When Time Stood still
By Edwin Alberto (KC ’75)
"It only takes a spark, to get the fire going..." Edwin Alberto beaming as he leads the heartfelt singing of Pass It On and other oldtime favorites.
The Tamaraw Christian Fellowship, the FEU Chapter of IVCF, has long been in existence since the late 50’s. There were many, many happy days among believers, campers, and friends who all studied at the Far Eastern University and at the same time, attended the TCF daily prayer meetings, lectures from an IV staff, and went to conventions all for the sake of bonding in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
On November 29, 2008, the UE Alumni’s Warriors Christian Fellowship sponsored a long awaited reunion of IVCF Alumni. It was a great success! There were only three people from TCF who attended. Susan Jaro (now Juan), Bong Tamayo, and myself. Quite casually and in a nonchalant way, the three of us decided that it is about time that we conduct our own reunion, especially since we heard from the IV National Office that TCF has long been dead at FEU.
After many months of not being able to find a common time, since we were all busy with our own schedules, we finally met at the compounds of KBCF in March 2009, courtesy of Sierry Soriano (now Tendero). The four of us reminisced as much as we can about the good old days of TCF, tried to remember who the former members were, traded questions and answers on how to reach them, and we decided that indeed, it is time to call back the troops and perhaps try to rebuild the ‘Temple’. The reunion day was set on May 30, 2009.
Reunion day…one by one, they began coming in earnest. Sierry, Nemie Ades, Randy Rapisora, Jun and Espie Dolotallas, Norman Alcantara, Bong Tamayo , Kuya Elmer Lee, Aldwin Fernandez (currently an IV staff), Judith Versoza (owner of Josiah’s Catering and provided all the food), Ate Aleli Velasco (now Tan, and TCF IV staff from 1973 – 1977), and Ate Norma Sanchez (the wife of Kuya Bob who passed away more than two years ago – the two of them being very heavy supporters of the activities of TCF, since we almost always met at The Life Center in Lerma then. Kuya Del Sta. Ana, the first ever President of TCF, sent word that he could not make it, but invited us all in return to his place for fellowship, fun, and planning sometime in July.
Many of us have not met each other for more than 35 years! Susan actually cried when she saw Norman coming in! Some have ailment, there are those who went on to the ministry like Jun and Sierry, those who went into business like Randy and Nemie, Judith and Bong, and others who became supporters of politicians like myself. Susan is heavily involved both with her ministry through the local version of The Life Center in Imus, Cavite and caring for her aging parents and that of his husband Manny.
We started with singing. ‘Pass It On’, ‘It is Well with My Soul’, ‘New Life in Christ’, and such. Plenty of smiles and clearing of throats while we were doing that.
from left to right: former Tamaraw IVCF staff Aleli Velasco-Tan, Norman Alcantara, Bong Tamayo, and Edwin Alberto.
Sierry and Susan took over for the sharing time. We now have our own children. Jun is a pastor and has a son who is also a pastor. Susan and Sierry are proud grandmothers now and yet, the feeling of youth, vitality, enthusiasm, and the ‘Yes, I could do something!’ attitude are still there. We were so blessed during our heyday with the ministries of Manong Bel Magalit, Ate Lisa Espineli, Ate Aleli Velasco, Ate Melba Maggay, Ate Precy Pelaez, Kuya Romy Pizaña, Kuya Jess Alisbo, Kuya Herman Moldez, Kuya Willie Girao, Kuya Gene Lara, and of course the leadership of our then General Secretary Kuya Harvey Co Chien and benefactor Manong Esdras Martinez.
We asked Erickson to give us a brief backgrounder as to where IVCF is now and where it is headed to. We concluded with a resolve that something must be done about TCF. Not only immediate solutions but long lasting ones. We will try to send two delegates to Kawayan Camp every year. It costs around P10,000 per delegate. And try to raise enough funds to support one IV staff to look after Christian students studying now at FEU. The initial love offering during the reunion totaled P6,300.
The challenge remains, and that is – to work together to once again see the proliferation of the Gospel at the FEU campus. It takes humble dedication to do that. Nothing more, nothing less. I was appointed as the Overall Coordinator of the TCF Alumni with Bong as my Vice and Judith as our Treasurer. Constant updates will be released for our forthcoming reunions and other TCF sponsored events.
We used to be content with banana cue for lunch and a P3.50 lomi for dinner. Now we have been blessed with properties and assets. Wouldn’t you agree that it is the perfect time to give back? To nurture TCF and IV somehow? To help rebuild the ‘Temple’?
‘It only takes a spark… to keep the fire going’ … so then, would you please… Pass it on?
"Heto na kami ngayon!" Tamaraw together again after more than 30 years!
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Note: Edwin Alberto, FEU-Tamaraw alumnus, is currently working for a presidential contender in the 2010 elections. If you are an FEU alumnus and you would like to know more about upcoming FEU-TCF events, please contact IVCF office at 02-9317794.
