BCBP BREAKFAST MEETING

January 24, 2015

TENG and JOY
Good Morning our brothers and sisters God is really great God is
really good for He has given us the opportunity to share with you our
personal testimony.
Let me start it with a verse in the Bible, Psalm 9;1 it says and I quote, I
will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart, I will tell of your wonders.
TENG----I am Constante M. de Guzman, born 40 years ago to a couple Conchita M.
de Guzman a soft-hearted mother and Eusebio C. de Guzman, Jr, a
disciplinarian. I am the youngest among 6 sibblings. We are a native from the
Province of Pangasinan, pero, tungod sa kalisod, my father, forced to leave
us, and find a job in Pagadian City where my uncle lived. He became asst of
my uncles lumberyard until he finally got a job as contractual employee in
NFA. My mother is a plain housewife, so when my father became a regular
employee of the agency he is working, he brought us in Pagadian City and
decided to permanently live there for good. I have no religious upbringing
hence, it is very seldom for us to go to church and I cant even recall even
once that we prayed together at home. Its only in school and attending flores
de mayo where I learned how to pray.
JOY--I am Aime Joy Otanio De Guzman born in Lapuyan Zamboanga Del Sur to
Alfredo Otanio Native from Margosatubig Zambo. Del Sur and Berlyn
Campomanes originaly from Argao, Cebu City but was raised in Lapuyan Zambo.
Del Sur. We are three children in the family and I am the eldest. At the age of 5 I
already know how to pray the Amahan Namo, and Maghimaya ka Maria and
memorized some religious songs. I grow-up being familiar with the teachings and
doctrines of the church because my mother is a devoted catholic and she would
bring me and my siblings often to church. While my mother is very religious my
father is the opposite, he never goes to church, instead he spent his Sundays in
the cockpit house, he likes to play baraha, and enjoy drinking liquior while
smoking.

Teng----As a child, I used to play with other children ug tungod sa ka hyper, dili
malikayan makasala, since my father is a disciplinarian, I experienced
different kinds of punishment. Isulod sa sako, bunal sa bacus murag
initiation rites kay palinyahon man mi sa akong mga igsoon daun bunal
bunalan, ug labaw sa tanan, ang pinakasakit, ang paludhon sa asin ug
mongoes. Though it bore a good fruit because we all grew up nga bootan ug
walay bisyo but deep inside it brought so much pain and as a result, it
created a negative impact to my personality, a low self-esteem and an
inferiority complex implanted in me.
JOY--The marriage of my parents was very miserable. I often, witnessed how my
parents quarrel , as they use weapons against each other, after each fight I would
heal the wounds of my mother while crying. I did not understand why they have to
hurt each other physically. I really feel bad about our situation. As children
everytime we commit mistakes my parents would also punish us physically by
putting us inside the sack and hang on a post, ug paludhon usab me sa Asin.
Especially when my father is angry and drunk.
In my young life, there was one birthday when for the first time my mother
prepared something special for me. It was my 10 th birthday and I had cake and
adobong manok. I was so happy. But when my father arrived he was so angry. Ga
aso-aso ang ilong sa kasuko. He threw the foods prepared for me by my mother to
her face. With tears in my eyes I asked him why? And learned that ang gi-adobo
nga manok, hiniktan diay niya para pansabong.
There were times that my father would not give his salary to my mother thus
resulting for us to go hungry; sometimes we just eat rice with water flavored with
salt. To augment the family income I was obliged to sell bread, and donuts
everyday before going to school. I would carry a big basket or Bukag full of
bread deliver it to all sari-sari store in our barangay. If there are no activities in
the church during weekends I would go to the fishport ug among tagbu-on ang
mga Kobkoban by swimming 100 meters from the port, Nga walay kasiguradohan
nga adunay isda madala pag-uli. Ug maka-swerte aduna me sud-anon anang
adlawa. Because of this pitiful experience I witnessed in my family, I resolved not
to get married instead I wanted to become a NUN. To forget the pain and sufferings

I experienced. I joined different search-in, In different congragations but sad to say

it wasnt my vocation in life.
I graduated in Ateneo de Zamboanga taking up BS Education year 2001 with
the help of a Priest in our locality. During my colleges years I can still remember
how I supper from the brutality of my father, I was second year college at that time
nga gipasu-an ko ug sigarilyo sa akong Papa kay nangayo ko niya ug kwarta palit
ug project samtang siya nag-inom. Ang pinakapait when my father hit me with a
2x2 G.I. pipe in my legs because I bought a cellphone out of my savings. For two
weeks I went to school nga puno ug lagom ug hubag akong paa. Halos maglisod
ko ug lakaw. Sakit kaayo sa akoa ang iyang gibuhat.

TENG--I was in college then when I first encounter Jesus, my father had severe
asthma attack and serious stroke. I witnessed how he struggled and fought
for his life in the hospital. The attending doctor said that my father was in a
critical condition. I went outside the hospital and look up the sky, and pray
deeply to the Lord while crying. Lord though I havnt felt the love of my
father, I still love him very much, please help him, heal him, and give him
back his life. After 3 days of being unconscious, miraculously, he regained
awareness. That was the first time I prayed so deeply to Jesus and my prayer
was answered. In Pslam 34;8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed
is the man who takes refuge in him. Since then, going to church and
attending masses became my desire. My day would not be complete if I did
not attend mass.
After I finished 2nd year in college, I was forced to stop schooling due to
financial constraint. My fathers meager income is just enough to feed us 3
times a day, and to support the education of my elder sister who is studying
in Ozamiz taking up BS in Nursing. My father applied for various loans. I
was worried thinking I could not finish my college, and how can I pursue my
dreams if my family was full of debt. Nothing I can do but to stay at home,
and I became SHY, my neighbors dubbed me as SHY SHY Tiglaba, SHY
Tigluto, SHY Tiglimpyo I do all household chores. That was my daily
routine, and only thing that can relieve me is finding comfort in God by
attending mass and going to church regularly. After 3 semesters of being

SHY, I had an answered prayer, my sister sent me back to school. I continue

studying and graduated BSCE at SMC and successfully passed the board
examination on November 1999 with the full support of my sister. With much
desire to help my family and give back to them the help and support they had
given me, I persistently look for a job. In Matthew 7:7 it says and I quote
Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will
be opened to you. . I know it is not easy to find a job but nothing is
impossible with God. One day, my brother informed me that the Pag-IBIG
Fund is hiring. I immediately submitted my application, luckily I was hired. My
constant prayers never failed me from achieving my goals. I know, God is
with me always.

JOY--Year 2004, I joined some organization like JCI and BLD where I meet the
Man of my Life, Constante De Guzman. He attended one of the gatherings of JCI,
together with his officemate Ronilo Labiaga, who happened to be my bro. in JCI.
He was introduced to me. My first impression was guapo! But I didnt mind him
because I have a Foreigner boyfriend at that time.

TENG--As years passed by, I felt something is missing and I was not getting any
younger and like a light bulb, I was enlightened, Ah I still dont have a
girlfriend, mao diay kulang ing-ani jud ning hingibog pero dili hingingon.
I said to myself that at the age of 30, with or without girlfriend, I must be
married. One night, my officemate named Ronelo Labiaga, invited me to
attend JCI gathering, daghang chix didto he uttered, so, without any
hesitation I said OK, I will go. Truly, I see a lot of chix, but to only one I was
most attracted to, this beautiful long legged woman wearing mini-skirt. When
my officemate introduced her to me, kaingon jud ko Oh my God, Mao na
cguro ni akong gipangita. thank you Lord and again the time came out in
my favor, with constant texting and frequent Joyriding, we became lovers in
paris.

JOY--During the BLD singles encounter, I meet Teng again. He was also one of the
participants of that seminar. But when I saw him, I hide myself , and did not mind
him, after the Seminar he visited in my apartment and he was persistent. One day
I was sick and alone in my apartment and nobody was there to help me. Teng
showed his care by buying me medicines and preparing my food immediately. I
was so touched of what he did. He is a very good man, willing to help, serve, and
take care of me. His personality is totally different from my father. Suddenly, I
found myself loving him back. My heart was captured by Mr. Constante M. De
Guzman.
TENG--Days, weeks and months passed by and our relationship became stronger the
love and care joy showed to me made me decide to marry her. We hired a wedding
planner to make sure everything would be perfect for our wedding, from the
invitation to the prefect gown for joy. We were ready to be wed on May 8, 2005 but
an unfortunate event happened the death of my Father made us postponed our
wedding. The excitement and joy we felt turned to grief. I was so affected and
dismayed. Inspite of what happened ang among gugma ni joy
dili gyud
mapugngan ug kami gikasal atong June 11, 2005. I felt so happy that day for
receiving a beautiful gift in the person of Joy. It was the best thing happened to
me.
JOY--October 5, 2005 I gave birth to our eldest son Carl Adrian and after 16 months I
gave birth again to our 2ndchild Clarisse Althea. Year 2008 exactly April 21, when
Carl was still 2 and Althea was 1 year and 2 mos. that our store in Agora Public
Market was burned. Our source of income vanished in just hours. Life became
more difficult for our growing family. Our children always get sick. And I was again
pregnant with my twins. Teng was still a contractual at Pag-Ibig.
We dont know where to get the money for the needs of our 4 little
children, but I didnt lost hope and God never abandon us, we received gifts from
our friends, from Tengs officemate, and from other branches of Pag-ibig.
Through the Lords mercies we are not consumed, because His compassion
never fail. (Lamentations 3:22)
TENG---

Starting a family life is never easy. Although I became more responsible

and work hard for my family, my salary as a contractual employee is never
enough for my growing family, so we decided to put a mini-grocery to
augment our income. Slowly from a 1 small store, we expanded to 4 stores. I
was so happy with such blessing. But life is so uncertain. In a blink of an eye,
everything vanished as a large fire devoured our store. Nothing was
recovered. All was left were ashes and debts to our creditors. In Jeremiah
29:11 God says: For I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you hope
and a future. Despite of what happened, God is good, because many of our
friends, kapamilya, & Kapuso expressed their compassion by extending help.
We received financial assistance from a lot of people. God is also a good
provider because I became a regular employee of Pag-Ibig after 9 years of
service. Blessings upon blessings came our way after that tragic events. I
hope in the Lord and God did not disappoint me.
JOY--After few months, I was given a chance to teach in National High School and Teng
was promoted in his work. After the birth of my fifth child Charisse Alexa on
January 24, 2010 we were introduced to the construction business. Our Ninong
Loloy Tan offered us a solar dryer project in Liloy Zambo. Del Norte, it was
indeed a successful project. Then what followed was a housing project. This kind
of work is very challenging to me, since I dont have any background in
engineering. I personally run the construction, with much challenge, headaches,
heartaches, and so many crying times but with Gods grace I am able to continue
and persevere.
One day as I fetched my son Carl Adrian in Pilot School, dra. Santillan approached
me, and invited me to attend a breakfast meeting at Roxan Hotel. Upon knowing
that it was a religious gathering, I agreed to attend without hesitation.
TENG---

One day in year 2012, my wife informed me that she was invited to a
breakfast meeting by dra. Santillan. I said to her basi Networking na pod na.
Its for the Lord! She replied, so I said yes. My first impression during my first
breakfast as I entered the venue was, Mga datu man diay ni naa diri.. But I
felt the warmness of the people and they were nice and sincere, and there

and there, I feel comfortable. My first breakfast was followed by more

breakfast until we completed the BCLP 11. We attended series of retreats and
seminars until we gave our commitment to serve the Lord through BCBP.
JOY--During the Christian Life Program talks, while listening to the speakers, my
desire to serve the Lord was gradually awakened. We continue to attend the
breakfast and finished our Christian Life Program and became committed
members. Today sharing with you, our personal experiences with God is our way
of serving the Lord.
Before we joined the BCBP we view our life as very tough, we are always
struggling with our bills with our suppliers. Never ending headaches in
construction. Its very hard for me to be generous, to my parents siblings and
employees. We dont have time to teach our children how to pray. And We rarely go
to church.
But when we were introduced to BCBP, we are inspired to make our family a loving
and happy one. We teach our children how to pray and read the Bible. We learned
how to say Sorry and forgive each other when we commit mistakes. We worship
God every Sunday as a whole family and find time to bond with each other. I
learned to be generous not just to our family members, helpers, workers but also
to the community. Financial problems and emotional challenges are opportunities
to pray more. I am grateful to my action group who prays for me always. And I have
learned to give more without asking anything for return. I also learned to forgive
my father, accept him and love him. Slowly I am being transformed into a better
person and Gods word in Genesis 48:15 which is very true in my life and I quote
God has fed me all my life long unto this day. Thanksgiving I offer to our
Heavenly father.
TENG---

A lot of things changed in our family. Prayer became part in our daily
routine. Before, we only pray if problem arises but when we joined the BCBP
we learned that prayer is very essential especially to our spiritual growth as it
is the only way we established connection with the Lord. Our children
learned how to pray, If we missed to pray, they are the ones who remind us.
BCBP also helped us to continuously live harmoneously. No fight, No conflict
with only less disagreement we easily control the situation and set aside our

pride. Our patience become deeper, and we easily resolved problems

through our one on one dialogue.
Let us end up, our sharing with this prayer. Heavenly father,/ when
problems and pain come our way,/ help us to remember /that nothing comes
into our life without your approval./ Rather than complain and cry about the
challenges we face,/ help us,/ consider them as opportunities to bring glory
to you./ Give us the strength and patience to bear our burdens/ in a way that
will honor you./ We will lift our eyes off the trials/ and keep them fixed firmly
on you, Amen.