The INC’s 111th anniversary

**media[28572]**THE VIEW FROM RIZALThis coming Sunday, July 27, the Iglesia Ni Cristo will mark the 111th anniversary of its establishment by its first Executive Minister, Felix Y. Manalo.We, therefore, begin our column with heartfelt and warmest greetings to the INC, its leadership, and its members, particularly those who belong to the INC congregations in Rizal province and the city of Antipolo.We also take this opportunity to thank the leaders and members of the INC for their valuable contributions to communities nationwide through their socio-civic projects. As we have mentioned many times in the past, Antipoleños have been beneficiaries of the many social action projects of the INC. For the record, the Church’s outreach and charitable programs have benefited not just their members but non-members as well.Among these are the INC’s Lingap sa Mamamayan outreach program. Under this initiative, the INC extends help and relief to impoverished communities, particularly in times of calamities and disasters. Under the auspices of the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation, this program also cares for indigenous communities and the needy, not just in the Philippines but also in other parts of the globe where the INC is already present.Two institutions built by the INC are also cornerstones of its public service involvement.These are the New Era General Hospital and the New Era University. The hospital is open to the general public and offers advanced medical care. The University, on the other hand, has its doors open to non-Church members and has helped many young people obtain high-quality education.As the INC marks another important milestone in its history, I would like to thank Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo, the rest of the INC leadership, and members for the meaningful involvement of the Church in the life of our city and province.As it marks its 111th anniversary, we laud the fruitful labors of Ka Eduardo in his pursuit of the mission passed on to him by the Executive Ministers who led the INC Kapatiran before him. Ka Eduardo has sustained the momentum of the INC’s global reach, enabling people of other nations to hear the Good News as preached by the INC’s powerful preachers, most of them Filipinos. They have also benefited from the pastoral system of the Iglesia, which has helped many to experience its unique sense of community, teachings, and practice of the Christian Life.We would also like to pay tribute once more to the founder of the INC, with whom we, Rizaleños, feel some kind of sentimental bond. As we have said several times in the past, our view is that, in one way or another, the revered Felix Y. Manalo was a “Rizaleño.”The INC’s first Executive Minister was born in what was then Sitio Calzada, in what was then the Barrio of Tipas, in the town of Taguig. At that time, Taguig was still part of Rizal and was among the so-called lakeshore towns of the province.As we said before, we have often wondered what was so special about the waters of Laguna de Bay that many of these lakeshore towns have produced some of the best sons of the Filipino race. Besides the great Felix Y. Manalo, these towns have given birth to the likes of the martyr-hero Dr. Jose Rizal of Calamba, Laguna; the master-artists Carlos “Botong” Francisco, Lucio San Pedro, Jose Blanco, Nemi Miranda, and Orville Tiamson of Angono, Rizal; and many others.These Filipino greats shared one thing in common: the shores of Laguna de Bay.There must be something in the view and in the breeze that blows from Laguna de Bay that arouses their leadership potential.There are two things we have admired most about Felix Y. Manalo.The first is the clarity of his vision for his church. The second is his strong determination to ensure that such a vision becomes a reality.As the INC marks this milestone, we pray for the grandson of this great Rizaleño.We pray for the continuing success of Ka Eduardo as he fulfills his role and as he continues to unfold the vision of his grandfather for the INC.Before we end, we would like to congratulate and thank former Senator Manny Pacquiao for the sterling performance he gave in the ring last Sunday in the title bout against WBC Champion Mario Barrios. Manny did not win the title with the bout ending in a majority draw.Despite this, we have never been prouder of the “Pambansang Kamao”. Without doubt, he was the classier fighter. The tenacity of his heart is still there. He may not have won, but he definitely “wowed”. We doubt if there is another 46-year-old boxer who would be able to display the same class that Manny just did.Once again, Manny brought both pride and inspiration to his countrymen.While we worried over the punches the former Senator received from his younger, we can only watch with undiminished admiration the speed and power of his punches. He will always be held in high esteem.(The author is the mayor of Antipolo City, former Rizal governor, DENR assistant secretary for the environment, and LLDA general manager. Email: antipolocitygov@gmail.com)