Activities and Practices as Venues of Religious and Political Socialization

In the course of EI Shaddai's history, many activities have evolved to foster religious and political socialization in the movement. These activities, while intended primarily for religious purposes, are conveniently transformed into venues for political mobilization such as prayer rallies "for peace" which afford the movement ways to articulate its position on pressing national concerns. These have also become means for waging "electoral campaigns", initiated by Velarde himself in order to give his followers- a chance to listen to candidates and to form a more objective and informed choice.

The most important of these activities arethe weekly mass and healing rallies called weekly "Family Appointment with EI Shaddai," the climax of which is the "healing message" delivered by Velarde or by a disciple. With an average of 500,000 - one (1) million attendance each week, these weekly meetings give EI Shaddai members a sense of their overwhelming size and following, and a sense of the "genuineness of the movement of the Holy Spirit in their midst." In the survey conducted by this researcher, 67.5% of the respondents said that they attend their prayer meetings and rallies at least once a month. The mid-afternoon traffic congestion caused by the fellowship in the city's environs and the awesome 'view on TV of people oblivious of bad weather conditions appear to make EI Shaddai members and the public realize the enormity of their size as a group as wellas its political mobilization potential.

The other activities of the group that encourage political socialization as well are: (1) the local weekly mass and healing rallies, held within barangay and parish-based communities attended by as many as 300-1,000 members; and (2) the weekly prayer meetings in out-of-parish based communities held in institutions, factories and offices with about 100-300 attending. In practically every province of the country there are EI Shaddai communities. Each community holds regular meetings in all of their chapters here and abroad. Statistics show that in February 2019, there were already a grand total of 30,100 of these prayer communities in the Philippines and around the world. The meetings in these groups basically follow the format of the "Weekly Family Appointment with EI Shaddai" but a disciple takes the place of Velarde as preacher. There are instances, however, when Velarde himself is invited as speaker in chapter anniversary celebrations. A concrete example of these chapter-initiated activities, where Velarde himself was the speaker, was the one held at the "Batasang Pambansa" or House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress. Employees, EI Shaddai followers within the area;and some members of the House attended the said event. In this particular occasion, he took the occasion to remind the country's legislators of the root cause of the nation's problems and what actually constitutes greatness for a country.

The ministry also holds overnight prayer vigils four times a year to celebrate special occasions such as the following: (1) anniversary celebrations of the foundation, (2) Annual Family Reunions with EI Shaddai, (2) Annual Grand Miracle Crusade for the Feast of Santo Nino de Cebu (4) Easter Sundays, and (5) Pentecost. These are attended by approximately two to three million members and followers. It is usually during these occasions that Velarde invites the president of the country and other government officials to either deliver a speech before millions of EI Shaddai followers or be mere guests of honor. It was in some of these overnight celebrations that Velarde expressed affirmation and support for the achievements and policies of the Ramos administration as well as of other incumbent governments. The presence of government officials in these events also gives Velarde the opportunity to lead the people in praying for both the state and its officials. These prayer rallies often give Velarde not only the opportunity to preach the Words of God.but also to emphasize and inculcate among members certain political values.

Enchong Dee for KitchenAid

Catch Enchong Dee for KitchenAid!

KitchenAid Pro Line® Series 7 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer - Cast Iron Black (KSM7586PBK)

KitchenAid Pro Line® Series Electric Kettle Onyx Black KEK1522OB

KitchenAid Pro Line® Series 5-Speed Cordless Hand Blender (KHB3581OB)

KitchenAid Pro Line® Series 2-Slice Automatic Toaster Onyx Black (KMT2203OB)

KitchenAid Pro Line® Series 4-Slice Automatic Toaster Onyx Black (KMT4203OB)

KitchenAid Pro Line® Series Blender with Thermal Control Jar Imperial Black (KSB8270BK)

KitchenAid Pro Line® Series 16-Cup Food Processor with Die Cast Metal Base and Commercial-Style Dicing Kit Onyx Black (KFP1642OB)

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MILO "Swimmer Champion" with Jessie Lacuna and FAST - Ateneo Swimming Team

For Olympian Jessie Khing Lacuna, along with other members of Ateneo Blue Tankers batch 2005-2006 to 2018-2019 will wear adidas Ateneo apparel including 2008 sesquicentennial jacket and teamwear tees (blue with three white stripes) with the words "1987. 1988. 2002. 2008. Bring the pride back." and arena ARN-6013 ABLU Long Spats nux-F.

Jessie Lacuna

While Ateneo Lady Tankers Celina Gonzalez and Kim Uy along with other members of Ateneo Lady Tankers batches 2003-2004 to 2018-2019 will wear 2011 Nike Ateneo jacket (blue) and pant (white) and arena ARN-4091 BLK swimming cap, AGL-1400 EMBL google and aile bleue ARN-6004W BLU new rimic nux-K Power Strush.

arena ARN-4091 BLK swimming cap and AGL-1400 EMBL google

arena aile bleue ARN-6004W BLU new rimic nux-K Power Strush

PRRD signs law creating Philippine Sports Training Center

President Rodrigo R. Duterte has signed a law establishing a state-of-the-art and highly-scientific sports complex to be known as the Philippine Sports Training Center (PSTC).

Republic Act No. 11214 otherwise known as Philippine Sports Training Center Act signed by Duterte on Feb. 14 was in line with the government’s policy “to promote and develop sports in the country”.

It also aims “to achieve excellence in international sports competitions, to ensure success in the country’s quest to achieve competitiveness in the Olympic Games and to promote international amity among nations”.

The proposed PSTC will have a budget of PHP3.5 billion for the construction of the sports training center which will serve as “official home and primary venue” of the national teams and its correspondent training pools.

According to the law, scientific principles and programs as well as proven training techniques and modern equipment and facilities “that are at par with international standards” will be used in the development of the national athletes.

The proposed sports training center will undergo a six-month planning period and afterwards is targeted to be constructed within 18 months.

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is tasked to manage the center once operational.

The law said the location of the sports training center shall be “conducive to high-level training of athletes, coaches, and referees”.

The PSTC shall have sports and training facilities and amenities for at least 39 national sports associations (NSAs).

Some of the proposed facilities inside the PSTC are athletes and coaches’ dormitory, baseball field, beach volleyball courts, bowling center, covered swimming and diving pool, football field, gymnastic center, track and field oval, tennis courts, velodrome, rugby pitch, sports science building among others.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/02/20/prrd-signs-law-creating-philippine-sports-training-center/

2006 Doha Asian Games Swimming - Men's 200m Butterfly Final

Chinese swimmer Wu Peng participated in the 2002 Busan and 2006 Doha Asian Games that it would be surpasses Filipino-American James Bernard Walsh and Malaysian Daniel Bego in 2005 Manila and 2007 Nakhon Ratchasima Southeast Asian Games and American Michael Phelps in 2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing, 2012 London and 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games, it followed by Filipino Jessie Khing Lacuna and Singaporean Joseph Isaac Schooling in 2012 London and 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games, 2011 Jakarta and Palembang, 2013 Naypyidaw, 2015 Singapore and 2017 Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian Games.



Notable participant in the said race is De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Tanker and Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Stingrays member, Reco model, Star Magic artist, two-time Southeast Asian Games swimming veteran and three-time UAAP Swimming Championship Men's Division MVP Ernest Lorenzo "Enchong" Dee wears arena AGL-1400 EMBL swimming glass (mirror Swedish type) and ARN-6014 DGRN Half Spats nux-F and competes in men's 200-meter butterfly heat 1 and placed 13th with a time of 2:12.57.


In 2004, he signed with arena swimwear while he studied at Naga Hope Christian School and to wear alie-bleue swimsuit, including ARN-4505 nux-K One-Piece Long Spats, arn-4507 nux-K Long Spats, ARN-4508 nux-K Half Spats and ARN-4509 nux-K Rimic.



After his graduation at Naga Hope Christian School in March 2006, he was signed to Bodyworx Spa and Fitness Club for his daily exercise and workouts and enrolled at De La Salle University, where taking up Sports Management.



Shortly after his 18th birthday, Enchong wears arena AGL-1400 EMBL swimming glass (mirror Swedish type) and ARN-6014 DGRN Half Spats nux-f during the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, 2007 World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand, 70th UAAP Swimming Championships in Trace College Aquatic Center Sports Complex in Los Banos, Laguna, 24th Southeast Asian Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand and 14th Asean University Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.


Aside from arena swimwear, Enchong signed a contract with Speedo in 2007 and to wear his speedo speedsocket google and FASTSKIN FS-PRO men's jammer and legskin.



He would later become one of DLSU’s greatest athletes in the UAAP. In Season 70, he was MVP. In Season 71, he cinched his second MVP title.



Season 72 turned out to be stellar for Enchong and the DLSU Green Tankers. Enchong helped steer the team to a championship, ending La Salle’s six-year drought in UAAP men’s swimming. Enchong won the 800-meter freestyle, 200-meter individual medley, 100-meter butterfly, 50-meter butterfly, 400-meter individual medley, 1,500-meter freestyle and 200-meter butterfly— a remarkable total harvest of seven gold medals in one season. His feats in Season 72 accounted for 63 points of the DLSU Tankers’ 240 points for that year.



Two years after his graduation, Enchong signed with Nike to wear 2011 Nike exclusive De La Salle Dri-Fit tee (white) it was bundled with 2009 adidas DLSU cap (Unisex, Fairway/White) and hoodie and pant (Fairway/White).


He and Johansen Benedict "Johan" Aguilar are the veterans of the said events, because similar to Juan Carlos Piccio and Miguel Molina rivalry in men’s 50, 100 and 200-meter butterfly and 400-meter individual medley events. Both Enchong is wearing arena AGL-1400 EMBL swimming glass (mirror Swedish type) and ARN-6014 DGRN Half Spats nux-F, his sister Maria Angelica "Anj" wears arena AGL-1400 EMBL swimming glass (mirror Swedish type) and ARN-6012W DGRN rimic nux-F and Johan wears speedo Aqua V Silicone Cap - Black (8-087750001), speedsocket Unisex Goggle - Black (8-705895555) and FASTSKIN FS-PRO Men's Bodysuit - Black (8-008053218) during pictorial and video shoots of other members of De La Salle University (DLSU) Green and Lady Tankers batches 2007-2008 to 2018-2019 with Milo.

Enchong wears arena ARN-4091 WHT silicone swimming cap, AGL-1400 EMBL swimming glass (mirror Swedish type) and aile bleue ARN-6005M GRN One-Piece Long Spats nux-K Power Strush in men's 200 and 400-meter individual medley and 1,500-meter freestyle heats and finals, his sister Anj wears arena ARN-4091 WHT silicone swimming cap, AGL-1400 EMBL swimming glass (mirror Swedish type) and aile bleue ARN-6004W GRN new rimic nux-K Power Strush in women's 800-meter freestyle heats and finals, while Johan wears speedo Aqua V Silicone Cap - Black (8-087750001), speedsocket Unisex Goggle - Black (8-705895555) and FASTSKIN FS-PRO Men's Bodysuit - Black (8-008053218) in men's 200-meter backstroke and 400-meter individual medley heats and finals.

This is the first time that the Asian Games to be broadcast in 16:9 1080p Digital High-Definition Television.



Five years since he left the UAAP, on June 21, 2015, Mr. Dee would became the co-host and houseguest of Pinoy Big Brother (PBB): 737.