Balikatan Board:
President – Landy Ancheta
Vice-President – Lilette Cruz
Secretary – Valerie Malabonga
Treasurer – Edna Bargan
Board members -
Lilia Salazar-Nigro
Ray Nayre
Jojo Remigio
Once chairpersons for the committees are finalized, we shall post. Let us uphold the board in prayer.
Thank you.
Dear Balikatan Members,
As you know it is the time of the year that we have to think of the managing core of the Balikatan which means it is time for you to send in your nominations for the Board. We would like to make it at least one representative from each chapter or a regional representative.
Here we go folks, the table is now open for nominations…. please e-mail me the name of the person you want to nominate and give me a note “why” you think this person is qualified. We’ll take it from there.. We will call this person and ask him/her if he/she is willing to be a part of the Balikatan Board.
See you at Balikatan 2009!
Lilette Cruz
Nominations Committee,
Balikatan Board of Directors
E-mail : lettecruz2002@yahoo.com
The Balikatan Conference is fast approaching and we are excited here in Michigan to host this year’s Conference. Attached is the list of the names of those who have registered and those who have not registered yet but planning to attend the Conference.
If you are planning to attend and your name is not on the list, please let me or Elma Samuelson (elma.samuelson@kentcounty.gov) know as soon as possible, so that we can make the reservation as early and as accurate as possible.
The following are confirmed Speakers for this year’s Conference:
1. Naty Lopez
2. Lisa Chin
3. Efren Echipare
4. Edwin Erni
5. Ramon Rocha
Please continue to pray for God’s guidance and blessings for the conference.
Also, we would like to encourage you to also sponsor a page or half a page of the souvenir program. Please contact Pete Parayno at Paraynop@yahoo.com if interested.
Thank you and let me know if you have any comments or question.
In His Service,
Bethel Trasmonte Skinker
Dear IV Friends,
Have you visited a public library in your neighborhood lately? One way to cut cost for entertainment is to visit your local library. We visit our library to borrow some DVDs, to borrow books or sometimes just to read a magazine. What a convenient and enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. It does not cost you anything (of course our taxes support our libraries).
Looking back, did you ever go to a public library in the Philippines? Were they conveniently located in your area? In your college days, you would have gone to your university or college libraries. In Manila, where Lina lived, she had to walk 5 blocks go to a public library. Those living in the provinces, especially in the rural areas, are not as lucky. Can you imagine a community without a library?
Last December MEANS were making plans on how we can continue Dave Foster’s legacy of ministering to students. Many ideas came along. We wanted a project that will be in line with the MEANS mission to help and work alongside an existing mission organization. In one of the IVCF’s newsletter, Ericson Velardo, IVCF Phil. CEO wrote about their plan to rebuild the IVCF library. We took this opportunity as a go signal from the Lord and wrote Erickson for possible partnership in the project. Both sides got mutually excited. MEANS found the right project to help rebuild the IV Library and to honor the legacy of Dave Foster.
Aldwin Fernandez, IVCF staff and project coordinator wrote, “ We desire that the library will not only be a place “where the books are,” so to speak, but will be considered as primary literary resource center in the spiritual growth of the students, graduates and staff workers.”
IVCF Library
“We pray that the library will be IVCF’s “living room”.
Many of you, our faithful IVCF donors had dug deep into your pockets and had lovingly given to the IVCF ministry. Once again, we ask for your partnership for this worthwhile project to help IVCF Philippines rebuild their library. This will not only serve the IV staff, but also the students and eventually the community. MEANS has donated $1,000 and raised $2,000. We need to raise another $2,000.00 to purchase books and pay for shipments. Our commitment to our donors is to work on this project diligently until we complete the IV Library hopefully by end of June 2009 just in time for the school opening in the Philippines.
Thanks so much for coming alongside with us during these challenging days. We understand that we are living in the midst of economic crisis. We will pool resources big and small to help build the IVCF Library. We believe that the small step that we take will harvest big rewards by God’s grace. We thank you for your help in this endeavor.
Please make your check payable to Balikatan and mail your gift to:
Bethel Skinker – 2545 Kinloch Circle, Lansing, MI 48911.
The Balikatan Conference 2009 will be held on July 3-5, 2009 at the Prince Conference Center, Calvin College, 1800 E. Beltline SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546 (http://www.calvin.edu/prince/). Prince Conference Center is located in the beautiful campus of Calvin College. Free shuttle service available from/to Gerald Ford International Airport (Grand Rapids). The conference is hosted by the IVCF Alumni Group of Michigan. The conference theme is “Praise and Worship the Lord” and the Bible Expositions will be on Psalm 96. Conference speakers include Tom Stark, Naty Lopez, Efren Echipare, Lisa and Leiton Chinn and Darrell Mortalla. The conference will have Bible Expositions, Small Group Discussions, Testimonies, Music and Prayer, Balikatan and IVCF Ministry Reports, Fellowship and Games. The conference will also highlight a Youth Mission Exposure, a Fund Raiser Auction and some Fireworks. The 2009 Balikatan Conference Registration Form can be downloaded here.
Please pray that this year’s conference will be a success. Pray for our planning committees, volunteers, speakers, guests, attendees and all participants. Please visit the Balikatan website for updates on the conference. For any questions, contact Bethel skinker at skinkerfour@att.net
IVCF Board’s Official Statement on Cagayan Valley Ministry and Mr. Joseph “Boyet” Ongkiko and Mr. Nicodemo “Nico” Estrada.
The IVCF Philippines Board of Trustees recently made Official Statements regarding (1) Cagayan Valley Ministry, (2) Activities of Mr. Ongkiko and Mr. Estrada, as follows:
I. Official Statement of the IVCF Board of Trustees Regarding the Cagayan Valley Ministry:
The IVCF Philippines Board does not recognize nor sanction as a ministry of the IVCF Phils, the Cagayan Valley Ministry also known as the IVPM Cagayan Valley. The premises by which the creation of the Cagayan Valley Ministry as approved previously by the Board no longer hold, to wit:
Mr. Nicodemo “Nico” Estrada, the former IVCF Staff Worker assigned and commissioned to undertake and supervise the Cagayan Valley Ministry has already resigned from the IVCF effective September 30, 2007. The Cagayan Valley Ministry does not recognize the authority and governance of the IVCF National Office nor of the IVCF Board; and That despite repeated requests and calls for affiliation, the proponents of the Cagayan Valley Ministry refuse to affiliate with IVCF.
Therefore, any activities, programs and/or representations made by IVPM Cagayan Valley for and in behalf of IVCF in the Philippines and abroad are not SANCTIONED nor AUTHORIZED by IVCF Philippines.
Reference: BOT Resolution BOT-R-09-02 dated 01.23.2009
II. Official Statement of the IVCF Board of Trustees Regarding the Activities of Mr. Joseph “Boyet” Ongkiko and Mr. Nicodemo “Nico” Estrada Among the IVCF Graduates
The IVCF Board declares also that the activities of Mr. Joseph “Boyet” Ongkiko and Nicodemo “Nico” Estrada among IVCF alumni groups and graduates advocating and inviting them to organize and SEC-register as a National IVPM are NOT SANCTIONED nor AUTHORIZED by the IVCF Philippines.
Reference: BOT Resolution BOT-R-09-03 dated 01.23.2009
(Source: Erickson M. Velardo,National Director,IVCF Philippines)