Elijah had done some fascinating things during his ministry. God was with him and blessed him everywhere he went. He was troubled by many yet each time he faced his foes with God’s strength and was able to resist and to repel them.
One day after rebuking King Ahab and being threatened by Jezebel that she would kill him, Elijah ran away.
He ran long and far and completely exhausted he sat down under a tree and said to God, “It is enough…”
Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever said to God, it is enough?
I believe God tests all He loves and takes them to their limits but never past them.
Job experienced it after a long and excruciating endurance of Satan’s attacks as he cursed the day he was born. He never went against God and neither did Elijah but they just showed their frustration.
Job, after God yelled at him and Elijah, after God showed him His power, were both brought to a better place. Job was restored everything tenfold and Elijah went up to heaven in a chariot of fire.
Many times I feel the testing of God pulling and pushing me into new strengths. Sometimes I want to scream out, “It is enough” but then I ask God to give me more strength. I ask Him not to take me so far that I will cry out, “It is enough.” I want to pass His tests.
Sometimes I will get a bit grumpy and complain and my wife will say something like, “Hold on, everything will be alright.” I will answer and say, you have been telling me that for fifteen years now! Yet I know she is right. With every passing of a test come a raise in grace from our God and He will fill me with peace which means, we’re cool!
I try to explain to my wife that no matter how “Christian and Godly” one is, if you drop a concrete block on their foot, they will scream. They may have great faith and now they also have great pain.
Lastly, it is alright to spout off once in a while. Try to keep it between you and God and try not to let the whole world see. (They are working on their own issues and don’t need yours also)
God knows how hard you try and also that you are human. Sometimes I say, Father, I know you are always right so there is no need to try to argue (I would always be wrong anyway) but I would ask for a bit of peace. Do you know what? He gives it to me.
So don’t forget, no matter how difficult it gets,  like Job and Elijah, in the end we will always win with God. 

I got the idea (as all my ideas) as a inspiration by God.

The PBC shirt does so much for those who wear it.

#1- It shows that we belong- anywhere we go, the PBC shirt is recognized by other members of the community

#2 – It advertises the Church – It has a insignia on the front with the PBC logo

#3 – It advertises the need – On the back of every shirt it has SAVEPAYATAS.COM which is a web site showing the need here in Payatas.

#4 – It shows solidarity – New people coming to the Church anxiously await their very own PBC Shirt

#5 – It removes class distinctions – Sometimes children in their pursuit of “being cool” seek to wear something “better” than someone else. When we wear our shirts, we are all equal.

Shirts are worn every Saturday for door knocking and anytime we make an appearance such as playing our musical instruments in another Church or arriving at camp…

When we wear our shirts we are a team. We are the local church. We belong to the congregation of Saints. To the unbelievers, we have integrity, we are there to uplift the community and to many, it creates a desire also to belong.

There are no ranks in our team. The Pastor as well as the youngest member wear the same exact shirt (except for the size of course)

What sets you apart from those in your community? Do people associate you with Jesus Christ? I used to say that I would not have a Christian bumper sticker on my car because of the way I drive. Now I want the sign that says I belong to Christ to be an example to all.

The one thing I had was a complete dependency on God. I knew if I was going to have a thriving Church, God would have to build it. After all, didn’t Jesus say:

Mat 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. “

I was asked to preach in a few places and I started getting tired of it. I was invited to a Church in Makati and I said to God, “Today, please start your work here.”

That was it. So I went to Makati and a man came running up to me and said, “Do you want to start a ministry in Payatas? I have a small group Bible study there with about a half dozen people. Perhaps you can take it over?

The man was Pastor Jerry Anota and we became fast friends.

I said, Thank you Lord as I realized God answered my prayer to start His work that day.

A few days later Pastor Anota met with me and we went to the home in Payatas where the study took place.

He introduced me to the people, and they all stared at me with suspicion. They wondered why on earth would this man come all the way here from America? What does he want?

However, after a short time, they realized that I was there to work for the Lord, and we all became very close.

We encouraged the people to invite their friends, and we asked God to increase our Church. So we grew. We were holding church in one of the squatters homes. It was a rough, two story cement block building.

The lady who live there suggested that we could break through the wall downstairs and make a Church, and they could move everything upstairs.

Although it was a sweet and generous offer, I felt God telling me that He would build His Church.

So I invited Pastor Anota over to my house, and the next day we went out looking for a building.

We saw one that had potential. We went next door to speak to the people and we found out the floor was all rotted and the building wasn’t stable.

We told them about the Lord and they made a profession of faith.

We then went further down the road to the building we now (2013) occupy.

We met with the landlady and we agreed upon a price and after she finished painting, we moved in.

That was in November of 2006 and we have been there ever since.

We are now severely over crowded and are in dire need of a new place.

We have gone through many stages while here but we found out the secret of growing a Church is let God do it.

Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

We had this man in our Church that was asking visitors why they were coming to our Church? He said our Church was no good. The devil works his ways.

I didn’t know about it but some members did. When I found out I told the members that if something like that happens again, I need to know about it and whoever knows and doesn’t tell, can go to another Church.

I am strong about loyalty. Whoever is not with us is against us and we need to maintain a good watchful eye.

I was about to throw this man out of the church. It was Sunday morning and I was up in my office. I was beginning to get nervous. I thought that there might be a split and when I go downstairs the Church will be half empty. Finally, my strength came into me as I prayed. “God, this is your Church, not mine. If you allow a split so be it but whatever happens, Blessed be your holy name.

I went downstairs. That man was gone and not only that but we had more people than we ever had before.

It seemed to always work that way. We got rid of some people. One was a bookkeeper. I loved her dearly. She was a very generous woman, a good worker and friend. The problem was, she would only come to Sunday morning service. Not only that, I had to speak to her about texting during the sermon as well as falling asleep.

Finally, I took her into my office and told her that unless she attended the services she would have to leave. She decided to leave. That made me very sad, it still does but the devil will use people close to you. You need to cut them.
God immediately replaced her with another bookkeeper as well as a helper who has now learned also to do the books.

We had a man who claimed to be a missionary and wanted to work for the church. His Pastor in America endorsed him . I set him up with a desk and work to do and every time I passed he was looking at a dating site. He wanted a wife. I told him to do that on his own time. There was a lady who worked at one of our medical clinics. He showed an interest in her. I warned him not to get involved with her. Even though she had been separated from her husband for eight years, she still was married.

One afternoon I was in my office and I heard a loud noise outside. I believe God caused the loud noise to get me to look out the window. There was this supposed missionary getting in a taxi with this women.
When he returned the next day, we parted ways.

Another man from America came and decided he was going to do what he wanted. He was generally obnoxious. I caught him smoking in front of the Church with all our kids outside. I found out he was drinking in the streets with another guy. He was quickly removed.

There were others. The reason I pointed out those stories was if I wasn’t prepared to take immediate action, I feel I would have lost the Church.

I use the old saying -One rotten apple spoils the bunch and it’s true.

We had women arguing and I immediately brought then into my office and we straightened everything out.

1Ti 5:20 “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.”

A successful church has everything to do with obedience to God. It depends on a strong Pastor who is willing to discipline when necessary.

Man can not build a Church. He might build a successful business but it won’t be a church.

God’s strategy was to focus on children. We had plenty of them. Most were from the garbage dump families. They would come and they would be filthy. So we lined them up on the side of the building and we washed the hands,arms,legs,feet, necks and faces of these precious children.

We taught them hygiene and how to keep their clothes clean and before you know it , supporters were telling us that our kids did not look so poor. They were changing by the grace of God.

Another thing God told me was everyone has to have a job in the church. If we are truly a family, we all need to work together. So we have a preacher (besides me) teachers, cleaners, cooks, bookkeepers, Music leaders, maintenance and whatever else we need.

If you are not working together you will soon feel like an outsider.

We focused on teaching the word of God word by word. I break it down and we go through the bible on Wednesday and Sunday evenings. All of our adults and most of the children know how to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Every Saturday we go out with anywhere from 55-75 door knockers.

You would think many people come to the Church by our efforts. The answer would be no. As I said in the beginning, God builds His church. We go out because God requires it. God brings visitors all the time but not by our efforts lest we say we built the Church.
All our people are aware of this rule.

We also have what we call a two by two program where couples go to witness to any of the children’s parents that do not attend. The ladies also have another visitation program where they visit those they deem in need of an immediate visit for whatever the reason.

The children invite their friends. We are constantly growing and if we were taking any credit at all is that we are doing what we are told to do.

There are principles of God which we try to follow very close.

One simple principle is:

2Ch_15:2 “… The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. “

Those who forsake the Lord are expelled from the fellowship. Paul had no trouble doing it and neither do we.

Amos said:

Amo 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

We will work with people growing and learning, We understand each person is at their own level, There is a point where discipline is necessary and it works for the morale of the entire Church.

Building a church is easy when you let God do it.

If you will listen, He is always glad to lead.

As one of the poor Churches in one of the poorest areas of the Philippines calls for help. Will the Church of Christ answer?

I remember being in a Baptist meeting in California when the call went out for a Church that was about to close. We were asked if we could give to help this Church pay it’s bills and get on it’s feet. Even as a Missionary on deputation, I felt that “pull” of the Holy Spirit to help and I did with even more than I had. Just like the Macedonian example:

2Co 8:2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

The same Pastor who made the plea said that it was our Christian duty to help one another . It was also that same Pastor who would not receive my calls and when I finally got through he would not receive me for deputation.

It was at that time I realized that helping in SoCal was only for people in their “club.”

I did get a handful of Churches to support the work here in the Philippines. They were the faithful ones and have blessed us considerably. They heard God speak to their hearts and responded but for the many, there was nothing.

I wondered if this was a geographical problem but as I put out the call that this Missionary Church (PBC) was in trouble and needed some cash so we can get a property the silence was deafening.

Where were those Churches and Preachers and Christians who so many times posted their spiritual blips on Facebook and Twitter and Linked-In, who seemingly were pillars of the religious community?

I once heard a preacher say , great minds over the years have no answer for this but I have come to know… Now, I believe God is still giving out new truths but when you start by saying great minds couldn’t do this but I could, you’re a windbag and full of conceit. I am afraid many have become windbags, espousing much but doing little. I look at their banquets and services and the wonderful suits and dresses and catering. Then we see our photos and the difference is amazing. Our poorness however does not equate to sadness (Thank you Lord) I wonder how others richness equates?

Please know that I am not now or have I been concerned about this ministry’s survival. That’s not my job. This ministry belongs to Jesus Christ and He said He would build His Church. My job is to do everything I can to serve and when things go right I know it was because of Him and not me.

What concerns me is the Church of Christ.
I remember before I came here, Pastors who said they were sending the check but never did. I could name at least a half of dozen and not one gave me a call to say why.

One Pastor told another that he would not support me because I was “too pushy”.
Imagine that. Here he was living a good life in America and here I was, going into his poor Country of origin to help his people and I was too pushy.

How pushy would you be to save your child, your family? How much more credit when you love others as much as your self and you are too pushy to help them.

I am thankful for those who do not share my same faith but do share what we are doing here.
Their faithfulness will outshine many who claim a better way.

Jesus said: Luk 18:8 “…Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? “

He was speaking of Christians. He wasn’t looking for faith from non-Christians obviously.

When I first started this journey, we did not even have the money for the plane. I prayed and said to God, if this is your will, I know you will supply the funds.

Right after that I received an email from a Filipina in Dubai. She asked for references because she said she saw our website and wanted to donate to the Mission. Shortly thereafter I received a check that covered the expense of the flight as well as paying to ship some of my books.
I found out after , that it was this woman’s client who was sending the check and he wasn’t a Christian.
Then God spoke to my heart and told me that if the Christians would not support me that He would cause the others to do it and they would get the blessing.

Giving is for the giver. Bill Gates is the richest man in the world because he follows a Godly principle to give. He is probably the most generous man in the world. He’s not a Christian and he doesn’t support Christian ventures but he does follow God’s principle of giving and he reaps the rewards. How much more for Christians that obey God’s word?

CONSIDER YOUR WAYS

If you know of our plight and God has spoken to you and you have ignored it than it is in your hands.
God will not speak to everyone to help but God forbid those that He speaks to and refuses the call.

Our many thanks to those of you who have been supporting this work. We love and appreciate you.

People who are running are not running for office as much as they are running for a job or even worse, the opportunity to get their fingers in anything they can.

Corruption is the world over. In the U.S. there is so much corruption that they can’t pay the bills so now they want the rich to pay the bills that they never paid because the Government stole the money. They want the poor to pay also by cutting the medical assistance to the poor and social security to those who paid into the system for years.

Worldwide corruption is so rampant, people are used to it.

We should no longer put up with corruption. Look at Payatas. Every election people vote for candidates that promise them the world and shortly after they realize all they got in return was more garbage in the form of election banners illegally placed by the candidates.

It is our practice to walk the community every Saturday telling all about the salvation through Our Lord. We also try to talk to the people and help them in any way we can.

So, one day as we were walking, a lady approached me with her entourage and asked me if I could convince my Church members to vote for her for Council woman. I laughed and asked her where had she been as I never saw her in the area before. She said that’s because I just started to run. I could not believe it. I told her, look, if you want to serve the people (I don’t think she understood the concept) then come out here week after week and try to fix the problems. Do something to make a difference. Then when it is time for election, you probably won’t have to say anything. People will just want the person who loves to help them. She wasn’t elected.

Sometimes people are not elected because the vote is rigged.

All this needs to change. There is a man in the neighborhood who I hold in high esteem. He lives in Payatas and he is helping the people in Payatas every week.

Starting soon we will be promoting this man for the Barangay Captain position coming available in 2013. We will tell you all about him. Many of you know him.
There are a lot of issues in Payatas today, Building a palace for a barangay hall and installing fences on Payatas road so it is dangerous to wait for a Jeepney are not two of them.

Write down your ideas for changes and give it to us or post them. I know most are not on the internet so we will catch up with you house to house. We will ask you to get involved to count ballots and supervise so there is no tampering.

We are Payatas Mission Outreach, Inc. and Payatas Q.C. Baptist Church and Ministries, Inc. The only reason we are here is to make a difference in Payatas and we have done that for the past five years. Let’s join together and change this place.

We will see you soon.

We are a regular site to see each week as we all wear our red Payatas Baptist shirts and flood the area with our presence.

Last Saturday was no different. We spoke to residents and encourage them to come to Church. We also ask the parents to encourage their children to come. We use many different ways to make their lives and future better. It is a service so very beneficial to the community.

We teach various school subjects in our members houses so the children will have an extra advantage and better possibilities for the future. The Government will give a scholarship to the students who are at an 80% level and we help them to achieve that goal.

My wife teaches ESL which when learned they will have an opportunity to work in a call center making money instead of the garbage dump and suffering.

We also teach music. Seven students started learning the guitar. I gave them the incentive that if they played a couple of songs proficiently, the Church would buy them a guitar. Three youngsters received new guitars and it looks like more is on the way.

All For Jesus

One of our children at the Church was born without part of one arm and finger problems on the other. He was so happy that we bought him an Harmonica which he is now learning how to play.

Andrei the Harmonica player

My own children are taking the violin and flute and even my wife has joined and began lessons on the flute. It’s so wonderful for the entire church.

So why do I say that Payatas is the worst Barangay (County) in the Philippines? Well, with all we do, the local government does nothing to help and even tries to hinder our operations.

Last Feb. 2011, we had a bunch of doctors and nurses with support staff offer to come to have a medical mission to help the poor residents here. We had been asking for the use of the covered court and believed we had it. We also asked for use of the community tables and chairs. They put us off up until the day of the mission. I went down to speak to them and they told me that I could not use the court because the school was going to use it. We argued and I told them there were already about 600 people waiting for medical help and so if they wanted to evict them give it a shot. So they backed down but still never gave us the tables and chairs needed so I had to pay out of my own family money something of which a missionary does not have much.

About one thousand people were helped but the Barangay thought it better to try to stop it.

This past Saturday, we went past the Barangay hall and the residents were telling us that although the Barangay claims to be fighting against the Dengue disease, they have been parking their garbage trucks in front of the local homes. The stench combined with the wet garbage residue is a welcome mat for the disease carrying mosquitoes.
They pleaded with the Barangay to park the vehicles elsewhere but they refused. I guess the Barangay doesn’t realize that they exist because of the people and not vice versa.

This sums up the Barangay response to the people

Anyway, I told one of our members to start taking photos of the situation. Immediately a guard came out and to began to question my man on what he was doing. I stepped in and asked him why did he need to know. He told me we needed “Permission” to take photographs. I said since when? This is the Philippines, a free Country and we are on public property (the street) then another one came over. We nicely told them to back off and they went away finally.

They don’t do more than they do here. The roads have large  deep holes that you could easily disappear if you fell in one. The streets are filthy and garbage trucks are allowed to dump trash in the street to sort. It’s a mess. In another blog, Payatas is a very Holey Place, I showed the many holes and also the empty library or shack they called a library. In any event they built it but never put books in. I think they call that smoke and mirrors.

they also refused our request for a waiting shed so that women, especially with their babies, could wait out of the heat or rain for transportation. Instead they built about a km long bamboo fence on the very edge of the road. It immediately became a filthy eyesore and within days the trucks were knocking parts of it down. what was the response from the Barangay? Build it again. The same thing happened. Then they decided to build it out of metal. Parts of it have been crashed into and most of it was never completed. Just another disgrace.

Payatas is a great place if you are talking about the people. They work hard and try to raise their children well. Now if we can get the Government on their side, perhaps we can change it for the better.

If you have complaints about the Barangay, feel free to drop us a note.

P.S. Watch these pages for we are about to put up a real decent God fearing person for Barangay Captain. We covet your prayers.

The bible teaches us in Deu_11:29 And it shall come to pass, when the LORD thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal.

Let me give you the easy reading translation of that verse. God is directing His people. (If you do not know Jesus as your Lord and savior go here to find out how to be saved: http://www.payatasbaptistchurch.org/wordfrompastor.asp?mainmenuidno=WFTP2345&content=firstpage
Now, getting back to what I was saying, this verse describes to us that God is leading His people. 24/7 we are led by God. That does not mean we always follow Him.
Mt Gerizim represents how we will do when we obey Him. Mt Ebal shows us the results of disobedience.

Let’s make it clearer. The relationship between us and God is similar to the relationship between parent and child. For example, you tell your child to play in the yard and do not go down the street. Your child is very young and telling him/her that there are violent people who might do terrible things and explaining what they could do is ridiculous. So you just tell your child to play in the yard. So now your child looks down the street from the yard and sees how nice it looks down there. Perhaps their friends are down the block or a puppy that got loose and so they rush off to save it. You did not give them a conditional warning. You gave them an explicit warning yet they disobeyed so now you mete out the punishment.

The children never say, “Well, we deserved it because we did not obey.” They say, “What a mean parent we have.” they don’t understand that you are doing what is best for them and they are not happy little campers.

Let’s get back to big people and God. We do the same thing. One big thing we don’t do is to trust God. If we are out of work and a job offer comes in but it is required of us to work during the time that we usually attend Church, we cave in. The first thing that pops in our mind is that church is at the same time. That would be the Holy Spirit speaking to us, The next thing that occurs is we begin to argue with the Holy Spirit. We say things like, “Well, the family has to eat.” “God wants me to work.” These things are of course true but there is no God in that answer. You are just twisting the scripture to move things in your own direction.
Let’s look at this the way the truth sees it. God is absolutely real. He loves us. He wants us to prosper in our lives. He does not necessarily make us rich but wants us to prosper with a happy life. By the way, he wants us to pay our bills.
Now, if the Devil can offer you work on Sunday, how much more can God offer you work and give you the days off you need?
It’s really up to you. Do you believe God is in charge of everything or does He just let us go in circles until we run out of energy?

Without going too deep in one writing, each day is a test. Will you choose to obey God or obey the Devil?

Should I steal? Should I commit adultery? Should I lie? Should I not trust God for my needs? On and on. Most are obvious and some are not.

Do you want to prosper and do well?

Then listen to my life verse:

Jos 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Simple Answers: Read your Bible – In it you will find all the words of life

Follow God – Do you have a better choice?

Seek Him in Prayer – He will answer you.

Here are a bunch of facts concerning various companies and notable people. Let’s see with what conclusion you will arrive. Note: To date, no one has been brought to court or to my knowledge has ever answered to any wrongdoing. This article is just to give the facts as could be seen from websites, email and phone conversations and the like.

You can draw your own conclusions. Also, anyone who was associated with this “event” can feel free to write me if they have something to add.

Just before Christmas of 2008, there was a massive appeal to “help” the poor in Payatas.

The Lighthouse Mission International , also known as Lighthouse Mission for Children located at
135 West Avenue 1105, Quezon City MM. Their website: (http://lighthouseforchildren.com/) which has conveniently been closed down and the site removed.This was under the direction of Judge Veneracion who has since passed on. It also included a Pastor and a few others.

These were the people who were behind the fund raiser known as “Christmas For Payatas” in 2008′

I first went to see Judge Veneracion at his office. He was very personable and I also noticed he was promoting a product called the Quantum Pendant which he and his cohorts bragged that it healed everything. It was expensive and I told him that I would not buy anything I did not have personal proof that it worked so he offered to let me wear it free for a week. I accepted his offer and proved it a scam during that week and returned it. This is the present web address of the company, they represented: www.fusionexcel.com This is the domain registration for Fusion excel:
Administrative Contact:
Lee, K.S. wwwkslee@yahoo.com
FusionExcel International Limited
Suite 801, 8F, Pacific Building,
20, Queen’s Road
Central, 55200
Hong Kong
Upon searching you will find Mr Paul Ting as the founder of Fusion Excel.

I am showing you the close connection between Judge Veneration’s group called Lighthouse and Paul Ting’s group called Fusion Excel as Mr Ting’s group was a major player in donating money to Judge Vereracion’s “Christmas for Payatas” and also promoting it.

The plot thickens. They get a Company called “Tote Daddy”  involved in raising the money. Their website is: http://www.totedaddy.com/index.asp?clanguage=

As you can see below, Tote Daddy is owned by Matthew Ting, Paul Ting’s (Fusion excel) brother.
Tote Daddy plays an important part in raising the money for “Christmas in Payatas”
By the way, according to their website they raised in excess of $83,000 for Christmas for Payatas.

Administrative Contact:
Ting, Matthew help@totedaddy.com
ToteDaddy
19G Burgundy Corporate Tower
252 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave
Makati City, NA
Philippines
9278054343

Now we show the three major players in this “Charitable” venture.

I have tried to contact all of these people and no one could tell me where any of the money went. Lighthouse (through the local Lyons club who is somehow associated with this group) gave my organization about 65 pairs of sneakers, shorts and t shirts (Maybe to quiet me) but no one could tell me how or where the money went. The Ting Brothers never responded whatsoever.

Whenever our organization has a fund raiser, we very quickly post on the internet and our mailings just where the money went, what was accomplished and testimonies of those receiving the designated gifts. Yet when this fund raiser that was purported to raise money for housing and schooling and livelihood programs, was over, there was not one bit of information as to what good came out of it. I personally visited Churches in the area and no one could tell me of anyone who was helped.

They had movie stars, sports figures, even former Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte and former President Arroyo, in their advertising  photos to support this major thrust that would help so many people.

ABS-CBN was on all the t shirts as a sponsor of this event..One of their people was photographed with the leaders as she held up a “Christmas For Payatas shirt”. I contacted ABS-CBN and they denied involvement. When I told them about the photo they said that their representative did not know why she was holding up the shirt and taking a photo.

Lighthouse has taken down their website and can not be found. Fusion excel with their super pendant that heals everything has been exposed at least for the ineffectiveness of their pendant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJanZ40Eg-o&feature=related

Tote Daddy is still going as far as I know.

Here is the question, I have tried to Contact both of the Ting Brothers, Lighthouse Foundation, ABS-CBN (denies affiliation) and no one has ever responded. Is this the politics of the Philippines?

So many bloggers, blogged about this great fundraiser that was going to help so many but when I wrote rebuttals to their sites they neither responded nor took down their ads for the program. Some would not even let me post to reveal the truth. Was this a major conspiracy to defraud generous givers?

Was the former President and Mayor privy to this information? Surely they know now. How about the actors and actresses and sports figures? Did they know? Maybe they were duped.

In conclusion let this be a warning as to how you donate your money. There are many unscrupulous people out there who would use the poor to get what they want.

If you want to help others, go to http://www.PayatasMissionOutreach.org. And check us out and what we have been doing. W e have been here five years and as you will see in our multiple websites, we have done much through our Lord to help these poor people.

In the meantime, here is one of the web pages that had been removed:

The Lighthouse

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Christmas for Payatas
The landfill in Payatas, The Philippines, is notoriously known the world over as Smokey Mountain. the world over as Smokey Mountain. For over 35 years, the smoking dump site has grown to become a stark and heart-tugging reminder of the desperate conditions of humanity.
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On a daily basis, children pick through newly arrived garbage to collect
material to sell. The earnings made by one child are not enough to even buy food for the day. Hence, entire families are forced to climb the mountain each day, hoping to earn enough to feed everyone.

Children as young as four years buy food for the day. Hence, entire old are forced to work in this daily struggle for survival.  On 10 July 2000, after a period of heavy rain, a trashslide occurred in the Payatas dump claiming over 200 lives, including many children. The tragic victims were the scavengers and sorters at the dump site and  those living in the nearby shanties. While the authorities instituted better management of the site after the tragedy, many continue to depend on scavenging as it is their only means of livelihood. Fortunately, there are caring organisations such as The Lighthouse Center such as The Lighthouse Center For Children Foundation, run by Judge Lorenzo B. Veneracion (former Manila judge and Charter President of Rotary Club Quezon City North). They operate a much-needed charity project to alleviate the children’s sufferings and to help reduce their dependence on scavenging as a livelihood. Among their supporters are FusionExcel International, which has previously donated funds towards this worthy initiative.
The Lighthouse Center For Children Foundation currently provides food to these underprivileged children, now numbering over 2000 children daily. The foundation hopes to be able to feed 5000-10,000 children every day if it can raise additional funds. There are over 20,000 children living on Smokey Mountain. Intending to function as more than a soup kitchen, the foundation embarked on a Literacy Program for the Payatas children.Most of the children are not attending school, but helping, at their tender age, to support families. Nevertheless, most of the children dream of becoming teachers, nurses or doctors. Sadly, their dreams are hindered by the reality of poverty and its vicious cycles.

Through the educational component of the project, the Foundation hopes to break the cycle.

In addition, programs are also on-going for Health Care Services and Skills and Livelihood Training are being conducted for the adults.
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In response to the plight of these children, Totedaddy.com, the event forecast portal, is working with Lighthouse Center For Children Foundation to bring a little cheer to the children this Christmas
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Totedaddy.com is kicking it off with a cash sponsorship of USD 10,000 to enable the children to celebrate Christmas. FusionExcel International is also pitching in USD 5,000 cash sponsorship. The larger goal is to raise at least USD 100,000 via a specially created event on its website; targeted towards its global audience. The money raised will help fund the projects already in place.
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Former soccer stars Ray Parlour (of Arsenal) and Lee Sharpe (of Manchester United), and golf long-drive specialist Jean Daniels of South Africa have graciously agreed to fly to Philippines to shoot a video to lend support to the cause. Joining them will be Philippine basketball legends Samboy “Skywalker” Lim and Allan “Triggerman” Caidic.
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Other prominent supporters of Christmas for Payatas include former badminton World Champion and Olympic gold medalist Rexy Mainaky of Indonesia, former badminton champion Foo Kok Keong of Malaysia, Maheresa ” Maite” T. Defensor (President & CEO Philippines National Construction Corporation and former Congresswoman), the Football Association of Selangor (Malaysia) and Masters Football Asia.

It is hoped that by creating better awareness to the plight of these children, more support can be garnered towards their betterment. This is in line with Totedaddy.com’s corporate social responsibility to uplift underprivileged communities worldwide through charity projects.
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Together we can bury poverty!

Christmas for Payatas Supporters.

ABS-CBN Foundation Inc (the community outreach division of the Philippine’s largest television broadcaster) will be taking part in the Christmas for Payatas event, through its flagship Bayani Juan community development program.
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Bayani Juan has experience in implementing waste recycling Judge Lorenzo B. Veneracion
technology, converting waste into useful materials. Bio-degradable waste is converted into methane gas, which can power shredders and styro ovens to melt down plastics, which can then be used to manufacture any number of goods. Use of this technology helps provide a cleaner environment, and an ongoing source of income for the families in Payatas.

ENGLISH

Aug 25 2011
10:11:20 AM

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Prominent Supporters of Christmas for Payatas   Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, President of the Philippines   Mayor Sonny Belmonte of Quezon City, and Congressman Mat Defensor of Quezon City   L-R: Lee Sharpe (former Manchester United player), Jean Daniels (South African golf long-drive specialist), Congresswoman Cynthia Villar of Las Pinas, Philippine Senate President Manny Villar, Ray Parlour (former Arsenal player), Steve Black (owner of Masters Football International), Robert Teasdale (licensee of Masters Football Asia)   Noli L. De Castro, Vice President of the Philippines   Allan �Triggerman� Caidic, Philippine basketball legend   Alvin �The Captain�, Patrimonio Philippine basketball legend   Samboy �Skywalker� Lim, Philippine basketball legend   Former badminton champion Foo Kok Keong of Malaysia   Maria Theresa Defensor (President and CEO of Philippine National Construction Corp. and former Congresswoman) and Mayor Sonny Belmonte of Quezon City   Former badminton World Champion and Olympic gold medallist Rexy Mainaky of Indonesia   L-R: Pastor Arthur Medina; Regina Paz Lopez (Managing Director of ABS-CBN Foundation Inc); Judge Lorenzo B. Veneracion   Jean Daniels (South African golf long-drive specialist) and Robert Teasdale (licensee of Masters Football Asia)   L-R: Judge Lorenzo B. Veneracion of Lighthouse Center for Children Foundation; Paul Ting, CEO of FusionExcel International; Mary Rose; Zorah Andam, former Miss Philippines and runner-up Miss Universe;ToteDaddy representative   L-R: Tonton Guitierrez, Actor; Ramon Christopher Guitierrez, Actor; Manuel Monsour Del Rosario III, Philippine Tae Kwon Do Champion and Action Movie Star; Gene Padilla, Comedian; Ronnie Ricketts, Action Movie Star and Director   L-R: Judge Lorenzo B. Veneracion of Lighthouse Center for Children Foundation; Cory Quirino, author, newspaper columnist and TV hostess of popular Philippine show �A Good Life�;ToteDaddy representative ; Paul Ting, CEO of FusionExcel International   L-R: Paul Ting, CEO of FusionExcel International; Rudy Hartono, former World Champion Indonesian badminton player   Ade Rai, champion world-class Indonesian bodybuilder   Candra Wijaya, Indonesian Olympic gold medallist in badminton   Suzy Susanti, Indonesian Olympic gold medallist in badminton   Melanie Putria, Miss Indonesia 2002   L-R: TV Producer Vilma Selga; Jeremy Looi; Charo Santos, President of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, Philippines; Cory Quirino, author, newspaper columnist and TV hostess of popular Philippine show �A Good Life�;   Don Chan, President and CEO FE Thailand Country Licensee   Gen.Dato Kitti Rattanachayaa, Former Southern Area Thailand Army Comander   Mr.Rit Luacha, Thai Superstar (Actor)   Dr.Sombat Metanee Ph.D.,Thai Superstar(Actor)   Pro.Dr.Vichit Bunyahotra Md.   James Wong, Malaysian Actor   Chris John of Indonesia, 10 times World Boxing Association Featherweight Super Champion (still in bandages after his match with Hiroyuki Enoki)   Philippine Basketball Team Purefood Giants   L-R: Paul Ting, CEO FusonExcel International; Margarita M. Floirendo, Co-Chairperson Friends of Habitat for Humanity Philippines and former Miss Universe   Karen Kong, Malaysian Singer   … And most importantly, the children of Payatas!

PLEASE! If you really want to help Payatas, go here to make a real donation that counts: http://www.payatasmissionoutreach.org/donation.asp

Hi,
Thanks for answering. I will respond because your answer is reasonable but not necessarily true.

Your first paragraph says:
first: about the p50,000 re-connection fee, I think it includes all the unpaid balance and penalties of the previous owner. it will be charged to you if you are going to use the old water meter.. the second amount (p18,000) is a discounted price since the commissioner of MAYNILAD has the power invested to him by MAYNILAD’s charter to forgive or recompute the amount for unpaid balances given that it will be a different person that will use the same water meter. So technically the MAYNILAD is not trying to rob you..they are just following the rules and regulation and also they don’t hate GOD..

In one sense you are right. The charge was for the last renters unpaid balance. However, that went on for a couple of years until I sent a negotiator down with the Landlord to relieve her of that responsibility. The offer of replacing the meter and charging 18,000 was well after the negotiated old bill and was never offered to her until recently.

Btw, your telling me they don’t hate God is just your opinion. Trying to charge a non-profit agency that does not use an exceptional amount of water,such as for manufacturing or the like is borderline criminal. There is no justified or legitimate reason for so doing it.

Your second paragraph: second: when they say that they are willing to reconnect the service at residential rate, I think they are referring to the land lady since most of the units are used as a residential home. But you tried to take advantage of this and have the service reconnected at residential status. This is a clear violation for you are using the place as a place of worship or as a church and not for residential purposes. The contract is invalid because it is for residential customers and your place do not qualify as a residential place. So the MAYNILAD is again just following the rules and regulation when they charged you p1,200 which I guess is the minimum charge for commercial customers.

You said I “tried to take advantage” You don’t know me sir and neither do I know you. I may take advantage of a sale or a special offer but I came to this Country to help the poorest of poor , giving up my life and living a basic life with only essentials supplied. To say that I would “take advantage of anyone is a disrespectful slur to my character and I take exception. You should evaluate your words before saying bad about someone else. The very fact that I have on record, a complaint that they are charging me “as a Church” a commercial rate when I believe that they should not, and their response that I will have a residential rate is their words, in their language.

Your third paragraph states: third: about the issue of discrimination. It is discrimination if that policy was just added when you applied for service but it was not. That certain policy is already existing since the creation of MAYNILAD therefor it is not directed to you and not discriminating you and your church.

You may not be familiar with the constitution which was written by General MacArthur and is like the U.S. Constitution. there is no start or stop dates for discrimination. If that were true, slavery would never have been abolished. Discrimination, when it is uncovered is to be fought against vigorously. President Aquino has stated that in the absence of corruption poverty does not exist. (sic) So whether we are fighting against some established discrimination or new, we fight all the same.

Your fourth paragraph states: I guess this kind of issues arises to the fact that sometimes we tend to ignore the policies, rules and regulation. We prefer to believe what other says. I do believe that MAYNILAD is created by virtue of a charter. The same charter also includes the policies, rules and regulation that the corporation has to follow and surely you can understand why you are being charged p1200.

Absolutely not. We have had charters in the U.S. which said that no blacks were allowed. Those Charters were either revoked or amended. Charters by the way are granted by the Government on behest of it’s citizens. So the citizens should have the final vote in all matters which are discriminatory or illegal. I fail to understand what you mean when you say, we ignore policies,rules and regs, as we received no such paperwork except a contract for RESIDENTIAL services. I imagine you respect contracts. By the way, for your information, our Church uses much less water than the minimum of other residential houses. In addition to that, Maynilad supplies us with water, only two hours per day when all the surrounding areas have water pretty much 24 and 7 yet the same minimum rate applies to them. This area that is not supplied with water is one of the poorest of poor areas in Payatas. the water is full force down the road at the local schools, passes our sector and goes on to full service in Amlac. Perhaps we will be able to get Congress to make an investigation.It also seems to be discrimination against the poor.

Finally, your last two statements:
MAYNILAD do not hate GOD.. They are just following their policies..

And their policies are discriminatory. (see above) Once again, your assessment of whether they hate God or not is based on What? Mine is based on a clear policy over charging anyone who uses a place for worship. By the way, that statement is so broad that if challenged in Court it will be thrown out as that could suggest if anyone prays or reads the scriptures in their home or has a home Bible study they will be charged commercial rate.

and by the way, I do not work for MAYNILAD nor I have relatives of friends working for them..I am just a student..

I must congratulate you if you are ‘just a student” as your command of the English language is very good with a couple of exceptions. As I do not know who you are I can only assume. I would say you are either a law student looking to debate or you most certainly are linked to Maynilad in some way. I assume that because you mentioned some things in your email that only Maynilad knew and was not published. Also, you have such a desire to support Maynilad in the face of obvious discrepancies both in their policies as well as their contracts with us and with the physical evidence we posses. the third choice is you are anti-religion or just anti Baptist and are showing it this way. I am just guessing.

I am not a lawyer but after conferring with some great minds, I have been convinced that this is a slam dunk case and would be a major victory for religious rights as well as the rights of the poor.

Don’t feel bad. People, especially the poor, can only take lies and cheating for so long. Look at people power.

Thanks for writing.

When we first arrived there was a conflict with Maynilad because the last tenant had a leak and owed them p50,000. They wanted us to pay their bill before we could get the water turned on. Imagine that. They wanted us to pay someone else’s bill.

Anyway we went to Maynilad and eventually they forgot about trying to rob us but then they had another way to do it. They wanted somewhere around p18,00 to turn on our water. They said they had to charge us that much because we were a Church.

That’s strange. I can see if we were profiting off the water or used an inordinate amount which caused them to have to spend more pumping it to us but no. It was just because we were a Church.

So I decided not to do business with them. Recently (within the last two months) they approached my landlady with a deal. For p1,000 they would install our meter at the residential rate. Great. (I have a copy of that contract) So now we get water about two hours per day for minimum residential rate.

That was short lived as they sent us a bill for over p1,200 for the first months water. Mind you that we use less than most residences and they only supply it two hours a day, mostly when we are not here. So I sent them a email to which they respond: —— Original Message ——

Received: Thu, 09 Jun 2011 11:38:32 PM EDT

From: “Customer Helpdesk” <customer.helpdesk@mayniladwater.com.ph>

To: <7101@usa.net>

Subject: RE: MAYNILAD website community report-CA56345373

Dear Father,

Good morning!

Your Contract/account No is CA56345373, residential rate.

Your bill for June 2011 is P99.03  (5cum) which is minimum charge.

Your other concern was already endorsed to our Fairview/

Commonwealth Business Area.

We will get back to you for the latest update.

Regards,

Lorie

So finally I think they are now doing what;s right until I received a two month bill for over p2,400.

So I sent this: