Filipino homegrown church Iglesia Ni Cristo recently held another well-attended Kabayan Ko, Kapatid Ko aid and assistance event, this time at the Cebu Coliseum in the Queen City of the South last Jan. 12.
The Kabayan Ko, Kapatid Ko program is a key initiative of INC Executive Minister Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, who aims to improve and positively affect the lives of both Church members and non-members alike through these wide-ranging assistance projects.
“Kabayan Ko, Kapatid Ko is one of Executive Minister Manalo’s main pursuits for the new decade. It’s INC’s way of giving back to local communities as the Church makes itself more relevant and responsive,” said Glicerio B. Santos Jr., INC general auditor.
An estimated 15,000 “goody” bags and 15,000 food packs were distributed. The bags each contained four kilos of rice and canned goods.
“Sino pa nga ba ang tutulong sa mga nangangailangan nating kababayan kundi tayo tayo rin?” Santos explained.
Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella graced the event.
Just last week, more than 65,000 attendees flocked to the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan for the Kabayan Ko, Kapatid Ko relaunching at the start of the new decade.
Santos said that the record-breaking Philippine Arena event drew attendees from various Church districts—six from Metro Manila, three from Bulacan and three from Pampanga, but emphasized that “we also give equal focus and attention to both INC and non-INC members because everyone deserves to receive help and livelihood assistance, especially at the start of the new year.”
The INC conducted simultaneous Kabayan Ko, Kapatid Ko events in more than 200 venues in 156 countries spanning six continents last Jan. 5.
The Iglesia Ni Cristo has most recently offered assistance to several areas in Mindanao after a series of devastating earthquakes struck late in 2019.
A parallel acitivity called Aid to Humanity has benefited close to 300,000 people in 220 sites all over areas in North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
“As we mentioned during our Kabayan Ko, Kapatid Ko relaunch, Executive Minister Manalo preaches the urgency of offering both spiritual healing and providing material assistance to those in need. That’s the creed he has set for the Church, and that’s the clear direction we are following now,” Santos said.
The INC General Auditor said that there are already other aid activities planned for the year both in the Philippines and abroad.
“We are gathering momentum, and the Kabayan Ko, Kapatid Ko will only get bigger as we go along, he said.
