By Rev. Anacleto G. Guerrero
Union Theological Seminary
Registrar & UTSAA Coordinator
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I was tasked by the UTS academic dean to present the seminary report to the Middle Philippines Annual Conference session on May 12, 2005, Thursday, at the United Methodist Church in Orion, Bataan, more than 180 kilometers southwest of Manila. I was informed that the UTS Chapel Singers will accompany me, to sing before I present the report.. There were only six singers available---two female and four male students. We were scheduled to leave at five o'clock in the morning. The assigned driver who lives outside the campus was late for half an hour, so we left at 5:30 a.m. The van's air-conditioning unit was not in order so we had to travel without the benefit of closing the windows with cool air inside. I was seated on the right side of the driver. Much as I want to sleep along the way I could not.
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We reached Orion, Bataan in five hours, stopping at a gas station (Petron) along North Diversion Road, and had breakfast at Jolibee in about twenty minutes. For breakfast I ordered an item with a free issue of a daily newspaper (Philippine STAR). Our trip was fine, though “hot” with the constant laughters of the choir members. A district superintendent, one of my former students in the seminary in the late 80's (Rev. Modesto Balingit), was reporting for his district when we arrived. It was one good litany of accomplishments and district activities. He presented the officers and members of a local church he recently organized for conference recognition. I greeted and congratulated him afterwards for his achievement. Breaktime was announced by the presiding bishop (Bishop Solito K. Toquero) after the report. We were invited to have snacks with the bishop.
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After breaktime session resumed with reports from church-related institutions and agencies. Reports presented are as follows: (1) The National Innovative Ministries Partnership Program (NIMPP) presented by Dr. Anselmo D. Lupdag, National Coordinator. I learned later that Dr. Lupdag who served as OIC of UTS for seven months was already retired from his position at the Central Luzon State University in Munoz, Nueva Ecija. The distributed report stated that “This program was initiated by the active Bishops of the Philippines Central Conference of the United Methodist Church.” It was “approved and endorsed by the Coordinating Council of the Philippines Central Conference”; (2) Board of Pension of the Philippines Central Conference. The report was prepared by Pons Lara Gamiao, chair, but read by Dr. Anselmo D. Lupdag, vice-chair. A Primer on Retired Minister Integrated Pension Plan prepared by the Execom, PCC Board of Pensions, was distributed; (3) Philippines Central Conference Treasurer. It was presented by the newly appointed treasurer, Rose Beverly R. Jerusalem. Part of the report was a list of Ministers’ Integrated Pension Plan Claimants for calendar year 2004; (4) Board of Christian Education and Communications. It was presented by Mrs. Carmelita A. Matias, B.C.E.C. Executive Secretary. The report was prepared by Ms. Matias and Greg Melchor de Lara, BCEC Chair; and (5) Union Theological Seminary. The report was prepared by Dr. Oscar S. Suarez, UTS OIC, and Rev. Dr. Homer Wesley O. Refuerzo, UTS Academic Dean. Presented by Rev. Anacleto G. Guerrero, UTS Registrar, UTS Alumni Affairs Coordinator and Faculty member. Copies of the report were distributed together with four issues (January, February, March, April Issues) of the UTS Alumni Newsletter prepared by the UTSAA Coordinator. There were no questions asked.
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Lunchbreak was declared at 12:35 p.m. Lunch was served us with the bishop and others who came to report and other visitors. We left Orion, Bataan at 2:30 p.m. We had one stop for gasoline along the North Diversion Road. We reached UTS at 5:30 p.m. It was a long hot day, but thank God we survived and we reached home safe and sound. Praise the Lord.
