Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Iglesia Ni Cristo's event in Quirino Grandstand, not a political-inclined agenda

An aerial view of Iglesia ni Cristo's Grand Evangelical Mission in Quirino Grandstand
28th February 2012, MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) held its Grand Evangelical Mission (GEM) in accordance to the religion's theme for 2012, PUSPUSANG PAGPAPALAGANAP NG EBANGHELYO, meaning a thorough dissemination of the Gospel of the Lord. Reiterating, it is an EVANGELICAL MISSION and not some kind of "rally" or "prayer rally" as the media claimed in the news earlier this day. And besides, prayer rally is El Shaddai's (and other Protestant groups) thing, and most definitely not INC's.

I am fully disturbed by the insensitive public defamation the media have spread around in their headlines regarding this religious event held. They have ill-reported false facts to the public as they claimed the event as a political rally against the impeachment of Corona.

This article below is just a proof on how unreliable the media is, as they always eye on INC as an influential group, known for "block voting", for politics. Well, block voting may be true, but in fact, INC is not, in any way, politically inclined.


Malacañang on Saturday insisted there is no threat from a reported “pro-Corona” gathering of Iglesia ni Cristo in Manila on February 28.


Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said there is no reason to worry about the scheduled INC gathering, which she said is an evangelical and Bible exposition.


“Ay hindi tayo nababahala sa isang Bible exposition at may pagpupulong silang sinasabi, evangelical and Bible exposition," she said on government-run dzRB radio.


But she refused to comment on questions on whether the Palace believes it is dangerous for Church groups to meddle with Palace affairs.


“We don’t know that, we cannot speculate,” she said.


Asked if the Palace has countermeasures for any pro-Corona rallies, she said, “Wala kaming ginagawang ganyang paggalaw (We have no such action).”


Earlier reports indicated the INC will hold a grand evangelical mission at the Quirino Grandstand, supposedly to urge President Benigno Aquino III and his administration to respect the “rule of law.”


The INC was dragged into the issue of Corona’s impeachment following alleged moves by the Palace for Serafin Cuevas, and INC member, to withdraw as one of Corona’s defense counsels.

source: gmanews.com

In fact, this GEM is a long-awaited and well-prepared evangelical mission by INC which was held NATIONWIDE, thus not only in Quirino Grandstand. This event was in preparation for INC's centennial on July 2014, thus if you see today as a big problem, then you should prepare for the aforementioned date. To take account for this, and to have credibility on what I'm saying, below is an article on the true facts about INC's grand event.

THE Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) insisted Monday that there is nothing irregular with the holding of its grand evangelical mission Tuesday amid rumors of it being a show of pro-Chief Justice Renato Corona force.


INC spokesman Bienvenido Santiago said gatherings like the grand evangelical mission to be held at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila around 5 p.m. Tuesday has been taking place since the INC’s establishment in 1914.


“The Iglesia Ni Cristo has been holding such gatherings in various places on a regular basis since the time of its first Executive Minister, Brother Felix Y. Manalo, who established the INC’s first congregation in the Philippines in 1914,” he said.


“This religious activity is one of the means by which the Church propagates the teachings of God in the Bible that members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo believe to be essential for man’s salvation,” he added.


Santiago noted how similar grand evangelical missions have been conducted at the Quezon Memorial Circle in 1995 and at the Amoranto Stadium in 1996.


“In 2009, multi-district grand evangelical missions were held in 14 venues all over the country in celebration of the 95th anniversary of the Church,” he said.


This, he said, is aside from the other “bible expositions” they have conducted in the past “on a smaller scale” that are usually held in the houses of worship.


The INC official also stressed that the Quirino Grandstand is just one of the 19 venues tapped for the event as the grandstand will just be for those members from Metro Manila, as well as the province of Bulacan and the Calabarzon Region.


Aside from the Luneta venue, also identified areas are Isabela Sports Complex, Isabela; Jose V. Yap Sports and Recreational Complex, San Jose, Tarlac; Gloria Town Plaza, Oriental Mindoro; Pili Freedom Sports Complex, Pili, Camarines Sur; La Union National High School Sports Complex, San Fernando City, La Union; Paglaum Sports Complex, Bacolod City; Cebu City Fuente Osmeña; Tacloban City Convention Center; and Pagadian City Gym, Zamboanga del Sur.


Also named as venues are Limketkai Center, Cagayan de Oro City; Davao Agro-Football Stadium, Davao City; General Santos City Gym; La Paz Plaza, Iloilo; Butuan City Sports Complex; Odiongan Sports Complex, Odiongan, Romblon; Puerto Princesa Coliseum, Palawan; Coron Gym, Palawan; and Sta. Cruz Plaza, Sta. Cruz, Marinduque.


Santiago said they are confident that most, if not all, INC members from its 4,374 local congregations across the archipelago will attend and participate.


The bible exposition Tuesday will be the fourth biggest gathering of the INC and will be held as part of the group’s campaign for the intensive propagation of God’s words, said Santiago.


source: sunstar.com.ph

As mentioned above, today was a NATIONWIDE GEM, where Quirino Grandstand is only one of the 19 venues of the said event. Also, this is done every year. So does that mean that INC rallies on some political shit every year? Thus, another proof that this is not a political rally in favor of Corona. And if ever it was a political rally, then it should have been done in Mendiola or in any place where rallies are usually held, right? None in INC's history of almost 100 years did it use its religious views and standing on any political matter, and what is Corona's impeachment to make INC's view change? Thus, never it has been that INC engaged and will engage its members to such dirty piece of crap, politics that is.

Another issue... I understand most of the civilians concern regarding the heavy traffic, but please be careful with your words. Don't say that the public was not informed beforehand, because in the article above, the government was well-aware of this event but PNoy did not cancel classes like what other presidents did in the previous years. Now, tell me, whose fault is all this again? Another thing, this is not Iglesia Ni Cristo's Grand Eyeball (as I've read in one tweet), this is a Grand Evangelical Mission, you dumb-ass. How would you feel if I call your religion's evangelical gathering an EYEBALL. Don't compare INC to your jeje views, please.

On the brighter note, this Grand Evangelical Mission was publicized on local newspapers and other forms of media, thus reaching people (which made CONCERNED PEOPLE curious) of what this is about. Second, #iglesia trended (well, it's still trending as of now) on twitter, well it was #IglesiaNiCristo which the group wanted to be trending but #iglesia is close enough.

Lastly, I want to greet all the Iglesia Ni Cristo members, not only in the Philippines but in the entire world, for this successful nationwide Grand Evangelical Mission. This event was indeed grand, and will be marked and remembered in INC history.

2 comments:

  1. Nice blog! Your blog is more reliable than any media news portal in the country.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Really glad you found this somewhat helpful. :) Just trying to deliver facts in a relatively non-bias manner. :)

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