by Elaine May Maque Sangre

     FDMC-Vietnam held its 5th Treasures at Tan Dinh Church, Ho Chi Minh City last July 20, 2008. More than 85 people attended the event, which started at 10:30 a.m.

     The Treasures chaplain, Rev. Father Peter Cung, celebrated the Holy mass. The gospel highlighted that material possessions and money are relatively unimportant. It reminded every one in the hall that earthly treasures must not be our goal because in the end, we will not be able to take any of the things of this world with us to the next. Fr. Cung encouraged everybody to imitate Jesus, our founder.

     Before the final blessings, Fr. Cung, together with the community, prayed over and sang a birthday song to Sis. Vangie Goteco, the birthday celebrator for July.

     Sis. Gladys Ballena and Leizl Dawa hosted the day. After the potluck lunch. Sis. Angelie Hao's child, the first Divine baby in Vietnam, received the sacrament of baptism. Then, Sis. Leizl, together with the Divine Mercy kids, led an action song, which entertained the entire community.

     The moderator called for volunteers to share how the Divine Mercy has bestowed their lives with graces. Sis. Bing Magsila shared first. She related her second life which happened just two weeks ago in the Philippines. Her powerful prayers to the Divine Jesus saved her life from the gun of her hold-uppers.  Sis. Lucy Raymund was next. She shared about the death of Bro. Conrad Reyes.  The death was related to the food he ate, affecting the restaurant that Sis. Lucy is running. By the grace of God, the truth prevailed, however, that the restaurant has nothing to do with it. Bro. Conrad's food was bought from another restaurant.

     Sis. Dina Balicanot was the speaker for the day, on the topic “Stewardship.” She shared about how we should be handling our God-given time, talent and treasures. She reminded everybody of five things:
      1. All that we have is not ours. Everything we have is borrowed from God.
      2. Gifts were given to enable us to fulfill our ministry.
      3. We must invest in what we have been given.
      4. We must use what we have.
      5. What we do with our gifts reveals our view of God.

     After the talk, Sis. Dina led the community to a praise and worship. Everybody was feeling the presence of the Lord during the praising when, suddenly, the lights went out. However, it did not stop the intense praising. Everybody did not mind the darkness, heat and still sang with all their hearts.

     Sis. Dina, together with the community, thanked and prayed over Bro. Aldrin De Guia who was leaving Vietnam for good to be with his family in Leyte.

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