THE second-highest official of Guam, Lt. Gov. Ray Tenorio, visited the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) Central Office in Quezon City on July 17 for a courtesy call on Executive Minister Brother Eduardo V. Manalo.
Tenorio thanked the INC leader for his support and leadership of the Church, whose brethren had contributed greatly to Guam’s progress.
Special Assistant Alfredo Antolin, who is of Filipino descent, accompanied the former during his visit to the Executive Minister.
“I really appreciated the [INC members for their time] and, of course, Ka Eduardo Manalo, his kind generosity and making time to meet with me,” Tenorio said, who also conveyed to the INC leader the Guam government’s greetings for the Church’s celebration of its anniversary on July 27.
“I wanted to thank [Bro. Eduardo] for the work that he had done, and [also] congratulate him on the 104th anniversary of the INC,” Tenorio said on his second courtesy call to the INC leader.
His first was on November 21, 2017, when he presented to the INC leader a proclamation from Guam that recognized the Church’s contributions to the island and the rest of the world.
The latest courtesy call came as the Church was also preparing to celebrate its 50th year of its mission outside the Philippines.
“I just wanted to congratulate all the brethren of the INC on the 104th anniversary of the establishment of the Church and thank them for all the work that they do for their community. [I am hoping] that their next 104 years are as progressive and as well done on the establishment of the Church, [including] the foundation of the faith as they had in [their formative] years,” the Guam official said.
Tenorio conveyed to the INC executive minister the appreciation of the government of Guam led by Gov. Eddie Baza Calvo, as well as its people for the Church’s contributions to their island.
In his first courtesy call on the INC head, the Guam official presented a framed copy of Proclamation No. 2017-60 signed by Calvo, which declared July 27 as “Iglesia Ni Cristo [Church Of Christ] Day” that year.
“I met with him [Manalo, late last year], and I wanted to come and thank him again [as well as] the Church for the good works that they do for the people of Guam,” Tenorio said.
The Guam official also noted that the island is also looking forward to the 50th celebration of the INC’s establishment in Guam in March next year, adding that, on July 27, Guam was scheduled again to do a proclamation for INC day.
“I told Ka Eduardo that we are again nominating him to continue as the honorary ambassador for Guam, which will be something that we’re hoping to include in the next proclamation on INC day,” Tenorio revealed.
He expressed his admiration for the INC congregations in Guam, and said the INC brethren were “very kind, very humble and are models in their respective communities. We have many Filipinos throughout the island. Every village has a great number of Filipinos living there. And we’re very much looking forward to Ka Eduardo and the INC leadership here in Manila.”
Tenorio noted the appointment early this year of the INC leader as the Philippine government’s special envoy for overseas Filipino concerns.
Image credits: INC Public Information Office