplation have used the word for many years and this is an excuse for the Muslim extremists to rally a protest. Most of the Christians in Malaysia are Chinese or Indian, however it is a Malay language publiction by the Catholic Church that is being protested. Several Catholic churches have been firebombed and at least one Pentecostal church was gutted. According to the Jihad Watch the word "Allah" is used by Christians in other Mulism countires, like Egypt, to refer to the Christian God.
The head of the Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino, said that the Abu Sayyaf is on a recuiting campaign. Its total members are about 400. They are only down a few in number over the course of the last year. The commander stated that the stratagey to defeat the terrorist group will be to take out the leadership, he named several targets of the army. Historically, Abu Sayyaf has engaged in bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, and extortion. For the news story in the Manila Times click HERE. 
The US Ambassador to the Philippines writes on her blog HERE that her term is coming to an end. The ambassador served the Philippines for 4 years. 
Because of a desire to write about something on a lite note..The first amusement park opened in Mindanao click here.
The theme park has 35 rides, including bumper cars, and a ferris wheel. This is a first for Mindanao. And I was surprised that it was not in Davao, or General Santos but in Dapitan. Dapitan is located on a penisula like tip of the north west part of the island. It is known as the "shrine" city and the place where Jose Rizal was exiled HERE.
This map from Google Earth shows the approximate location of Dapitan and Plaridel. I was in Plaridel at the church of Pastor Ben Sousa. Please click on the map for a lager view.
In Mindanao, in addition to the terrorist group Abu Sayaf, there is the communist guerrillas group known as the NPA (New Peoples Army). They have targeted killings for some time in Mindanao. Last year the group killed 83 people, 4 in the last week of December. The army published a story saying the group it increasing its attacks in Southern Mindanao, Click HERE. An earthquake hit Mindanao again today. There were several earthquakes just before the end of the year, two in one day. A very strong earthquake hit the Solomon Islands.
For the news report in the PhilStar click on the link.
Moderate quake jolts Mindanao Home Other Sections Breaking News
The PhilStar is reporting that population in the Philippine population will reach 94 million, with a birth rate of two million babies annually. The ideal birth rate should be less than 1% to match the economic groweth rate. It is not uncommon for a Philippine family to have 6, 8, or 10 children or more. Many are influenced by the Catholic church and do not practice birth control, other than natural means. Even the RP government has not passed a measure to help control the population groweth, apperantely influenced by the Catholic church. Link to the news report click HERE. . The new year is here! We have been blessed in 2009 and will be abundantly blessed in 2010. There is much to be thankful for and much to pray for. Greater things will be done for the kingdom in 2010, more than we have ever done before, by the grace of God. We bless him for the new year, and bless his name, Jesus Christ. He is the one who forgave my sins, heals my body, lets me walk in blessings, there is not destruction or ruin in my future. But I will walk in the love of the Lord and have his "tender mercy."
Psa. 103:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, [bless] his holy name.
Psa 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Psa 103:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Psa 103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Tags: philippines, davao, mindanao, iligan, missions, mayon
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