TAYO ANG PAGBABAGO

“This world is too poor to buy my convictions on the principles of TRUTH, JUSTICE and RIGHTEOUSNESS”

–Bro. Eddie C. Villanueva (http://broeddie.ph/)

Strong words from a 2010 Presidential bidder coming from the Religious sector.

As a background and information on one of the Presidential bidders let me introduce to you who Eduardo Villanueva is.

Bro. Eddie was born on October 6, 1946 in Bocaue, Bulacan to parents Joaquin T. Villanueva and Maria Cruz Villanueva.In 1969, Villanueva graduated with a degree in commerce, majoring in economics, from the Philippine College of Commerce (PCC), since renamed the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. He was immersed in both student and labor movements in the 1970’s, joining the progressive segments of society which opposed military dictatorship. Villanueva also took up law at the University of the Philippines but was already into so much activism that he never had time to take the bar [examination].

In 1978, Villanueva founded the Jesus_Is_Lord_Church formerly named Jesus is Lord Fellowship, “which started with just 15 members from his Bible studies”. In 2007, “JIL said it has over three million members today in 36 countries. Most members abroad are overseas Filipino workers and their families.

Brother Eddie received the Gintong Ama (Golden Father) award for Socio-Civic/Religious Sector from the Golden Mother and Father Foundation in June 1996. He was also voted Pastor of the Year in a 1998 worldwide search conducted by Dr. George Otis’ High Adventure Ministries. The Ministries broadcasts the Voice of Hope program in 72 countries.

Villanueva was ordained Minister of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in 1979 by the California-based Victory in Christ Church|Victory in Christ Church and International Ministries. He has also been conferred the office of Episcopacy by the Sectarian Body of Christ in the Philippines in April 1996.

In February 2001, Brother Eddie received the EDSA People Power Freedom Award for ZOE TV 11 for its fair coverage of the People Power II movement. He founded and owns ZOE Broadcasting Network Inc. and operates Channel 11 on Filipino television. Bro. Eddie hosts three ZOE programs, Diyos at Bayan, PJM (Philippines for Jesus Movement) Forum and Jesus The Healer.

Now let us delve on the topic:

Ecumenical Leadership: What good will it bring?

This was the question raised by my father when we were talking about politics over dinner. He himself is a church minister was asking this.

In my mind, was a question of what business have called forth a church minister to join politics? This prompted me to create a blog about politics.

Anyways, I answered my father with a question of why is he asking such?

Well he replied me that he saw on the news that this Brother Eddie has accepted and recognized “Ladlad Party-an advocate group for gays and lesbians or those belonging to the third sex ” as a legitimate party-list. He was so discouraged by what Bro. Eddie has done. My father thought out loud that the Commission on Elections has done better in terms of discretion by disallowing “Ladlad” as a legitimate party-list. This was as well my very same thoughts.

What runs through my mind was his obsession  and  hunger for the  highest position of the land.

The fact that he is an evangelical leader and voted as “the pastor of the year” should have prompted him to grip to his roots. To grip to Biblical Christianity as taught in the Bible. What a pity to note that just to get the sympathy of the people and that of the minority – the third sex, he sank so low in terms of moral and spiritual standing.

On his bid as the next President, he must always put to mind that he is seen as a minister and always a minister by his followers and this country. Though he took a leave of absence in the church he founded, in the eyes of God his leave of absence is not considered. 24/7 his calling as a minister (given true) is in effect.

What good will Ecumenism bring to him and this country? I don’t see how a gay priest ministers a Sunday service or a straight priest wedding gay couple effective. The more to see a Pastor brushing elbows with the third-sex professing they are Christians in the pulpit.

Without prejudice, just sheer thought, seeing Bro. Mike Velarde, Ka Eli Soriano, and him conferring to unite the faith they are subscribing to.

Such absurdity is so profound.

Another (unrelated) question is how will he truly advocate for the separation of the Church and the State?

What business does he have with politics?