Church, city and other officials started to brace themselves on Friday for the anniversary celebration of the Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide, which is expected this year to draw up to 15 million devotees from all over the Philippines, including Metro Manila, composed of the City of Manila and the cities of Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig, and Valenzuela, and the Municipality of Pateros, Ilocos Region, composed of Laoag City and the Province of Ilocos Norte, Vigan and the Province of Ilocos Sur and Province of Abra, Batac City and Candon City, Cagayan Valley including the provinces of Isabela, Cagayan, Batanes, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya, Parts of Benguet are Municipalities of Itogon, Kabayan and Bokod, Ifugao are Municipalities of Tinoc, Asipulo, Lamut, Lagawe, Mayoyao, Aguinaldo and Alfonso Lista, Parts of Mountain Province are Municipalities of Barlig, Natonin and Paracelis, Parts of Apayao are Municipalities of Santa Marcela, Flora and Conner and Parts of Kalinga are Municipalities of Pinukpuk and Rizal, northern Luzon including San Fernando City and Province of La Union, Baguio City and Province of Benguet, Banaue and Province of Ifugao, Sagada and Mountain Province, Kabugao and Province of Apayao, Tabuk and Province of Kalinga, Northern Parts of Ilocos Sur are Municipalities of Tagudin, Suyo, Alilem, Sugpon, Cervantes, Sigay, Quirino, Gregorio del Pilar and San Emilio and Parts of Pangasinan are Municipalities of San Fabian, Sison, San Manuel and San Nicolas, North and Central Luzon including Dagupan City and Province of Pangasinan, Tarlac City and Province of Tarlac, Cabanatuan City and Province of Nueva Ecija, Olongapo City and Province of Zambales, Baler and Province of Aurora, San Fernando City and Province of Pampanga, Balanga City and Province of Bataan, Malolos City and Province of Bulacan, Southern Luzon areas including Batangas City and Province of Batangas, Lipa City, provinces of Cavite, Laguna and Rizal, Lucena City and Province of Quezon, provinces of Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro and Romblon, Naga City and province of Camarines Sur, provinces of Camarines Norte and Catanduanes, Legazpi City and Province of Albay, provinces of Sorsogon and Masbate, Visayas areas including: Cebu City and Province of Cebu, Dumaguete City and Province of Negros Oriental, island-provinces of Siquijor and Bohol, 4th and 5th Districts of Leyte, Ormoc City, province of Southern Leyte, Bacolod City and Negros Occidental and Parts of Negros Oriental, provinces of Aklan and Antique, Roxas City and province of Capiz, Iloilo City and Province of Iloilo, island province of Guimaras, Tacloban City, provinces of Samar, Leyte, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Biliran, Southern Leyte and Dinagat Islands, Mindanao areas including Davao City and provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley, General Santos City and provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani, Central Mindanao areas including Cotabato City and the provinces of Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat and Basilan, Northern Mindanao areas including Cagayan de Oro City and Province of Misamis Oriental, Ozamiz City and Province of Misamis Occidental, Iligan City and Province of Lanao del Norte, Marawi City and Province of Lanao del Sur, Malaybalay City and Province of Bukidnon, Dipolog City and Province of Zamboanga del Norte, Pagadian City and Province of Zamboanga del Sur and Province of Camiguin, Zamboanga peninsula including Zamboanga City, Isabela City and Province of Basilan, Ipil and Province of Zamboanga Sibugay, Provinces of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and CARAGA including: Butuan City, Surigao City, Bislig City, Tandag City, Bayugan City, Cabadbaran City, Provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands, 20 million participants all over the United States of America, including: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming and 500 million participants all over the world, including Abkhazia, Afghanistan, Akrotiri and Dhekelia, Åland Islands, Anguilla, Armenia, Aruba, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bonaire, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Christmas Island, Clipperton Island, Cocos Islands, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Egypt, Estonia, Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, Finland, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, Gambia, Gibraltar, Greenland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guernsey, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Madeira, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Maldives, Martinique, Marshall Islands, Mayotte, Mauritania, Mauritius, Melilla, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nagorno-Karabakh, Nauru, Navassa Island, Nepal, Netherlands, North Korea, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Cyprus, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Nueva Esparta, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Réunion, Russia, Rwanda, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Andrés and Providencia, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Somaliland, South Korea, South Ossetia, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Transnistria, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe to converge on the Quiapo Church or the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, Plaza Miranda and Rizal Park's Quirino Grandstand in downtown Manila.
The anniversary celebration, traditionally celebrated on October every year since 1979, draws millions of participants who experienced the wonderful works of the Holy Spirit as they praised and worshiped Lord God and listened to His Word as a sign of penance and thanksgiving for favors who received.
On October 5, 1978, Bro. Eddie C. Villanueva invited his listeners for a Thanksgiving Holy Mass and and Worship and Healing Prayer Rally that was held at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Santa Mesa Campus on the Thursday nearest his birthday, October 6. About one thousand people attended the affair and experienced the miracle-working power of God!
Encouraged by the success of the rally, Bro. Eddie scheduled a monthly Holy Mass and Worship and Healing Prayer Rally at the DWRV Compound in Quezon City. Some time later, as more people came to be led back to the Lord Jesus Christ, the rally was held weekly. A monthly Catholic Life-in-the-Spirit Seminar (CLSS) and a weekly fellowship were also held at the Strata 2000 Building, F. Ortigas Jr. Ave., Ortigas Center in Pasig City.
After a while, Bro. Eddie decided to air his program three times a week and began thinking of a new title and theme song for it. At this time, a friend gave him a magazine entitled "Jesus is Lord," which quickly aroused his interest.
He made a study of the meaning of the term and discovered that it was one of the seven Covenant Names, by which God the Father revealed Himself to Israel.
Jesus is Lord, the motto of the World Council of Churches. The most popular and briefest was "Jesus is Lord" found in 1 Corinthians 12:3; Romans 10:9 and probably in the baptisms referred to in Acts 8:16; 19:5 and 1 Cor 6:11 since their being described as "in the name of the Lord Jesus" certainly seems to imply that "the formula 'Jesus is Lord' had a place in the rite". The phrase might be extended as "Jesus Christ is Lord" as in Philippians 2:11. Shortly, he heard the song "Jesus is Lord" over Radio DWRV 860 itself:
"Jesus is Lord" by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
Jesus is Lord
The cry that echoes through creation
Resplendent pow'r eternal Word our Rock
The Son of God
The King whose glory fills the heavens
Yet bids us come to taste this living bread
Jesus is Lord
Whose voice sustains the stars and planets
Yet in His wisdom laid aside His crown
Jesus the man who washed our feet
Who bore our suffering
Became a curse to bring salvation's plan
Jesus is Lord
The tomb is gloriously empty
Not even death could crush this King of love
The price is paid the chains are loosed
And we're forgiven
And we can run into the arms of God
Jesus is Lord
A shout of joy a cry of anguish
As He returns and every knee bows low
Then every eye and every heart will see His glory
The judge of all will take His children home.
Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the weekly fellowship came to be called the DWRV Prayer Partners Jesus the Healer, since Radio DWRV was the broadcast medium, he and his first listeners became prayer-partners, and Jesus is Lord was the Divine Name revealed to him by God. Every week, God added thousands of new prayer-partners to this community by means of the Good News aired over the radio DWRV and the Mass and Healing Rallies held all over Metro Manila and nearby provinces. As the community grew, they voluntarily gave their tithes and miracle-seed-of-faith offerings to support the radio program "Jesus the Healer" and the Mass and Healing Rallies. Some prayer-partners even volunteered to serve without compensation.
Inspired by the outcome of events, Bro. Eddie thought it was time to formally organize the community. Thus, the Jesus is Lord Fellowship, Inc. was established, which in due time was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It was organized, primarily, as an institution where Bro. Eddie could channel his tithes and donations derived from his real estate business and other companies to support the religious activities of various Catholic charismatic groups and some projects of charitable organizations. These however were not enough to support the expenses of the newly-founded charismatic community, especially the radio programs of DWRV Radio Veritas and the Mass and Healing Rallies. And so, he had to continue shelling out funds from his own personal earnings. For him, though, it was a great enough blessing from Jesus is Lord that his radio listeners came to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and were receiving answers to their prayer-requests.
From 1986 to present, other chapters were formed in Abkhazia, Afghanistan, Akrotiri and Dhekelia, Åland Islands, Anguilla, Armenia, Aruba, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bonaire, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Christmas Island, Clipperton Island, Cocos Islands, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Egypt, Estonia, Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, Finland, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, Gambia, Gibraltar, Greenland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guernsey, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Madeira, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Maldives, Martinique, Marshall Islands, Mayotte, Mauritania, Mauritius, Melilla, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nagorno-Karabakh, Nauru, Navassa Island, Nepal, Netherlands, North Korea, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Cyprus, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Nueva Esparta, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Réunion, Russia, Rwanda, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Andrés and Providencia, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Somaliland, South Korea, South Ossetia, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Transnistria, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe. These were formed by Filipino prayer-partners working abroad, who were motivated by the desire to bear witness to the love and goodness of Jesus Christ our Lord. With the emergence of the chapters abroad, the corporate name registered with the SEC was amended to Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide, Incorporated.
Later in 1993, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) realized that the growth of the Foundation, particularly since it was affecting Catholics, could not be taken for granted any longer. Most Rev. Teodoro C. Bacani Jr., DD, then-Auxiliary Bishop of Manila and Overall Spiritual Director of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement (CCRM) in the Archdiocese of Manila, invited Jesus Miracle Crusade International Ministry spiritual director Pastor Wilde Almeda, El Shaddai Servant-Leader Bro. Mike Z. Velarde and Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide founder and spiritual director Bro. Eddie Villanueva to the CBCP Conference on January 24, 1993, to shed light on what was going on in the Foundation. On that occasion, Bishop Bacani was beside Pastor Wilde, Bro. Mike and Bro. Eddie, not to defend him, but to bear witness to what God was doing through the Foundation. The result of the meeting was satisfactory because most of the questions asked were clearly and humbly answered by Bro. Eddie.
On October 13 to 14, 1979, during its First Anniversary Celebration of Jesus is Lord Fellowship at the DWRV Compound in Pasig City, about five thousand people witnessed and experienced the miracle touch of Jesus is Lord.
Some eight thousand people gathered together on the Second Anniversary Celebration of the Jesus is Lord Fellowship at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on October 12, 1980. Even the seemingly indifferent PICC staff were surprised because the affair lasted one whole day and it was the first time that its Reception and Plenary Halls were filled to capacity.
The Third Anniversary Celebration of the Jesus is Lord Fellowship was celebrated with an Overnight Mass and Healing Rally at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in Vito Cruz, Manila, from October 17 to 18, 1981. It rained heavily throughout the affair, but the estimated two hundred thousand attendees stayed until it ended in the morning.
As early as 9:00 a.m. of October 7, 1989, members and followers of the Jesus is Lord Fellowship began trooping to the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in Vito Cruz, Manila to participate in its Eleventh Anniversary. By midnight, the entire stadium was jammed with over half a million people from all over the Philippines to take part in an overnight activity of praise and worship dedicated to Jesus Christ. Bishop Teodoro C. Bacani, together with some priests from the different parishes in the Archdiocese of Manila, Archdiocese of Lipa and Archdiocese of Cebu, led the Holy Mass.
From October 13 to 14, 1990, the Twelfth Anniversary of the Jesus is Lord Fellowship was held at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila. In attendance were thousands of its members and followers, who experienced the wonderful works of the Holy Spirit as they praised and worshipped to Jesus and listened to His Word despite a storm which flooded some parts of the venue with knee-deep water.
The scenario of the Thirteenth Anniversary of the Jesus is Lord Fellowship held at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila, from October 12 to 13, 1991, was identical to that of its 12th Anniversary. Nevertheless, the almost half a million attendees braved the monsoon rains and knee-deep flood to give thanks, praise and worship to God.
On the occasion of the Fourteenth Anniversary Celebration of the Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide held at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila, from October 17 to 18, 1992, more than one-and-a-half million prayer-partners attended the affair. His Excellency, President Fidel V. Ramos, gave his greetings to the congregation.
For the first time in the history of Rizal Park and the whole of Metro Manila for that matter, about three million people joined the Fifteenth Anniversary Celebration of the Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide at the national park from October 8 to 9, 1994. The participants crowded the 61-hectare national park and adjacent areas-Roxas Boulevard, Taft Avenue, UN Avenue, T.M. Kalaw St., Port Area, and Jones Bridge. Some of them came to the venue as early as three days before the event. They came not only from Metro Manila, but also from Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, the Ilocos Region, Quezon, the Bicol Region, Sorsogon, Leyte, and other distant provinces. Also present were members from different overseas chapters of the Foundation.
His Excellency, President Fidel V. Ramos was the guest of honor during the Eighteenth Anniversary of the Foundation at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila on October 13, 1996. In line with the anniversary theme, which is unity, leaders from the different charismatic groups and religious groups were invited to speak in a CLSS. During the Thanksgiving Mass officiated by Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, a mass wedding took place, in which eighty couples who had been living together as common-law spouses finally tied the knot.
Last year, two days after the UAAP Season 75 Basketball Finals between the Ateneo Blue Eagles versus UST Growling Tigers at Smart Araneta Coliseum on October 11, 2012, at least nine million participants participated in the 34th Anniversary Celebration of Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide, with no less than the President of the Republic of the Philippines, Benigno S. Aquino III as guest-of-honor in the celebration, traversing a crowd from the 61-hectare Rizal Park to Port Area to the Quiapo church in a celebration that lasted twenty-four hours from 9:00 a.m. of Sunday, October 14, 2012 to 9:30 a.m. of Monday, October 15, 2012.
The Anniversary Celebration Themes are: "GREAT GOD. GREAT OUTPOURING" (Jeremiah 33:3) in 2011, "Prepare the Way of the LORD" in 2012 and "Revolution of Righteousness" in 2013
TESDA Chief Emmanuel Joel Villanueva said the movement has begun its preparations for this year’s annual festivities.
On Wednesday, Jesus is Lord Church’s Fiesta Committee met with the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council led by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Francis Tolentino to discuss plans on how to manage security, emergency traffic and crowd control during the event, would feature the the thank-offering salo-salo simultaneously from the Quirino Grandstand at the Rizal Park to the Port Area to the Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila.
Early in the afternoon, the crowd jubilantly caught with their umbrellas inverted thousands of miracle-souvenir handkerchiefs thrown into the air from several helicopters. A thanksgiving prayer was offered by Bro. Eddie C. Villanueva for his birthday and for the anniversary of the Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide. He also led the congregation in prayer for their prayer-requests, which were tied to balloons and released to the air at the signal of Bro. Eddie.
In the 2013 celebration last October 27, 2013, His Excellency, President Benigno S. Aquino III, the guest of honor in the occasion, gave his greetings and message to the crowd. The President was with the Aquino Family. In attendance also were some members of the cabinet; several senators led by Senate President Franklin M. Drilon; several congressmen led by House Speaker Feliciano R. Belmonte Jr.; and friends of Bro. Mike Velarde of El Shaddai from the business, entertainment, media, legal, and religious sector:
Former Metrobank president Tony Abacan, former Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban and Reynato Puno, Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Bea Zobel, Manuel V. Pangilinan, Tessie Sy-Coson, Tony Tan-Caktiong, Ramon Ang, Alfred Ty, Arthur Ty, Lance Gokongwei, Robina Gokongwei-Pe, Liza Gokongwei-Cheng, Andrew Tan, Beth Lee, Fe Agudo, Washington Sycip, Felipe Gozon, Kenneth Yang, Sanjiv Vohra, Philippine Daily Inquirer board chairman Marixi Rufino-Prieto, Philippine Daily Inquirer president Alexandra Prieto-Romualdez, Philippine Daily Inquirer editor-in-chief Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc, US Embassy spokesperson Rebecca Thompson, as well guests were media agencies and advocacy partners was seated next to Villanueva.
Two tables away were former Negros and now Philippine National Bank director, Rep. Miguel ''Mike'' Romero, socialite-TV personality Cory Quirino and designer Sylvia Santos.
Fashion designer JC Buendia, Randy Ortiz, Jojie Lloren, Dong Omaga Diaz, Joey Samson, Ivarluski Aseron, Vittorio Barba, Gerry Katigbak, Frederick Peralta, Rajo Laurel, Len Nepomuceno, Hindy Weber-Tantoco, Ramon Esteban, PJ Aranador, Edwin Ao, OJ Hofer, Arcy Gayatin, Tippi Ocampo, Avel Bacudio, Jerome Salaya Ang, Joel Escober, Anthony Nocom, Albert Andrada, Noel Crisostomo, Ronaldo Arnaldo, Kristel Yulo, Happy Andrada, Pablo Cabahug and James Reyes, FDAP designers Johnny Abad, Ricky Abad, Dexter Alaza, Nino Angeles, Delby Bragais, Karen Castro, Kirby Cruz, Ivan dela Cruz, Perry Diaz, Lynn Roxas, Boyet Dysanco, Ricco Escaro, Rocky Gathercole, Genar Gozum, Pristine de Guzman, Adin Lara, Paul Ranier Lim, Noelle Llave, Edgar Madamba, Jontie Martinez, Nikkie Martinez, Ole Morabe, Vivo Nazareth, Dave Ocampo, Lito Perez, Nholie Pilapil, Joyce Pilarsky, Aan Pineda, Raoul Ramirez, Yako Reyes, Rholand Roxas, Edgar San Diego, Fanny Serrano, Edwin Uy, Simon Ariel Vasquez, Geoffrey Zordilla, independent fashion designers Jun Escario, Michelle Sison, Patrice Ramos Diaz, Charina Sarte, Cary Santiago, Dennis Lustico, John Paras, Bea Albert, Eric de los Santos, Maureen Desini, Vania Romoff, Martin Bautista, John/Paul Herrera, Ronald Mendoza, Audie Espino, Sidney Perez Sio, Goullee Gorospe and Raoul Ramirez, country’s design icons Inno Sotto, Auggie Cordero, Pepito Albert, Cesar Gaupo, Lulu Tan-Gan, Mike de la Rosa and Loretto, Efren Ocampo and The Dean of Filipino Fashion Designers Ben Farrales were next to bag designer Santos.
Lawyer Esperidion Laxa, Jeanne Young, Boots Anson-Roa, Tony Ferrer, Lawrence Tan, Atty. Joji Alonso, Lily Yu-Monterverde and Wilson Tieng, known personalities in the movie industry, former Ilocos Rep. Roque ''Roquito'' Ablan, Tarlac Gov. Jose "Apeng'' Yap, Kapamilya and non-Kapamilya stars also joined in the celebrations like Iya Villania with boyfriend Drew Arellano, Bianca Manalo, Sitti, Jasmine Curtis Smith, James Blanco, Eric Tai, K Brosas, Raymart Santiago, Randy Santiago, G Toengi, Kean Cipriano, Bamboo Manalac, Bb. Pilipinas 2013 beauties Cindy Miranda, Bea Rose Santiago, Ariella Arida and Pia Romero, Katherine de Castro, Ces Orena-Drilon, Oyo Boy Sotto, Rowell Santiago, Gretchen Ho, Dominique Cojuangco, Mylene Dizon, Agot Isidro, Dina Bonnevie with husband Ilocos Sur Vice-Governor Deogracias Victor Savellano, Dawn Zulueta with husband Rep. Anton Lagdameo, Jericho Rosales, apl.de.ap, Eddie Garcia and Richard Gomez, Sen. Grace Poe-Llamanzares, Sen. Sonny Angara with wife Tootsy, Mega Magazine editor-in-chief Sari Yap, StyleBible.ph's Isha Andaya-Valles, Summit Media President Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng & Cosmopolitan magazine editor-in-chief Myrza Sison, YES! Magazine editor-in-chief Jo-ann Maglipon, ABS-CBN Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Eugenio Lopez III, ABS-CBN president and chief content officer Charo Santos-Concio, Star Cinema managing director Malou Santos, channel head Cory Valenzuela-Vidanes, TV business unit head Laurenti Dyogi, business unit head for comedy Linggit Tan, ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc. General Manager Ernie Lopez, Dreamscape Entertainment Television President Deo Endrinal, Roxy Liquigan, Riley Santiago, Robert Labayen, Mark Yambot, August Benitez, Nandy Villar, Rico Camus, Raymond Miranda, Mark Lopez, Maricel Arenas, Happy Mabulay, Darwin Cerrado, Aldrin Cerrado, Dino Laurena, March Ventosa, Chris Lopez, Carlo Katigbak, Leo Katigbak, Paolo Pineda, Bong Osorio, Monchet Olives, Karen Coloma, former ABS-CBN presidents Cito Alejandro and Freddie Garcia, movie and television directors Johnny Manahan, Arnel Natividad, Toto Natividad, Malu Sevilla, Rowell Santiago, Don Cuaresma, Rechie del Carmen, Jojo Saguin, Jerry Sineneng, Tots Mariscal, Erik Salud, Ruel Bayani, Ruel Naval, Jerome Pobocan, and Don Cuarema, The Philippine STAR columnists RJ Ledesma, Stephanie Zubiri-Crespi, and Tim Yap, Ayala Land, Inc. president Antonino "Tony" Aquino, Ayala Land vice president and head of operations and support services commercial business group Rowena Tomeldan, AC Legarda, Mark Sablan, Joseph Reyes, Maricris Bernardino, Pivi Diaz, Rina Rejanit, EVP Bobby Dy and COO Rowena Tomeldan, The Philippine STAR lifestyle section editor Millet Martinez-Mananquil and celebrities Enchong Dee, Liezel Martinez, Rachel Alejandro and Joanna Ampil were around.
4, 000 Lopez kin from all over the world, ABS-CBN Manila Radio and Sports Division head Peter Musngi, ABS-CBN Integrated News and Current Affairs Chief Ging Reyes and Choose Philippines head Charie Villa, TV director Bobbet and son Kobi Vidanes were seated to Boss Gabby Lopez, Mam Charo Santos and Tita Cory Valenzuela-Vidanes.
GMA Network President-Emeritus Menardo Jimenez, Sr., GMA Network President Gilberto Duavit, Jr., GMA Network Films, Inc. President Annette Gozon-Abrogar, Lito Abrogar, TV5 Chairman-Emeritus Antonio Cojuangco, Jr., TV5 President-Emeritus Atty. Ray Espinosa, TV5 President and CEO Noel Lorenzana, News5 head Luchi Cruz-Valdes and Sports5 head Chot Reyes were seated next to Pangilinan and Gozon.
Robert Mananquil, models Robby and Raya Mananquil, and Rissa Mananquil-Trillo with Valerie de los Santos; Ateneo Blue Eagles team manager Paolo Trillo; Phoemela Baranda were seated next to his wife Millet Martinez-Mananquil.
Bench big boss Ben Chan with Bench resident architect Miguel Pastor, Public relations and events organizer Keren Pascual, Girlie Rodis, Star Magic handler Monch Novales and BENCH/ Rajo Laurel Dos collection models Sam Concepcion, Rocco Nacino, Steven Silva, Enzo Pineda, Sarah Lahbati and Regine Angeles, model-turned-actors Joseph Marco, David Chua and Miko Raval, as well as travel friends Pops Fernandez, Doris Magsaysay Ho, Gina Lopez, Evelyn Forbes, Marc Nelson, Ricco and Tina Maristela-Ocampo, Rikki and Beng Dee, Philip and Tricia Cu-Unjieng, Sander and Mons Romulo-Tantoco, Philippine National Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon, Raymond Gutierrez, Dennis and Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Ernest Escaler, Maurice Arcache, Ces Orena-Drilon, Karen Davila, Dyan and Jackie Castillejo, Joji Dingcong, Eric Quizon, Liza Ilarde, Ana Kalaw, Anton San Diego, Raul Teehankee, Pepper Teehankee, McCann Erickson Client Service Director Bernadette Chincuanco, Coca-Cola Philippines Marketing Director Anubha Sahasrabuddhe & IMC Director Yasmin Mallari Mariko Jacinto, Aye Nuguid, Leah Puyat, Anton Barretto and Jack de Mesa, Coca-Cola ASEAN Business Unit President Manuel Arroyo, Coca-Cola Philippines President & General Manager Guillermo Aponte, marketing director Anubha Sahasrabuddhe and Franchise & Commercial Leadership Director Peter Schaelstraete together with the Coca-Cola Philippines team Johanna Hife, Steve Little, Rogie Delena, Raymond Villaflor, Teejae Sonza, Jobert Dumlao, Sharon Tanganco, Roki Ferrer, Rachel Cruz, Francis Chua, Franz Decloedt, Yasmin Mallari, Jenny Cinco, Jing Atienza, Criselda Pascual, Mavel Banocnoc, Thess Acuna, Franco Jorge, Stephanie Castillo, Tish Condeno, Jaideep Kibe, Nicamae Baylen, Jenalyn Perez, Barry del Rosario, and Nikki Lee, UAAP Juniors Basketball MVP Thirdy Ravena and celebrities Xian Lim, Jhong Hilario, Vhong Navarro, Billy Crawford, Gerald Anderson, Chris Tiu, Young JV, Ervic Vijandre, and Kevin Alas, Mr. Chinatown's Sky Yang, Jerome Tan & Randy See; Mark Lopez, Jairus Ferrer, Alec Robes, Be Bench Model Search grand (female) winner Regine Angeles and finalist Ron Morales; Carlos Concepcion; Yeng Constantino; Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 scholar Hansen Nichols with his twin brother GC, Suyen Corporation's Nene and Virgilio Lim, Bryan Lim and Suyen Lim, Carlos Chan's children Carlson, Archie, Rinby, Larry, Oszen and Shera, kart racer Michelle Bumgarner, actor-models Victor Basa and Victor Aliwalas, and college basketball stars such as Arnold Van Opstal, Bobby Ray Parks, Jeron Teng and Kiefer Ravena, Jeron's siblings Jeric, Alyssa and Almira Teng, Kiefer's siblings Thirdy and Dani Ravena, and Kiefer's parents former PBA players Bong Ravena and his wife former volleyball star Mozzy Crisologo, and Alvin Teng and his wife Susan Uy were seated next to columnists Ledesma, Zubiri-Crespi and Yap and celebrities Dee, Martinez, Alejandro and Ampil.
Onstage with the President were his battalion of Cabinet secretaries, including Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa, Jr., Proceso Alcala of agriculture; Sonny Coloma; communications, Ricky Carandang, communications and strategic planning; Voltaire Gazmin, defense; Ramon Paje, Jr., environment; Florencio Abad, Jr., budget; Dr. Enrique Ona, health; Manuel Roxas III, interior and local government, Albert del Rosario, foreign affairs; Gregory Domingo, trade and investment; Cesar V. Purisima, finance; Joseph Emilio A. Abaya, transportation and communication; Carlos Jericho Petilla, energy; Julia Abad-Razon, presidential management staff; Rochelle R. Ahorro, appointments secretary; deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, and presidential spokesperson Atty. Edwin Lacierda.
Villanueva's well-wishers from the Senate included Heherson Alvarez, Teresa Aquino-Oreta, Butz Aquino, Nikki Coseteng, John Osmeña, Sergio Osmeña III, Pia Cayetano, Alan Peter Cayetano, TG Guingona, Ernesto Herrera, Loi Estrada, Juan Flavier, Robert Jaworski, Ping Lacson, Bongbong Marcos, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Nancy Binay, Leticia Ramos-Shahani, Lito Lapid, Bong Revilla, Freddie Webb, Victor Ziga, Ralph Recto, Vicente Sotto III, Edgardo Angara and Francisco Tatad.
Congressmen present were Speaker Sonny Belmonte, Pedro B. Acharon Jr. of South Cotabato, Majority Floor Leader Neptali Gonzales II, Edgar R. Erice of Caloocan, Josephine Veronique R. Lacson-Noel of Malabon, Toby Tiangco of Navotas, Ma. Theresa B. Bonoan-David of 4th District of Manila, Lucy Torres-Gomez of Leyte.
Also present were former President Estrada's sons, Jinggoy Estrada and JV Ejercito, former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, former Philippine President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, current Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, former Quezon City Mayor Brigido Simon, Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan, Malabon City Mayor Len-Len Oreta, Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco, Valenzuela City Mayor Rexlon Gatchalian, Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos, former Marikina City Mayors Bayani and Marides Carlos-Fernando, current Marikina City Mayor Del de Guzman, former Pasig City Mayors Vicente, Soledad and Bobby Eusebio and San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin "JunJun" Binay, current Pasig City Mayor Maribel Eusebio, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, current Pasay City Mayor Tony Calixto, former Pasay City Mayor Peewee Trinidad, former Paranaque City Mayors Joey Marquez and Jun Bernabe, current Parañaque City Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez, Las Pinas City Mayor Vergel A. Aguilar and Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi.
Foreign envoys present were United States ambassador Philip S. Goldberg, Canadian ambassador Neil Reeder, Spanish ambassador Jorge Domecq, Mexican ambassador Julio Camarena Villaseñor, Japanese ambassador Toshinao Urabe and Korean ambassador Hyuk Lee.
Seen leaving the grandstand after the President's speech were Marichu Vera Perez, Fr. Sonny Ramirez, MMDA Chairman Atty. Francis Tolentino, PAGCOR Chairman-Emeritus Ephraim Genuino, PAGCOR Chairman Cristino L. Naguiat, Jr., PAGCOR president-emeritus Butch Tenorio and Rafael Butch Francisco, PAGCOR Chairman Jorge Sarmiento, Philippine Olympic Committee Chairman Peping Cojuangco, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Ricardo R. Garcia and representatives of businessman Lucio Tan.
The Thanksgiving Mass was led by Pope Francis, the Bishop of Rome and the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church together with His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal B. Rosales, Archbishop-Emeritus of Manila, Luis Antonio Cardinal G. Tagle, Archbishop of Manila; Most Rev. Oscar V. Cruz, Archbishop-Emeritus of Lingayen-Dagupan, Most Rev. Socrates B. Villegas, Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, Most Rev. Angel Lagdameo, Archbishop of Jaro, Most Rev. Jose S. Palma, Archbishop of Cebu, Ricardo Cardinal J. Vidal, Archbishop-Emeritus of Cebu, Most Rev. John F. Du, Archbishop of Palo, Most Rev. Fernando Capalla, Archbishop-Emeritus of Davao, Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, Archbishop of Davao, Most Reverend Orlando B. Quevedo, Archbishop of Cotabato, Most Rev. Teodoro C. Bacani, Jr., Over-all Spiritual Director of El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International, Very Rev. Msgrs. Mariano T. Balbago Jr. of Antipolo Diocese and Mario A. Castillo; and Rev. Fr. Anton Pascual and Rev. Fr. Sanny de Claro, spiritual directors of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International. Joining them also were several spiritual directors from the international chapters of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation namely Reverend Fathers Bernard J. Nolan of Brisbane, Australia; Leo E. Steinbock of Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.; and Thomas Kawamura of Tokyo, Japan, as well as from the Philippines namely, Dwight de Jesus; Remigio Mendoza of Mabini, Batangas; Manheim Abellana, SDB; Eligio Santos of San Ildefonso Parish, Makati; and Stephen Punnakal and Victor Maung Thit of the Our Lady of Assumption Parish, Malate, Manila.
Soon, the Special Supplement of the Philippine STAR for Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide Anniversary Celebration including: the National Thanksgiving Mass contains priests from 166 Archdioceses and Diocese belonging to Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Rites in India with the reference: "166 Diocese of Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Rites" were published in pages 143 to 2,240 of The Catholic Directory of India 2013 as well the priests came from 117 Chinese, 7 Taiwanese, 16 Japanese, 18 Korean, 86 Philippine, 10 Thai, 25 Vietnamese, 37 Indonesian and 8 Malaysian Roman Catholic Archdioceses and Dioceses.
Meanwhile, environmentalists and community leaders around Quiapo and Rizal Park area are calling for a annual “green” celebration of the anniversary of Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide.
Local leaders and the environmental network Ecowaste Coalition urged devotees and visitors to couple their devotion to the Jesus Christ our Lord Savior with respect for the environment.
The call came as participants leading to the annual anniversary celebration on October every year since 1979.
“Combining our people’s amazing devotion to the Jesus Christ our Lord with action respecting, nurturing and defending Mother Earth will be a powerful force of hope and deliverance against those who trash and ruin the environment,” Tin Vergara, Zero Waste Campaigner of the EcoWaste Coalition, said.
“If the millions of devotees who come to Rizal Park and Quiapo will simply not litter and avoid waste in all its forms, we’ll have a feast that is pleasing to the eyes and pleasing to the Lord,” she added.
Past celebrations in 35 years have seen truckloads of garbage collected from Rizal Park to Port Area to Ermita to Quiapo that included cigarette butts, candy and snack wrappers, plastic bags, cups, bottles and straws, polystyrene food containers and bamboo skewers that often cause injuries to barefooted participants.
