We have just concluded a very exhilarating, wonderful, spiritually-nourishing, and grace-filled 3-day Marriage Encounter Weekend at the BLD Covenant House in Dasmarinas, Cavite... We felt the LOVE of God pouring to each and everyone involved in the said weekend. It was truly God's hands moving to make it happen... Do you know why we say this? Ask us why?
Let us tell you why....Magis Class 100 is the sponsoring class for this weekend. We had seven class coordinators out of the original 16 couples. Of the seven coordinators , only one had been able to attend class reunions... and in the final meetings...they dropped out. Of the total 16 couples, only 2 couples (Malvin and Matin Leano, Vener and Malou Torres) consistently attended the reunion meetings and the weekend itself. Would have been easy to just say, that’s it. No more reunion meetings. But the # of people did not matter. What matter is whether we touched even 1 soul and we’re sure God is happy with that. So the meetings continued even with 2 couples in attendance.
In the last 10 days prior to the weekend, we only had 3 confirmed candidates... a sure ball , "no-brainer" condition for a disaster...a cancelled weekend. It's unthinkable especially that it is a Fr. Ruben's ME Weekend.
We made an appearance and appeal to the community... and prayed harder... We are sure our best efforts are not enough without the support of community and God's loving hands.
We did not waver, we did not worry, nor felt abandoned.. We just stayed positive! So about a week prior to weekend, we had commitment for 11 couples, then 15, then finally on the day itself, we expected 22 couples and 18 singles as candidates. We also had 2 more Magis 100 couples (Frances and Jonjon Cadag, and Uly and Set Dela China ) who committed to come as additional auxiliaries. The ever supportive Cora and Fred; our KKK BCGG Head, is of course always there to help making us the Magnificent 6 couples who would handle the weekend. We now have the numbers to pursue the weekend, but will all of them come? ...Of course you know they did...but in my tracking as of 6:30 PM...30 minutes before the time set by Fr Ruben as the START TIME , we only had 12 couples, and Fr.Ruben felt sad that we have not reach his set limits. The auxiliaries on the other hand was complete...but are we ready and able??? Pray...pray...pray.. and you know 10 minutes before the 7PM target, we have the numbers, 17 couples made it on time and 2 more came in beyond 7PM for a total of 19 couples making it to the weekend. God is so good! What a fitting birthday gift to Fr. Ruben who had dedicated more than 41 years of his life in this Ministry!
So the next challenge is...it's 12 auxiliaries vs the needs of 54 people. Can we deliver? At the on-set it was really a major physical challenge with so many logistical, and facilities needs. Air-con and lights not working in a room, arranging, and re-arranging room assignments which affects other logistical arrangements. There is also a door knob broken, one participant not wanting to share her room. Another one who cannot sleep due to the air-con noise, one needing medical attention due to hypertension (just good that one of K3 member Dr Bobby & Reggie Malijan came to the medical rescue), and many other personal needs of the participants... As we write this, We just can't compare the head ache the 12 disciples could have felt attending the needs of more than 5000 men , not counting women and children , there is definitely no comparison. What did the disciple do?...They went to Jesus who already have the answer..... and the needs are addressed.... It's what we did...we know our capabilities and limitations, so we lift up everything to Jesus, and the wisdom and energy needed to address the concerns just flowed through us and concerns were erased...everything went harmoniously... To God be the glory....
The day to day activities are short, but the preparations that goes with it are enormous... take the case of the directory, typing in information of more than 70 people (candidates, presenters, auxiliaries, etc) and printing a total of 46 sets is not a joke. Two cartridges run out of ink... The back up printer did not work... pictures and personal information of the candidates not yet complete... whew...what else could go wrong? But Fely kept her cool, went on tirelessly and finished it just in time... and may I say... done it very well! Again God’s hands at work!
The "Dinner Date" was the most exciting and we felt God's presence in the preparations made.... it was certainly time pressured preparations as it has to be completed in 30 minutes... Wheng and Ali Reyes, Benz Dimanalata, and Au were the ones responsible in making it happen in record time and elegance! The love and concern, the cooperation exuding from the love of one another disallowed the forces of the evil one to sow tension and irritation. The final result... Fr. Ruben exclaimed... "ang ganda"... and the participants gave us an unsolicited and spontaneous applause! Truly amazing... It's God's love for the participant couples manifesting... and to us as well..
We did it with God's helping hands... And we would like to give back all the glory and Honor to Him who made it possible. As Sally of Anchit said to me, we have done our mission and it is up now for the couples to do what they have seen and heard... We have surely touched couples lives forever, here is one feedback I would like to share from his Facebook wall post:
Jerry (Seculles) says..".now as I go to sleep.. i can't help myself but cry, remembering those memories in that weekend...still singing with tears in my joyful eyes..how I love my mama (that's how he calls his wife Cherry) ...We, as a couple like to congratulate you Magis 100 together with the staff (auxiliaries), especially the sharing couples (Santos & Llamas couples) most of all to Father Tanseco...Thank you very much for the wonderful weekend you've prepared for us...God really is within all of you....
And so we also want to take this opportunity to re-post here what we posted in our FB account: Thanks to all who made this Marriage Encounter Weekend a success! To all the 19 couples and 16 singles...you are all wonderful... the BLD Covenant House Staff are also nice people.,Sally and Anchit and all BCGGs in the South Sector, Fr Ruben and Most especially to the Lord Almighty who gave us an opportunity to serve Him...We feel so good and so blessed! Thanks to You Lord! ...To You we give back all glory and love!!!..
We started the ME Weekend with a prayer , that this weekend be our form of service to Him through the participants. That we may have the Love and Patience for one another as we render it. That we exert our energies, spend our time, talents, and treasure not for our own recognition, but to glorify the Lord who makes all things possible. We ended it with a mass in celebration of "Christ the King", and we were in tears as we hear the participants share their love letters to the Lord, expressing their rekindled love for one another, and their desire to be salt and light for other couples...
Now you know why we say it was truly God's hands moving to make this ME Weekend happen... We just prayed, believed, declared and surrendered to God’s will that the MEW will be a SUCCESS and so it was!
Again thank you to ALL who made this MEW happened. We can’t list down all the names. You know who you are and may GOD bless you MORE!!
Benj and Fely Santiago
Magis Class 100 Shepherd
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