A few months after the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, some of the biggest gatherings, such as the anniversary of the Catholic Charismatic group El Shaddai, coincide with the birthday of its founder, Bro. Mike Velarde in August and the Evangelical Charismatic Christian movement, Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide, coinciding with the birthday of its founder, Bro. Eddie Villanueva in October at the Quirino Grandstand, years before the January 12 to 16, 1995 visit of Pope John Paul II for the 10th World Youth Day, the grand centennial parade for the 100th anniversary of the proclamation of independence from Spain on June 12, 1998, and State Visit and Apostolic Journey of Pope Francis final mass on January 18, 2015.
Some eight thousand people gathered together on the Second Anniversary of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on August 24, 1986. 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. On that same period, the "Liwanag Magazine" was renamed, "Bagong Liwanag."
The Third Anniversary of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation was celebrated with an Overnight Mass and Healing Rally at the Rizal Memorial Track and Football Stadium in Vito Cruz Street, Manila, from August 22 to 23, 1987. It rained heavily throughout the affair, but the estimated two hundred thousand attendees stayed until it ended in the morning.
Because of the phenomenal growth of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation, its Fourth Anniversary was held at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila, from August 20-21 1988, where an estimated half a million people packed the venue. It was the biggest crowd so far gathered by a particular group in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement in the Philippines. The testimonies on the healing and miraculous power of Psalm 91 inspired some prayer-partners to have the Psalm printed on handkerchiefs. These handkerchiefs have become an instrument of God's healing and miracles among the prayer-partners worldwide.
At the Catholic National Prayer Rally held at the Quirino Grandstand on July 16, 1989, the prayer-partners, constituting some eighty percent of the participants, were highly visible because they used the El Shaddai handkerchiefs as head coverings. By this time, several parish priests and bishops of the Catholic Church had begun to recognize and accept the chapters and prayer-groups of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International in their respective parishes and dioceses.
As early as 9:00 a.m. of August 19, 1989, members and followers of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International began trooping to the Rizal Memorial Track and Football Stadium in Vito Cruz Street, Manila to participate in its Fifth 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 El Shaddai. Bishop Teodoro C. Bacani, together with some priests from the different parishes in the Archdiocese of Manila, led the Holy Mass.
From August 18 to 19, 1990, the Sixth Anniversary of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International was held at the PICC-CCP Grounds in Buendia Avenue Extension, Pasay City. In attendance were thousands of its members and followers, who experienced the wonderful works of the Holy Spirit as they praised and worshipped El Shaddai and listened to His Word despite a storm that flooded some parts of the venue with knee-deep water.
On December 8, 1990, the Foundation joined in the National Cathetical Year held at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila. Brother Mike led a prayer at three o'clock in the afternoon. From December 29-30, 1990, the Annual Overnight Family Reunion with El Shaddai was held at the PICC-CCP Grounds, Pasay City. Bishop Bacani led the Holy Mass. In his healing message, Bro. Mike urged the crowd to be delivered from their vice of smoking. Thus, many cigarettes were thrown onto the stage.
The scenario of the Seventh Anniversary Celebration of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International held at the PICC-CCP Grounds in Buendia Avenue Extension, Pasay City, from August 17 to 18, 1991, was identical to that of its Sixth Anniversary. Nevertheless, almost half a million attendees braved the monsoon rains and knee-deep flood to give thanks, praise, and worship God.
On December 14, 1991, the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International joined in the CBCP-sponsored First National Day of Prayer and Renewal held at Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila.
On December 29, 1991, the Annual Family Reunion with El Shaddai was held at the PICC-CCP Grounds, from 12 midnight to 11:00 a.m. The lame people in attendance were able to walk, even onto the stage, miraculously.
On the occasion of the Eighth Anniversary of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International held at the PICC-CCP Grounds, Buendia Avenue Extension, Pasay City from August 22 to 23, 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.
On December 12, 1992, the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International joined the Family Rosary Crusade Golden Jubilee at Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila. Majority of the millions of people that attended the affair were prayer-partners.
From December 26 to 27, 1992, an estimated three million people attended the Annual Overnight Family Appointment with El Shaddai at Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila.
From February 13 to 14, 1993, thousands of prayer-partners joined the Save A Child, Save the Family Movement at the Qurino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila. The event was held in protest of the anti-life programs of the government.
Close to two million people gathered to praise, worship, and give thanks to God for His love and goodness on the Ninth Anniversary Overnight Celebration of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International held at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila from August 21 to 22, 1993. The crowd filled the Rizal Park from Taft Avenue to Manila Bay at the back of the grandstand. The affair featured the mass wedding of two hundred thirty couples who had previously lived together without the blessing of the Church. During his healing message, Bro. Mike Z. Velarde launched the “Love Our Police Movement,” believing that through the Filipinos’ love and faith in the members of the Philippine National Police, the nation will change for the better.
From December 24 to 25, 1993, close to three million people stayed for about fifteen hours during the DWXI-PPFI Annual Family Reunion with El Shaddai at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila. The place was made very colorful by the holding of the First Christmas Lantern Festival, wherein the attendees brought home-made lanterns of different sizes and designs as instructed by Bro. Mike. Seventy-eight couple who were once living as common-law husbands and wives finally tied the knot during the Holy Mass led by Bishop Bacani. Before the affair ended, Bro. Mike delivered the Good News of Salvation.
On August 14, the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International led by founder and servant-leader Bro. Mike Z. Velarde joined in the Catholic Church's protest rally against the government's population control program held at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, ManilA. His Eminence Cardinal Sin, together with Bishop Teodoro Bacani, Jr., Manila Vice Mayor Lito Atienza, and Rev. Fr. James Reuter, led the affair.
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 Tenth Anniversary of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International at the national park from August 20 to 21, 1994. The participants crowded the 58-hectare park and adjacent areas-Roxas Boulevard, Taft Avenue, United Nations Avenue, T.M. Kalaw Street, 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 Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Apayao, Baguio, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quezon, Marinduque, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Palawan, Romblon, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Sorsogon, Leyte, and other distant provinces. Also present were members from different overseas chapters of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International.
From December 24-25, the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International held the biggest Christmas party in the Philippines during its Annual Family Reunion at Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila. The close to three million attendees feasted on thousands of roasted calves, pigs and chickens. In the early morning, thousands of doves for peace and prosperity were released by the attendees.
At the start of the year 1995, the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International participated in two events—the First National Congress of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement in the Philippines, whose various Charismatic member groups gathered for unity in the spirit, and the 10th World Youth Day, during which close to five thousand young members of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International joined as delegates.
On January 15, 1995, a Sunday, the Pope arrived at Malacañang Park aboard the Popemobile from the Apostolic Nunciature on Taft Avenue but was forced to ride the presidential helicopter along with Cardinal Sin and Papal Nuncio Gian Vincenzo Moreni to get to Quirino Grandstand amid the huge crowd on the streets.
Biggest gathering
At 10 in the morning, the Pope began the three-and-a-half-hour Mass that marked the closing of World Youth Day. Attended by 10 million people, it was the biggest gathering so far in the Pontiff’s 16-year reign.
The Mass’ concelebrants included Sin, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Vatican Secretary of State Angelo Cardinal Sodano, and Eduardo Cardinal Pironio, head of the Pontifical Council of the Laity.
The Eleventh Anniversary of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International was held at the PNCC-PICC-CCP Grounds, Buendia Avenue Extension, Pasay City, from August 19 to 20, 1995. Three days before the event, tents of sacks, plastic, and umbrellas had already mushroomed in and around the venue. The members and followers of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International from the provinces arrived in buses, trucks, jeepneys, and other vehicles festooned with streamers bearing the name “El Shaddai.” Because of the huge numbers of people coming to the venue, the Buendia Avenue Extension was closed, and a large number of those who came had to stay in their vehicles, go to the rooftops of nearby buildings, or sit on the sidewalks and simply monitor the celebration on their portable TV and radio sets. His Eminence Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin officiated a mass wedding of one hundred eighty-two couples.
The Twelfth Anniversary of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International took place at the PICC-CCP Grounds from August 17 to 18, 1996, with His Excellency, President Fidel V. Ramos, serving as the guest of honor. The anniversary celebrated the theme of unity, and leaders from various charismatic groups were invited to participate in a Catholic Life in the Spirit Seminar (CLSS). A highlight of the event was the Thanksgiving Mass officiated by Bishop Teodoro Bacani, Jr., during which a mass wedding was held for eighty couples who had been living together as common-law spouses, allowing them to finally formalize their unions. Bro. Mike Z. Velarde delivered a Healing Message centered on the theme “Miracle Touch of Unwavering Faith,” inspiring attendees with his message of hope and faith. The event not only marked a significant milestone for the foundation but also reinforced the values of community and commitment among its members.
The Thirteenth Anniversary of El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International was celebrated at the PICC-CCP Grounds, Buendia Avenue Extension, Pasay City from August 23 to 24, 1997, His Eminence, Jose Thomas Cardinal Sanchez, Most Rev. Naval Bishop Filomeno Bactol, Bishop Teodoro C. Bacani, Jr. and some Reverend Fathers and Spiritual Directors of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International for local and overseas chapters attended the affair. Several public officials also graced the occasion. Brother Mike Z. Velarde presented the “Blessed Are the Peacemakers” Award to President Fidel V. Ramos, the guest of honor.
It was Friday, June 12, 1998, a public holiday. Thousands of spectators flocked to Rizal Park, awaiting the start of festivities for the Philippine Centennial Year celebrations.
They came by the busloads – couples, families, friends, even whole villages – donning caps, holding umbrellas, and wearing Filipiniana attire amid the morning heat. Others wore the nation’s colors and carried various sizes of Philippine flags.
It was a field day for many, and the beginning of a long weekend. They laid mats and cardboard on the grass, brought outa packed lunch in Tupperware, and exchanged small talk.
For some, the park became an instant classroom for parents to give impromptu lectures to their children on Philippine history, culture, and tradition.
One parent, Elizabeth Montecillo, brought her two sons and a nephew so she could tell them about the country’s heroes and the important events of the past. “Earlier, they inquired about the Rizal Monument,” she said. “It’s good for them to learn history at an early age.”
The children had a lot to look back to; it was, after all, 100 years of Philippine history. The festivities commemorated the day when Filipino revolutionaries, led by then-president Emilio Aguinaldo, declared the country’s independence from Spanish colonial rule in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898.
A 42-float parade depicted the country’s history during the celebrations at Quirino Grandstand, which was witnessed by then-president Fidel Ramos, Vice President Joseph Estrada, members of the government, the diplomatic corps, and other guests.
One float featured a life-size caravel, which showed the arrival of the Spanish colonizers in 1521 led by explorer Ferdinand Magellan. A mock battle was performed reenacting the Battle in Mactan between Magellan and the island’s natives.
The 300-year Spanish colonial rule was portrayed in the succeeding floats. It showed the country’s conversion to Christianity, the people’s enslavement to serve the Spanish empire’s economic needs, the revolts against colonial rule, the period of nationalist enlightenment, and the bloody revolution that it brought forth.
At the apex of the parade, a two-story replica of the Aguinaldo Mansion slowly made its way along the parade grounds. On the balcony, actor Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., an actor who starred in numerous action movies, played the part of President Aguinaldo.
With a solemn expression, Revilla held the flag from a long pole as he stood along with two other actors, Dante Rivero and Juan Rodrigo, who read the Declaration of Independence. When the declaration was read, he slowly waved the flag to the cheers of spectators wearing farmer costumes.
He then went downstairs, walked out of the mansion with the flag, and went up the stage to the awe of government dignitaries. As the drums rolled, Revilla handed the flag to Ramos, who then raised it with one hand before planting it on a stand on the stage.
Ramos had reenacted the same event from the balcony of the Aguinaldo Mansion in Kawit, Cavite, earlier that day.
In his speech during the celebrations, Ramos addressed the crowd. “Today, we have grown into the responsibility and the glory of nationhood. We are prepared to account for ourselves in the global community. We have begun to make our own history.”
“We, Filipinos, are rejoicing in our coming of age — in the final proof of our ability to understand, to use, and to protect the liberty our heroes won for us a century ago,” he said.
The celebrations culminated with a military parade that showcased our armed forces’ might, including a fly-by of Air Force jets. The evening was capped by a 30-minute fireworks display at Manila Bay — the largest and longest the country has seen — in the colors of the republic: red, white, yellow, and blue.
On the occasion of its 14th Anniversary, the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International held an overnight fellowship at the Quirino Grandstand, Manila, from August 22 to 23, 1998, with the theme: “New Heart, New Spirit” (Ezekiel 36:26). The affair was televised live nationwide via satellite on IBC TV-13. Over three million people from Metro Manila, the provinces, and abroad joined the celebration, which started at four o’clock in the afternoon. Several priests expounded on the theme of the mission of El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International, which is “Faith, Love, and Unity.” During the concelebrated Thanksgiving Mass with Bishop Bacani as the main celebrant, a mass wedding was officiated, wherein thirty-seven couples, who had been living as common-law husbands and wives, finally tied the knot. Sister Belen del Monte-Velarde, wife of Bro. Mike Z. Velarde shared with the crowd her experience with the successful quadruple heart bypass operation of Bro. Mike Z. Velarde in the United States in July 1998. The anniversary was also attended by several government officials led by His Excellency, President Joseph Ejercito Estrada and Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, together with Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Bro. Mike Z. Velarde led the symbolic lighting of a miniature radio transmitter tower, which ushered in the re-launching of DWXI (1314 kHz) AM radio, now broadcasting with the increased power of 30 kW from its previous 15 kW power in 1994. The radio station started broadcasting with a power of 9 kW in 1981.
Not even the strong winds and heavy rain could dampen the spirit of close to 1.2 million people in joining the 15th Anniversary of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International held at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila, from August 20-21, 1999. Most of the attendees were already in the venue days before the overnight affair beamed live nationwide via satellite over RPN TV-9. Before noon on August 20, in observance of Bro. Mike Z. Velarde’s birthday, the attendees feasted on roasted chickens, pigs, and calves as a gift from their family and friends for his natal day. 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. Mike Z. Velarde for his birthday and for the anniversary of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Foundation International. He also led the congregation in prayer for their prayer requests, which were tied to balloons and released into the air at the signal of Bro. Mike Z. Velarde. His Excellency, President Joseph E. Estrada, the guest of honor on the occasion, gave his greetings and message to the crowd. The President was with First Lady Dr. Luisa Fernandez Pimentel Ejercito Estrada, MD. In attendance also were some members of the cabinet; several senators led by Senate President Blas Ople; several congressmen led by House Speaker Manny Villar; and friends of Bro. Mike from the business, entertainment, media, legal, and religious sectors. A Thanksgiving Mass was led by His Eminence Jose Thomas Cardinal Sanchez of the Vatican City, together with Bishop Teodoro Bacani, Jr., 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 International namely Reverend Fathers Bernard J. Nolan of Brisbane, Australia; Leo E. Steinbock of Los Angeles, California, USA; 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. Highlighting the Mass was the mass wedding of 50 couples who had been living together for a long time without the blessing of the Church. They decided to get married for they had known through their listening of the Word over DWXI (1314 kHz) AM, that they are living against the will of God, for it is written in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, “…Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral…nor adulterers…will inherit the Kingdom of God.” After the Mass, a candlelight ceremony was held, followed by the delivery of the healing message of Bro. Mike Z. Velarde.
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