The INC's 111th anniversary

This coming Sunday, July 27, the Iglesia Ni Cristo will mark the 111th anniversary of its establishment by its first Executive Minister, Felix Y. Manalo.

- DR. JUN YNARES

We, therefore, begin our column with heartfelt and warmest greetings to the INC, its leadership, and its members, particularly those who belong to the INC congregations in Rizal province and the city of Antipolo.

We also take this opportunity to thank the leaders and members of the INC for their valuable contributions to communities nationwide through their socio-civic projects. As we have mentioned many times in the past, Antipoleños have been beneficiaries of the many social action projects of the INC. For the record, the Church's outreach and charitable programs have benefited not just their members but nonmembers as well.

Among these are the INC's Lingap sa Mamamayan outreach program. Under this initiative, the INC extends help and relief to impoverished communities, particularly in times of calamities and disasters. Under the auspices of the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation, this program also cares for indigenous communities and the needy, not just in the Philippines but also in other parts of the globe where the INC is already present.

Two institutions built by the INC are also cornerstones of its public service involvement.

These are the New Era General Hospital and the New Era University. The hospital is open to the general public and offers advanced medical care. The University, on the other hand, has its doors open to non-Church members and has helped many young people obtain high-quality education.