PASSION FOR LIFE

In this present generation, we hear a greater deal of environmental issues compared to any other time in history. Just 10 years ago, warnings of global warming were not taken seriously by some key countries, specially the United States, who would rather sacrifice the possibilities of the damaging effects of greenhouse gases in favor of its economy by not signing the Kyoto Protocol. Now, global warming is no fairytale, it is a fact. Global warming will happen. Actually, we are already experiencing some of it today. There are already symptoms of what is to come. We learn of polar caps melting, experience unusually hot days at certain times of the year, and visited by more typhoons in abnormal frequency, just to name a few.
It is not anymore a matter of preventing, but a matter of adapting. We can stop further damages to our ecology, but we will still experience many environmental back lashes caused by man’s irresponsibility and lack of action. In more than one way, all of us are guilty. So, what do we do about it? We follow God’s command for us.
“Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all living things that move on the earth.” Gen 1:28
From the very start, we are mandated to have dominion, to be stewards of His creation. In Couples for Christ, we are evangelized and brought to a community where we can all experience the love and support of our brothers and sisters. Yet, we also must remember to also love and support the rest of His creation. Here are compelling reasons why each should be challenged to be a steward of the environment:
7 reasons why we should be a STEWARD of the environment.
Supply is limited.
Natural resources can be classified as renewable and non-renewable. Renewable means that these resources can be replenished by means of natural cycles through water, air, plants, and animals. Non-renewable resources are those that once are used cannot be replenished. Examples of these are ores of different metals, coal, and oil. When we destroy the ways in which our natural resources will be replenished, through pollution, we might ran out. Ours is a finite earth. We all live in one planet and share the same resources.
Time is running out.
Everything must go somewhere.
The waste that we throw away does not disappear into oblivion. It goes somewhere else. Unless our waste is put into right use, it will cause problems like the plastics that clog up sewage, causing floods in urban areas. Harmful gases doesn’t just vanish into thin air, it contributes to the greenhouse effect that causes global warming.
We are all affected.
We are all living in a global ecosystem. Once a major change happens in one part of the world, then all of us get affected. The melting of the polar caps is rapidly increasing the sea levels, threatening the existence of some islands. The elimination of some animal species due to poaching can cause imbalance in an ecosystem by disturbing the natural food chain.
Apathy is widespread.
In spite of the many campaigns, reminders, and tips on saving the environment, still there are millions out there that think that it is someone else’s job to take care of nature. Many feel that they have bigger problems to tackle. If we do not convince others to be proactive for the environment, then we are fighting for a lonely cause.
Responsibility for God’s creation
We are not requested to be stewards of creation, we have been commanded. This should be reason enough to take care of nature. We must own up to our responsibility, for God entrusts us to love what He has wonderfully created. We hear of dynamite fishing, kaingin (slash and burn) farming, and illegal logging which violate our call to preserve and beautify nature.
Degradation of the quality of life.
Because of man’s sinfulness, we lost paradise. The slums that surround us are results of our greed and selfishness. Instead of building places of beauty, we breed depressed areas. In these places we see that trash and waste matters are dumped into the rivers. There are mounds of garbage in many different locations, swarmed by flies and mosquitoes that may bring disease.
With the above mentioned reasons, here are their respective action steps;
7 action steps in becoming a STEWARD of God’s creation.
1. Save as much as you can.
Save water, save trees, save electricity, save gas, save energy. Save, save, save. Conserve resources at all times.
2. Today is the day to start.
There is no better time to start than today. Each day that we delay our decision to help save the environment, affects our not so distant future.
3. Ecological Waste Management
Segregate! It is crucial to separate non-biodegradable and biodegradable wastes. Wastes such as plastic bottles can be recycled for profit, animal dung turned into fertilizers, and some hard plastics into containers. Segregation also lessens the collection of garbage in your neighborhood, leaving only residual wastes to be collected.
4. Work with others.
Since we are all affected, we should work with other groups. Not one group can solve the problem of the environment. Everyone should do their share and collaborate.
5. Advocate.
Education on the environment will help open the eyes of many people and move them into action. Be an advocate for the environment by first of all being an example. You can organize forums on the effects of global warming and how we can affect change in our simple ways. Turn the apathetic into energetic advocates.
6. Restore what has been ruined.
We are to restore what we have damaged and lost. Planting as many trees, helping preserve wildlife, actively reporting smoke belching, and reporting dynamite fishing are just some of the initiatives that we can do to help bring back and flourish our flora and fauna.
7. Develop environmentally healthy communities
By building Gawad Kalinga communities, we are also helping save the environment. We give values formation to the homeowners as to handling proper waste disposal and becoming caretakers of the trees, plants, and animals in their surroundings. This way, we prevent diseases from spreading. We uplift the quality of life of the poor and empower them to be stewards of the environment.
“God looked at everything He had made, and He found it very good.” Gen 1:31
Let us not disappoint the Lord further. Honor God by loving His creation. We are preparing this world for our children to inherit. May they swim in clean waters, breathe fresh air, and enjoy the scenery of forest covered mountains because of what we have done in our lifetime. Never forget that the earth is our home, our oikos.

Songwriting has always been my passion. In high school, we had songwriting contests and music projects. I was also playing in a band at that time. While trying to come up with a fresh song in my room with my keyboard, my mother suddenly knocked, and had this urge to say, “Why don’t you write songs for God?” She then stepped out of my room and left me with a question that still rings clearly inside my head, up to this very day. I wasn’t in YFC yet at that time. But somehow, God started to reveal his plan for the gift He has blessed me.
When I joined the YFC youth camp in 1995, I fell in love with God’s music. I delightedly suffered a LSS (Last Song Syndrome) of “Sure Foundation” that lasted for a whole two weeks. I always looked forward to every opportunity to worship, and hoping, just hoping, that one of the songs would be Sure Foundation. At the strum of that familiar guitar intro, I just knew it was my favorite worship song playing. I jumped for joy like a little child, excited to see his father. Right there, I then said to myself, “I am going to sing songs of praise ‘til the day I die.”
In 2003, I became very close with this guy who’s “over blessed” with the wonders that he could do with a piece of wood with six strings…Mike Serapio. Besides being a guitar genius, he manifested a passion for music that I’ve never seen from anyone. More than that, he had the undeniable desire to evangelize, to testify his life’s journey with God, through song. Through him, my high school passion of songwriting got reignited, and the haunting words of my Mom visited me once again, “Why don’t you write songs for God?”
Being missionaries in Manila and away from family who were in province, there were times that our faithfulness and dependence on God was tested. There were situations when we were out of money, but God always provided for us through the generous people whom He sends. There were moments when we felt lonely and depressed, missing our loved ones, but by just opening the Bible, God’s unfailing love comforted us. There were instances that confusions beset us, tough choices had to be made, but God always lit our paths and led us to the right direction. Reflecting on His goodness, Mike and I concluded, “God is Enough.” Thus, our first song was born.
Composing songs for the Lord is a result of an overflow of love for Him. It is an expression of thoughts and emotions wrapped in heavenly melody for God’s pleasure. It is a thirst for His presence, inviting the Lord to satisfy us with the peace and joy He pours into our hearts. A song for God is an eternal reminder of His promise, and our faithful response to His Word.
Is there a sweet melody gently playing in your head? Is there a strong force stirring in your heart compelling you to share God’s message? Get a pen and paper, and start to write. You need not know how to strum a guitar or even know how to carry a tune. All you need is love for the Christ, Jesus our Savior.
Psalm 96:1
Sing to the Lord a new song;sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Generations come and go
Leaving a legacy to know
Some created a mess
Others claimed greatness

Dare we choose our fate?
Are we to love or to hate?
The path of peace, narrow
But with faith we will go

There is no easy way
We only strive each day
Unless we will pursue
No freedom, nothing new

Only once we walk on earth
Then a new generation will birth
By our actions they will recall
Will they bow in shame or stand tall?

Generations come and go
It is love I have to show
Come my son, do not fear
God and country I hold dear

A choice between a nation of consumers and a nation of producers.
What happens when a country consumes more than what it produces? Poverty.
The Philippines has so many shopping malls. We want to spend. We love to consume. And what do we spend on? Foreign products. Why? There aren't enough local products with equal quality. Instead of the money going to our fellow Filipinos, it goes to countries that are already rich.
How can we be productive? Simple. Produce something! We all have our special talents and abilities. We've got to have the right mind-set. What can i produce to contribute to nation building? When one produces locally, it cuts trasportation and middle men expenses. Therefore it will be cheaper and more abundant.
To consume is to run out. To produce is to create abundance.
We try to increase our consuming power by looking for jobs. Lets try to increase our productivity power by creating jobs for people. When we produce a product, it will need people to run it. We hire people to run the business, then more Filipinos can have jobs.
Productivity has to start from the grassroots. From the poorest of the poor. Why? Because people are the true wealth of a nation. The more people, the more productivity. Our challenge is to bring out the best of the poor. To be able use their skills to create abundance for them and for the nation. After all, they are the most plenty. When we empower the poor to produce, we also empower them to share. As a Gawad Kalinga saying goes, "Poverty is not a lack of resources, but a lack of sharing."
What talents do I have to produce something of value for the country? What is my passion? What is something new that I can learn to be able to be productive? What can I share to others to make them productive?
Let us choose to build a nation of producers. Great abundance will come. Parating na ang ani ng bayan, ang Bayan Anihan.

Download Lyrics and Chords of I GIVE MY ALL

Download the Lyrics and Chords of Send Me

Download Lyrics and Chords of God is Enough.

On May 2-4, 2008, the CFC Kids for Christ conducted the 11th International Kids Village (IKV) in the Holy Name University, Tagbilaran City, Bohol. Over 5,500 delegates came from all over the Philippines and countries like Beijing and the Middle East. We were honored to have priests from Beijing, Fr. Zhen Tian Liu or called by his English name as Fr. Justin and Fr. Wen Zheng Han or Fr. Paul. Celebrating the mass with us was Msgr. Jeffrey Malanog, Vicar General of the Diocese of Tagbilaran for the Friday opening mass, and Most Reverend Bishop Leonardo Medroso, DD, the Bishop of the Diocese of Tagbilaran for the Sunday closing Mass.

The kids were lead by the “Kids Ambassadors” represented by various countries, Metro Manila sectors, and provinces. These kids will be KFC’s spokespersons for the year, until they turn it over to the next Kids Ambassadors of their area.

“Kids’ Power” was the theme of this year’s IKV inspired by the verse “Love one another as I have loved you” from John 13:34. Three power stations were put up for the kids to charge up their powers to pray, share and build.

The Power to Pray
All KFC’s wore a “Power Belt” that contained a rosary. The Kids Ambassadors formed a “Living Rosary” and led their fellow KFC’s to pray. It was so inspiring to witness all these kids concentrating in prayer and adoring our Blessed Virgin Mary.

In the “Pray Power Station” the KFC’s learned about the angels, saints, and the different sacraments. They posted different prayers on the walls of the booth and it was so inspiring to read the kids prayers that were so simple and pure.

We also had the “Power Play” where kids from Cebu played different characters that showed importance of prayer and being Christ-like in their actions. The play portrayed that the source of real power is God’s love.

Another highlight of the International Kids Village was the “Kids Praise.” Everyone was just full of energy and enthusiasm as they danced through the action songs. But the best part of it was when the kids raised their hands in worship. It’s the first time that the KFC’s were led to raise their hands as they sang praises to God. It was so moving to see how sincere they were in praying and singing. Indeed they had Prayer Power!

The Power to Share
In the “Share Power Station,” the kids helped raise funds to support the Gawad Kalinga SIBOL pre-school program.

KFC’s also showcased and shared their God given talents in the different creative, sports and special competitions. One particular contest was the “Kids Preach” where kids from different provinces gave a “talk”. It was truly amazing that at their young age, they can already become evangelizers. There was also the “Bible Quiz” where they shared to other kids what they knew about the characters, events, and other important facts about the Bible.

The Beijing delegation also shared their talents through a very inspiring song and dance presentation. The rest of the kids were so excited of the fact that there were kids who came all the way from China to join them in glorifying God in the International Kids Village.

One of the highlight also was the “Bounty Parade.” KFC’s of the different regions shared their own food delicacies to other kids. The kids experienced the joy of a fiesta celebration, specially that May is Fiesta month for the province of Bohol. They also enjoyed the different “Pinoy games” after the bounty parade. Love was overflowing the place as the kids experienced the power to share!

The Power Build
Makisig Morales, a KFC member, and one of the top child actors in the Philippines joined the “Build Power Activity”. Together with the other KFC’s and SAGIP members, they painted houses in the Baclayon Gawad Kalinga site. Through this activity they learned to love God by loving their country and loving the poor. They did not only build houses, but also built friendships. For the kids, it didn’t matter if they were rich or poor as long as they love God and are having fun in building a better future for the country and for the rest of the world. These kids have the power to build!”

God’s love Gives Me Power
The kids also learned a chant that communicated the message of the event. The chant was, “God’s love gives me power…Kids Power!” The kids were so excited in shouting out the chant and doing the actions that go with it. Through the different activities the IKV, the KFC’s realized that they can do a lot of simple things to help change the world and these can all be achieved by remembering that God’s love is the source of all power.

The whole weekend was a manifestation of God’s great love. During the Kids Praise on Sunday, the Lord allowed us to feel His love when He showed us two rainbows high up in the clouds as we were singing songs of love for Him. Many were drawn to tears as if the Lord was saying, “My children I will always love you.”

Our challenge is to emulate the kids in their purity in loving the Lord. Indeed, there is a lot to learn from the children. This year, God has inspired CFC to “Love one another as I have loved you- Jn. 13:34” The kids have shown us that they too can love like Jesus. We are raising a new generation of loving disciples that have the power to pray, share, and build!

Do you have anything to say? What is it that you feel? The answers to these questions can be communicated by speech or better yet, by SONG! St. Augustine once said, “Singing is twice praying.” Music is such a potent tool to communicate and express our innermost thoughts and feelings.On the blank below, write down a key message that you want to deliver. It can be a word or a phrase. (ex. love for God, expressing a romantic feeling, etc.)_____________________________
List down five(5) topics related to your key message. (ex. love for God: forgiveness, peace, joy, etc.)
1.___________________________
2.___________________________
3.___________________________
4.___________________________
5.___________________________

Next, write down how you feel about each topic. (ex. forgiveness: freedom)1.___________________________
2.___________________________
3.___________________________
4.___________________________
5.___________________________
With these information, you can now proceed to write a draft composition. What is vital is that you have a clear message and that you can visualize the emotions that will match to the tune you will be creating.

A basic requirement for song writing is CONFIDENCE. If you won’t believe in yourself, then most of the time others won’t. Stephen Covey suggests in his Seven Habits of Effective People, “Begin with the end in mind.” Believe 100% that you can be an excellent song writer. Stick with that goal, and you will see how fast your skills develop.State three(3) reasons why you can be an excellent song writer.
1.___________________________
2.___________________________
3.___________________________

Can you state three(3) reasons why writing songs is important? State your reasons.
1.___________________________
2.___________________________
3.___________________________
The question above aims to let you realize that songwriting can affect lives. It may be a hobby or a skill you want to harness, but best of all it is something of worth and importance. Answering the “whys” will bring out your passion for songwriting. When time comes that you feel lost and tired in writing songs, the “whys” will bring you back on track.

“A musician with great passion and few skills always outperforms a musician with great skills and no passion.” How many times have we seen someone so gifted in an instrument but never dared to write or even finish a song he has started? I know I have. Dozens of them. Passion always creates possibilities. Passion drives us to learn more each day until we become the best. Having a passion for songwriting will ignite endless possibilities to creating a musical masterpiece.

Kids dancing and jumping with endless energy to the song, “Jesus You’re My
Superhero.”
Young minds concentrating and giving all the artistry that they’ve got on a coloring book
with an outline of Jesus’ picture on it.
Eager kids awaiting for the next game that will teach them more about the Lord.
Little hands in motion helping to paint a Gawad Kalinga House.
The sincerity of a kid praying on his knees at the bedside thanking the Lord of the day’s
blessings.
A child hugging his parents and saying, “I love you mom and dad.”

These are scenes that you would see in the life of a KFC member. What may only seem fun and casual to the kids are actually seeds that will bloom into the future we all hope for. What is the future that we hope to see? Let me share to you the vision of CFC Kids for Christ:

“A global ministry of faithful, loving, and enthusiastic children of God,
guided by the Holy Spirit in preparing Christ-like leaders
and instruments of hope and healing to families that bless the world.”

We gathered KFC coordinators from Metro Manila for a visioning workshop. Most of these coordinators have been faithfully serving in KFC for over a decade, and they all poured out their hopes and dreams of what KFC may become. As we processed the results of the workshop, the KFC council worked hard to express into a statement what the KFCs vision is, fully aligned to the CFC vision of “Families in the Holy Spirit Renewing the Face of the Earth.”

It has become clear, we are to be in all countries of the world, a global ministry. What kind of kids are we molding? A KFC is a faithful kid, having a close relationship with Jesus through daily prayers. A KFC is a loving kid. They are children who love God, family, country, and neighbor. Lastly, they are enthusiastic kids who find that being Christian is cool, fun, and exciting! KFCs are prepared to be Christ-like leaders. We are molding the leaders of the future who follow Christ as their model. They will put an end to corruption and all the structures of evil that we see in our society today. The best and only way to effectively change the world is to evangelize the basic unit of society, the family. If kids will start their journey with the Lord at a very young age, they will be instruments of hope and healing to families, stopping the vicious cycle of sin that are passed on from generation to generation. KFC does not only evangelize the kid, but we also fully involve the parents in the journey of their children in knowing the Lord. We are envisioning the whole family to be evangelizers, making them a blessing to the world, renewing the face of the earth.

We want to make this vision a reality. We should see that every KFC activity is a step closer to what the Lord has called us to become. Responding to the KFC vision are our “KFC Mission Goals.” These are:

Kids Evangelization,
Family Enrichment,
Renewal of Society, and
Mission Support.

Kids Evangelization includes our Kids Camps, Kids Praise, and our monthly KFC sessions. Family Enrichment activities are the Father and Son Bond Camp, Mother and Daughter Camp, Family Ties Camp, and the Parents Assembly. For the Renewal of Society, we have the Gawad Kalinga Batang Bayani movement and the KFC advocacies namely, Batang Kalikasan (renewing the environment), Batang Business (promoting stewardship), Batang Media (responsible use of media and technology), Batang Malakas (health advocacy for strong mind and body). The goal of Mission Support is achieved through the Couple Coordinators trainings, Beyond Borders missions, Facilitators Training (ate/kuya *R.O.C.K. program), Kids with Special needs training, and the all the events that we have.

We foresee that our mission goals will be brought into the different sectors of society. We hope to bring KFC into all the schools (school based), baranggays and parishes (community based), and Gawad Kalinga sites (GK sagip). We also bring our goals to the children of the Mission Core, the KFC Mission Core Kids program. We also deliver our mission goals to those who are differently-abled and mentally challenged kids. We train our coordinators and facilitators to handle “special children” through the “Kids with Special Needs Training program” and hope to blend them effectively with the other regular kids during the KFC activities.

Let us not only dream of the future, let’s build it. We complain much about the world we live in today, but we do not realize that we have not acted early enough to change it. Today, we are alarmed of global warming, breakdown of morality, materialism, and rampant corruption to mention just a few. It will be disastrous if later we realize that we are one generation too late. I believe that CFC Kids for Christ will play a vital role in the coming decades. We will produce Christ-like leaders and instruments of hope and healing to families. KFC will bring forth a future full of hope. I challenge everyone to invest time and service for our kids. We are exhorted in the gospel reading:

“Then He took a child and had him stand if front of them. He put his arms around him and said to them, “Whoever welcomes in my name one of these children, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not only me but the also the one who sent me.” Mark 9:36-37

The Lord gives us the power of vision. We are granted the power to see what this ministry can become. The direction is set, the future is clear. Let us adjust our sails towards our vision and let the wind of Holy Spirit bring us there!

We often ask kids, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

We have hopes for them. We are excited of the decision they will make. We want them to succeed in life.

The above question also reflects on our yearnings of how the kids of today can change the world of tomorrow. Will they become doctors that are pro-life? Will they be honest businessmen and politicians? Will many of them answer the call to religious vocation?

We often hear them answer, “I want to be a doctor.” Other popular answers are, “scientist, astronaut, fireman, and president.” Kids have dreams. And they mold their dreams based on what they see from their parents, their community, on TV, the internet, and at school.

Whatever their ambitions may be, the challenge is that we have to prepare them to be Christ-like. To be Christ-like engineers, nurses, lawyers, or artists. We hope to hear them answer, “I want to be like Christ” above anything else. A portion of KFC’s vision statement is “…guided by the Holy Spirit in preparing Christ-like leaders…” We have to be one in with our vision and start molding today’s kids to be like Jesus.

We hear much about Generation X or Generation Y, defining what kids are today and how technology, media, and culture are affecting the way they make decisions. In CFC Kids for Christ, we are raising “GENERATION CHRIST.” A new generation that loves the Lord and follows His ways. A generation where corruption will be a thing of the past and loving one’s fellowman is practiced by treating the poor as brothers and sisters. It is a generation where Christ is the center of their lives.

Service is a necessity. It is part of the cycle of life. Without service, one will be miserable. Getting too much of one's self, without an outlet, will surely lead to suffocation. Not to serve is suicide.

I just gave a CFC CLP talk. God's Love. What better way to reconnect to the Lord than by serving Him. As we take on responsibility, we are restored of our dignity. We have to step up because the situation pressures us. And thus, bringing about our God given abilities. Service gives us life.