Have a care for your name, for it will stand by you better than precious treasures in the thousands; Sirach 41:12Update 6-20-08:
Open Letter to CFC-FFL from Frank Padilla.
Update 6-14-08:
Servant General statement from Frank Padilla.
Update 6-14-08:
We Remain Couples for Christ statement from the IC.
Update 6-13-08:
A new statement from the IC, please scroll to the bottom. The Easter Group also has a statement.
June 11, 2008 Council Statement
Download the statement HERE.Ok people, in this blog we have talked about the extent of how far we will go to protect the name of CFC. I think now, it is time to accept as the IC finally have, that we are in for the fight of our lives.
In the What's In A Name series, we've gone through the reasons why the Easter Group is pulling all the stops to claim the CFC name. They have taken the phrase "by hook or by crook" to heart and have resorted to devious means to steal our identity.
If they have gone to that extent, then we must do ALL we can do to stop them; to protect what is rightfully ours: As the the ones who have retained the charism, as the ones who continue the good work, and as the ones who were abandoned by these self serving former leaders in their so called effort to restore a charism that was never lost in the first place. Frank Padilla and his minions are out to see CFC destroyed.
Are we now to stand idly by and watch him do it?
In the Signed, Sealed, Delivered entry, jonitanitayturin noted that the majority of the respondents in the poll are willing to get their own names behind a petition. Well, now is as good as any to start. I'm asking all of you to leave your name in a comment on this entry to show your wholehearted support for the IC's stand, let us show them that they are not alone in this, and let us prove the strength and unity of CFC to any who may doubt it!
I can't do this alone my friends, I'm asking all of you now to do what it takes to help end this now and for all. Share this entry with your friends, pass on the IC's statement, and if you've never made a comment here before, now is the time.
You may also email your support for the IC's efforts to:
Update 6-13-08
The latest IC Statement:
Download HERE.SEC memo:
Highlights mine. Questionable grounds, eh?
Download the SEC memo re-instating CFC-FI in favor of the easter group HERE.
It is not over by a long shot my friends. Let's keep this going, our voices need to be heard now more than ever, because it was purposely IGNORED.
Update 6-13-08
The Easter Group is already celebrating:
Update 6-14-08:
We Remain Couples for Christ statement from the IC.
Download HERE.
Another statement from Frank Padilla:
I'd just like to ask if he's willing to publish Cardinal Rylko's letter to him the way he's been so haphazardly showing the Cardinal's letters to the IC.
I am getting the feeling that he is aiming to look like the magnanimous party here. What do you think?
Update 6-20-08:
Open Letter to CFC-FFL from Frank Padilla.
It seems, we are officially "evil", according to Frank's definition of the term. I guess that's what I get for exposing the truth about him.
I wonder why he doesn't allow his members to support him by allowing comments on his self-promotion blogs.
The outcome of the war is in our hands; the outcome of words is in the council.
-Homer The Iliad
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538 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 400 of 538 Newer› Newest»"When the sea turns red and the mountains into dust and the stars fall from the skies, when wicked men from their thrones are cast and martyrs for vengeance cry. When on the clouds He shall appear and advance in bright array, what glory then shall eclipse the earth as Christ on judgment day.
Fight the good fight of faith, people of God, Unstained and without reproach before the eyes of men! Run the good race you sons of the Most High, and inherit the Crown of Life from our Lord Jesus Christ!"
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"Though our foe awaits us we shall not fear for victory is surely at hand. If the Lord our God is with us, then who can be against the people the Lord has called His own."
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Let us all pray for and rise in defense of our community and our leaders, the CFC International Council.
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"...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."Joshua 24:15
Ronnie Gool - CFC Batangas
Joy Gool - CFC Batangas
Rachel Judith Gool - KFC Batangas
Joseph Reuben Gool - KFC Batangas
Joseph Ralph Gool - KFC Batangas
Ruth Johanna Gool - KFC Batangas
Joseph Raymond Gool - KFC Batangas
Mary Therese Gool - KFC Batangas
We offer fervent prayers for our IC and will support them in any way we can.
May our good Lord bless us all!
Rod Bustos
Canyl Bustos
Maryland, USA
The IC has our all support and prayers:
East Sector
CFC Cagayan de Oro/Misamis Oriental
FAP and his lawyers are using a very worldly strategy. They are holding to the next best thing which is the unresolution of the issue regarding the name CFC. So long as it is in the human courts for resolution they can use the name CFC legally or illegally, until the courts decide otherwise. Unless there is an Injuction. As we know the justice system in the Philippines, the resolution could take forever. So as not to be frustrated on the current events let's all pray for God's grace to see us through and pursue our mission and work with more vigor,zeal and passion.Read the recommended reading An Angry Christian it asks us to channel frustrations to perseverance,endurance and patience. God will pleasantly surprise us all with the outcome of the manuevrings of FAP and his Legal Advisers, I'm sure right now they are not using God's wisdom let's all pray that the FFL leaders inspired by the Holy Spirit will read clearly where FAP is taking them.
Nelson & Marge Uy
I will continue to support the CFC International Council.
We have the right to use the name Couples for Christ based on the International Statues of Couples for Christ, to quote: "5.6 Overseeing and promoting the life and mission of CFC throughout the world is the CFC International Council based in Manila."
Would suggest that we read the International Statues of Couples for Christ.
God bless everyone!
Larry M. Ramos
CFC-Baltimore, Maryland
SFC Montalban Supports the IC in this battle.
huh?
umabot na sa ganito?
grabe naman sila.
we're all with you, IC!
CD,
Please post here the letter of Cardinal Rylko to him (Frank Padilla) instead of waiting for SG-FAP to take up your dare and giving you a copy.
If your blog can pick up a story about the decision of Supreme Court proving that the Padilla couple is GUILTY of selling a property which is not theirs; I am sure you can source a copy of that letter of Rylko to Padilla.
By the way, was the buyer of the Carmel property that the Frank and Gerry Padilla sold to them, a member of CFC? Nasaan kaya sila ngayon. Sana mahanap natin at ma-interview!
I could hardly believe what I read - that Supreme Court decision making ‘Frank & Gerry’ GUILTY of a fictitious sale- , while claiming to be a 'keeper of Charism' knowing fully well that his past included selling 'an open space' piece of real estate as his and using such for a loan collateral?
It’s true, now we have the evidence (as if we need one!) that truth will always come out, even after some time. This news hurts the Padillas, specially their children, and no amount of rationalization from one who is so smart can ever reverse the final verdict of Supreme Court.
Tumba dito si Servant General!
And the transaction happened when Frank was the revered leader of CFC!
I really feel sad for him. Let’s offer a prayer!
I wholeheartedly support the IC in defending the CFC name.
Malou M. De Guzman
CFC West B
cd,
please ask the people in the center who know -- IC or whoever -- are the the following properties in the name of COUPLES FOR CHRIST FOUNDATION, INC:
1. The donated Alpadi lot and building (those buildings were built on donations of CFC leaders and members)
2. The CFC Mission House
3. whatever CFCFI properties I do not know.
If yes, better I think the CFC-IC should act now.
Hey CFC!!
It is time to be joyful!
The SEC ruling is a blessing in disguise!
Later on a higher court will reverse that order and declare that the decision on June 12 2008 favoring Frank Padilla & FFL is not worth the paper it is written on!
For their part, it is simply a 1st quarter high scoring game as their house celebrates, but they'll see us WIN on the end game! (Sorry nanood kasi ako ng 4th game ng Celtics at Lakers!)
I am happy because now WE CAN GO LEGAL!
WE did not start it, the Servant General did!
By the way, let's all support the IC - THEY WILL SURELY NEED FINANCIAL SUPPORT when we go to another battle in SEC's court!
But of course, more than the material, we need to empower our 'warriors' - the IC, in this battle. God Bless you, IC Bros!
Hi!
As I write this, CD has just posted the latest here, a “conciliatory” letter from Bro. Frank Padilla of FFL (his use of the CFCFI name is still not final and executory. Likewise, it is only SEC and the “legal” way – a term he originally abhorred but now clings on to for dear life) .
Earlier, I have raised an issue as this blog mused about the CFC “brand name” and the “marketing” strategies related to it, which was thankfully complemented with Anonymous’ very profound argument that the real issue was the nature of the “charism” of CFC. (We really have to go back to that spiritually-filling article to revive our strength here, I think.) I wanted to maintain that this was also “religious politics” and that we had to be wary with “Greeks bringing gifts.” (Oh, and now this conciliatory gesture? Teka...Wait...)
I want to believe that a “Trojan” horse penetrated the “defenses” put up by CFC-IC at the SEC. I thought somebody there was to make a quick update on developments relative to the opposition to any application for a corporate name that had anything to do with ‘Couples for Christ’. The IC said it was providential that the scheme to revive the CFCFI was discovered. Well, OK. But when it was discovered, the attack from inside the house was already progressing in high gear…at least as far as the SEC gates are concerned. Well, next time: “forewarned is forearmed”.
Anyway, the battle is just beginning, now that the IC has publicly pronounced that it be marked by every faithful CFC member. Very sorry, indeed that it had to come to a public, court battle, this arena we have learned the CFC-IC really wanted to avoid, considering the undesirable consequences, even among those who have perhaps “sworn to dig our graves” “or “plant us a bamboo” whom we still want to love because they were, are, our brethren in Christ.
Now that this battle has become inevitable, let us summon all available MATERIAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND MOST OF ALL, SPIRITUAL STRENGTH AND RESOURCES. MAY GOD BLESS US ALL, AND MORE ESPECIALLY, THE MEMBERS OF OUR CFC-IC.
It is very sad that FP and his group, i'm sorry to say, are so desperate that they continue to make false claims and fabricate documents to get what they want. When will they realize that their pride and selfishness are causing their destruction and more importantly hurting many people.
We join everyone in supporting the IC to take action! We pray that the Lord guide us all.
nino boy, NB
Frank's group is like a chameleon
Let's list down the changes:
1. Restoration Group
2. Playboy & Bunnies
3. Easter Group
4. CFC - Foundation for Family and Life or CFC FFL
5. Restoration Movement for Family and Life
6. Couples for Christ Foundation Inc. (this one is momentarily approved by SEC; soon to a debunked claim)
And without their knowledge, Bishops Reyes, Lagdameo, and Villegas approve of their changes faces and forms, because there names are simply pasted there every time Frank needs to impress upon us that he has this church backing.
This is Frank's life now ...leading everyone who believes in him in a succession of changing faces & titles.
Whatever and however, there is one thing that he emphasizes that will remain constant:
He is the Founder and he is the keeper of charism. (But I think he is better of sticking to this preoccupation, for in this one he would not be sued by his follOwers. Better this than a seller of real estate. Right ba SG?)
Brothers in CFC, let's pray for our brothers in FFL, specially Frank's core of believers (by the way, he calls them Holy men and women) - the chosen few who are anointed by the Servant General. May they wake up to the truth one day!
As a foreigner in CFC, this is revolting. Most revolting of all was reading Frank's words - after countless vitriolic attacks of FFL leaders on CFC - "I extend my hand of peace to my brethren in CFC."
What then of the conduct and statements of the FFL leaders over the past year? What of the attacks on television against GK? What of the ignoring of Vatican advice?
This has left such a bad taste in my mouth.
God always puts the people He needs where He wants them to be, always at the proper time and the place. Even if they may seem the most unlikely people to be in those positions, they are anointed and empowered by Him.
Two (2) CFC Council elections ago, Nonong Contreras was replaced by Ernie Maipid(who was then recovering from a stroke). It seemed that God was sending a message to me.
God wanted to use someone who was humble, someone who knew the limits of his person, someone who knew he had to totally depend on God to achieve what was asked of him in the service of CFC.
The resignation of 3 Council members in Feb 2007 was the sure sign on the wall. God wanted a new change of leaders, a fresh wind. He was bringing CFC to where He wanted us to go. (By the way...is that the "veering away?")
Joe Tale (who has remained low key, self-effacing and approachable despite his previous Malacañang position as Dep. Exec Secretary)became our new Exec. Director. This, despite his pleas for the resignation not to push through. Twice, FAP prayed over him and passed the torch and the charism to JT... in the same manner Esau passed his birthright to Jacob. All by FAP's own free will and after his prayerful discernment.
God wanted a humble, servant lawyer to be our leader. CFC needed a lawyer to be its Exec. Director!!!
The 2007 elections added 3 more to complete the 7, namely: Joey Arguelles, Lito Tayag, Melo Villaroman Jr. It was not only the example and direction that God wanted followed. He also wanted transparency, good order and good governance. CFC needed to put its house in order. And so now, CFC is almost debt-free. From the P 20M debt, CFC debt has gone down to
P 240K in roughly 6 months!!!
In the past year, I have seen the IC trek the difficult path of: (1) keeping the details/reasons regarding the resignations confidential for as long as possible -- in an effort to protect our separated brethren's reputations (which the Easter group did to themselves), (2)being still and letting God take control, (3) trying their best to love those who personally hurt them and desired ill will on CFC. Numerous painful and difficult instances, situations and circumstances of these, yet without losing sight of our mission and vision.
Some of us may have wished that they might have moved more decisively, or acted faster at times. God always intervened by unfolding or revealing plots & plans hidden, and even protecting the fronts that were undefended.
Our entire family stands behind our IC.
Like the Spartans from the movie "300", we answer the call to close-in, to dig deep (in prayer), to fortify our defenses, to love & protect one another, to unite and move as one behind our IC...
To fight for our beloved community. To fight our name and our identity as COUPLES FOR CHRIST.
To fight for the mission and charism entrusted to us of building the church of home and the church of the poor.
Natatawa naman ako kay servant general, utang na loob pa natin ngayon ang paggamit natin ng ating pangalang CFC sa kanya!
Bros/Sis in FFL wake up! Look at what your servant leader is saying, wala na sa sariling katinuan, surely it will not lead you to where GOD wants you to be!
patience brethren patience...
all will be well by God's grace
the truth will be out
Appearing to be magnanimous is a ploy. We are not biting!
The Servant General realizes their number will never increase in the real world. Remember, one of his chief Playboy ally even had a term for it...an incremental force, was it?
Yes this ally said it in the same message where he called their Bishops as full of hot air, twiddler of thumbs and readers of tea leaf patterns!
So he needs to keep the fantasy.
Some in FFL squirm at the lies (like a 27th Anniversary!) that he spins and endorses.
The political padrino will one day collect and so he needs to have numbers to spread the cost around when the padrino comes to collect.
One can surmise that The businessmen types in FFL know that and now they too have one on the SG -- that he, the SG, agreed to the process they had to go through to get that SEC approval.
Its a vicious game. One that you'd think they'd not involve themselves in, but look what pride can do! Just to prove that they could 'possess' the CFC name!
This latest tactical move, one day, will catch up on him.
Just like the Supreme Court did it on him!
It is not a coincidence that the order came out of an office not known for administrative speed.
Thats widely known in Philippine society.
Known too is that one could speed things up at government offices with the right formula.
At Daytona it is known as Formula One.
Sa buong buhay ko, ngayon lang ako naging "blogger" and all in defense of our CFC name.
Ipagdasal natin na sana tumahimik na ang FAP group. Mas bagay yata ang pangalan na iyan sa kanila. Para mas maganda, gawin nating GFFAP SS - (General Founder FAP, servant sana).
Anon
Is it by pure coincidence that the SEC order came out days before June 22?
Was the order agreed on by the 5 men/women in SECommission on an en-banc basis or simply done on a 'paper route'?
Did the intelligent men and women in the SECommission bother to find out who were the original 'owners' of that CFC Foundation Inc n
Did they check if another Foundation called 'Couples for christ Global Mission Foundation Inc.', had anything to say about it?
What could be so inspirational / motivational that justifies the act?
hay naku..ang kuleet talaga mga tito's and tita's..nakakabaliw ang away ng mga matatanda...
tito frank at sa mga ffl...
pls lng po....MOVE!!!! TABI KAYO!!!
Pupunta ako ng luneta kasi andun ang mga TUNAY na magulang ko sa community..hindi kayo ffl!!!
ano_ka_hilo
CD,
This is the time to release the audio recordings that Vic G. mentioned.
This will really reveal the EEEVIL that is called Frank Padilla.
Servant General excuse me baka naman SG (Sobra Ganid) sa pangalan ng CFC, umalis ka na nga at lahat bakit pati pangalan namin gusto mong dalhin.
You see what you are doing, you make us angry and so we fall into sin: Instead, you should decide never to do anything that would make others stumble or fall into sin.
Nagbabasa ka ba ng blog? You have cause a lot of trouble to all of us,nagagalit kami, but please remember this, God's anger and righteous judgement will be revealed. For God will reward each of us according to what we have done. Some people keep on doing good, and seek glory, honor and immortal life; to them God will give eternal life. Other people are selfish and reject what is right, in order to follow what is wrong; on them God will pour out his anger and fury. For God judges everyone by the same standard.
You have made so much division in our community, hope you realize that, mr. servant general (SG).
All of my families, friends and relatives are behind and will support IC.
CFC Netherland
CFC Germany
CFC Italy
CFC France
CFC Belgium
CFC Monaco
CFC UK
CFC Greece
CFC Vienna
CFC Canada
"Servant" na nga lang, kelangang pang maging "general". Kelangan talaga ng title. Humility.... ewan?
Mga Kapatid,
Cool lang tayo.
Kaya ng IC 'to.
We'll just support them all the way.
Go go IC.
Happy Fathers Day!
Maiba naman tayo.
From Philippine Star.
GK helps transform Cavite relocation site
By Patricia Esteves
Sunday, June 15, 2008
The celebration of the 110th Independence Day last June 12 took on a deeper meaning for families who used to live beside railroad tracks in Cavite and Manila as they were given their own homes at the Gawad Kalinga (GK) Southville in Trece Martires, Cavite.
As the nation commemorated Independence Day, GK also celebrated “freedom from poverty” day.
GK Southville is the relocation site of some 4,000 families from squatter communities beside the railroad tracks in Manila and Taguig.
The relocation is a project of GK, the National Housing Authority, the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and the local government of Trece Martires, which are all united to build God-fearing, self-sufficient and beautiful GK communities.
GK Southville is the first of many other relocation sites in Luzon that will be transformed into GK communities and hopefully affect the lives of some 40,000 families.
“We want to focus on values formation and community empowerment, livelihood training, child and youth development and building a healthy and beautiful environment with volunteer doctors, teachers, and architects and engineers working closely with the HUDCC and other government agencies. Our dream is that by working together the new sites will not become slums again and breeding places for criminals and that the new settlers will not become professional squatters like the patterns of relocations in the past. This is a big challenge but we can do it if everyone will help,” GK champion Tony Meloto said in an interview.
Last June 12, GK and partners organized a three-day build in Trece Martires for the construction of the homes.
About 50 groups came to participate in the Bayanihan build called “Kabayanihan” village (a place for heroes) with the theme Kapatiran, Kalayaan sa Kahirapan (Brotherhood, Freedom from Poverty).
On hand to give support were the different kapitbahayan (residents) teams from various GK sites, residents of Southville, Globe and over 700 GK builders who all gave their time, resources, and love for the families and their new houses in Southville.
Vice President Noli de Castro graced the opening ceremonies of the Bayanihan build and urged the residents and volunteers to emulate the heroism of the 13 martyrs of Trece Martires who died fighting the oppressive Spanish government in order to regain freedom.
Meloto stressed their vision is for GK Southville to be transformed into a first-class village, comparable to the plush Ayala Alabang village.
“When you are here in Southville, you are no longer a squatter. We will make Southville the most beautiful relocation site in the Philippines, more beautiful than Ayala Alabang,” Meloto told the residents. “This will be built with your cooperation and help.”
Cavite Gov. Ayong Maliksi was also present and expressed optimism that the poor families will have a better life at GK Southville.
“Let us continue to break free from an oppressive past and let us continue to grow free toward a future full of hope,” Maliksi said during the opening ceremonies.
Trece Martires Mayor Jun Sagun and Taguig Mayor Freddie Tinga, who worked together to ensure the smooth relocation of the families, also attended the event to lend their support.
Poor helping fellow poor
At the Bayanihan build, GK residents from various sites came in full force to show their love and concern for their fellow GK beneficiaries.
About 500 volunteers from different GK villages in Luzon like those in Quezon, Laguna, Isabela, Brookside, Bagong Silang, Tatalon, Hiyas ng Maynila, Villa Paraiso, West B Tagalog, and South Sun Life, together with other groups, trooped to Trece Martires to join the build.
More and more kapitbahayan from other GK sites are helping in the actual construction of the homes of their fellow beneficiaries.
In GK, a beneficiary becomes a benefactor and those who were helped become passionate helpers too.
Under the sweltering sun, the GK volunteers from other sites were unmindful of the discomfort and picked up shovels, mixed cement and put in hollow blocks for the foundation of the homes.
“I am happy helping my fellow poor,” said Virgie Gimota, a resident of GK Bagong Silang, Phase 9.
Gimota wants to see GK Southville become a beautiful, clean, God-fearing and self-sufficient community like their community in GK Bagong Silang.
Paulito Manahan, a disabled resident of GK Research Minante Uno village in Isabela province, traveled 15 hours with his team to Trece Martires to participate in the Bayanihan build.
“I came here freely with an open heart. We also desire to be of service to others,” Manahan said.
Kapitbahayan president of GK Bagong Silang Julius Caubat said he personally dreams that the lives of his fellow poor would get better.
“One day their place will become more and more beautiful. My dream for them is for their lives to become beautiful too,” Caubat said. “The light that was started in Bagong Silang, we are bringing to Southville.”
“True freedom is when we are able to give (part) of ourselves,” Caubat added.
On that special day, the atmosphere was festive and everywhere, the bayanihan spirit was alive. Not very far away, Philippine flags fluttered in the breeze.
The poor families said they are very hopeful that in due time, they can attain their dream: freedom from the shackles of poverty.
This is going too far now . . . Bro Frank, please, we used to look at you as Saint Frank the Holy Spirit. It seems we were wrong. Why not simply go back and and just simply stay as ordinary CFC member then you will see that the whole CFC OF THE WORLD will rejoice and truly says this is Him, Saint Frank the Holy Spirit . . . junD, Vienna
Mahirap din maging masiyadong mabait gaya ng IC at inaabuso kadalasan ng may maiitim na budhi at masamang balak gaya ni Frank at ang kanyang mga alagad.
Now it's time to meet them head on through the courts of law. Huwag lang gamitin ang connections nila kay Villar.
acc wc
FRNK PADILLA:
1. This is definitely CRAZY!!!
2. WHY WILL YOU NOW FIND SOLACE UNDER THE CFCFI WHICH YOU THREW OUT IN 1993 AFTER INSULTING FR. SCHNEIDER WITH A NEW CFC YOU HAVE BROUGHT THE MEMBERS UNDER THE CFC-GMFI, THE SAME ONE YOU USED TO RULE FOR SO LONG FROM 1993 UNTIL FEBRUARY, 2007?
3. WHY WILL YOU NOW TELL EVERYONE THIS IS CAUSE FOR REJOICING? WHY? WHAT IS SO JOYFUL ABOUT YOUR BREAKAWAY AND DECEITFUL FFL NOW FINDING A NEW HOME, THE ONE YOU HAVE UNCEREMONIOUSLY THROWN AWAY AND ALLOWED TO BE RETIRED AND REVOKED BY CFC ON AUGUST 30, 2003, WHICH WAS UNDER YOUR REIGN?
4. YOU'RE DEFINITELY CRAZY, BROTHER!!!
5. PARDON ME LORD, I SIN. BUT IT IS THIS CRAZY BROTHER WHO LED ME TO IT. PLEASE FORGIVE ME AND HIM MORE ESPECIALLY.
BYE.
mga kapatid!
kung gamitan rin naman ng connections ang magiging labanan, eh di ipagpatuloy na lang nating gamitin ang ating ultimate na kuneksyon--si God! no politician or big businessman can ever top (nor topple) that!
pray, brethren! kung nasa panig tayo ng Panginoon, nasa panig natin ang katotohanan.
alma
hold
SORRY, IT WAS SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) not CFC that revoked the registration of the CFC Foundation, Inc. (CFCFI)
But I maintain you have a DISTORTED MIND AND LOGIC, MR. FRANK!
Bro Frank says:
"Even from the moral and ethical standpoint, we can and should use the name “CFC.” The Church considers me the founder of CFC, and in the ecclesiology of new movements, the charism resides in the founder. Where the founder is, there is the charism. Where the charism is, there is the authentic CFC."
You could easily detect the playing safe posture. He didn't say in fact that he was the founder (indeed he wasn't, this has already been proven many, many times) but that the Church "considers" him as the founder. Bro Frank wouldn't you be kind enough to rectify this erroneous impression of the Church that you were the CFC founder?
Can't you just say, "errr... excuse me Holy Mother Church, you see I wasn't the one really who founded CFC but Bro Vic Gutierrez of LNP. In fact, we were part of the 1st batch of couples who took part in the CLP that eventually became Couples for Christ."
But on second thought, he is no St. Francis, so why should I expect such level of humility in the first place?
Pilosopo Tasyo
Just a bit of philosophical thinking. When Bro Frank was writing his Friend or Foe book, I believe the Holy Spirit was already ministering to him. The Holy Spirit has led him to write this book to reveal the devil's plan to sow confusion, hate, disunity, chaos and fracture the CFC community. Alas, Bro Frank didn't realize that his prophecies in book would be soon fulfilled and he would be playing a vital role to its fulfillment -- the only sad thing being, he would be the "Foe" and not the "Friend" that we so used to seeing and hearing. I miss the former Frank Padilla. I hope and pray for his reversion to his former selfless and self-giving love to us, BEFORE it's too late...
Pilosopo Tasyo
In one year, they've been from Easter Group, to Restoration Movement, to FFL, and now CFCFI. I think it just shows the state of mind of the people in it.
In one year, CFC reduced an inherited loan of P20M to almost P200K. It just shows how the people in this group displayed true brotherhood by helping out and sacrificing.
So saan pa ba ako? --- To our CFC Council, my prayers are always with you. We are all for you.
And I also pray for the FFL. Lalo na yung mga "members". Kawawa naman. Huwag kayong mahiya! Pwede kayong bumalik! We love you!
I admit I find some of this staggering.
The indications are that SEC has not followed due process, but has in fact been unduly influenced to sneak this through the back door.
Are we so used to this sort of thing happening in Manila that we forget that this is...well, corruption?
The question then becomes - why is a Catholic religious movement claiming to be focused on spiritual restoration operating through illegal and undue influence on a government body?
That's quite some contradiction you have going there, Bro Frank.
I hate to say this because i used to look up at those peeps. However, whatever angle i look at it, they are the break away group. Based on history, all break away groups changed their names. Ergo, they are the ones who should not use CFC anymore.
But then again, they are (and i want to believe still) our brethren. Let us all pray and discern on any actions we would like to do. Just like Tito Melo said, (june 12 on the blog) Tito Frank and the others are not the enemy...
for the IC, I pray to the Lord to guide you on this. My support belongs to you. God Bless!
can someone verify the post "THE WAY BACKWARD!!!" was quoting FAP.
i deleted recent post cuz i am not sure if the letter THE WAY BACKWARD came from FAP directly.
Sleepless,
No. Those are what one might categorize as parodies or satire (there's probably a better category for that kind of humor but I can't find it right now).
Anyway, it does sound realistic does it? The fact that it's somehow realistic is disturbing. That means it's not far-fetch to expect for Frank to actually say those things. In other words, we've temporarily stopped believing that Frank can ever regain the fruits of the Spirit which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
It's becoming more like this:
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
We are one with the IC in defending our CFC name!
Let's pray that our Good LORD will resolve this in the shortest possible time so we could all move on, take care of more important things in building God's Kingdom and bear more fruits! Let's also pray for our brothers and sisters in FFL!
GOD BLESS US ALL!
Huds & Maricel Honrado
CFC- SoCal, USA
THE WAY BACKWARD – 2
16 June 2008
From: The Servant General
Dear Bothers and Sisters in Christ:
There is no moving ahead now – let us move steadily backward!
Many of you will now have realized that Mr. Joe Tale of CFC-GMFI opposed our petition to revive and use the precedent CFC name: CFC Foundation, Inc. I could not tell you how shameful it was that I dared rely on the very same organization I so determinedly discarded, what with the incoming conciliation meeting with Fr. Schneider, who I knew was prepared with all the arguments to rein in our bursting desire to be set free to mount our CLPs and evangelization works globally! Of course, in retrospect, they say Fr. Schneider was actually prepared also to let us be as we have desired and unilaterally did without their expressed approval from the LNP’s OLT (Overall Leadership Team) – bless him. But I must assure you that we have also resorted to other schemes, some think Machiavellian (?), because we had to possess the CFC name at all costs in order that we have all the right to hit and hug, “attack-collect”, or destroy and restore CFC. I believe we also need to collectively agree now that the end justifies the means, the moral imperative that must dominate our sense of this conflict(?).
If you refer to the historical sources of CFCGMFI, I have reportedly sneaked in that organization’s name unobtrusively to pre-empt LNP’s Fr. Schneider. Yes, that was the purpose. That is why, I am looking backwards still, and prepare ourselves for the GREAT ATONEMENT. Being fully and legally CFC, all of us in FFL are bound to move back to rectify with LNP in order to complete our historical fraternity with them in LNP, whom we have so carelessly rejected! In my time as your undisputed CFC head, I refused to give space in my mind and books to any of them who have actually founded (they are the real founders of ) CFC.
All of you who have followed me must brace yourselves for that GREAT ATONEMENT. HOWEVER, YOU MUST ALSO START WITH ANY SMALL EFFORT TO RECTIFY ALL THE SCANDALS AND HURTS THAT WE HAVE MADE AGAINST OUR BRETHREN IN CFC-IC.
Looking toward your own self-surrender and immeasurable generosity, and aware of my own burning as I move back ahead to confront the founders of CFC, I will always reman,
Your brother forever,
(A Spirit Who Wanted to Read the Insides of –
BOTHER FRANK PADILLA
Ang problema kasi hindi pinagbigyan ng IC ang spoiled brat na SG. When he resigned in Feb 2007, he still wanted to be recognized as a senior adviser of the IC pero hindi naman pinapakinggan. Pagkatapos hindi ininominate ng IC noong election, iba pa ang nag nominate. Pagkatapos hindi pa nanalo, tuloy nag tampo and just like a spoiled brat he wants his toy back at whatever costs.
acc wc
"So to all my brothers and sisters in CFC-FFL, if you ever had any doubts at all before, be assured that you are indeed CFC. The Church and the state, and I believe the Lord as well, say so." - Frank Padilla
... really turns me off to read statements assuming what the Lord think or not.
I wouldnt want to assume to know the thoughts of men. Why should I... I could only aspire to change myself...
but to make such parodies could only mislead others. To post comments and asume in jest to know FAP's thoughts seemed to self righteous for my taste...
I would be more open to one's personal sharing rather than basing comments on "AKALA"
My dad once said "AKALA" or to Guess would only lead to more misunderstanding.
God whispered to me... don't get angry... let them rejoice by what they are doing... have you already forgotten that I know ALL... I just want you to learn how to fight for ME... how to defend ME... by this you will be stronger not only mentally but more spiritually... I know what is true and I will give you victory... not now because there are still many lies that I want to unveil...
charisse said...
I wouldnt want to assume to know the thoughts of men. Why should I... I could only aspire to change myself...
but to make such parodies could only mislead others. To post comments and asume in jest to know FAP's thoughts seemed to self righteous for my taste...
I would be more open to one's personal sharing rather than basing comments on "AKALA"
My dad once said "AKALA" or to Guess would only lead to more misunderstanding.
My Friends,
While I understand the spirit behind the parody posts, lets try and stick to what we have to accomplish. We have to rally behind the IC, and we need more people getting behind this. Please spread the word.
not only shall we remain CFC..but we will always be CFC and we will continue to support everything that is CFC including the IC. while i agree that the "general" maybe a problem, di tayo dapat nagpapadala sa pang-aasar niya. frankly, it's really difficult to let go of your stardom err..charism if you're a general.
as cfc we should always be confident of what and who we are..it is something that has been given to us as a precious gift.let us continue to treasure it.
no one and certainly not even a "general electric" can turn us from hot to cold.....neknek mo!!
cfc homecoming batch of 1996 north b
mga kapatid!
have you read today's reflection in IN HIS STEPS? how about the one for tomorrow? and the next day? and the next?
on our anniversary week, i sense that the Lord is giving us a special message. because i believe He has a special surprise for us.
let's keep on praying.
alma
CD,
“The Way Backward –3: CHECKMATE” would be the end of that series (of 3 articles).
I did not mean to confuse Sleepless and our other brothers and sisters, and I am so sorry if the articles did. When the monologues could have sounded FP realistically, then, as an anonymous blogger commented, it is “disturbing...to expect ... Frank to actually say those things...
Yes, brothers and sisters, FP confused and disturbed us. I am sorry if, by alluding to him the words in “The Way Backward” series, “they sounded like him” (which could have elicited various kinds and levels of emotions). I just thought of it as a form of “critical entertainment” that would humor one and all about the paradox (also chameleon) that is Frank Padilla and at the same time help to consolidate our defense of the real CFC.
Mea culpa, indeed, to those who felt slighted.
Anonymous of 15:21 6/16/08:
Mabuti naman itinigil mo na. Akala ko kasi meron pang "part 4 - Resign" kasi parang ganun na ang kasunod ng "part 3 - Checkmate" diba? Anyway, guilty din ako dun sa ginawa kong redux letter ni Frank.
Sorry din mga kapatid.
Teka sabi nga nung isa "lets try and stick to what we have to accomplish". Tama yun! lets get back to business!
Spread the word to rally behind IC!
Ang Kapal talaga ni Frank...
He even states in his email to his cohorts that "the Bishops believe I am the Founder of CFC".
To Frank,
I DARE YOU TO SAY THAT IN PUBLIC!!!
Sinungaling ka talaga...
mga kapatid, basahing pong muli natin ang sulat ng IC, 4 lang po ang mensahe...
FOCUS ON JESUS
MOVE ON WITH OUR MISSION
WE REMAIN CFC
WE SHALL PREVAIL
let us not be distructed with the issues, dahil kung ganun, tayo mismo nade-decieved..nawawala ang focus natin kay Jesus, tumitigil tayo sandali sa ating misyon...
bros & sis, JUST TRUST THE WORDS OF OUR IC, 'WE SHALL PREVAIL.'
We are(remain) CFC and no one can ever take that away from us. tatak na natin si Kristo, GOD IS WITH US. meron pa ba tayong dapat ipag-alala?
let us continue praying and fasting...
bro. ariel eb-2a
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:13
OK. YES, LORD, OUR BUSINESS...
In our business of rising up to and and backing up our IC to protect and defend the name of CFC at all cost:
I have listed a total of close to 270 names with Bro Huds and Sis Maricel Honrado of CFC SoCal, USA signing up last at 2:41 AM, June 16.
My list included the names of family members belonging to the KFC, YFC, and SFC ministries as listed by their parents. It excluded one Anonymous’ declaration of support that only mentioned 9 countries and 1 City (Vienna). On the other hand, I included those that only entered their “blog names” although I remember excluding about 3 in the earlier part of the count.
In this “business” of standing openly, there are still plenty out there who are steadfastly behind our IC but who may not have been aware, or if they already are, may be unwilling to openly write their names or of their households (if they have access to the internet, that is).
Yet, as far as the “natural” or walk-in CFC bloggers are concerned, especially those who can have access to the internet, I believe it will be highly interesting if the total number will reach 500.
Additionally:
I registered the names of three (3) chapter heads with their consent (during our regular meeting) whose CFC membership sums up to more than 300 married individuals. This excludes the YFC and SFC members.
I am also aware of a sector leader whose name is the only one appearing but knowing him, I know he has implied that the CFC membership of the sector he heads are all prepared to rise in support and defense of the IC.
Thank you.
We are in one with the International Council. They have our prayers and support.
CFC and Its family Ministies
Barcelona Spain
THank you Mr. Anonymous
For being accountable to your comments. It is hard to see people willing to admit faults and weakness.
I am honored to learn from your example. I look forward to next sharing.
It seems the other side is really spoiling for a fight...
All right...we'll give them a good one!
The CFC International Council can depend on me and my entire house for support. This is our fight... let it be so!
Raymond V. Bucu
Anna S. Bucu
CFC West B5A
Nativity of Our Lord Parish/ Stella Maris College
Cubao, Q.C.
Metro Manila
In our household two weeks ago, one of our sisters was given a message and was so moved by the spirit to tell it to everyone in the household. I believe now the message may be for everyone here as well. Let me share it with you.
"Focus only on me, not on each other or on other people. You are my chosen. There is a reason why you are the only ones left. Each of you has something to contribute. Each of you has a role to play. Focus only on me."
Focus requires 4 things.
- attention
- clarity
- concentration and
- intensity
Let's give our attention to the Lord, who gave us the task to free the captives and give sight to the blind. Our defense must succeed to prevent such captivity and restore FAP's sight.
Let's make sure that Christ's image that we see in the other is clear. So let's not cloud it up with anger and hatred and animosity. Our attitude to FAP should not be as to an enemy but that of brotherly correction. Let's be really clear on the issues at hand. Let everyone research and study and understand it because fortune favors the prepared mind.
Let's not waver in our concentration. Do not let distractions come in. As in our daily prayer time, so also in defending Christ's work.
Lastly, let us all be passionate about this. Ramp up the intensity, drive the numbers of respondents higher and higher. Let voices be heard loudly and clearly.
Focus on Christ, my friends, does not solely mean prayers. It means standing up for justice. But it also means that though we fight, we should take care not to become like the one we are fighting against. Focus on Christ for us means standing up FOR the Christ in our midst.
We in CFC Frankfurt stand shoulder to shoulder with the IC and all of you.
Semper Paratus et Semper Fidelis
CFC Frankfurt
Governance Team
Sis Charisse now I know kaya pala tayo nagkakagulo dahil AKALA ni Servant General Siya ang Founder!
Tomorrows headline: Couples for Christ GMFI vs. Couples for Christ Foundation Inc. Is this where our faith has brought us? Two Roman Catholic organizations battling it out in a court of law which people have made for the whole world to see? This is definitely not what God wanted to happen this is what people want and what the devil wants to happen.
Fight the good fight of Faith people of God. What Faith are you fighting for? Faith in Couples for Christ or Faith in Christ? What if we lose this legal battle will that diminish or totally take away your Faith in Christ? We seem so confident that we will win this legal battle because God is on our side but is not that the same thing the other side is claiming? We keep on saying here in this blog lets not do what they do but really now if we go legal aren't we doing what they are doing? Aren't we just contradicting ourselves by doing this? If by that very small possibility they win this legal battle wouldn't that be so shameful on our part and would that mean that God is on their side? Then we start accusing them of corruption or paying someone off just to win their case? The consequences of a legal battle will cause more problems than solutions in this situation.
Pride is the cause of all the things happening in our community today. We have put too much pride in the name Couples for Christ wherein the name itself has become the focal point of our Faith in Christ we have made the name equal to our Faith in Christ. Let us reflect on this and ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten us and give us the grace to be more humble, patient, and more importantly loving.
In this “business” of standing openly, there are still plenty out there who are steadfastly behind our IC but who may not have been aware, or if they already are, may be unwilling to openly write their names or of their households (if they have access to the internet, that is).
many are silent here because their area directors and national leaders, etc. have already reported to the Council. God is with us, we stand together.
There's nothing new about Catholics or the Church going to court. There are already lots of legal battles in the past initiated by the Church. Some examples:
Catholic Church to sue break-away group over "Catholic" name
Catholic Bishop to sue government for breaching the Basic Law
Vatican to take legal action against the media for defamation
Nebraska Archdiocese Sues Nun Accused of Stealing Church Funds
Catholic Church sues a "sect" for "Dont Touch My Children"
Catholic Church sues to get taped confession destroyed
France's Catholic Church wins court injunction to ban a clothing advertisement
As much as we followers of Christ want to "turn the other cheek", sometimes we also have to uphold justice. It's not like we're seeking the death penalty of our brethren, we only need to correct any injustice which I believe is morally justifiable. We have a moral obligation to protect the innocent or the victims of injustice.
By the way, I'm with the CFC International Council on this one, whatever approach they'll take. They've already announced sometime ago that there is only ONE CFC COMMUNITY. They've already requested the other group to not use the CFC name. They've already asked the CBCP to only recognize one CFC. At this point, they don't have any other choice as they are backed into a corner. (Honestly, as a Catholic, I feel sad and disappointed by the Church for what I see as a lack of resolve to settle the name issue. Despite that feeling, I am still a Catholic, I still love our bishops and I will not leave the Church).
- Deo
Here's a nice article about balancing "turn the other cheek" and "upholding justice"...
Christian Involvement in Law Suits
This document reflects commonly held beliefs based on scripture which have been endorsed by the church's Commission on Doctrinal Purity and the Executive Presbytery.
Should Christians be involved in lawsuits? Are there biblical principles that apply to Christians in these matters? Is it permissible for Christians to sue others who harm them?
Paul’s main concern in advising believers not to bring lawsuits against other believers (1 Cor. 6:1-8) is the discredit such action brings on the reputation of the church and the cause of Christ. With this understanding in mind, it is appropriate to ask when legal action is appropriate and when it is not. Since the Bible is our authoritative rule for conduct we must study Scripture to see if it permits or prohibits such action.
The Old Testament clearly indicates there should be compensation or satisfaction for injuries or losses. The Mosaic Law of retaliation (eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, life for a life—Ex. 21:23,24), while seeming cruel or barbaric by today’s western-world standards of justice, actually worked to limit vengeance and eliminate inter-family feuds. No one could exact as penalty more than one life for a life or more than one eye for an eye. In less serious cases, money could be paid by the guilty party to compensate the loss suffered by the injured party (cf. Ex. 22:12 to 23:9). Prior to the monarchy under Saul and his successors, judgment was often administered by the elders of a town (Ruth 4:1-12). Under the monarchy, punishment for civil and criminal wrongs was left to the king and his administration (1 Kings 3:16-28).
Jesus held His disciples to a higher standard of behavior than required under Old Testament law. Instead of retaliation toward a wronging party, He directed the injured or offended person to turn the other cheek, to give up one’s cloak, and to go the second mile. Enemies were to be loved, prayed for, and forgiven (Matt. 5:38-48, 6:14,15). Such behavior overcame evil with good and had the intended effect of shaming the wrongdoer into reforming his ways (Rom. 12:17-21). This "new righteousness" forced the injured party to be more concerned with his own inner attitude and the eternal destiny of his "enemy" than with a wrong to be corrected, an injury punished, or a loss compensated. This does not mean that an offended person was left without any practical recourse for righting a wrong, but the first act was to be an attempt to achieve personal reconciliation. If reconciliation was not successful, a third-party believer might be asked to arbitrate. If that failed, the matter was to be presented before the entire church. When an offender refused to obey the judgment of the church, he was to be treated as a pagan (Matt. 18:15-20).
In 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 the apostle Paul addressed the problem of a believer who brought a lawsuit against another believer in the secular courts. Since most of the believers in Corinth were poor (1 Cor. 1:26-31), and the lawsuit dealt with one financially cheating another, it is likely that the suit involved two of the more prominently wealthy persons in the Corinthian church. It appears that the plaintiff had filed the suit rather than following the admonition of Jesus (Matt. 5:38-48) or involving the church according to Matthew 18:15-20). Unfortunately, the Corinthian church had done nothing while the Christian community was scandalized by the airing before a secular court of a struggle between two believers. Here was a church recognized for its "wisdom" (2 Cor. 11:19), but which had not had "anyone wise enough to judge a dispute" (1 Cor. 6:5). Paul chastised the plaintiff by telling him it would have been better to have suffered wrong rather than to disgrace the church (1 Cor. 6:1-7); he chastised the defendant for having cheated and done wrong (1 Cor. 6:8); and he chastised the church for not taking care of the matter (1 Cor. 6:2-6).
Paul never addresses the question of whether a lawsuit would be appropriate if the church had declared the offending party to be "a pagan and a tax collector" (Matt. 18:17). Perhaps such a lawsuit would be permitted under the teaching of Romans 13:1-5 that the secular government exists to uphold justice, prevent lawlessness, and punish the wrongdoer.
So when a believer is wronged by another believer, the offended believer must seriously consider whether or not he or she should simply drop the matter, leaving the judgment to God alone. If the believer, following prayer and careful consideration, determines the matter should be pursued, then a face-to-face meeting with the offending party should be the first step. Failing that, one should seek out a believer mediator. If that does not provide resolution, the dispute should be brought to the church (the pastor, the recognized board of elders or deacons, and if need be the membership).
Sometimes the legal conflict does not pit believer against believer, but believer versus unbeliever. What is the Christian response then? Paul himself exercised the right of defending himself under Roman law (Acts 16:37-40; 18:12-17; 22:15-29: 25:10-22). Clearly, Paul did not interpret "turning the other cheek" to include forfeiture of all legal rights pertaining to citizenship. No doubt he exercised those rights consistent with his Spirit-given understanding that the function of government is to uphold justice and punish wrongdoers (Romans 13). Punishing wrongdoers also means protecting the innocent. Thus the question for a believer is never "How do I get personal vengeance?" Instead, the proper question is "Which action on my part (filing or not filing a lawsuit) will best promote justice in society, punish the one who does wrong, protect the innocent, and bring the least possible negative reflection on the cause of Christ?
If all avenues of settling a matter between believers have been exhausted, and the offending party refuses to correct the wrong, then the injured believer must balance Matthew 5:38-48 and 6:14,15 with Romans 13:1-5. The following questions, to check personal motivation, should be asked.
1. Is my desire for a redress of injury motivated simply by personal gain, or am I involving the secular power of the court in order to uphold justice and prevent lawlessness?
2. If I bring action before a secular court, will that, in the context of American rather than Corinthian society, bring harm to the Church and the cause of Christ?
3. Am I totally honest with my claim (or defense), or am I seeking through self-deception to gain (or avoid) a compensation that is more (or less) than the injury suffered?
4. Since the Holy Spirit will never counsel a believer contrary to the Word He has inspired, after a thorough season of prayer, what course of action "seems good to the Holy Spirit"?
5. As an additional safeguard, what is the counsel of other believers who are in a position of leadership or eldership in the body of Christ?
CONCERNS:
In American society, another matter needs to be considered: liability and other forms of insurance. Public policy has established insurance as a means of compensating an individual for a wide variety of injuries suffered. In many cases, while a litigant may be the legal defendant in a suit, the actual payer for the injuries may be an insurance company. Suppose, for example, that a Christian is severely injured by the bad driving of another believer. A suit between the two really does not stem from personal malice, but is an effort on the part of the injured person to reclaim financial losses stemming from the accident, which will be compensated by the insured’s automobile liability policy. In such a case, the believers have not brought the church into censure before a worldly court (as was the situation in Corinth), but have simply availed themselves of a legal system which seeks, as a matter of public policy, to help victims to be made "whole" from their injuries.
In many American communities, attorneys who are believers have formed Christian conciliation or mediation groups that a wronged person may also seek out. The legal advantage to seeking mediation from such an organized group is that, upon proper stipulation by the parties, the judgment of the Christian conciliation group may be recognized by the secular course as a substitute for the court’s involvement.
I am a member of a few FFL yahoo groups. I've seen the Servant General letters posted there, but what is remarkable is how almost no sentiments of support were expressed for FP. There have been nothing like what is happening in this blog. Perhaps that goes to show the general sentiment of the FFL membership.
While the almost 300 comments here is amazing, I do believe there should be more here expressing their support for our IC. It will be a tough battle for them and a show of THOUSANDS will be better heard by all concerned parties than just hundreds. Please keep it up my friends.
I am sad of what Bro. Frank is doing. He has abandoned that CFCFI Sec Registration after wrestling it from Ligaya then registered the CFCGMFI. Now he is getting it back, the CFC that was founded by Ligaya!
I only know one creature that is doing that...DOG!
WE ARE SUPPORTING THE CFC INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL LEADERSHIP WITH PRAYERS AND FASTING!
TOKTOK & EYEN
GALANIDA
Brothers and Sisters,
Allow me to share this Reflection with you as this affirms the fact that our IC's decision to go to court is in accordance with our Lord Jesus' teaching to love our enemies:
"LOVING OUR ENEMIES PERFECTS US
Today's Gospel reading is the key to understanding God's mercy. If we do what Jesus is telling us here, then we will truly grasp that God loves us no matter what, even when we behave like enemies instead of his friends.
He says: "Love YOUR enemies." An enemy is anyone who's will, desires, or agenda is conflicting with ours.
It's easy to love those who are likable, but when we have to deal with someone unpleasant, the genuineness of our love is tested by our concern for them.
The more costly the conflict, the harder it is to love our opponents. BUT love is a choice more than a feeling. We choose to love, not because our enemies deserve our love, but because Jesus loves them so much that he died for them. If we don't respond to our enemies with love (compassion and forgiveness), we are choosing to turn away from Jesus, because God is love.
Loving unconditionally means to "be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." Perfection in the Bible does not mean committing no sins and making no mistakes. Spiritual perfection means to love whole-heartedly, under all conditions.
Healthy boundaries are also necessary for unconditional love. People who cross the line by sinning against us need to have consequences that will give them an opportunity to learn and grow. They might not think that we're giving them love, but we know our motives, we know how much we love them, and God surely knows.
We don't have to like everyone, but to be united to Jesus we do have to love everyone. We should not unite ourselves to abusers by remaining with them, nor should we ignore a situation that needs to be corrected, but we are called to do good to all, just as our Father gives rain to the just AND the unjust.
If we trust God to make good come from the bad that happens as we deal with our enemies, we are living in love. If we do good instead of retaliating or perpetuating the bad, we are living in love. If we deal with others the way Jesus exampled, we are living in love.
Our enemies help us discover the limits of our love. As we react to their sins in unholy ways, we learn of our own need to seek forgiveness. We realize that we have to rely on the Holy Spirit for supernatural love. We're perfected. Praise God for our enemies!
----------
� 2008 by Terry A. Modica
For PERMISSION to copy this reflection, go to:
http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm"
To Andyalquirosquezon
Yes we ARE Couples for Christ. The name is who we are. The bible says that your name defines you. You and your name are one and the same. That is why people in biblical times took care to choose a name for their children because it will be their mark, their identity. Emmanuel means “God with us”, Christ means Redeemer, and that is who He is. The Lord says “I AM who I am. That is the Lord’s name. The Roman Catholic Church's interpretation of the Lord’s name has been summarized in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The interpretation is found in numbers 203-213. Some of the salient points are the following:
203
God revealed himself to his people Israel by making his name known to them. A name expresses a person's essence and identity and the meaning of this person's life. (underscore mine). God has a name; he is not an anonymous force. To disclose one's name is to make oneself known to others; in a way it is to hand oneself over by becoming accessible, capable of being known more intimately and addressed personally.
206
In revealing his mysterious name, YHWH ("I AM HE WHO IS", "I AM WHO AM" or "I AM WHAT I AM"), God says who he is and by what name he is to be called. This divine name is mysterious just as God is mystery. It is at once a name revealed and something like the refusal of a name, and hence it better expresses God as what he is - infinitely above everything that we can understand or say: he is the "hidden God", his name is ineffable, and he is the God who makes himself close to men.
207
God, who reveals his name as "I AM", reveals himself as the God who is always there, present to his people in order to save them.
In the same way, the name Couples for Christ is who we are. It is only fitting that we defend this name because we are defending our very identity. Couples FOR Christ! The name signifies our faith in Jesus Christ. That is the meaning of our existence, a people for Christ. Should anyone take that name away from us, it is taking away our identity as a people for Christ.
To Andyalquirosquezon
Yes we ARE Couples for Christ. The name is who we are. The bible says that your name defines you. You and your name are one and the same. That is why people in biblical times took care to choose a name for their children because it will be their mark, their identity. Emmanuel means “God with us”, Christ means Redeemer, and that is who He is. The Lord says “I AM who I am. That is the Lord’s name. The Roman Catholic Church's interpretation of the Lord’s name has been summarized in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The interpretation is found in numbers 203-213. Some of the salient points are the following:
203
God revealed himself to his people Israel by making his name known to them. A name expresses a person's essence and identity and the meaning of this person's life. (underscore mine). God has a name; he is not an anonymous force. To disclose one's name is to make oneself known to others; in a way it is to hand oneself over by becoming accessible, capable of being known more intimately and addressed personally.
206
In revealing his mysterious name, YHWH ("I AM HE WHO IS", "I AM WHO AM" or "I AM WHAT I AM"), God says who he is and by what name he is to be called. This divine name is mysterious just as God is mystery. It is at once a name revealed and something like the refusal of a name, and hence it better expresses God as what he is - infinitely above everything that we can understand or say: he is the "hidden God", his name is ineffable, and he is the God who makes himself close to men.
207
God, who reveals his name as "I AM", reveals himself as the God who is always there, present to his people in order to save them.
In the same way, the name Couples for Christ is who we are. It is only fitting that we defend this name because we are defending our very identity. Couples FOR Christ! The name signifies our faith in Jesus Christ. That is the meaning of our existence, a people for Christ. Should anyone take that name away from us, it is taking away our identity as a people for Christ.
Daily Reading & Meditation
Tuesday (6/17): “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”
Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48
43 "You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Meditation: What makes Christians different from others and what makes Christianity distinct from any other religion? It is grace – treating others, not as they deserve, but as God wishes them to be treated – with loving-kindness and mercy. God is good to the unjust as well as the just. His love embraces saint and sinner alike. God seeks our highest good and teaches us to seek the greatest good of others, even those who hate and abuse us. Our love for others, even those who are ungrateful and selfish towards us, must be marked by the same kindness and mercy which God has shown to us. It is easier to show kindness and mercy when we can expect to benefit from doing so. How much harder when we can expect nothing in return. Our prayer for those who do us ill both breaks the power of revenge and releases the power of love to do good in the face of evil. How can we possibly love those who cause us harm or ill-will? With God all things are possible. He gives power and grace to those who believe and accept the gift of the Holy Spirit. His love conquers all, even our hurts, fears, prejudices and griefs. Only the cross of Jesus Christ can free us from the tyranny of malice, hatred, revenge, and resentment and gives us the courage to return evil with good. Such love and grace has power to heal and to save from destruction. Do you know the power of Christ’s redeeming love and mercy?
Was Jesus exaggerating when he said we must be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect? The original meaning of “perfect” in Aramaic is “completeness” or “wholeness – not lacking in what is essential.” God gives us every good gift in Jesus Christ so that we may not lack anything we need to do his will and to live as his sons and daughters. He knows our weakness and sinfulness better than we do. And he assures us of his love, mercy, and grace to follow in his ways. Do you want to grow in your love for God and for your neighbor? Ask the Holy Spirit to change and transform you in the image of the Father that you may walk in the joy and freedom of the gospel.
“Lord Jesus, your love brings freedom and pardon. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and set my heart ablaze with your love that nothing may make me lose my temper, ruffle my peace, take away my joy, nor make me bitter towards anyone.”
Offtopic!
To C.D. & fellow bloggers:
Are we not having a booth or a place where we can meet & gather on June 21st CFC Anniversary Celebration?
It's time to rejoice and show the force of God's Army in the true and only CFC!!!
I just had a peculiar and troublesome dream.
It was in the anniversary, but not at the Luneta. It was a small auditorium, similar to the one at the Siena College of Taytay (that's my high school alma mater; people from East Sector would know where it is). A Mass was being held, with Bishop Gabby Reyes as the celebrant; however, I'm not sure if he's the actual celebrant, since someone keeps on replacing him, then he returns, and so on. The people attending the Mass, presumably CFCs all, were visibly agitated because of Bishop Gabby's presence.
At any rate, the Mass proceeded. Halfway through (I'm not sure if it was the homily), there was a video presentation of wildlife. The auditorium was darkened, and Bishop Gabby was in a podium, and he was making some remarks about CFC, which was gradually becoming offensive. When the video began showing giraffes, Bishop Gabby began talking about CFC's "veering away", and then the audience became hostile. I'm sure I heard catcalls and boos from the people.
Suddenly, four titos approached Bishop Gabby, and one of them clamped his hand at the bishop's mouth, and dragged him outside the auditorium. The crowd was getting wilder, and I saw myself joining in the fray, rushing towards the men dragging Bishop Gabby away.
When I got near the titos, my attitude changed. Early on, I felt the urge to hit Bishop Gabby while he was being dragged, and now I saw myself pushing away the four titos who had grabbed him. I was alone with Bishop Gabby, and I grabbed him by his collar and pushed him against the wall, and I stared at him with teary eyes. I'm not sure if I was asking him "Why? Why?" but I would presume that my actions were doing the interrogating. Bishop Gabby never replied.
Eventually, I let him go, and he returned into the auditorium, though I'm not sure if he actually returned to the altar or the podium. I saw myself slumping at a corner, watching the giraffes onscreen while crying my eyes out.
Then I woke up.
"Fight the good fight of Faith people of God. What Faith are you fighting for? Faith in Couples for Christ or Faith in Christ? What if we lose this legal battle will that diminish or totally take away your Faith in Christ? We seem so confident that we will win this legal battle because God is on our side but is not that the same thing the other side is claiming? We keep on saying here in this blog lets not do what they do but really now if we go legal aren't we doing what they are doing? Aren't we just contradicting ourselves by doing this? If by that very small possibility they win this legal battle wouldn't that be so shameful on our part and would that mean that God is on their side? Then we start accusing them of corruption or paying someone off just to win their case? The consequences of a legal battle will cause more problems than solutions in this situation".
Kapatid, please read this again... I won't comment on it muna but I want you to really think if this is indeed your take on everything that is happening. After that, I want you to look at the situation from the point of view of those in the parishes, where the confusion and trials really take place. After that, let's reason together....
Iliad,
during the GK1World event in October i also proposed that the bloggers meet in one place eh. not very many of them appeared.
maybe we can try it again this time. where and what would be the best place for BLOGGERS to meet and have an eyeball?
just post it here... thanks.
maybe we can ask the program organizers to give us bloggers a place for the eyeball or a place to sign in...
calling on soccom...
Just came back from 2-week mission to Peninsular Malaysia where I met both Malaysia and Singapore CFC and family ministries. I did the orientation talk in Johor, Malaysia last sunday, June 15 with parish priest Peter Ng and bishop emeritus James Chan present to welcome about a hundred participants! CFC is alive and moving forward in Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia even if FFL was set up last month with very few takers in Singapore by the previous country coordinator .
Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore are with us in CFC Global Missions Inc. all the way. Tess and I are in this fight just like all of you faithful army of Christ in CFC. Tess and I carried the name CFC for 24 wonderful years and will not allow anyone to take it away!
The steel is in our hands. God will prevail.
Oca Tagulinao
Member, Board of Elders
Country Coordinator, Peninsular Malaysia 2001-
Brothers and Sisters,
Re : LEGAL FIGHT
I share the distaste for a legal battle and I have commented as much in the prior post “Reflections and Musings #1”, that “While legal proceedings are possibilities to pursue towards settling this matter, it is an unattractive option, as a protracted legal battle is most likely, and would hurt both sides in the end regardless of whom the legal proceedings will favor.”. Prior to the recent order from the SEC reinstating the CFC-FI name in favor of FAP’s group, it is obviously apparent that our IC also avoided legal proceedings when it could have easily gone straight to the courts to get a TRO for the name issue. IC’s recent communications reveal this. In our IC’s June 13 statement “We Remain Couples For Christ”, it says “We have judiciously avoided going to the courts to resolve the conflict. This was always an option for us in the past but we restrained ourselves because any legal proceeding will just result in greater animosity and division. But the legal course has been forced upon us by recent developments.” And in the IC’s June 12 “Focus on Jesus, Move on With the Mission” statement: “…Be also assured that we will be on the side of truth, of honesty, and of justice and that our lines of action will always be legal, moral, and righteous”.
By Frank’s move on the name CFC-FI, the IC is now forced to resort to legal proceedings, and they ask our full support. IC assures us we will not resort to uneven tactics, “…be assured that we will be on the side of truth, of honesty, of justice…”. Now that Frank’s group is about to formally assume the resurrected CFC-FI legal personality, our problems now go beyond confusion in CLPs, venues, administration, coordination and general communications. Brothers, please realize that when someone assumes a legal name, that carries with it legal entitlements such as the legal personality to stake claims to properties and assets. Please think deeply about the wide-ranging repercussions of that for a while. Also, think about the 20M we used to owe. Who stepped backwards, I mean forwards to assume responsibility for that debt? But for the grace of God, the debt is now almost gone, and CFC still has assets and properties. And now somebody comes forward to lay legal claim on the name CFC. IC says NO, we will take legal proceedings, and I among many others say YES - We support you all the way.
/
IS CFC-EFI REJOICING?
(this is off topic)
One area that has quite puzzled me is the education aspect of CFC. I have learned that CFC-EFI was registered with the SEC as a separate legal, corporate entity long before this current conflict, and is under FP’s FFL. Now I understand why Mr. Padilla exhorts one and all to REJOICE – it is addressed specifically to CFC-EFI whose piece as FFL now falls into place because FFL is CFCFI. Sis M David is now fully in CFC and her CFC-EFI is back to its logical place. I presume?
Yea? But on the current conflict, did not their “academic excellencies” investigate -
- the truth or falsity,
- the moral imperatives,
- the logical arguments?
I am doing this because I miss the usual highmindedness and profound vision and mission that defined our CFC-EFI. Now I understand this separately-legal CFC’s education arm (with FFL) has also addressed a critical, relevant and very pioneering educational effort for the young: training teachers in madrasahs for a curriculum that include the values of Muslims and Christians (am I right?). This is really something that will help usher peace in troubled Mindanao, so I suggest you there at the EFI remain neutral in this current conflict! (I mean the CFC name, not the Abu Sayyaf, etc.) Why not prepare yourselves for an eventual integration of you education system in GK that are established in conflict areas in Mindanao? Join us in the H.O.P.E. Caravan to Patikul, Jolo next year!
If CFC-EFI were a separate corporation, is it happy that it is to be under the CFCFI of FAP or LNP (if it insists, it can)? Is it rejoicing? For purposes of the future, I urge CFC-EFI to stay independent, if you don’t want to come back to the fold of CFCGMFI. I propose you stay there as a neutral entity, get as much of the curricular thrusts as you have, tested or applied in “CFC” areas as you see fit, and be available to extend assistance to any CFC. In the meantime it will be good if you develop that curriculum for the madrasah schools and teachers and let it be a collaborative effort with your “morning star schools” whose CFC administrators report to CFC-GMFI.
CFC-EFI, you will have a unique role in this conflict (i.e., the CFC conflict). Just stay up there to be of service to CFC and never mind really the mentalities of those who have “veered away” (including you know who).
Brother Oca Tagulinao,
That is certainly a very refreshing and encouraging news you have brought to us and to this blog. Salamat. ]
GOD IS GOOD!
We will continue to support the decisions and actions of the CFC IC
to finally put and end to this issue. We are Couples For Christ and I continue to believe that this is the community that we joined 16 years ago. The true Couples For Christ can be known and seen by what they are doing and acting in their day-to-day lives, living out the Couple For Christ covenant, living out the teachings, fully supporting the 7 pillars and truly "walking the talk". Let us continnue to pray for our beloved community, for our IC, our leaders . Let us move on and fix our eyes on Jesus.
Robert & Cynthia Maranan
West B
To Anonymous "fight the good fight..."
Please identify yourself. We will fight to defend CHRIST in the true Couples for Christ (IC/GMFI) to victory of Zion. You are implying for us to be "still" while the enemy is slowly cutting our throat. We have patiently waited long enough. Concrete actions have to complement our faith and proyers.
Which side are you by the way?
i am deeply saddened by this news. i have been here in dubai UAE since january 08 and had no idea that this conflict is getting uglier and nastier by the minute. i continue to pray for our lost brothers and sisters. may they realize one day soon that in the end this will just leave everyone into pieces. the IC has my FULL SUPPORT AND PRAYERS. trials are always part of God's path. let us not give up now.
yais miranda
sfc medical mission
philippines
bro oca,
Wow i was surprised to see the country coordinator of malaysia commenting in this blog, it's like God's way of saying, "I'm making it more and more easier for you to serve, even in another country".
Just a short background, i'm about to move to malaysia for a year and one of my concerns was whether or not the CFC in malaysia has separated from us.
This is really an answered prayer!
Bro oca, can you email me at this address: esti.reyes(at)gmail(dot)com
Makes me forget all the bad things happening in our community.
Bloggers EB? ulit? yay! game ako jan! hahaha (sana andito pa ko for the CFC anniv -- hihihi)
wow..eb with mga tito's and tita's..hehehe
It's encouraging to see so many on here in support of the IC.
For me, it's also a statement in support of the vulnerable I saw at a GK village in Cainta last Friday.
When I came to the Philippines in January 2006 my eyes began to fill with tears when I saw kids in GK Baseco sing. How much have the volunteers of CFC changed these children's lives!
Last week I saw the children of Cainta - in a former slum - benefiting from the caring of volunteers from Singapore, New York and elsewhere. Once more I had to work overtime to prevent my eyes from overflowing when seeing their happiness and hope for the future.
I feel privileged all over again to be able to contribute anything at all to CFC's work in GK, no matter how humble an offering I can bring.
I'm also inspired to visit this blog and see readers online from the USA and South Africa. :)
Evangelism is what we do - according to the Vatican and according to our hearts in the GK work! Don't doubt that our hearts are still in this work. We never doubted that - as Frank himself said - the work with the poor is the cornerstone of our evangelism, and at its heart it remains a work of building God's Kingdom - on earth as it is in Heaven.
God is truly performing miracles through CFC, and CFC's work in Gawad Kalinga.
We don't need to reinvent any wheels here.
HAPPY 27TH ANNIVERSARY MGA KAPATID!
HAVE A BLESSED AND PRAYERFUL CELEBRATION IN MANILA.
WE SHOULD INVITE LIGAYA NG PANGINOON, OUR MOTHER COMMUNITY.
To anonymous who wrote:
"I am a member of a few FFL yahoo groups. I've seen the Servant General letters posted there, but what is remarkable is how almost no sentiments of support were expressed for FP."
That is because all FFL members are simply blind followers of FAP.
Why do I say this? Because they don't defend FFL's position except for Nonong Contreras and Manny Hermano (FFL top leaders) who were themselves whipped by a few CFC defenders.
Why don't they defend their position? Because they realize they can't. Nobody can. Not even Frank Padilla himself, yet he still continues to write them authoritative letters. Why? Because he knows that his followers don't have brains to think for themselves and are just blindly following him.
That's why!
I am a CFC member and I strongly object to the generalization that "all FFL members are simply blind followers of FAP".
I would like to think that a good portion of them is not like that.
I do agree that at the moment, they seem to not have the courage to speak up for Frank. It's possible they don't agree with everything that Frank is doing. In other words, they have accepted the imperfection of Frank and have also accepted him as their anointed leader. It's sad though that they have not given the International Council that same chance to prove themselves. Kung napatawad sana ang IC sa kasalanan (na wala din namang kasiguraduhan kung nagawa nga) at nagtiwala sana sa IC na papatnubayan sila ng Maykapal, buo pa sana tayo ngayon.
FFL MEMBERS ARE NOT BLIND FOLLOWERS BUT THEY JUST WATCH AND SEE NEVER CORRECT THE MISTAKES/ERRORS OF THEIR SUPREME GENERAL. THEY ARE NOT BLIND THEY JUST DO NOTHING AND AGREE FRANK.
7 MEN AS OPPOSE TO ONE & THEY LISTEN TO ONE.
WHAT WERE THE MISTAKES OF THE 7 MEN?
BECAUSE THEY DID NOT NOMINATE THE ONE?
BECAUSE THEY HEED THE ELDERS ASSEMBLY?
BECAUSE THEY FOLLOW THE STATUTES AND NOT FRANK?
BECAUSE THEY AGREED THE MAJORITY TO KEEP GK AS ONE OF THE PILLARS OF CFC AS OPPOSE TO GENERAL FRANK'S IDEA TO DROP IT AND MAKE IT AS SOCIAL (LEAVE AND GIVE GK TO TONY COZ WE ARE IN CONFLICT, AND I WILL TAKE CHARGE OF CFC).
Our take on “A Call to Arms” is to “practice love.”
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” [Matthew 5:44]Today’s Gospel June 17, 2008
"You have heard it said ... but, I say to you ...” Jesus has been reshaping what the people had heard and learned. He was reshaping what they thought about God and he was transforming their sense of what kind of relationship God wants to have with them. He is taking the people into a deeper sense of who God is and therefore, who they are called to be.
We know the response. The poor people, the sinners, the marginal found it comforting and a powerful revelation of a God who loved them, intended to offer healing and peace, and wanted them to share that love and unifying peace with others. The “religious leaders” didn't like his message. They had built their status on “a way” of seeing God and “human behavior.” Because they obeyed the law, they were better than others who “they see” didn't. They were “special” and therefore they could “separate” themselves from those whose lives weren't so tidy, clean and “holy.” And, of course, in a short time, the religious leaders came to think that God was like that, too. So, when Jesus showed them a different picture of God, they didn't like it at all. And, they sought to get rid of him by rejecting the message, thus “they rejected the Messenger.”
We can ask ourselves today how we feel about Jesus' asking us to “love our enemies” and to love those who “persecute us.” Even when we know that Jesus is only calling us to "love one another the [same] way I have loved you," we find it difficult to do. We make distinctions. We ask what he really means by "love." How much and to what extent? What about self-preservation? Giving the other cheek; is it love or cowardice? Perhaps, it is trust in God that we lack thereof?
Perhaps the easiest way to let the grace of this invitation of Jesus into our hearts is to practice it. The notion of "practicing" something - whether it is sports or some skill - involves doing something in a fairly formal way, with a fairly regular routine, until it becomes a natural habit. After much practice, "we get the hang of it." We become more comfortable with what was uncomfortable or awkward. I remember so vividly how my aunt showed me how to practice scrubbing the floor on my knees till the floor is white using (opli) leaves and water, this way that way encouraging me to be patient, but insisting that I keep repeating it the "proper" way. "Otherwise," she would say, "you'll be practicing errors."
Each of us can make a mental (or better, written) list of those people we need to love more. Some on the list will be real "enemies" of some sort. Naming them is important. We can bypass all the "reasons" we have for not loving them. We can begin by asking ourselves what it would look like to love this person more. We need to identify some behaviors that reflect loving, caring, forgiving, healing, comforting, helpful that bring peace. Then, we just do those things. They may be awkward and clumsy at first. But, if we keep checking out whether we are doing them with love, and keep repeating them, God's grace will do the rest. And the practice of love will bring forth love for even our enemies. In this practice, which Jesus invites us to learn, there will be happiness the world doesn't begin to understand.
“Lord Jesus Christ, your love brings freedom and pardon. Fill us with your Holy Spirit and set our hearts ablaze with your love that nothing may make us neither lose our temper, ruffle our peace, take away our joy, nor make us bitter towards anyone.” Jesus I trust in you!
We support the IC 100%. When everything is said and done; the fact remains: those who left did not follow what’s written in the Scripture about settling disputes. Therefore, the burden of proof they did right stays with them … they will hark, they will puff, they will huff, they will improvise; they will re-invent yet peace becomes elusive for them. Their guilt from leaving unsettled disputes and against the teachings of Jesus Christ stays in their hearts. Trust in the Lord!
Charles/Ligaya Kraemer/Show Me State/USA
TO ANONYMOUS up there:
On "mocking" the FFL members as blindly following FP, maybe no, maybe yes, or a combination of both; So, kapatid, a little openness is perhaps needed here altough I do see your point and respect it;
On their probably "rashly judging the IC" which could not have led to our break-up if it was restrained, you have a point there.
I also want to advance these thoughts:
1. Some FFL may be deeply considering whether or not they'll follow FP and wear the CFCFI which he "rode on" for 10 years and discarded matter-of-factly like a useless piece of toy as he mounted on the newly-minted CFCGMFI;
2. As another anonymous hilariously depicted earlier, they in FFL may indeed be in a "checkmated" position; they will need a bucketfull of justifications that CFCFI has been alive "in spirit" all along to come out "legally" and spurn the legalistic CFC-IC (sorry, I can't ignore the pun)
3. they are dutiful members following the trumpets sounded by their leader/s, which is a very good trait, too.
4. For a good number, perhaps: "It may really be a CFC name game, BUT, Bro. Frank, not naman any name that you can just paste us with. Why make 'ukay-ukay' and put one reject on us? Didn't we seriously consider the bejewelled CFC-GMFI? Pleas explain!"
Knowing all of the facts, Im coming Home, Goodbye FFL.
Plus, Frank and Gerry Guilty of what in 2001? Was that a REAL ESTATE SCAM?
Bro Frank and Sis Gerry, REPENT the Kingdom of God is Near.
I agree with loving our enemies. I agree also that it is a very hard thing to do.
But while we try to practice loving our enemies, we should also not forget that we have to love our brothers as well. In short we have to continue loving everyone in CFC while we are practicing to love those in FFL.
This is when it becomes hard. Does loving my enemy mean I should not stand up for my brother who is attacked? What about loving ourselves? Should loving FAP take precedence over loving myself? If so, should I simply allow him to attack and all I should do is keep quiet and forgive him?
Let's remember that Christ also stood for justice. Practicing Christ's love means loving justice. I submit that loving FFL should not make us submissive. Loving FFL should spur us to stand up for our brothers and seek to correct FFL.
I agree with you that we most probably lack trust in God and that's why we sometimes waver everytime FAP fires off a salvo. And yet, everytime he does that, he gives us a chance to have more practice. Should we only practice trusting God more? I believe we should not limit it to that. We time we should also practice correcting FAP while standing up for our brothers in the IC who are the target of his attacks. Love is patient and kind but it is also active, never passive.
The bloggers here, though their language may sometimes show anger, would all agree that we have no desire to bring FAP down. But we do want him to be corrected so that he may experience his own path to total human liberation and at the same time the injustice being done to CFC and to the IC will stop.
We do not just want peace. We want a just peace.
- TE-Germany
It really leaves a bad taste in the mouth when a self-righteous leader offers a hand of peace but neglects asking for forgiveness for the great pain inflicted amongst the flock.
Where families have to be divided just because of single man's pride. Where longtime friendships shattered just to prove a man's folly guised as "charism". Where secret plots to undermine the majority are hatched by a few men posing as "keepers".
Definitely the fruits coming out of this man does not even come close to what we know as the fruits of the Holy Spirit. And yet, he has the nerve of offering a hand of peace while all this time he seeks to divide.
Mr. Servant General, if your words are true, abandon now your high and mighty posturing. Seek peace through comapassion and love. Stand before us and seek forgiveness publicly and repair the wrongdoings that have trailed your actions. Then bring back to the fold our FFL brethren, who at the height of your folly, was caught in the crossfire. Come back and serve humbly in the real CFC, not as a leader but a member like us. True humility seeks you.
Then offer us a hand of peace and we will accept.
This is the reason why I am with the International Council all the way:
I want to be responsible and accountable to the actions of my leaders. Their behavior and their sentiments should be a representation of my own behavior and sentiment.
Any good thing they will do, I will praise them. Any bad thing they will do, I will brotherly correct them. Any admission of misgivings by them, I will forgive them. For any of their plans, I will pray for them.
As much as I love unconditionally our FFL brethrens, a part of me feels that silence and inaction by the FFL members make them an accomplice or an accessory to the injustice that is happening.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)
SOME INIMATIONS:
Today last year would have been frantic - was it the day prior elections on the 19th - Rizal's Birthday? The bishop-supporters really wanted the elections postponed and their recommendation to reinstate FP implemented. If it was on that date, then it will be today when Bp Reyes wanted to squeeze in a meeting with the EA (he was disappointed for only a few of them attended; but then, Bro. Joe Tale could not just gather the elders in a moments' notice as they were already in different places, completing their own schedules and commitments, after the H. Reteat)
I wonder what happened on this date 3 months after FP and the whole CFC through him and the Council, bolted from CFCFI, dumped it and activated the statutes of the new CFCGMFI.
I wonder what will happen now that SEC ordered CFCGMFI reactivate for use of FP and FFL.
Just musing about F Padilla's quest for "in" or "re"=instatement using the SEC [twice "successfully'] and the bishops [once but both "successfully" = they drafted a forceful recommendation, saw through it! = and "unsuccessfully" - the CFC Elders' Assembly was not impressed by the motivations].
I don't mean to hijack this thread since I am an FFL member but to the person who said this:
"That is because all FFL members are simply blind followers of FAP."
Please don't generalize. In my case, as I mentioned here before, my wife and I went through a tough time discerning. We used to be involved heavily in GK but because of personal experiences decided to side with FFL. If you think our top leaders are doing something wrong then chastise them, condemn them all you want (you can even make parodies or satire) but please think twice before disrespecting the whole FFL membership.
If you really are "COUPLES FOR CHRIST" then live up to that name, be a couple FOR CHRIST, not a couple for CFC or a couple for GK. CHRIST should still be the center of our being and being that He is LOVE, then LOVE should always reign in our hearts. Please remember that CFC and FFL are only VEHICLES or INSTRUMENTS used by God to improve our spiritual life.
I don't wholeheartedly agree with the steps our leaders are taking and as I mentioned here before I believe that PRIDE is the cause in all of this. I would like to gladly tell you that I really don't look at Frank as the person who will lead me to God. He has flaws as a person, so do I. The only person who could enrich my relationship with the Lord is myself. FFL may be there to guide me but in the end it is all up to me.
I always pray that the leaders from BOTH sides come to an agreement with the name, the pillars, their roles and responsibilities and everything else. From the very beginning my stand was to never stop talking and never stop praying, because once the communication stops, chaos happens.
I apologize to the other bloggers and to CD for hijacking this thread I know you guys are asking for IC support in this section and this comment is not in anyway connected to that.
FFL still hoping for a united CFC (mukhang malabo na tong mangyari)
'Tol from FFL,
YOu said FFL is still hoping for UNITED CFC,
THEN be PRO ACTIVE, START CORRECTING the GENERAL and START DRUMMING FOR RECONCILIATION.
NEVER I HEARD FROM FFL MEMBERS to the YEAST OF RECONCILIATION.
To the Bro from FFL.
Bro, hope is good but it is not a method. You can hope for something to happen but you need a method to make it happen.
I respect your discernment and honor you for it. But if you look back to your GK days and ask yourself why you were so active then, what would be the answer?
Was it not because your love for the poor transformed you into an active christian? Did it not motivate you to correct the injustice you saw in the poorest of the poor?
I urge you not to be silent now. Let your love for what CFC stands for motivate you to correct the injustice you see.
You do not have to be in CFC to stand up for what is right, bro. Honor and integrity do not respect organizational affiliations.
You may be in FFL and we are in CFC. But we can stand together to correct the injustice we see. Silence can mean tacit approval. Could truly stand idly by and do nothing?
- TE-Germany
I will still be taking a nap (it's wee hours of the day already), but I must confess to you all, I am so blessed before hitting the bed:
1. FFL follower who is coming home, I say prayers for you and wish you peace in your heart and mind, your family, your work and community. God Bless all your loved ones, too. May you be in good health always, but most of all, may you continue to be the person God has always planned you to be.
2. I am blessed by your very firm yet soothing words brother/sister "give up pride" for laying down very very calmly and carefully in simple, flowing, Spirit-filled words your premises before coming up with what I feel is the Fatherly "slap" on the proud "Servant-General".
3. I now go to sleep, Brother/Sister Anonymous thanking God for clearly delineating our commitment to the IC.
SALAMAT, ALL.
When FP resigned last year, I was wondering why God allowed it to happened? I thought there could be something big reason for that! I asked my self, did Frank commit a Mortal Sin that God took away the annointing he had? Now the answer to my question has surfaced, if it is true that they are (Frank & Gerry)found Guilty by the Supreme Court of selling a property that they do not owned. God really sees everything we do! Let us pray for them that they will be guided by the Holy Spirit in overcoming the Biggest Scandal that has happened into their lives! May God Bless Us All!
TO THE "IMMOVABLE" FFL:
There are good vehicles, there are bad vehcles; worse, you have a WAYWARD DRIVER.
You're right om there, TE. So, non-convert in FFL: One does not have to be in CFC "to stand up for what is right". HOWEVER, (I say)AS CFC, WE MUST "STAND TOGETHER TO CORRECT THE INJUSTICE WE SEE."
General Frank,
Hope to see you soon back in the barracks.
Not from CFC FI that you rejected and abandoned (it's good though, you will meet the TRUE FOUNDERS of CFC, in CFC FI) but to the one you established when you bolted from LNP, that is CFC-GMFI.
Come Home General.
FFL Come Home.
FOLLOW/ABIDE THE STATUTES what the GENERAL SUBMITTED AND REPRESENTED in the VATICAN during his Reign.
Romans 16:17-18:
Final Instructions- I urge you my friends:watch out for those who cause divisions and upset people's faith and go against the teaching which you have received. Keep away from them!! For those who do such things are not serving Christ our Lord, but their own apetites. By their fine words and flattering speech they deceive innocent people.
And 1 Corinthians 1:-10:
By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ I appeal to all of you, my friends, to agree in what you say, so that there will be no divisions among you. Be completely united, with only one thought and one purpose.
I hope all of us understands the message.
Brothers and sisters: Frank Padilla have made so much division, not only to our community, but to some families in the community and the church as well. Even our Bishops are divided, maybe in their opinion, but still they are divided, so how can you trust him, of course all of us are sinners, but to this man who have divided us since last year up to now,Abaah;..you see...
Concluding Prayer of Praise: Let us give glory to God! He is able to make you stand firm in your faith, according to the Good News I preach about Jesus and according to the revelation of the secret truth which was hidden for long ages in the past. Now, however, that the truth has been brought out into open through the writings of the prophets; and by the command of the eternal God it is made known to all nations, so that all may believe and obey.
To the only God, who alone is allwise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever! Amen.
ELB..Batangas
General Frank...that's a good one. Reminds me of a story. A soldier, refering to another soldier, once said to Napoleon: "My Lord, what shall we do with this soldier, everything he says is wrong!" Napoleon answered: "Giuseppe, we will make him into a general. Then everything he says will be right."
Who's the Napoleon in FFL who promoted Frank?
2k2k,
Tama ka dyan. GUILTY Si GENERAL!
I wonder FFL MEMBERS are still AFFILIATING and let a SCAMMER lead them to HULI-NESS.
2k2k, DOnt say IF IT's TRUE. IT IS REALLY TRUE.
READ THE LINK BELOW:
http://www.supremecourt.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2001/nov2001/120274.htm
http://www.supremecourt.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2001/nov2001/120274.htm
http://www.supremecourt.gov.ph/
jurisprudence/2001/nov2001/
120274.htm
SECOND DIVISION
[G.R. No. 120274. November 16, 2001]
SPOUSES FRANCISCO A. PADILLA and GERALDINE S. PADILLA, petitioners, vs. COURT OF APPEALS and SPOUSES CLAUDIO AÑONUEVO and CARMELITA AÑONUEVO, respondents.
R E S O L U T I O N
QUISUMBING, J.:
For review is the decision of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CV No. 20442, affirming that of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City, Branch 86, in Civil Case No. Q-49267, which held that petitioners could not compel private respondents to pay the balance of the purchase price of a parcel of land inasmuch as there was a cloud in the title of petitioners to the land in question.
The facts of the case, as summarized by the Court of Appeals, are as follows:
Petitioners, spouses Francisco and Geraldine Padilla, are the registered owners of a parcel of land covered by TCT No. 311854 issued on February 24, 1984, by the Register of Deeds of Quezon City. They sold this lot to private respondents, the spouses Claudio and Carmelita Añonuevo, for P875,680, as shown by a deed of absolute sale executed on March 4, 1985. To secure payment of the purchase price, the Añonuevos executed a chattel mortgage over a pleating machine, promising to pay the Padillas said amount in five equal installments.
On the same day the sale was made, March 4, 1985, Francisco Padilla executed a special power of attorney authorizing the Añonuevos to mortgage the land, to enable them to obtain a loan from the Equitable Venture Capital Corporation.
On March 8, 1985, the Añonuevos paid the Padillas P175,136 for the installment due on March 31, 1985.
On March 13, 1985, homeowners of Carmel Subdivisions II and II-A filed a complaint before the Quezon City RTC against the Añonuevos and the city engineer of Quezon City, for quieting of title and damages with preliminary injunction. The homeowners alleged that the lot sold to the Añonuevos is the same lot registered in the name of Carmel Subdivision. This lot, per Resolution No. 3960 of the City Council of Quezon City, was declared an open space for public use. The property was registered in the name of the subdivision under TCT No. 53162 issued by the Registry of Deeds of Quezon City on October 20, 1960, with the same technical description as the lot sold by the Padillas to the Añonuevos.
The Añonuevos paid the Padillas P75,136 for the second installment due on July 31, 1985. But thereafter they made no other payment, in view of the complaint filed by the Carmel homeowners.
Consequently, the Padillas sued the Añonuevos to compel payment of the full purchase price. After trial, the RTC ruled that the Padillas did not have any legal or moral right to compel payment since, at the time of the sale, there was a cloud in their title to the property. The Padillas appealed to the Court of Appeals, which affirmed the decision of the RTC but deleted the award of exemplary damages and attorney’s fees.
The CA ruled that the Padillas could not compel payment of the purchase price since they had not complied with their obligation to deliver the subject property to the Añonuevos. According to the CA, there was no tradition in this case, under Article 1498 of the Civil Code, contrary to petitioners’ (Padillas’) claim. For tradition to take place, the vendor must have control over the thing sold so that, at the moment of sale, he could confer to the vendee not only ownership and right of possession but also actual control of the property. However, in the instant case, at the time the deed of absolute sale was executed, petitioners did not have material control of the lot. Carmel homeowners were using the same property as playground and claiming it as open space titled in the name of the subdivision.
The CA denied petitioners’ motion for reconsideration. Hence, this petition, in which they alleged that, THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED:
1. IN DISREGARDING AND IGNORING OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS OF THE QUEZON CITY GOVERNMENT CONFIRMING THAT THE SUBJECT LOT IS PRIVATE PROPERTY AND NOT AN OPEN SPACE;
2. IN HOLDING THAT THE EXECUTION OF THE DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE OF A PARCEL OF LAND DOES NOT AMOUNT TO TRADITION UNDER ARTICLE 1498 OF THE CIVIL CODE, AND THAT PETITIONERS HAVE FAILED TO FULFILL THEIR OBLIGATION TO DELIVER ACTUAL CONTROL OF THE LOT TO PRIVATE RESPONDENTS;
3. IN RELYING ON THE CASE OF DANGUILAN V. INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURT, 168 SCRA 22, WHEREIN IT WAS HELD THAT THE THING SOLD MUST BE PLACED IN THE ACTUAL CONTROL OF THE VENDEE;
4. IN RELYING ON THE RULING IN CA-G.R. CV NO. 35119 NOTWITHSTANDING THAT THIS WAS STILL PENDING APPEAL BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT AT THAT TIME;
5. IN NOT RULING THAT PRIVATE RESPONDENTS HAVE NO RIGHT TO SUSPEND PAYMENT OF THE BALANCE OF THE PURCHASE PRICE;
6. IN ALLOWING PRIVATE RESPONDENTS TO RETAIN THE LOT IN QUESTION WITHOUT HAVING PAID THEREFOR, ALLOWING THEM TO ENRICH THEMSELVES AT THE EXPENSE OF PETITIONERS; AND
7. IN NOT ORDERING MUTUAL RESTITUTION BY THE PARTIES, WHICH IS THE RULE IN CASE OF ANNULMENT OR RESCISSION OF A DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE.[1]
When petitioners filed this petition on June 6, 1995, we had already ruled on the issue of the validity or nullity of the title of the spouses Padilla over the subject lot, in G.R. No. 113639, entitled Claudio Añonuevo, et al. v. Court of Appeals, et al. and promulgated on May 2, 1995. We denied reconsideration of said decision in a resolution dated June 7, 1995.
That case stemmed from a complaint for quieting of title filed by Carmel homeowners against the Añonuevos, with the same factual antecedents as the present case. The trial court found for the Añonuevos but this decision was reversed by the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CV No. 35119. On petition for certiorari before this Court, we affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeals, which ruled in this wise:
ACCORDINGLY, in view of all the foregoing, the decision appealed from is hereby REVERSED, and a new one is rendered DECLARING Lot II, Block 6 of LRC Plan PSD-4666, now covered under TCT No. 35735, Registry of Deeds of Quezon City, as an OPEN SPACE for public use and enjoyment; DECLARING as null and void TCT No. 35735 in the name of Francisco Padilla, married to Geraldine Padilla, and all other certificates of title derived therefrom; and, ORDERING Spouses Claudio and Carmelita Añonuevo, and all persons in privy to them, their heirs and assigns, to cease and desist from disturbing the possession and control exercised by the HOMEOWNERS of Carmel II-A Subdivision, over said Lot II, Block 6.
xxx[2]
With the above ruling, we are constrained to deny the instant petition for being utterly without merit. On the main issue of payment for the lot, petitioners could not compel private respondents to pay the purchase price for the property whether by installment or in full. For, clearly petitioners had nothing to sell to private respondents, since their title to the property has been declared null and void.
Moreover, on the issue of restitution raised by both petitioners and private respondents, we note that both decisions in CA-G.R. CV No. 20442 and in CA-G.R. CV No. 35119 did not provide for restitution. This issue must now be laid to rest.
Petitioners admit that private respondents paid them P175,136 for the first installment on the lot,[3] and P75,136 for the second installment,[4] or a total of P250,272. Since petitioners’ title to the property sold was subsequently declared null and void, there could not be any valid sale between the parties as petitioners had nothing to convey to private respondents. Hence, petitioners were not entitled to the installment payments made by private respondents. Thus, petitioners should be ordered to return to private respondents the amounts paid with legal interest yearly of 6% thereon from the time of receipt by petitioners of the installments until fully restituted to private respondents, on the principle that no one may be allowed to unjustly enrich himself at the expense of another.[5]
Petitioners’ view that private respondents should not be allowed to retain the subject lot without having fully paid therefor, as this constitutes unjust enrichment, has boomeranged. They wanted the lot returned to them along with their copy of the TCT, and the rescission of the deed of absolute sale. But petitioners proceeded from the erroneous assumption that the lot was theirs. As earlier stated, this Court has already ruled that petitioners’ title to the lot is null and void. It is now declared as OPEN SPACE for public use and enjoyment under the control of the Homeowners of Carmel II-A subdivision. Clearly, therefore, petitioners could not seek the return to them of a lot not rightfully theirs.
Petitioners also insist that private respondents settle the latter’s mortgage debt with Equitable Venture Capital Corporation, obtained by using the subject lot as security. However, respondent court found that the mortgage was actually entered into in the name of petitioners,[6] not private respondents. Thus, we agree that said respondents do not have any loan obligation to Equitable Venture Capital Corporation.
WHEREFORE, the instant petition is DENIED for being utterly without merit. Petitioners are ordered to return the installment payments in the total of P250,272 with legal interest of 6% yearly from the time of receipt by petitioners of the installment payments until fully restituted to private respondents. Costs against petitioners.
SO ORDERED.
Bellosillo, (Chairman), Mendoza, Buena, and De Leon, Jr., JJ., concur.
As per the previous post from the anonymous blogger:
I call on FFL Members to abandon your Leader- The General Scammer.
Do you allow yourselves lead by this persons-Francisco and Geraldine Padilla?
" ITS PAST OFFICERS WERE NOT SUFFICIENTLY ADVISED, AND THUS UNAWARE OF THE HONORABLE COMMISSION'S REPORTURIAL REQUIREMENTS.
PETITIONER DECIDED TO CONTINUE AND FULLY REVIVE THE ACTIVITIES ( PER ITS PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES) GIVEN THAT COUPLES FOR CHRIST GLOBAL MISSION FOUNDATION, INC. - GAWAD KALINGA HAS VEERED AWAY FROM THE CHARISM OF COUPLES FOR CHRIST."
MGA KAPATID! MANIWALA BA KAYO NA HINDI ALAM NI FRANK PADILLA ANG REPORTURIAL REQUIREMENTS? DITO PA LANG SINUNGALING NA SI FRANK! SIYA DIN MISMO ANG NAG REGISTER NANG CFC-GMFI, AT SABIHIN NIYA "UNAWARE"? ANO SIYA NAAMNESIA? SINADYA NIYANG I-TRASH YONG UNANG CFC REGISTRATION DAHIL BINAGO NIYA ANG PANGALAN, PAGKATAPOS SABIHIN NIYA NA HINDI SIYA SUFFICIENTLY ADVISED KAYA NAGKA-AMNESIA SIYA? MALAKING SINUNGALING ITO!
YONG PANGALAWANG GROUND, SA BISAYA PA, LALISONON PANA!
MGA KAPATID SA FFL! LALO NA SA NEW YORK! MAG ISIP-ISIP NA KAYO! ANO BA? BALIK NA KAYO! BAGO MAG-FAKE 27TH ANNIVERSSARY FFL DAHIL KASINUNGALINGAN DIN YON!
MAY GOD BLESS US ALL!
Wow! This ruling really tells you a lot about Frank.
Check this out:
"When petitioners (Padilla's) filed this petition on June 6, 1995, we had already ruled on the issue of the validity or nullity of the title of the spouses Padilla over the subject lot..."
Am I reading this right? Does that mean that Padilla already knew the lot was not theirs and yet he is still petitioning for full payment?
I'm beginning to like the court's language:
"...the instant petition is DENIED for being utterly without merit..."
"Petitioners’ view that private respondents should not be allowed to retain the subject lot without having fully paid therefor, as this constitutes unjust enrichment, has boomeranged.".
"utterly", "boomeranged" (one can sense that the court felt an absurdity in the petition, they seem to be having fun with the words).
Again, this is not to bring down brother Frank. We are merely concern with his pastoral capacity over our FFL brethren. Let's pray for brother Frank.
Reklamo pa na hindi sya nabayaran ng HUSTO. Sa Lupa na hindi sa KANYA
IS THIS NOT EVIL if not FUNNY?
I call on ALL FFL members who are in their right minds.
Defend FFL's position in this blog.
If you can't, please have the humility to admit that you have been fooled by Frank Padilla and his minions.
You are definitely welcome to come back to the one and only CFC.
The reason why Frank Padilla has the nerve to proclaim lies after lies after lies is because he thinks and believes that there will still be people left who can't think for themselves and just rely on his charisma, his speaking and his writing prowess and his achievements.
FFL Brethren, the facts are SO OBVIOUS. You have been had. Frank Padilla is just using you so he will once again be at the top of his "world".
Need I mention that he and his wife Gerry are known "thieves"? And this is while they were leading CFC. See the Supreme Court ruling somewhere before this post.
FFL brethren ... IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP!
Calling on Akosinen ... what is your take on this?
To our FFL brethrens,
First, let it be known that we love you! Our disappointment is directed at the actions (not at the person) of some of your leaders and not to the general membership.
What would make you come back to CFC? What is it that we can do to achieve reconciliation
May God bless you and your family with his love and peace!
In Christ,
Deo
A CALL TO ARMS !!!
Not many FFL members may have access to this blog and are therefore not reading the many enlightening entries of CD as well as the comments.
Therefore, until now, majority of FFL members are still not aware of the LIES of Frank Padilla.
Frank's Multiply Blogsite used to accept comments. But they have since disallowed comments. Most probably because he doesn't want their members to see through their lies and deceptions.
Kaya nga "BLIND FOLLOWERS" talaga mostly ang FFL members.
Let us by any means spread to all FFL members the messages in this blog.
I take back my invitation to the high-minded and sharp CFC-EFI and Sis M. David to be neutral. You have your own mind and if you have decided from the start to STICK with FP and his FFL, then good riddance. Anyway, you will still be CFC with your originally-registered foundation. Dalhin mo na lang 'yan kung sino may taker. Kasi, as all this is unearthed, we will feel insulted by the intellectual dishonesty you are inheriting (and also making somehow). So, thanks but no thanks. You can in fact rot with them for all I CARE (not they in CFC-IC because this is just my own personal opinion)!!!
Hey, but I am indeed disturbed.
And you there, Kenn, how are things now, Brod? I know it is hard to "balance" the situation that is now skewed against FP. Sige lang, hindi naman talaga siya ang centro. But you may just slip in silently. Else, why not separate from FP an make a reall good FFL organization, because he has left it already in favor of CFCFI? Oh, but then he will legally claim you again...
OK. We pray that the Father of All Goodness will possess you today to focus only on all the good you can hang on, including our good wishes here.
Good Day, Brod Kenn! God Bless.
Hello mga kapatid! Just want to share this to you.
Fellogean Dewitt
SFC West B1E
Developing Self-Control
by Rick Warren
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control. Proverbs 25:28 (NIV)
*** *** *** ***
Self-control brings with it the good feeling of competency. Like a finely-tuned precision automobile, your life stays on course with the slightest touch of steering. The results of self-control are confidence and an inner sense of security.
Self-control and self-discipline are also key factors in any success you hope to have in this life. Without self-discipline, you are unlikely to achieve anything of lasting value.
The Apostle Paul realized this when he wrote, “Every athlete in training submits to strict discipline, in order to be crowned with a wreath that will not last; but we do it for one that will last forever.” (1 Corinthians 9:25 GNT)
Olympic athletes train for years in order to have a chance to win a brief moment of glory. But the race we are running is far more important than any earthly athletic event. So self-control is not optional for Christians.
How do we gain true self-control?
1. Admit your problem. The starting point for developing self-control is to face what God has already said about me: I am responsible for my behavior.
James 1:14 (PH) says, “A man’s temptation is due to the pull of his own inward desires, which can be enormously attractive.”
Do you realize what that says? It says you do things because you like to do them! When I do something I know is bad for me, I still do it because I like to do it. I want to do it; it’s an inner desire.
Do you want more self-control? Admit you have a problem and be specific about it. Begin praying specifically about your problem areas.
2. Put your past behind you. Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV) says, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal ….”
This verse exposes a misconception that will keep you from gaining self-control: Once a failure, always a failure.
Failure in the past does not mean you’ll never be able to change. Focusing on past failures, however, does guarantee their repetition. It’s like driving a car and looking in the rearview mirror the whole time. You’re going to collide with what’s ahead of you.
Ask God to help you put your past behind you.
In loving memory of all the comments that were silenced by FFL when they disallowed it from their web site, please take a look at some snapshots I made here:
http://restorecfcrestored.multiply.com/
By viewing these comments, we honor those voices that were suppressed, and those other comments that are now lost forever. May these bring us one step closer to our pursuit of justice and TRUTH. So help us, God.
andyalquirosquezon said...
Tomorrows headline: Couples for Christ GMFI vs. Couples for Christ Foundation Inc. Is this where our faith has brought us? Two Roman Catholic organizations battling it out in a court of law which people have made for the whole world to see? This is definitely not what God wanted to happen this is what people want and what the devil wants to happen.
My response:
"I beg to disagree brother that this is where our faith has brought us. Although I agree that this is definitely what people and the devil want to happen to all of us-to divide ourselves so that the devil can penetrate and destroy us all. Our IC were trying their best not to reach/ sought legal action to prevent further division, however since it has come this far, they have to "bite the bullet" now to defend."
andyalquirosquezon said...
Fight the good fight of Faith people of God. What Faith are you fighting for? Faith in Couples for Christ or Faith in Christ? What if we lose this legal battle will that diminish or totally take away your Faith in Christ?
My response:
My brother, this is not fighting for Catholic Faith per se. This is about fighting for justice. Who's who should have the right to use the name. It is because of name grabbing, name confusing, that had brought more confusion and disorder to boh parties. Now once and for all, we will settle this to court. And definitely this will not take away our faith in Christ.
andyalquirosquezon said...
We seem so confident that we will win this legal battle because God is on our side but is not that the same thing the other side is claiming? We keep on saying here in this blog lets not do what they do but really now if we go legal aren't we doing what they are doing?
My response:
Definitely both sides will claim that they are not doing what the other are trying to do with them. And since all of us are involve in this battle, better to bring it to court so somebody who is not from CFC can settle it for us.
andyalquirosquezon said...
Aren't we just contradicting ourselves by doing this? If by that very small possibility they win this legal battle wouldn't that be so shameful on our part and would that mean that God is on their side? Then we start accusing them of corruption or paying someone off just to win their case? The consequences of a legal battle will cause more problems than solutions in this situation.
My response
We do not own the future, we do not know whether we will win. But doing what we believe is right at the moment our decision is needed, is enough proof that we already won this battle. Even if we do not go for legal battle, still problems and confusions arise and growing.
andyalquirosquezon said...
Pride is the cause of all the things happening in our community today. We have put too much pride in the name Couples for Christ wherein the name itself has become the focal point of our Faith in Christ we have made the name equal to our Faith in Christ. Let us reflect on this and ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten us and give us the grace to be more humble, patient, and more importantly loving.
My response:
I beg to disagree that the name CFC becomes the focal point of our Faith. When every member here becomes so passionate in their desire to defend the name, it is just because CFC is God's gift to all of us and in our family.
Remember that our IC has been silent for a long time, never did they said anything against the other party. (of course the other party won't accept this statement)
Above all, we know in our hearts where we stand. Bro. Andy, if you are not at peace with the decision of the IC to go legal, please just offer your prayer for them and for all other who support the IC's decision.
I am always reminding eveyone in this blog, we have to check ourselves what drives us of our action? Is it anger, harted, revenge, or something that is coming from the evil spirit?
I am repeating this that Frank and the FFL are not our enemy but the devil. If we go for legal out of our anger, hatred, pride and etc, then i tell you we already lose in the battle and the devil wins.
Again, whatever we do (legal or spiritual) we have to do it out of love and forgiveness. And also we are not in the position to say that those who went legal have put their faith in the CFC name already and not in Christ. Only each and every one of us can answer that to our God.
FFL members are not blind, maybe they are not looking in the right direction but certainly not blind. if it's any consolation, i believe they are very obedient like all cfc. nagkataon lang siguro that they followed their leaders having been attached to them for some time or simply (on many occasions) marami sa kanila kakilala ko ay may dala dala lang tampo that's why they chose to join the other side. kung minsan mabuti na rin ang ganyan, instead na mag lie low they are able to pursue and continue to grow in faith..they will be back i'm sure
From today’s Gospel…
Jesus said to his disciples
… “do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward… your Father who sees in secret will repay you…
… do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them… your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
... and your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”
The message of the Lord...
Yes the Father knows our innermost... our secrets... and He will repay us according to our secrets...
i remember during the time when we were trying to gather everybody after the past West C leadership jumped ship.
there was one leader, passionate for the work, was with us then. after responsibilities were filled up with warm bodies, this leader (maybe expecting to be elevated) was not given a leadership role.
after everything was fnalized, said leader decided to take on a higher calling in FFL.
sad but true!
eh household head pa din sya dun 'no!
ay sus! ano higher calling doon??
CD, I think some of the bloggers here are quoting statements from the lampoon letters made by Anonymous a few days ago, I mean those "letters" titled "The Way Backward".
Although Anonymous has apologized, it appears that the satire has gone out of control. It appears some people actually think that it was Tito Frank who actually wrote those "letters."
It also appears that comment moderating has been disabled; knowing you (by how you scrutinize the comments here), is it really appropriate to disable comment moderation?
***
On another note, Akosikenn suggested that typing the word "Couples for Christ Foundation" in Wikipedia should lead to a page showing links for both CFC and FFL. (It's called a "disambiguation page".) I agreed with him; it's the best compromise for anyone researching about the name. However, as far as Wikipedia is concerned, it would legitimize the "CFC-FFL" name there. It is far from a good solution, but like I said, it's the best compromise possible.
***
Still on another note, the FFL website now shows a golf tournament banner. In it is the name "Couples for Christ Foundation, Inc. (Foundation for Family and Life) Social Ministries". Maybe it means only the social ministries (much like our counterparts: Flame, Gideon, Teodora, etc.); however, the fact that the name FFL was enclosed in parentheses and in the second line of the name CFCFI suggests something else.
I really hope SEC could do something about this matter.
(I wonder if this ruckus would take place if Perfecto Yasay was still SEC Chair.)
my brother owns a famous hamburger chain jolebe. of course i know the recipe so i decided to have my own chain and registered as jolebe foods enterprise vs. the jolebe foods corp by bother owns.
so now, i can make my own jolebe food chain and sell jolebe burgers just the same.
so what does that make me?
an opportunist?
a thief?
anyway, from now on buy only jolebe from me, 27 years giving you langhap or syutup goodness.
I would agree never to generalize as to the intentions or assume FFL members as blind followers, I believe they all went thru their own discrenment process, much as we did. Im sure these generalization caused a lot of the "tampo" or dillusionment they had which might have been the reason for them leaving.
Having said this, I would also like to share that a big chunk of the hurt that I feel (as one who was left behind) was the feeling of being abandoned by my brothers in the middle of battle (in the context of spiritual warfare - we were in the middle of our CLP when they left us).
After all is said and done i would like to affirm my love for my brothers in FFL, you are still my brothers in Christ, and though i am pained by the actions of Frank and the division he is causing, i remain brother to those whose eyes are focused to Christ.
Friends, thank you for the outpouring of support. I think while the parody posts were made in the spirit of good humor, lets keep the humor in the humor section and concentrate on what we have to do here. I've deleted them to avoid any more confusion. I wish Frank would do the same, hehe.
I believe we've got a long way to go, and I'll need all your help making sure that EVERYBODY you know is aware of this site. Please keep it going my friends. We need a show of strength and unity.
God bless us all,
CD
Upon seeing an FFL member address bloggers of http://www.defendingcfc.blogspot.com, and then seeing the welcoming response of CFC members, I cannot help but be touched by the gesture; notwithstanding that some gestures came with apparent pain in the bloggers' hearts.
It is about this pain of seeing brothers separated into another community that I wish to write about, because in truth, this is how I look at the crisis: the CFC was bound to split, regardless of who won the election. That statement may sound rude to some, but I believe that's true with all my heart. Let us accept the pain of separation like a cross on our shoulders.
The realization came to me last night when the topic about the CFC crisis got into the conversation with a friend. He asked me, "do you belong to the camp of Tony Meloto?" I was floored by the question. In my entire life in CFC, never did I ever think, much less desire, to be called as someone belonging to the "camp of Tony Meloto." I'm CFC, period.
So I had to explain some things to my friend. I told him that an Election was held in June 2007, and the members that made it to the top were mostly those who want GK to remain under the stewardship of CFC. Conversely, the camp who lost was made up of those who wanted GK to be weaned away. Frank Padilla was the leader of the losing camp. He wanted the Election to be postponed in the first place. But he was there during the Election anyway. When he was not nominated, much less elected, to the Council, all hell broke loose. He went out and told everyone the Election was not valid.
As someone new in CFC, my only question then was, "was the Election indeed invalid?" My only recourse was to consult Canon Law and the CFC Statutes. I also watched the video of the entire Election proceedings. My conclusion was, the Election was valid without a shadow of doubt. That conclusion did not make me someone in the "camp of Tony Meloto." That simply made me someone who believed that the process was valid, and that the worldwide community was (and is) legitimately headed by a new set of International Council members and Board of Elders, who happened to believe that CFC must maintain stewardship of GK. (I personally believe so myself, but my personal belief is subject to the counsel of my elders in CFC. So what I believe do not count in this context. I am an obedient CFC first, a passionate GK volunteer second. Why do I say that? It's because it is CFC who gave me the spiritual formation that led me to GK.)
The sad thing is, Frank Padilla declared that there are now two CFCs: one headed by the International Council, and another that he heads as Servant General.
What would have happened if the Election went in favor of Frank Padilla? I could easily see that Frank Padilla would instantly cause the split of GK from CFC. That conclusion was a no-brainer. The actions of the Easter Group as bared by many documentary evidences pointed to that. Had that been the scenario, I would see the same pain of separation between loving brothers and sisters into separate communities. (To tell you honestly, I do not know how I would decide under that scenario, and I am not keen on spending energy ever to find out how.)
What I am pointing out now is, while Frank Padilla is the embodiment of everything that has caused the chaos (of course he'll deny this) and the mortal sin of pride is definitely baring its ugly face among us, there are unseen, yet very real, forces of good and evil at play here. Separation among brothers and sisters into separate communities is neither good nor bad on their own, except by how we treat others who have chosen differently from us. Under this light, I wish to see a more accepting and milder Frank Padilla. So far, he has chosen to wear the iron armor of a knight and strikes at anyone who gets into his way. To those who have chosen to follow Frank, please do as Frank says, not as Frank does. Read his books, but be careful about his examples.
May God bless you and your household.
The Round-Eyed Toddler
Suggestion to the one in charge of this "In Defense of.....'
I think the Padilla Vs. Court of appeals articles and comments should be lifted out of here and posted on another page para others can see it more clearly; and realize the tainted leadership of the one person whom many in CFC followed and idolized; who is now known as 'The Servant General' during his watch of CFC.
This piece of information hurts us all for the man who once led us but God allowed it to be brought into light.
He has a message for all of us, most specially to Frank and his Geraldine.
Lets pray he and all of us learn from this sad development.
The Way Backward – 4:
CHECKMATED! I RESIGN!!!
18 June 2008
From: THE SERVANT GENERAL
Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
I admit that I have not been so forthright, although you will really have to sift the grain from the sand.
To call me “real estate scammer” for titling and selling a plot in a subdivision park as our own in 1984, for which the Supreme Court found me guilty and ordered me to pay back in full the buyer at 6% per annum interest on his downpayments after sixteen years of litigation, could as well be like being in “shifting sands.”
Even if I could turn then and now to no other but only to Father God after a not-anymore-“appealable” judgment, you may not really have to render unto me a judgment that can only be God’s? So, on being a “landscammer”, I RESIGN MY FATE TO THE ALMIGHTY.
Yet, I admit there are grains of TRUTH we can feed on, in consideration of which I NOW RESIGN MY FATE TO ALL OF YOU MY DEAR SAINTLY BROTHERS AND SISTERS:
1. In TRUTH, FFL is not yet a juridical person; this means that in a lawsuit, you and I, who claim to be in FFL, will have to be the respondents and not FFL. In case the “legalistic” and less “spiritual” veerers in CFC-IC-GMFI charge us in court, as they have threatened publicly, for the reactivation of the CFCFI by the SEC, I am so sorry to tell you that since there is yet no legal corporate entity called FFL, the court can require all of us who collaborated to be INDIVIDUALLY IDENTIFIED AS RESPONDENTS(!) – which means, as your leader, I will have to submit your names as my collaborators – and that also means all of you, brothers and sisters in FFL, 18 years and above, who have followed me. As much as I really thank you from the bottom of my heart for following me forward and lately “backward”, I must also thank you in advance for your indulgence as I am now making a more-or-less complete rooster of our membership in the FFL, in preparation for the battle royale, which, if you will allow me to assume, you are all excited about!
2. I caution us all, brothers and sisters, to be fully prepared because, as co-respondents in a civil suit, you will all be public figures and the details about your life, your assets and your liabilities, can be subject of public scrutiny. I am fully confident, though, that we can withstand all the storms ahead for the sake of the "original charism" we have banded together to restore in CFC.
3. I am sure that you will understand the ramifications of being “non-juridical” respondents (respondents with no juridical personality). I dread the day when each of you, my dear followers 18 years and above, will be individually cited for felony or fraud, which will forever be part of your personal resumes’. But certainly, this is the price of faithfulness to our mission!
4. Landscam... felony... fraud... what have you, OH, MY. I was looking to only HIS ONE SET of footprints as I prayed HE would carry me amidst the "shifting sands" that started from the failed sale of a small part of a public playground (they say it was – duh), BUT with your possible indictment, I see thousands instead that will thump me down... AAARRRGGGHHH!
5. IN TRUTH I AM LEFT WITH NOTHING BUT, WELL ... (please read the above title)
Your brother forever,
(A Spirit Wanting to Read the Insides of –)
FRANK PADILLA
[Note: I, the Anonymous author of the above satire, initially thought of seeking clearance from CD for this post, but in the end decided not to, because that would have made him an accomplice in the write-up, in case he left to me the decision to post, as I sense he would. I also want to ask again for the understanding of Sleepless and all brothers and sisters who may misunderstand this as signature FP, and who will once more feel slighted somehow. I also thought I needed to tell Willyj there that – because of the enormous and unimaginable cost it will take on the followers of FFL for being “co-respondents with no juridical personality” in a legal battle that FP will have forced upon the CFC-IC to wage to the bitter end – I have to backtrack from my earlier stance and put this 4th “Way Backward” series. May God Have Mercy On Us All!]
May I make a suggestion?
Let's try this - make a particular call to an FFL member to:\
1. attend our CFC Grand Homecoming Event at Luneta
2. invite him/her back to re-join the ONE & ONLY CFC
Then let's see how they in FFL respond .... or those of us who are here in CFC respond!
I'll give you this example:
"Bro. Pancho Lopez Tan,
Balik ka na...kita tayo sa Luneta, sagot ko ang entrance ticket at lahat ng meals mo. Tabi tayo sa Mass at pagsabi ng "Peace be With You!", hawak kamay at embrace tayo!
Then let's schedule your first CFC HH meeting after the stint you had with FFL!
Eto ko, nanawagan sa iyo! Game ka na ba?"
Sgd[name of inviting CFC member]
Ano tingin nyo mga kapatid sa CFC?
Aba malay ninyo...baka marami bumalik, ma-realize noong mga nasa FFL kakaunti na sila...eh di babalik na rin!
Pero caveat lang, o ingat lang mga kapatid....ihuli na ninyo imbitahin si Frank!
Baka lumaki pa lalu ang ulo na hindi tayo mabubuhay ng wala siya.
At saka si Billy sa Cebu, huwag ninyo muna imbitahin bumalik -- kasi kakaalis lang niya sa CFC.
Kay bag-o pa man siya deha sa FFL, tagaig 'chance' nga mo PROVE pa gud siya sa iyang WORTH sa FFL nga bagong niyang team. Mau?
I would like to add my take regarding the court decision... that being a leader has a very big responsibility and a heavy burden to be righteous not only on the eyes of man but also of God. As leaders, you have to be an example of good deeds. From 1985 to 2001 (court decision to deny the Padilla's of their appeal) is a very long time not to realize that what they are doing is wrong. As one FFL member told me this question "After many years in the renewal, have I really changed?". Now I am returning the same question to FP. I guess he did not...as action speaks louder than words.
Raul Aclan
New Jersey
I appreciate your candor. As a brother, I am open to hear you opine and most importantly you also have my reprieve.
This blog have been a great resource to share, gripe, and vent out all our frustrations. We will love and appreciate you more for being human and for being vunerable.
we can all identify where you are coming from.
Mga Kapatid,
See you all on Saturday at the Luneta... where the REAL 27th Anniversary will be Celebrated.
And don't worry... God will continue to defend us... remember, the last time he used Nonong Contreras to defend us?
I won't be surprised if one day, Frank himself will defend the REAL CFC...
Nais ko pong iparating sa FFL ang babala ng ating kapatid na “Anonymous” na sumulat ng “The Way Backward – 4: CHECKMATED! I RESIGN!!!”.
Sinasabi niya po na kung kayo ay 18 anyos pataas na kasama sa listahan ni Frank Padilla bilang kasapi ng FFL, kayo po ay maaring ipatawag ng Korte bilang co- respondent sa oras na dinggin nito ang demanda ng CFC Global Missions Fdn., Inc. sapagkat wala pa pong legal ng personalidad ang FFL. Kung anuman po ang kahihinatnan ng desisyon ng korte, maari po itong mag-marka sa pagkatao niyo, halimbawa, sa pagkuha ninyo NBI clearance.
Isinasaad din sa mga naisulat sa blog na ito na si Frank Padilla ay nasangkot na po sa landscam, pagsisinungaling, atbp.
Pagpalain po tayo ng Panginoon…
The call to arms is not to tramp upon YOU, our brothers and sisters in FFL, but to reveal what wickedness this small group of ego-tripping "leaders" are doing.
It is not to call upon a battle with the general membership of FFL, but a call to arms to defend a good name --- CFC, which these ego-tripping leaders are destroying.
This CFC has been YOUR life.
Hence, FFL brothers and sisters, if you care about the CFC name that you are allegedly "fighting for", defend it from these ego-tripping people. If not, all of us, CFC and FFL, in the end, will just end up with neither.
Thank you.
That is why it makes a lot of sense to know that when push comes to shove in a lawsuit, that is certainly impending, all the members of FFL as "non-juridical respondents" must be named and entered in the litigating court.
Frank pushed his followers that far as their ("ego-tripping"?) "leader". How will he pull them out now, considering that he still has to defend his tattered name for selling a piece of the public children's park and suing the buyer for discontinuance of payment when the latter found out it was a sham.
Although that post on "THE WAY BACKWARD –4" was written in a funny satirical way, I think there is really cause for concern in the points raised for our FFL brethren. Considering that CFC-FI does not yet have any formal corporate identity, it does appear very plausible that everyone involved in FAP’s SEC petition, from their Board of Directors, officers, full-time workers, and down to ordinary members might be dragged into the picture. To testify and possibly be charged as accessories in the event of a criminal trial.
It is not only those whose names appeared in the SEC petition filed by FFL, FP, et al. All of them in FFL, because they have collaborated as non juridical persons, will have to be identified. If found criminally guilty, they will all be included. In the process, too, all their lives will be made public: how they joined, how they felt, every detail of their membership and their emotions could be asked publicly... WOW, could you indeed by on the spot, FFL and all your members.
Hmmm....
Thinking aloud lang po...
Papaano na yung mga KINOLEKTANG tithes ng FFL mula last year up to today?
Hmmm... anong kaso kaya yun?
1. Nangongolekta ng walang resibo?
2. o kung may resibo man, fake?
Hmmm... eh paano kaya yung mga chekeng issued sa CFC na binitbit ng mga leaders na lumipat sa FFL at doon ibinigay ang tithes na sana ay sa TOTOONG CFC ibibigay?
Hmmm... dumarami yata ang kaso...
Veering Away scam.
Disobedience scam.
FFL's "27th (?) Anniversary" scam.
SEC scam.
Carmel Land scam.
What could be next?
FFL, my prayers for your enlightenment are with you!
CFC IC, we are with you!
you will really see that FAP intends not to leave cfc, nag sisi sya sa resignation nya and he is doing everything in his power right now to regain his headship, eventhough he has all the great and pure intentions, makikita mo ang intention nya to be the head....even his proposal to make cfc have 2 branches makes him the leader of the other branch...so win-win situation sa kanya yun....he cannot let go of it...
Here's my appeal to all FFL members.
Dearest brothers and sisters in FFL,
First of all let me apologize for some of the blog entries which may have slighted you. If I were tagged as a blind follower I would be hurt, too. Please bear with me a moment and let us take issue on what stands behind those hurtful words. The real question we are all asking, Bros and Sis in FFL, is this: How shall we understand your silence?
Many of you went to FFL because your discernment led you. Some of you went to FFL because you felt unappreciated while you were in CFC. Others, dahil lang nagtampo. Some simply out of loyalty to their leaders. These are all ok. Why you became FFL is not in question.
But being in FFL has not blinded you. You have not suddenly lost the capacity to recognize good from evil. Neither have you lost the capability to see the propriety of actions. Your ability to discern has not been diminished. You cannot pretend not to recognize that what this is all about is not just about a name. It is about right and wrong.
Many of you were passionate GK workers before you joined FFL. Why did you work for GK? Was it because you wanted to join a succesful bandwagon and bask in the glory? No, I don't think so. I think it was because you believed that uplifting the poorest of the poor was your chance to correct the injustice of poverty. You stood for justice and your moral honesty and integrity would not allow you to stand still and do nothing. You showed courage then. You stood for what Christ taught - justice, kindness, honesty, integrity, courage and love for your fellowmen.
So why are you silent now? Is it because you have placed your loyalty to Frank higher than justice? Christ taught us truth, as well. How can you tolerate deceit? You know that FFL is not even 1 year old, yet your leaders proclaim openly a 27th anniversary. Don't you think this deceitful? It would have been acceptable to everyone if your leaders would have made the announcement thus: "FFL celebrates the 27th anniversary of CFC" or even "FFL celebrates the 27th anniversary of the CFC Charism." Since FFL claims to subscribe to the CFC charism that would be ok. But to claim that only FFL has the CFC charism is deceitful. We all know that charisms are gifts of the Spirit. Only the Spirit can bestow these gifts. No one, not even the Pope, can appropriate it for himself. Your leaders certainly cannot appropriate it for FFL. That is tantamount to equating themselves with the Holy Spirit.
Why are you silent now? Have you lost your courage to stand up for truth and justice? Has your moral honesty and integrity deserted you? Could it be that each of you made a personal decision placing whatever your leaders say and do as above all else, even what Christ taught?
Do you really believe, without any doubt, that Frank IS CFC? That wherever Frank is, there CFC will be? And that this takes precedence over the CFC Statutes, approved and filed at the Vatican, and over all legal instruments including the Civil Code, the Corporation Code and the SEC rules? Do you really believe that the means that Frank is using are justified? When Cromwell became the Lord Protector of England, he had to oust the king and he proclaimed to the assembly "The king is not England and England is not the king." If you were on the outside looking in, wouldn't you agree that your behaviour proclaim to us that "Frank is CFC and CFC is Frank"? Do you not realize that such a statement is in the realm of the absurd? Not to mention being eerily similar to what a cult would say.
When your leaders proclaim in one breath that the other is attacking the church and yet describe the very same Bishops that support you as "twiddling their thumbs" and "smoking pot", does this not make you question their right to lead you? The first time your leaders proclaimed that CFC has veered, it was away from the charism. Later this became "veering away from the church." When they told you this, what did you do? Did you just swallow it whole? Did you ask to see what evidence there was? In fact, let me generalize that a little, did you, whenever your leaders made accusatory remarks, verify for yourself the veracity of the statements by reviewing evidence, or did you just blindly accept the statements because your leaders said so? That, brothers and sisters, is the test. If you blindly accepted it, what does that make you?
Why do you remain silent? Do you stand up for justice only as long as your own leaders are untouched? Is this the behaviour of a committed christian? Or have you decided to become "safe" christians? Have you been blinded by your leaders so much that you have given your consent to follow them no matter what? If so, does this not lend credence to the brother who said that you are all blind followers?
And now, do you realize that you are personally at risk? Because FFL is not a legal entity, all of you become respondents in whatever litigation may come. See Section 15 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure. Now your personal reputation and assets are on the line. Will you still remain silent? Is the risk to your reputation and assets miminal compared to the pain of standing up to Frank? What can he do to you? He can't excommunicate you and he does not have the power to damn your soul to hell. Is his friendship so valuable that you would put your reputation and your assets on the line and even deliberately go against your sense of right and wrong? Or is it because you have tied your own salvation to Frank's teachings and pronouncements?
Kapatid, you can be a great christian without Frank. Yes, you can go to heaven without Frank. It is not Frank who will save you.
If these questions hurt, I apologize. Brothers and Sisters in FFL, I will rejoice and sing praises to God if you respond by standing up for justice. Show us that you have not forsaken Christ's teachings. Show us that you are not blind. I challenge you to stand up for truth. I challenge you to stand up, as you did before in GK, for justice. For those who were blinded, I challenge you to obey Christ's command - give them sight. For those of you who feel they are between a rock and a hard place, torn between loyalty to Frank and the call of their own consciences, I challenge you to free these captives. I challenge you to let your voices of reason be heard.
You do not have to be in CFC to stand up for CFC. You did not have to be poor to stand up for the poor when you were in GK. Please understand that this is beyond CFC or FFL. It is about correcting the injustice we see. It is about manifesting Christ's teachings and, by doing so, we proclaim that Jesus reigns and that we are working together so that His Will will be done on earth.
I only ask that you look inside your own hearts. Will you stand up and be counted?
-TE-Germany
We are behind and will be supporting the CFC-IC on their resolve to defend our community from forces that try to bring it down.
God bless.
ECPS
CFC-USA
To -TE-Germany who made an appeal to all FFL members:
What a wonderful piece kapatid! I just wish that all FFL members can read it.
How can we effectively bring it to them as well as all the other enlightening entries/comments in this blog?
It's now or never! Any ideas?
All Enlightening Comments/Messages-
Copy and Paste and Share it by Email to all your area members who are FFL, USE your name, dont hide your IDENTITY.
Just a thought.
Max
Regarding the tithe collection,
If an FFL member claimed deductions on his tax returns based on contribution to a charitable organization which implicitly resolves to the Tax ID of CFC (IRS 501(c), BIR, etc), that's called tax fraud. It can also be argued as just negligence which is less of an offense (but the burden of proof will be on the tax filer). The tax year 2007 is very troublesome as FFL have probably not filed their own Tax ID for that year, so the tendency for the members will be to imply CFC as the benefactor for the whole year (split happened mid-year). If CFC is audited (Phil., US, Eu), the math will not add up and CFC will be in trouble (subject to revocation of tax-exempt status). The only recourse for CFC in that case will be to claim tax fraud, in which case, an investigation will put the offending parties (FFL members) to be liable. This is certainly on a region-by-region basis, as there are different laws across the globe. In any case, this will not be pretty.
Re Tithes...
Kapatid, I don't think CFC has a risk here. The audit would show that CFC receipt stubs would equal the money that came in. The discrepancy would only come out if the BIR would trace the contributions that FFL members made based on their tax returns. In which case, it would CFC would be in the clear because the receipts would not be from CFC. In fact, that would indicate fraud - first on the party issuing the receipt and secondly on the individual filing the tax return.
FFL members taking the risk of being taken to court for:
1. FAP's reviving the CFCFI registration at SEC
2. Tax fraud for donation covered as tithes collection
Will they sacrifice themselves for FAP's sake?
FFL members REALLY need to know about this.
Sobra na!
Tama na!
Alisan na! (ang FFL)
Balikan na! (ang CFC)
Let's email our FFL brethren wherever they are.
Don't forget to include the enlightening entries/comments in this blog!
Let's leave FAP and his playboys and their bunnies alone ... by themselves!
Coming Home On June 22, 27th anniversary of CFC (not FFL)
It is now HIGH TIME, to close our ranks, stand side by side and express our unequivocal support to our humble & esteemed International Council.
Quite frankly (no pun intended), I don't understand what Bro. Frank is up to! After sounding the trumpets by attaching FFL to CFC, he has now dug deep
(hope it's not dirt-deep), to revive a revoked name !
And to spill my heart out, I was initially awed by the persona of Bro. Frank, whom I still respect up to this point. But as the events unfold, me and my colleagues see a "desperate" man....
To further up the ante (at para matapos na !), why dont we ask all our sector heads to gather all our members at Araneta and invite Bro. Frank to explain what is the reason for his revival of CFCFI.
Moreover, I want to know his insight on why MAJORITY of the CFC MEMBERS CHOSE to side with the present IC.
May God enlighten Bro. Frank and Mabuhay to our IC esp. Bro. Joe Tale !!!
We are all praying for you & for our beloved community.
God bless us all.....
Mike Bukuhan
Cluster Head
West A-3
To Mike Bukuhan,
You wrote "Moreover, I want to know his insight on why MAJORITY of the CFC MEMBERS CHOSE to side with the present IC."
I know what his insight will be. He would say:
- Majority of CFC members are now in FFL.
- Those who chose to stay with the IC are narrow-minded people who couldn't see the aura (halo) in my head, being the Keeper of the Charism, and hence therefore, the only one capable of restoring the original CFC charisms.
Seeking answers from Frank Padilla is like talking to a brick wall.
To TE-Germany:
I know a lot of people here are very upset with what is happening right now and they write words that are sometimes disrespectful and hurtful.
I do not speak for all of FFL but here is my OWN take on it. Please try to understand that we have a different take on things, part of the reason why we are not on the same ship.
All the things you said are nice and I agree with most of them but you were operating under the premise that whatever the IC is doing is right and whatever Frank is doing is wrong.
I do not think being in FFL has blinded me. I see the wrong things that the FFL leadership are doing. I sent emails to the top leadership and I already spoke with my superiors in case you are wondering. The thing is, I also see things that I think the IC is doing wrong or did wrong. This whole mess is not about a name, THIS IS ABOUT GROWN MEN BEING COMPLETELY SWALLOWED BY THEIR PRIDE and in turn causing disunity and chaos to the whole community. Frank is a big part of it, Nonong is a part of it, but I also see Tony and the IC as being part of it.
I could not say that I have the ultimate capacity to recognize good from evil and I don't think anyone has. That is why I still sin. Recognizing right from wrong is a relative thing. If there is a clean cut way to determine right from wrong then this world should be in better shape. I can't tell you what is right because I do not know 100%. People have their own minds and opinions and they make decisions based on these.
When I served in GK I did not do it to jump on the bandwagon. I did it because of my love for Jesus Christ. I did not praise myself and let everyone know I was a part of it. I did not look at myself as a 'bayani'. I saw myself as a servant of God whose current task was to help out the poor. That is why it saddens me when some GK workers look at it differently. Recognition should not belong to the workers, it should belong to God who designated the workers. I think my service with GK has nothing to do with what I think is right or just.
I did not place my loyalty to Frank higher than justice. Again we have differing opinions on what we think truth is, what justice is, what deceit is.
Why am I silent? Right now I am lifting everything to God. Since I believe that both CFC and FFL are God's creation and I will let Him take care of it. I will continue to pray for enlightenment of the leaders from both sides. I will continue to pray for humility, acceptance and realization that these communities are above them leaders. I will pray and ask for forgiveness for all the people that were hurt because people like me moved to FFL. I will be silent and pray for all these things because for me I think prayer is still the most powerful defense against the devil we could ever have.
FFL member still hoping for a united cfc (super labo na nitong mangyari)
To the anonymous FFL hoping for united CFC,
I think the more you speak, the better it would be for us to see where you are coming from. I thank you so much for your insights.
Can you be more specific though on what do you think were things that were done wrong by the IC? (I do hope it doesn't turn into an ugly argument. We can still exchange our thoughts but with respect for the opinion of others).
Can you also cite specific instances where there was pride on the part of the IC (or Tony, but I don't care much about his opinions since he resigned already from his top position in GK)?
Can you also tell us more about your disappointment or bad experience with GK?
Thank you so much and may God continue to bless you.
Kapatid who is now in FFL,
Hindi MALABO ang UNITY.
Come back and Talk with your LEADERS and bring them with you.
KUNG SINONG UMALIS SIYA YUNG BABALIK FOR UNITY, ALL WE HAVE TO DO is OPEN OUR ARMS WIDE to WELCOME YOU BACK, BECAUSE WE LOVE YOU ALL.
I SUPPORTED FRANK's GK3 except his CONCERN about TONY/GK being considered sa FOunder. IT WAS VERY VALID CONCERNS BUT,
THOSE CONCERNS CAN BE RESOLVED WITHOUT LEAVING/DIVIDING/SPLITTING.
HUMAN AS WE ARE and IMPERFECT, WE HAVE TO FILL UP THE SHORTCOMINGS AND FAILINGS AND WEAKNESSes of EACH OTHER (our LEaders) AND HELP SOLVE or GIVE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS.
WHEN FRANK LEAVE and MADE HIS OWN FFL GROUP. THEN MY SUPPORT to his GK3 was GONE, HE FAILED to solve it, HE Leave that means INIWANAN nya ANG PROBLEMA. Parang MAG-ASAWANG MAGHIHIWALAY, Turn their back LEave the Problem alone UNSOLVED. LEADERSHIP is to confront all PROBLEMS and HINDRANCES until Mayroong SOLUTION.
So, ano ngayon that he LEFT, MAY SOLUTION BA, lalong gulo.
THE PROBLEMS/CONCERNS were not ENOUGH REASON THE DIVIDE/SPLIT this COMMUNITY.
His Proposal that has two branches could have merit if HE PROPOSED it during/in GOOD TERMS with the OTHER TOP LEADERS, ngayon? SORRY, we see the motives already.
The our FFL brother,
I honor you in asking forgiveness from people who feel like they were left behind by those who moved to FFL. You didn't really have to do that but by doing so, you've shown your humility.
Even though it does hurt to lose our brothers and sisters, we recognize that we don't have a monopoly of this hurt. We can also feel the hurt experienced by our FFL brethrens when they also lost their brethrens in CFC. (When I use the word "lose" or "lost" here, I refer to the fact that we now seldom see each other and that there is a slight animosity or "tampo" whether we admit it or not. In reality, as Christians, I don't think we really lost each other as we continue to pray for one another and we still regard each other with the highest concern.)
May God bless you.
With Love,
Deo
Anonymous,reply to TE Germany:
We are not questioning your moving to FFL, its your decision, pero ang alam ko, dito sa lugar namin ang lumipat sa FFL ay talagang patapon na sa community, ewan ko sainyo.Blessing in disguise din siguro itong split naito..o di ba?
Kind of a Blessing, Kasi yung mga inactive at may tampo NAGING ACTIVE na ngayon sa FFL at mga LEADERS pa.
mga4-5 couples lang sila dito sa area namin.
There's no such thing as "patapon", kapatid. Bawat isa sa atin, mahalaga kay Lord. Maganda nga at ina-alagaan sila ng FFL (I assume the grassroots in FFL are faithful to their formation program and that it's just their top leadership who still have not moved on). For that I praise FFL.
-CFC Member
So, anong differencia sa kanilang formation (FFL) compare sa atin in CFC. Bakit ngayon lang sila naging faithful? Ngayon lang sila na taohan?
Sabi nga ng FFL members, parehas lang NAMAN , CFC pa rin.
SO, BAKIT PA KAILANGAN HUMIWALAY o MAGHIWALAY.
Hindi NIla masagot yan in front of our parish PRIEST.
PAREHAS lang naman pala eh.
The problem is - as in the Greek mythology where some goddess of discord threw an apple or a ball(?) amidst a celebration among the gods with a mark "to the fairest", (which started a quarrel among three influential goddesses...that led to the launching of a "thousand ships" to get back a beautiful "face", Helen of Troy, who was abducted by Paris)...FP, an infuential persion from inside the CFC throws in "GK-3" and like a pack of hungry dogs we tore it up and each other.
Why don't the dogs now turn their angry mouths against Padilla? Don't you think he enjoys it everytime we start to be in an attack position against each other?
To FFL still hoping for a united CFC
Kapatid, your words brought hope into my heart. I can see that you are not blind and I respect your choice to be prayerful. Indeed, prayer is a powerful weapon against the devil.
I can assure you that the CFC of today will not tolerate an IC committing serious wrongdoing. The BOE and the EA will never allow it. The transparency that is now in place will help greatly to prevent it. The pastoral congress showed that the IC, our senior management, if you will, does listen to the
members. Kapatid you can see we have put in place measures to ensure that the mistakes of the past will not happen again. It is evident today that the IC is more reachable by the members and the IC members more willing to interact
with individual members than before. There is today a higher level of input to the CFC top leadership than ever before.
While I much value prayer, do you really think these measures would have been in place if we had only prayed? Indeed the measures were actions inspired by prayers. Kapatid, our prayers in CFC were answered and our leaders responded. Our role, after all is to be responders to the Spirit.
The CFC governance and leadership today is a lot different than the one you knew.
Praying that the leaders of both sides find enlightenment is admirable. I am convinced that your prayers, at least on the CFC side, have been answered.
Because you and others like you, both in CFC and FFL, prayed, the Spirit moved and our leaders have responded. Can you say the same for the FFL leaders?
My brother, I submit to you that if our top leaders were guilty of wrongdoing in the past, this is not anymore the case today. The actions of the IC show admirable obedience and humility even apologizing publicly for something that happened during Frank's leadership. Would you still hold them guilty of the "sins of the past" even with clear evidence of repentance? The
IC of today are not even exactly the same individuals as the IC of two years ago.
Again I ask, can you say the same about the FFL leaders? If not, what should the FFL members be doing to correct their leaders?
Kapatid, the Lord answers our prayers. I am sure He answers yours. CFC does not have a monopoly in responding to the Spirit's answer. I pray that you do respond
and I pray that He give you strength for then it will be time for you to act.
Keep posting Kapatid. Keep talking. It is only through these words that we can communicate with each other. And if, as you suspect, super malabo na ang united CFC, then perhaps we can come to a modus vivendi. From this blog you can
get a pretty good idea how the CFC people think. It is of utmost importance that we understand how you think as well.
God bless you kapatid.
TE-Germany
Mahal na kapatid sa FFL,
Thank you very much for posting here. Just like TE-Germany, I too am very anxious to know what's in the mind of an FFL member considering all the facts amidst this crisis.
I agree truth (or deceit) is relative depending on who is talking. However, Frank Padilla's accusations (his truth) against the IC have been proven wrong. Why does he have to repeat them again and again?
On the other hand, contradictions that have been presented to Frank Padilla have never been resolved.
Regarding pride, if there is one who is guilty of it, it is Frank Padilla. Why? Because when he resigned, he is no longer a leader. Member na lang siya. He should subject himself to the authority of the duly elected IC. For him to demand the resignation of the IC is arrogance borne out of pride. He has no right to demand such resignations! Only the Elders Assembly can make the IC step down from their elected positions. At eto pa, for the IC to replace him or anyone for that matter in service positions, is not pride. It is their prerogative being leaders of this community.
So, my appeal to you Bro. Talk to your fellow FFL brethren all over the world and re-assess your position of support for the most arrogant, lying and deceitful person I have ever known - Frank Padilla.
God bless you!
We fully understand & support the International Council to keep the name of CFC. God Bless!
Andy Jr. & Vicvic Lopez
from CFC West A, Sto. Cristo Parish
Marulas, Valenzuela City
now in Lincoln, UK
PAGASA Issued At: 5:00 a.m., 19 June 2008
Valid Beginning: 5:00 a.m. today until 5:00 a.m. tomorrow
Synopsis:
At 2:00 a.m. today, Tropical Depression "FRANK" was estimated based on satellite and surface data at 650 kms east southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar (9.4°N 131.8°E) with maximum winds of 55 kph. Forecast to move west northwest at 11 kph.
ANO BA YAN! PATI BA NAMAN PANGALAN NG BAGYO NAKAKALITO NA?
INVITATION TO ALL BRO.& SIS in ffl
you are all cordially invited to join us (nb) for the june21 anniversary parade. no conditions. we'd love to have you for dinner during the Lord's day celebration..stickets? i'm sure you can buy that..masyado kayo marami para ilibre ko, baka ako naman mapalipat sa ffl
anonymous FFL hoping for united CFC said:
"you were operating under the premise that whatever the IC is doing is right and whatever Frank is doing is wrong...I could not say that I have the ultimate capacity to recognize good from evil and I don't think anyone has. That is why I still sin. Recognizing right from wrong is a relative thing. If there is a clean cut way to determine right from wrong then this world should be in better shape. I can't tell you what is right because I do not know 100%. People have their own minds and opinions and they make decisions based on these...This whole mess is not about a name, THIS IS ABOUT GROWN MEN BEING COMPLETELY SWALLOWED BY THEIR PRIDE and in turn causing disunity and chaos to the whole community. Frank is a big part of it, Nonong is a part of it, but I also see Tony and the IC as being part of it. ".
We should be operating on the premise of what is objectively right, and not based on what IC, Frank or anyone else for that matter is doing. Indeed we do not have the ultimate capacity to recognize good from evil. No one does have that ultimate capacity in our imperfect state, as "Man is sometimes confronted by situations that make moral judgments less assured and decisions difficult. But he must always seriously seek what is right and good and discern the will of God expressed in divine law". (Catechism 1787). "Yet it is our duty as conscientious Christians to persevere in seeking the truth, specially when such difficulty arises, as we cannot permit our conscience to remain in ignorance to be vulnerable to erroneous judgments. "This ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility. This is the case when man takes little trouble to find out what is true and good...In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits". (Catechism 1791). Leaders on whatever side may be a part of this mess, but it is a mark of informed conscience not to let our OWN actions influenced by the actions of OTHERS. One has a personal responsibility of developing a well-formed conscience, to recognize right from wrong, enlightened by faith in Christ and his Gospel, and the Church's authority. We are all in a pilgrimage of Faith that we continuously examine or conscience before the Lord's Cross, as we pray for the Light of Christ to truly unite all of us in TRUTH.
Let's have a heart to heart talk with our close brothers and sisters in FFL. I have started talking with a close freind in FFL though I only texted him and he texted me back, I consider it a start of the process of healing. I will next aspire and plan for a one to one just to travel down memory lane, just to convey to the bros and sis that "may pinagsamahan tayo". Talk to the one's close to you who have the extraordinary gift of discernment we know who they are, we were in the battlefields with them at one point or another,I believe in my heart that eventualy these bros and sis will see the light. Evangilization is a person to person interaction. Seek out these bros and sis who are not blindly following the Servant General. Let's be like termites working day and night to bring back our FFL co-workers.
I was reading the Policies and Guidelines drafted by the PPC in our Parish and I noticed in the "PARISH LAY ORGANIZATIONS" section it says:
CFC-FFL
CFC-Global
Then I said to myself "Tignan mo nga naman yan... Before they left us, we were simply known as CFC... tapos pag-alis nila, pati pangalan natin binago pa nila..."
Tama ba yun? Frank, paki sagot nga...
When the Capuchins left the Fransciscans, did they call themn the "Old Franciscans"?
I don't think so.
Q: Kung si Bro Frank ang SERVANT GENERAL, ano naman si Sis Gerry?
Siret?
A: Servant General's Problem
Im thankful were speaking from the heart and acknowledging that both sides felt pain and hurt during the split. Im thankful for the showing of humility and love for our brothers on both sides. Im thankful that generalizations can now end and we can start looking at each other as brothers and sisters.
It seems obvious that both sides (though were hurt) still love each other and yearn for a united CFC.
So lets avoid all this Legal proceedings and return to what CFC was before all this mess. Let us return to the time when God was using a United CFC passionately proclaiming Gods word and Serving the poor. I will agree that whenever I serve in GK “I did it because of my love for Jesus Christ”. I also “saw myself as a servant of God whose current task was to help out the poor”. I believe we all did (and still do).
Let us accept each others apology and restore the relationships that once gave Glory to God.
I will also affirm TE-Germany’s statements that CFC has implemented changes that will prevent the mistakes of the past
TE-Germany said:
I can assure you that the CFC of today will not tolerate an IC committing serious wrongdoing. The BOE and the EA will never allow it. The transparency that is now in place will help greatly to prevent it. The pastoral congress showed that the IC, our senior management, if you will, does listen to the members. Kapatid you can see we have put in place measures to ensure that the mistakes of the past will not happen again. It is evident today that the IC is more reachable by the members and the IC members more willing to interact with individual members than before. There is today a higher level of input to the CFC top leadership than ever before.
CFC today is a more closely knit family, filled with love and passion to serve. We have not lost our blessing from the church and are ever loyal to our parishes. The only thing that would bring us to full circle is the return of our brothers.
I sometimes ask myself… bakit nga ba ulit nangyari yun? Bakit nga ba sila umalis (my brothers)? Do the reasons for leaving still holds?
I believe its time to come home. We invite you, our brothers in FFL, with the loving arms of brother to COME HOME. I pray we see you this Saturday at the Luneta grandstand so that true restoration, the restoration of the broken relationships… can begin, and with this Im Sure the LORD WILL BE GLORIFIED
Tonight at 7:30 Frank Padilla will address the CFC's (daw) in the church in Andrea Subdivision near SM Bacoor. We have received this invitation from an FFL brother.
Come early daw to be seated.
Like what I have made a scenario of: someone rolled out a piece of gift called "GK-3" amidst rejoicing and peaceful life among CFC brethren, who thereupon started attacking each other for the good or bad they found in the gift. Now, they are longing for the peaceful and loving life they used to have by sensing each other's "feel" or "take" of the situation. Yet, they may have missed the bigger task, which is to focus their attention on the sower of the discord, the one who DISTURBED THE PEACE OF THEIR COMMUNITY. THEY MUST RUN AFTER HIM!!!
Accordingly, his talk at the church in Andrea Subdivision, 7:30 tonight will be very brief and concise. Here's a quote
"BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WE HAVE SURVIVED THE GUILT OF THE LANDSCAM.
"AS RESTORERS OF THE CFC CHARISM WE DECLARE THE CHILDREN'S PARK OF THIS SUBDIVISION "UNENCUMBERED", MEANING WE WILL NEVER STEAL IT, AS WE VOW BEFORE EACH OTHER THAT NO SPITEFUL SALE OF ANY PIECE OF A PARK WILL EVER BE MADE BY US EVER AGAIN, TO THE DETRIMENT OF OUR GOOD IMAGE.
HERE'S TO OUR WELL-FOUNDED FAMILIES AND LIVES THAT, UNITED AS BEING A ONE YEAR-OLD FFL, NOW JOYFULLY CELEBRATE 27 YEARS OF BEING CFC. THANK YOU FOR OUR CONFUSED BUT OTHERWISE RESTORED LIVES, "TAYONG MGA CLOSE KAY GOD" WHO ARE MEANT MORE FOR EACH OTHER THAN THE POOR AND UNWASHED IN GK. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!"
Your Huli-ness General Frankster,
advance Happy anniversary sa scam nyo ng bunny mo Huli-dine.
SECOND DIVISION
[G.R. No. 120274. November 16, 2001]
SPOUSES FRANCISCO A. PADILLA and GERALDINE S. PADILLA, petitioners, vs. COURT OF APPEALS and SPOUSES CLAUDIO AÑONUEVO and CARMELITA AÑONUEVO, respondents.
R E S O L U T I O N
QUISUMBING, J.:
For review is the decision of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CV No. 20442, affirming that of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City, Branch 86, in Civil Case No. Q-49267, which held that petitioners could not compel private respondents to pay the balance of the purchase price of a parcel of land inasmuch as there was a cloud in the title of petitioners to the land in question.
The facts of the case, as summarized by the Court of Appeals, are as follows:
Petitioners, spouses Francisco and Geraldine Padilla, are the registered owners of a parcel of land covered by TCT No. 311854 issued on February 24, 1984, by the Register of Deeds of Quezon City. They sold this lot to private respondents, the spouses Claudio and Carmelita Añonuevo, for P875,680, as shown by a deed of absolute sale executed on March 4, 1985. To secure payment of the purchase price, the Añonuevos executed a chattel mortgage over a pleating machine, promising to pay the Padillas said amount in five equal installments.
On the same day the sale was made, March 4, 1985, Francisco Padilla executed a special power of attorney authorizing the Añonuevos to mortgage the land, to enable them to obtain a loan from the Equitable Venture Capital Corporation.
On March 8, 1985, the Añonuevos paid the Padillas P175,136 for the installment due on March 31, 1985.
On March 13, 1985, homeowners of Carmel Subdivisions II and II-A filed a complaint before the Quezon City RTC against the Añonuevos and the city engineer of Quezon City, for quieting of title and damages with preliminary injunction. The homeowners alleged that the lot sold to the Añonuevos is the same lot registered in the name of Carmel Subdivision. This lot, per Resolution No. 3960 of the City Council of Quezon City, was declared an open space for public use. The property was registered in the name of the subdivision under TCT No. 53162 issued by the Registry of Deeds of Quezon City on October 20, 1960, with the same technical description as the lot sold by the Padillas to the Añonuevos.
The Añonuevos paid the Padillas P75,136 for the second installment due on July 31, 1985. But thereafter they made no other payment, in view of the complaint filed by the Carmel homeowners.
Consequently, the Padillas sued the Añonuevos to compel payment of the full purchase price. After trial, the RTC ruled that the Padillas did not have any legal or moral right to compel payment since, at the time of the sale, there was a cloud in their title to the property. The Padillas appealed to the Court of Appeals, which affirmed the decision of the RTC but deleted the award of exemplary damages and attorney’s fees.
The CA ruled that the Padillas could not compel payment of the purchase price since they had not complied with their obligation to deliver the subject property to the Añonuevos. According to the CA, there was no tradition in this case, under Article 1498 of the Civil Code, contrary to petitioners’ (Padillas’) claim. For tradition to take place, the vendor must have control over the thing sold so that, at the moment of sale, he could confer to the vendee not only ownership and right of possession but also actual control of the property. However, in the instant case, at the time the deed of absolute sale was executed, petitioners did not have material control of the lot. Carmel homeowners were using the same property as playground and claiming it as open space titled in the name of the subdivision.
The CA denied petitioners’ motion for reconsideration. Hence, this petition, in which they alleged that, THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED:
1. IN DISREGARDING AND IGNORING OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS OF THE QUEZON CITY GOVERNMENT CONFIRMING THAT THE SUBJECT LOT IS PRIVATE PROPERTY AND NOT AN OPEN SPACE;
2. IN HOLDING THAT THE EXECUTION OF THE DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE OF A PARCEL OF LAND DOES NOT AMOUNT TO TRADITION UNDER ARTICLE 1498 OF THE CIVIL CODE, AND THAT PETITIONERS HAVE FAILED TO FULFILL THEIR OBLIGATION TO DELIVER ACTUAL CONTROL OF THE LOT TO PRIVATE RESPONDENTS;
3. IN RELYING ON THE CASE OF DANGUILAN V. INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURT, 168 SCRA 22, WHEREIN IT WAS HELD THAT THE THING SOLD MUST BE PLACED IN THE ACTUAL CONTROL OF THE VENDEE;
4. IN RELYING ON THE RULING IN CA-G.R. CV NO. 35119 NOTWITHSTANDING THAT THIS WAS STILL PENDING APPEAL BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT AT THAT TIME;
5. IN NOT RULING THAT PRIVATE RESPONDENTS HAVE NO RIGHT TO SUSPEND PAYMENT OF THE BALANCE OF THE PURCHASE PRICE;
6. IN ALLOWING PRIVATE RESPONDENTS TO RETAIN THE LOT IN QUESTION WITHOUT HAVING PAID THEREFOR, ALLOWING THEM TO ENRICH THEMSELVES AT THE EXPENSE OF PETITIONERS; AND
7. IN NOT ORDERING MUTUAL RESTITUTION BY THE PARTIES, WHICH IS THE RULE IN CASE OF ANNULMENT OR RESCISSION OF A DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE.[1]
When petitioners filed this petition on June 6, 1995, we had already ruled on the issue of the validity or nullity of the title of the spouses Padilla over the subject lot, in G.R. No. 113639, entitled Claudio Añonuevo, et al. v. Court of Appeals, et al. and promulgated on May 2, 1995. We denied reconsideration of said decision in a resolution dated June 7, 1995.
That case stemmed from a complaint for quieting of title filed by Carmel homeowners against the Añonuevos, with the same factual antecedents as the present case. The trial court found for the Añonuevos but this decision was reversed by the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CV No. 35119. On petition for certiorari before this Court, we affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeals, which ruled in this wise:
ACCORDINGLY, in view of all the foregoing, the decision appealed from is hereby REVERSED, and a new one is rendered DECLARING Lot II, Block 6 of LRC Plan PSD-4666, now covered under TCT No. 35735, Registry of Deeds of Quezon City, as an OPEN SPACE for public use and enjoyment; DECLARING as null and void TCT No. 35735 in the name of Francisco Padilla, married to Geraldine Padilla, and all other certificates of title derived therefrom; and, ORDERING Spouses Claudio and Carmelita Añonuevo, and all persons in privy to them, their heirs and assigns, to cease and desist from disturbing the possession and control exercised by the HOMEOWNERS of Carmel II-A Subdivision, over said Lot II, Block 6.
xxx[2]
With the above ruling, we are constrained to deny the instant petition for being utterly without merit. On the main issue of payment for the lot, petitioners could not compel private respondents to pay the purchase price for the property whether by installment or in full. For, clearly petitioners had nothing to sell to private respondents, since their title to the property has been declared null and void.
Moreover, on the issue of restitution raised by both petitioners and private respondents, we note that both decisions in CA-G.R. CV No. 20442 and in CA-G.R. CV No. 35119 did not provide for restitution. This issue must now be laid to rest.
Petitioners admit that private respondents paid them P175,136 for the first installment on the lot,[3] and P75,136 for the second installment,[4] or a total of P250,272. Since petitioners’ title to the property sold was subsequently declared null and void, there could not be any valid sale between the parties as petitioners had nothing to convey to private respondents. Hence, petitioners were not entitled to the installment payments made by private respondents. Thus, petitioners should be ordered to return to private respondents the amounts paid with legal interest yearly of 6% thereon from the time of receipt by petitioners of the installments until fully restituted to private respondents, on the principle that no one may be allowed to unjustly enrich himself at the expense of another.[5]
Petitioners’ view that private respondents should not be allowed to retain the subject lot without having fully paid therefor, as this constitutes unjust enrichment, has boomeranged. They wanted the lot returned to them along with their copy of the TCT, and the rescission of the deed of absolute sale. But petitioners proceeded from the erroneous assumption that the lot was theirs. As earlier stated, this Court has already ruled that petitioners’ title to the lot is null and void. It is now declared as OPEN SPACE for public use and enjoyment under the control of the Homeowners of Carmel II-A subdivision. Clearly, therefore, petitioners could not seek the return to them of a lot not rightfully theirs.
Petitioners also insist that private respondents settle the latter’s mortgage debt with Equitable Venture Capital Corporation, obtained by using the subject lot as security. However, respondent court found that the mortgage was actually entered into in the name of petitioners,[6] not private respondents. Thus, we agree that said respondents do not have any loan obligation to Equitable Venture Capital Corporation.
WHEREFORE, the instant petition is DENIED for being utterly without merit. Petitioners are ordered to return the installment payments in the total of P250,272 with legal interest of 6% yearly from the time of receipt by petitioners of the installment payments until fully restituted to private respondents. Costs against petitioners.
SO ORDERED.
Bellosillo, (Chairman), Mendoza, Buena, and De Leon, Jr., JJ., concur.
Dear CFC Brethren,
Please pray that our 27th Anniversary on June 21st dubbed: The Grand Homecoming!!! will have a good and clement weather. There is a storm brewing code named: "Frank". This is NO joke and no pun intended. Check out the current weather report.
Let's all pray: Lord, please spare our 27th Anniversary celebration from the incoming storm named "Frank". Amen.
God bless us all,
DBC
Me and my big mouth (technically it shouldn't be "big mouth" since this is a post, not a conversation, but you get the point): The memo for the FFL anniv says "We advise members to wear CFC-FFL IDs upon entrance to the sports complex."
Oh no, I have no FFL ID!
Do any of you know how to forge one?
Brothers and sisters:
Now we can really see how the devils work...tropical depression "FRANK" is coming,pati ba naman sa weather..ay naku bagyo talaga..ang hangin sa katawan..at any cost..inggit ka lang typhoon "FRANK" kasi di ka invited sa "GRAND HOMECOMING"..
"Praise God with shouts of joy, all people! Sing to glory of his name;offer him glorious praise!!
Athrun,
Ayan kasi nagpahiwatig ka agad.
Kailangan kasi medyo "sneaky" ka sa mga ganyang bagay. Hindi ka pwede pumasok dun sa Marikina Sports Complex, yun lang mga may "authentic" charisms ang pinapayagan dun, gets mo ba? Lahat ng nag "veer away" sa Luneta na lang. Sorry ka na lang bro. Naghahanap ka ba kamo ng magfo-forge ng FFL-ID? Teka, baka sakali matulungan ka nung mga nag-petition sa SEC na ma-resurrect ang CFC-FI name tungkol sa forgery.
athrun!
me kilala akong doctorate dyan..
magaling mag doctor.. SG (surgeon general)
hehehehe..
Sa mga high-tech people, may paraan ba na ma witness namin or maski marinig lang ang anniversary celebration sa Luneta through internet? We want to join you all brothers and sisters in this grand homecoming maski nandito kami sa middle east, please...
pilosopo tasyo
Athrun,
Inquire sa FFL (Frank Forgery Ltd.)
Signal No. 1 in Visayas, Mindanao due to storm ‘Frank’
By TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:05:00 06/19/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- The weather bureau raised storm signal No. 1 over some Visayan provinces and Mindanao after a low-pressure area intensified into a tropical storm.
Storm "Frank,'' packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 90 kph, gathered strength as it moved closer to northeastern Mindanao and Samar, said the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Thursday.
PAGASA said 30 to 60 kph winds would prevail over the provinces of Samar and Leyte and the island of Biliran in the Visayas, and in the provinces of Surigao del Norte (including Dinagat and Siargao islands), Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Norte in Mindanao.
Public storm signal No. 1 has been raised over these areas.
The weather bureau advised residents living in low-lying areas and near mountain slopes to take extra precautions against possible flashfloods and landslides.
But it said the possibility of the storm making a landfall was "very nil."
"However, it might induce the southwest monsoon to bring rain, although not that much, over western Visayas and Mindanao,'' said PAGASA weather branch chief Nathaniel Cruz.
As it moves further north, Frank will bring moderate rainfall over the eastern part of the country, including southern Luzon, according to Cruz.
However, the late afternoon thunderstorms and showers experienced on Thursday in Metro Manila and southern Luzon, and in the Visayas and Mindanao, were not related to Frank, PAGASA said.
They were an offshoot of localized convection, in the case of Metro Manila and southern Luzon, and the inter-tropical convergence zone in the Visayas and Mindanao, it said.
The convection and inter-tropical convergence zone are weather systems that induce rain.
Frank, the first storm to hit the country in June and the sixth this year, was swirling over the Philippine Sea some 470 km east of Surigao, or 450 km east southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar at 4 p.m. on Thursday.
Moving northwest at 15 kph, Frank is forecast to be 400 km east of Catarman, northern Samar Friday afternoon, 500 km east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes Saturday afternoon, and 800 km east northeast of Aparri, Cagayan on Sunday afternoon.
may nakilala akong yfc na ffl parents..ayaw nya lumipat..la lang..
kung uulan sa sat, dahil sa bagyong frank na naman? hahaha.....
excited na ako sa sat..see u all mga tito at tita...sana may libreng lugaw..hehehe..sige congee na lng..hahaha
God bless CFC...happy bday 27th cfc!
ano_ka_hilo
About typhoon Frank...
The first post was funny. After that, it gets tiring.
Iwasan na lang siguro natin yang mga ganyan kapatid. I don't think it helps.
-CFC Member
Let us greet and wish all 27th Happy Anniversary!
Mga Kapatid sa Pilipinas, wear / bring your rain gears.
We Love you!
Have a Spirit Filled Celebration
Max
We are happy to announce that our anniversary celebration on Saturday, June 21, 2008, at the Quirino Grandstand at the Luneta will be telecast globally via the internet.
Here's how:
1. Download TVUPLAYER at www.tvunetworks.com
2. Go to Channel 61713.
3. Please use Microsoft Internet Explorer or simply go to www.GK1WORLD.NET using Internet Explorer.
CFC Ugnayan Multi Media
I think this recent development should cause concern among sincere FFL members. After all, as far as they knew they were moving on with FFL - the Foundation for Family and Life...right?
Well, no nalang. Actually, it seems that was secondary to the game.
The real efforts here on the part of FFL leaders have been to undermine the IC while at the same time trying to take back the CFC name...but why?
Sort of cheapens the words 'Foundation for Family and Life', doesn't it, when Frank & Co(horts) have spent so much effort just to try to resurrect an older CFC name.
So was it really all about the vision for Family and Life...or was it about regaining control over the CFC name and organization?
Kapatid,
I think it's regaining control and tight collection este tithe.
Sabi pa ng kaibigan kong loko-loko rin na tulad ko, JUAN WHO COCKLES, JUAN WHO LAY EGGS! ( The One who cockles, the One who lay eggs ). Tama ba yong spelling ko? Matagal na kasi akong hindi naka pag-ingles eh!
He he he! Sabi ko na nga ba eh!
Syaro naman ilang taon, umabot pa sa Supreme Court, hindi naman silang dalawa naka pag-decern na SCAM yong ginawa nila! Imposible!
Concern daw sa mga un-born children pero yong Children's Playground bininta! Ano ba yan!
Mga kapatid sa FFL, lalo na sa NY! Mag ISIP na kayo! Sayang taga New York panaman kayo! Pangit pakinggan na pati kayo na SCAM! Balik na kayo! We LOVE YOU ALL! Alisin na yang mga pride-pride dyan! At saka mga VEERING AWAY na yan! Huwag kayong mahiya! Saka next time huwag kayong sumakay sa FRONT SEAT para hindi nyo makita ang mga VEERING AWAY! HE HE JOKE LANG!
May God Bless Us All!
“Frank Padilla and his minions are out to see CFC destroyed.”
The outcome of the war is in our hands; the outcome of words is in the council.
-Homer The Iliad
Such statements in this particular blog post do nothing to heal the rift in the CFC community.
The content of this particular blog post is shocking and quite frankly, disturbing. I’m not in favor of CFC being split up over GK, but at the same time I’m not in favor of waging “war” against “Frank Padilla and his minions”.
They may have broken away from the CFC community, but "Frank Padilla and his minions" are still our brothers and sisters. We shouldn't be fighting with them - we should be talking to them.
Statements like “they have taken the phrase by hook or by crook to heart and have resorted to devious means to steal our identity” do nothing to solve CFC’s problems. They will only make it worse, and make reconciliation even harder to achieve.
The blogger and those who have posted comments should be embarrassed. You all are not setting a good example for YFCers like myself.
Mga Taga New York, New Jersey, Dallas, Chicago, Seattle, Washington DC, Virginia- mga Taga USA
Balik na KAYO,
DO YOU WANT TO BE LEAD by Scammer General to Huli-ness? With his Bunny Huli-dine?
Nako po wala pang Repentance.
Kailangan yata mag Confession doon kay Bishop Gabby.
'sus Maria Hosef Panabangi Intawon ang kalag ni General Frankster
Haw abawot mga taga Kanada?
Taga Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton.
BALIK na kayo!
SCAMMER GENERAL pala ang mag lead Nyo to HULI-NESS.
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