By Sis Elaine May Sangre

     About 90 people attended FDMC–Vietnam’s 6th Treasures at Tan Dinh Church, Ho Chi Minh City last Aug. 17.

     The event started at 10:30 a.m. with a Holy Mass celebrated by two priests, Fr. Peter Cung, the  Vietnamese priest who is very supportive to the community here, and Fr. Joseph Huynh, a priest who was assigned in the Philippines for five years. Quoting from the gospel reading on that day, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed,” Fr. Cung encouraged the community to be great believers in God because the joy of God’s Kingdom awaits all who are faithful.

     Before the final blessings, Fr. Cung, Fr. Huynh and the entire community prayed over and rendered a birthday song to the August birthday celebrators.

     Then the participants shared a sumptuous potluck lunch. After that, Sis. Gladys Ballena and Sis. Peng Palmera, who served as moderators that day, welcomed everybody.

     To keep the crowd alive and awake, Sis. Peng and the Divine Mercy Kids led a joyful action song entitled “Kawal ni Hesus,” enlivening everyone in the place.

     The sharing of God’s bountiful blessings followed. The first sharer was Bro. Rommel Mariano. He shared how he was blessed when his contract in Vietnam ended. He got three interviews in a day and finally accepted the offer to be a “Kapamilya” in the Philippines. The second one was Sis. Ging Abejo. She was not expecting to get a job after one week of staying in Vietnam. She started as a teacher but God made His way that after three weeks, she had a job in line with her course. She was hired as a nurse in a well-known hospital here.

     Bro. Arnel Abejo was next, sharing how he made use of his God’s given time, talent and treasure. The fourth one was Bro. Jim Esperanzate. He hastily left Vietnam for the Philippines because his wife was in the labor room. He arrived in the hospital two hours before his wife delivered their first healthy baby boy. It was a successful CS delivery. The fifth sharer was Sis. Hyatt. She shared how she felt the camaraderie in Vietnam.

     Sis. Liezl Dawa led the Praise and Worship. Meanwhile, Fr. Jose Manuel "Bong” Sunaz served as speaker. He talked on “Sacrifice and Obedience.” One of his reflections was ”life is not a suffering but a mystery to enjoy.”

     Sis. Peng, together with the community, thanked and prayed over Bro. Rommel who was leaving Vietnam for the Philippines.

     The Treasures celebration ended at 2:30 p.m. with the recitation of the 3 o’ clock prayer and singing of the community song.