Running the Race: CFC ANCOP Cup Spring Relay Run 2014

Earmarked as one of two major ANCOP Vancouver events, the revamped CFC ANCOP Cup Spring Relay Run 2014 rallied over five hundred individuals from Couples for Christ and its Family Ministries to the Holy Cross Regional High School Track in Surrey, BC during the final weekend of April.

Scoring its third year, the Spring Relay Run highlighted the importance of helping those in need particularly in the housing sector where affordable shelter continues to be a dilemma. The fund-raising event was aimed at bankrolling 12 modest houses in the Philippines. 

After taking a one year hiatus, this year's relay run came with salient modifications and improvements over race mechanics in order to promote cooperation, harmony, fairness and collaboration with the Singles for Christ, Youth for Christ, Kids for Christ and the Handmaids of the Lord. The revitalized affair showed promising feedback as participants and spectators alike had a better appreciation of the sport. Among the refinements introduced was the concept of the Cup where the winning chapter would have their name etched on the plate. The same Cup would then be awarded to next year's winner and so on, and the victors would be honoured for years to come.

Rene Garrucho, CFC ANCOP Coordinator for BC, opens the day's festivity with a meaningful prayer.

Participants in the hundreds congregate along the track in preparation for the parade. They are seen here with bowed heads as they join in prayer.

The Fraternal and Sector Households leading the parade.

Surrey 1 (Our Lady of Good Counsel) Chapter, East Cluster

Surrey 2 (St. Matthew's) Chapter, East Cluster

Surrey 3 (St. Bernadette) Chapter, East Cluster

Vancouver 1 Chapter, Central Cluster

Vancouver 2 Chapter, Central Cluster

Vancouver 3 Chapter, Central Cluster

Richmond 1 (St. Paul) Chapter, West Cluster

Richmond 2 (St. Monica) Chapter, West Cluster

Burnaby / New Westminster Chapter, West Cluster

Tri-Cities Chapter, East Cluster

Handmaids of the Lord (HOLD) 

Banners are laid side by side to be marked according to the relevance to the theme (which was the season of spring) and the degree of recyclable or recycled materials used.

Joyce Colobong of SFC administers the oath of sportsmanship.

Participants raise their hands in agreement to conduct themselves in a sportsmanly manner.

Mark Macapinlac of SFC and Rosemarie Concepcion of CFC applauds the runners.

Officials huddle as they are given last minute instructions by Project Chairman Chito Concepcion.

HOLD sisters enthusiastically lead the warm-up exercises.

Runners graciously flex their bodies in preparation for the relay.

A cheerful and refreshing number by the HOLD before the start of the main action.

Timers, marshals and runners are all-eyes on Bong Garrucho who signalled the start of every heat. 

A total of ten preliminary heats were slated to determine the times from each family ministry which were then combined according to chapter to establish their aggregate total.

CFC Preliminary Heat 1 

CFC Preliminary Heat 1 

SFC Preliminary Heat 2

YFC Preliminary Heat 3

KFC Preliminary Heat 4

HOLD Preliminary Heat 5

CFC Preliminary Heat 6

CFC Preliminary Heat 6

CFC Preliminary Heat 6

SFC Preliminary Heat 7

YFC Preliminary Heat 8

KFC Preliminary Heat 9

KFC Preliminary Heat 9

HOLD Preliminary Heat 10

Not to be outdone, an impromptu race was set-up for the chapter leaders who willingly participated.

Marc & Merle Bawagan, Tri-Cities Chapter Heads

Lino & Beth Jayin, Richmond 1 Chapter Heads

Alex & Grace Boquiren, Richmond 2 Chapter Heads

Senen & Virgie Basbas, Vancouver 3 Chapter Heads

John & Brenda Navoa, Surrey 3 Chapter Heads

The very animated Jim & Belle Diaz, Surrey 2 Chapter Heads

Gerry & Amy Andrada, Burnaby / New Westminster Chapter Heads

Andrew Chua, Vancouver 1 Chapter Head

Proving they are not just for show, chapter leaders press on up to the 200m mark.

The YFC performs a gleeful dance intermission number.

In a show of solidarity, leaders belonging to the fraternal and sector households, sprint towards the end goal. From left is Jimmy Dimaculangan, Nick Borja, Noel Magtibay, Jimmy Arzadon, Bong Garrucho, Elmer Tangco and Rene Perez.

Food stalls from the East Cluster kept everyone's hunger in check. Funds generated from the sale ultimately added to the event's collection effort.

After all nine of his team mates have run in succession, the anchor runner representing SFC brings the Cup to Surrey 3. Three other teams with the best aggregate times qualified for the Finals; they were Richmond 2, Vancouver 3 and Surrey 2 who placed first-runner up, second runner-up, and third-runner up respectively.

Members of the ANCOP Executive Committee (Mary Ann Marfori and Cookie Aytona) and Relay Run Project Committee prepare to announce the winners. They are joined by Charles Concepcion (second from left) who donated the gift baskets that are in the foreground.

Richmond 2, Third Place, Banner Competition

Surrey 3, Second Place, Banner Competition

Richmond 1, First Place, Banner Competition

Chito and Marie Concepcion, co-chairmen of the CFC ANCOP Cup Spring Relay Run 2014, thank everyone's participation and announce the winners for each ministry and the over-all Cup title-holder.

Medalists and representatives from the CFC, SFC, YFC, KFC and HOLD strike a pose. Victors of the special segments are Senen Basbas (Chapter Head division) and Elmer Tangco (Sector division). 

The Grand Champions hoist the Cup with their Chapter Leader John Navoa as Jimmy Arzadon, Vancouver Area Head looks on. The chapter's name will be emblazed on the trophy and will be remembered for many years to come.

General Assembly in a Nutshell

In this season of Lent, as we pause and reflect upon our lives and how much we have fulfilled our purpose, we are reminded that it is through prayer, sacrifice, good examples and selfless giving that we find genuine contentment in our earthly life.

May God continue to look upon us with favor as we carry on to do His work and proclaim His sovereignty. Have a blessed Holy Week.

On a side note:

Peace Prayer

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much
seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Forgiveness: The Hardest of all Virtues

Forgiving someone who has crossed us does not seem to be an easy task. We find it difficult to forgive because we justify it as a reaction to a hostile behavior. We validate our reaction as a defence mechanism, and in doing so we set up safety zones to protect ourselves from pain and disappointment. When someone whom we trust hurts us, we feel completely devastated and find our own little world shattered and caved in. We struggle back on our feet but we withdraw and create walls.


When the opportunity comes our way and someone asks for forgiveness, do we really forgive and forget about the atrocity or does it linger?

Speaking during Surrey 2 Chapter's General Assembly, Fr. Augustine Obiwumma, St. Matthew's Parish Priest, reveals to the audience that there is nothing in nature that teaches forgiveness.

Fr. Augustine Obiwumma, who spoke during our March General Assembly, and who serves as Pastor of St. Matthew's Parish, gave us a mindful insight into the virtue of forgiveness. He explained that when we forgive, we always grant two gifts: one, to the person who angered us; the other, to ourselves. When we forgive the one who trespassed us we essentially stop feeling anger toward them. It releases us from harbouring ill-feelings and negative emotions. It sets us free.

Fr. Augustine cites a study divulging the importance of a healthy emotional state as the primary criteria for healthy living. Being able to forgive sets the stage for a sound frame of mind.

Fr. Augustine, as he is more fondly called, zeroed in on 'unforgiveness' as a 'killer of families.' When it feels like we are always on the "giving" side of the relationship and all we ever do is give, give and give, we are tempted to feel like giving up and running away. He says the remedy is forgiveness, total and unconditional.


When we forgive, we forgive not because someone apologized or they promised to do good or make amends. We forgive not because they repented. We forgive not because they deserve to be forgiven. We forgive because we must and because we ourselves are forgiven. We forgive because of who we are as Christians. We forgive because we are followers of Jesus Christ.


Our mindset is such that to forgive is to show weakness and to endure hardships. However, Jesus Christ in his most glorious splendor was sent from heaven to earth to teach us how to forgive. He suffered insurmountable shame and affliction in the hands of His tormentors yet He kept to Himself and prayed for them. He obeyed and submitted to the plans of our Heavenly Father and in essence Jesus, through His examples was teaching us how to forgive in spite of adversity.


Complete and unconditional forgiveness may be hard to do but we should remember that we ourselves are beneficiaries of forgiveness. All we have to do is to ask for the grace of forgiveness and our Heavenly Father will surely and promptly grant it unto us.

Xynia Galledo shares her bitter experiences from her past and how overcoming them released her from the bondage of unforgiveness.

Carol Baniqued recounts her ordeals that made it difficult for her to forgive. She confesses that although she may not have a perfect life she continuously holds on to a perfect God.

Jim Diaz opens the topic on "Forgiveness."

The congregation prays over the birthday and wedding anniversary celebrants.