SFC Lupon Launches Christian Life Program

The CFC Singles for Christ (SFC) Lupon recently launched its Christian Life Program (CLP) orientation at the Lupon Parish Center on San Vicente Street, Barangay (village) Poblacion, Lupon, Davao Oriental on March 15, 2009.

The CLP orientation was attended by single men and women from the parishes of Lupon and Banaybanay.

The orientation also includes talks for 12 consecutive Sundays. The first talk was held on March 22 with the topic “God’s Love.” The second talk on “What it means to be a Christian” was held on March 29.

“The orientation was aimed to bring together single men and women, towards church renewal and forming them into SFC groups,”

Driving to Simala Shrine Cebu

No place is too far to visit for a miracle.

In south Cebu, thousands of Cebuanos and other visitors from far and wide, climb up a hill to the Mother Mary Shrine in Simala, Sibonga town, bringing their faith and petitions for cures and other divine aid.

The shrine became “famous” after word spread that the image of the Virgin Mary was seen “shedding tears of blood,” a phenomenon that lacks scientific or official church validation but nevertheless draws more people to the area.

Our Priest friend Fr. Gonzaga drove us to Simala Shrine after attending our International Conference for CFC - Singles for Christ in Cebu City and it was two to three hours on the road, barring heavy traffic in the outlying towns. Public buses ply the south Cebu route but one would have to get off a corner of the national road to reach upper Lindogon and hail a motorcab or a habal-habal (motorcycle-for-hire) for P20 to take you to the shrine about four kilometers up the mountains.

At the site, one has to cross a foot bridge and walk up a concrete pathway to reach the church, an imposing concrete structure at the top of the mountain. It takes about 10 minutes to reach the peak, which offers a breathtaking view of green slopes and fresh air.

The Marian monks who maintain the shrine have also landscaped the area, which has a mini falls that cascades down a small pool and well-tended gardens.

Starbucks Cebu

It was not really my plan to visit Starbucks in Crowned Regency Hotel Cebu. Luckily even with really little time to go around Cebu before we left for the International Leadership Conference for CFC Singles for Christ the next day then, my co-participants from Davao Oriental accompanied me to Starbucks while we left the ICON for awhile. We took some photos for our souvenir but one of the staff approached us that it is not allowed within the store premises. Really? I was thinking, do they not want free publicity of their store? Among all the coffee shops I have been to in Manila, Davao and Cebu, it is only Starbucks Cebu that told us this. Maybe they are afraid that the store interiors will be copied by other competitors, is that it? Probably! I was a little bit disappointed but that still did not stop me buying from them. They allowed us though to take a photo outside in front of the store but the guard who took the photo did not include the name/signage of Starbucks on top of the store. My friends here would find that price is ridiculous and unreasonable... (hahaha!)

I hope Starbucks will soon to open here in Davao.

CFC Singles for Christ - Lupon, Davao Oriental

SFC is a generation of single men and women experiencing the fullness of life and restoring the world for Christ.

Singles for Christ inviting All Single Men and women, to join our CLP (Christian Life Program) every Sunday starting March 15, 2009 at Lupon Parish Center, Lupon, Davao Oriental. 1:00 PM. Please don't hesitate to contact us at 09285549987 and we are waiting for you!