Making Grade Pupils Disease-Free

The Department of Health (DoH) enjoins every agency to support its preventive program for the control of morbidity and mortality among school age children through immunization in August.

DepEd Memorandum No. 82, s. 2015,  was issued to this effect reiterating the proper guidelines issued by the DoH in the implementation of school-based immunization.

To ensure high levels of protection for diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus among children, this project should be carried and implemented anew since it was the focused of Expanded Program of Immunizaion (EPI) in 1975,

This program is geared towards the immunization of school children and adolescents who are enrolled in the school. The vaccines for  Measles Rubella (MR) and Tetanus Diptheria are intended for the grades 1 and 7, while HPV is for grade 4 pupils.

The Department of Education, Division of La Carlota City kicked off its program implementation yesterday to the students of Doña Hortencia Salas Benedicto National High School, and in the Special Education (SPED).

The Day My Family Visits The Temple

I remember it was sometime in the month of September 1986 when the whole member of my family visited the Manila Philippines Temple somewhere in Greenmeadows Subdivision, Quezon City.

Manila Philippines Temple

I brought along with me my six children, Dondon, Dona, Gingging, An An, Gigi and Toto Jun, our youngest son. It was the first time that my family went to Manila especially in going to the Temple of the Lord to do some temple ordinances.

In my case, I had already gone there sometime in 1975 when I underwent a two-training at the Central Bank of the Philippines in the Savings and Loans Department of the said agency and I was temporarily residing at the residential house of the owner of the bank where I am about to work with. I had no idea that the present Temple would be built in that area.

I remember I had to take three rides in going to the Central Bank. While in the case of my family in going to the Temple, they had to take two rides from Baclaran to St. Corinthians Gardens (White Plains Avenue now).

LDS Way of Bridging Self-Reliance Gap

For all we know, statistics show that there were many poor and needy Filipinos. No wonder the Philippine government has already addressing this particular socio-economic problem through the so-called the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) by giving or extending the conditional cash transfer (CCT) to those legitimate beneficiaries/grantees.

ichoose self-reliant logo

Does that kind of assistance by the government may alleviate or ameliorate the dismal standard of their living? What do you think?

Anyway, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) or popularly known as Mormons has its own practical way of addressing their members who are poor and needy through their self-reliance program.

Seventy-four thousand two hundred eleven (74,211) adult members of the Mormons belong to the poor and the needy category. Thirty-Seven percent (37%) of these or 38,197 were unemployed and thirty-three percent (33%) or 36,014 were underemployed.

The Dead and the Butterfly

What do the dead and the butterfly in common? Do they have something to do with the person's life, his second life? Whatever you know or believe?

In one of the Sunday school classes I attended in our Church, the teacher discussed about the revelation received by the Prophet on the redemption of the dead. This modern-day revelation provides an opportunity for the dead who have not received the gospel of Jesus Christ and have not been baptized to His Church, to be saved through baptism by proxy performed by his family, relatives and kin inside the temple of the Lord. This is the so-called baptism for the dead.

By the way, to redeem the dead is one of the 3-fold missions of our Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The other 2 missions are to proclaim the Gospel of the Lord (Missionary Work), and to perfect the saints (Church Education System, Sunday School Classes, Seminary and Institute).

'Nothing Compares to Serving a Mission'

Seeing a son leaving for a mission is very tough to bear for a father, especially if that son is assigned to the other part of the world. Nevertheless it is the amazing day! Blessings are innumerable. There is no reason to procrastinate it. It takes a lot of sacrifice.

Elder Minson is tightly hugged by his caring pa. Fulfilling this mission takes a lot of sacrifices of financial matters, staying away from a loved ones for 2 years, giving up studies, and bearing the language barriers, among others.

The members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are doing their best to build a city of Zion here on earth again. They have three-fold missions: to proclaim the gospel, to perfect the saints, and to redeem the dead.

Missionary work falls on the first mission, that is, proclaiming the gospel to every kindred, tongue and nations. Our youngest son, Gilbor Camporazo, Junior has accomplished this sometime in 2008. He was assigned to Butuan Philippines Mission, somewhere in Mindanao island.

Out of Bounty, Then What?

Out of the bounty, a person speaks and expresses his or her heart's content for gratefulness. And this is what I thought when late tonight, I came across with a blog written by a humble lady. She titled her blog as "Bountiful Basics".

Bountiful Basics - What's in a Name?

I wonder why it is called "bountiful basics" when in fact basics are only limited. Basic is defined or referred to as rudiment, fundamental, or the basis of anything in existence so to speak.

Anyway, as I read her blog. I noticed that she regarded the basic information as it is worth sharing for it is "valuable". I do agree with her for that.

Basic Information

However, based on what I've learned for 33 years, I was confident and I know it that the basic information a person should know and to consider himself as fully educated, are three things, such as:

1. Where did he come from?
2. Why is he here on earth?
3. Where does he go after his life?

As I went over her blog and read her "My Cheese Keeps Moving", she cited a scripture that says, "the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare" (D&C 104:17, LDS scripture) This has made me believed her that out of the bounty which the earth provides, everyone could subsist and live abundantly and sufficiently. And eventually he or she could keep some of it for rainy days.

The Author

Writing Prowess

Anyway this lady as I've known her in Facebook is Edellen Nonescan Reyes. She started her first blog sometime in January 2012.

 She had the talent to write. She could wield her pen to hone her writing prowess. Before she formally wrote a blog, she had been writing online as a ghostwriter at oDesk. A spark of inspiration "keeps her cheese moving" when her grandfather gave her a stock certificate which later she sold and earned a hefty sum of money. Then she wanted to share that successful money making she learned by experience. She's confident then that  there is money in stock market exchange. She's an authority on investment management.

Her blog banner simply states "Bountiful Basics - simple solutions for a changing world." Do you agree with it? Find it out by visiting Bountiful Basics.

I Know This Church Is True

Thirty-three years ago today, I was immersed to the water of baptism in 3.5 feet water tub of MC lumber yard at 3 in the afternoon.

Bro. Tolentino and me in 2001

Elder Arturo A. Tolentino baptized me and Elder Daniel Crosley bestowed upon me the gift of the Holy Ghost and confirmed me member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Before I came down to the water of baptism, a missionary, a zone leader interviewed me the basic truths and principles and ordinances of the gospel which the full-time missionaries had taught for almost three weeks.

Extra-Ordinary Conversion

My conversion was no ordinary one for it started sometime in 1976 and it took me 4 years to be baptized and accounted as a confirmed member of the Mormon Church. I waited such long years after the Samoans missionaries who taught me the basic discussion of the gospel, unintentionally destroyed the extension part of our makeshift nipa hut for his heavy weight. I waited for the day they promised to return for a follow up gospel discussion, but unfortunately they didn't come back.

In 1980, another pair of full-time missionaries, Elder Crossley, an America missionary with his junior companion, Elder Tolentino happened to pass by my parent's house which where we transferred after that destruction of our nipa hut. At last the required lessons were completed and I was scheduled to be baptize. A day before my baptism, Elder Crossley was transferred and Elder Wagner took his place. Elder Tolentino and the new Elder paid a visit in our house to verify my baptism. Elder Tolentino asked me who is going to baptize me and also to confirm. I preferred a Filipino to baptize me, so I chose Elder Tolentino and Elder Wagner to confirm me as member of the Church. And during that time Brother Joaquin Villarias was my fellow-shipper.

Since then, I was active in the Church. Brother Villarias and I were always together in going to the Church. We're even tagged as the inseparable duo. I received various Church callings after I was conferred the Aaronic Priesthood and ordained to the office of the Priest, and after a year I was conferred to the higher priesthood like the Melchizedek Priesthood and ordained to the office of an Elder and finally to the office of the High Priest as I was set apart as the first counselor of the Bishopric of La Carlota first ward to the late Bishop Joaquin Villarias whom I had a testimony that he was really the anointed one of God.

Family Conversion

Manila Philippines Temple

My membership was strengthened and even edified when I baptized my own family and even my wife. My wife later became member of the Church two months later after my baptism. She was convinced of my faithful conversion to the Church for I had forsaken all of my personal vices and became a straight-forward head of the family. By my example, she decided perfectly, without any reservation to accept the challenge to be a member of the LDS Church and I baptized and confirmed her as member of the Church.

In 1986, my family and I were sealed for time and eternity in the Temple of God in Manila. And we were able to perform temple ordinances later in November 2012 at Cebu Philippines Temple.

I am not ashamed to share my testimony about the truthfulness of the Church, the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ from primitive time to the present dispensation.

Crucial Decision

I remember that before I was baptized I told my parents about my decision to leave our present religion which is Iglesia Independiente de Catolico [Independent Catholic Church], popularly known as the Aglipayan Church founded by Monsignor Gregorio Aglipay. I was an Aglipayan since birth and until my conversion to Mormonism. I told my mother about this and also my father. My mother strengthened me by saying, "Daw sa wala man ako nakit-an nga malain ang Mormons. Sige magpabunyag ka." [I had not found anything wrong with the Mormon Church. Go ahead for your baptism.]

Spiritual Accomplishment

The greatest spiritual achievement I may consider as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  are as follows when the whole members of my family went to the Temple, received our spiritual endowment, sealed together as a family for time and eternity; and saw together with my wife the living prophet of the Church, President Thomas S. Monson, in person who went to the cultural presentation of the youth in Cebu Coliseum on June 12, 2010. And on the following day of June 13, President Monson dedicated the Cebu Philippines Temple.

The testimony I nurture and keep it in my heart that the Church is true, that Jesus Christ is the son of the living God, and that Joseph Smith is instrumental in restoring the Church of Jesus Christ and the spiritual truth about the priesthood authority and the Book of Mormon as another testament of Jesus Christ. It is my freewill or nobody has forced me to join with this Church. I know that through the living prophet - God will still reveal more truths to save all mankind. No one will be compelled to believe on this except his unwavering faith.

Therefore it is my testimony that this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day is the true Church in the face of the earth and the Book of Mormon contains the words of God and we have the living prophet by the name of President Thomas S. Monson who receives revelations from God to guide us in these latter days... in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Book That Inspires My Grandchildren!

Ten o'clock in the morning of Thursday, I received the package coming from the Manila forwarder. I understood that these were the items I ordered from the online store last Sunday, April 15.

My grandchildren

After I signed the delivery document, I turned over the package to Toto Jun, our youngest son whom I told him to gather his nephew and nieces.

Toto Jun called up Bryan, Shanley Jane and Adgel and gathered them in a one place. He gave the package to Bryan, 9 who took the lead in opening the package, while Shanley Jane and Adgel, both are 8 years old, looked on. Stephanie Gyn, 5 years old joined also for she's excited just her sister Shanley and cousins.