BY  LPJ

My Easter ’25 was unusual in many ways. Though to be expected, it was a glorious celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, following a somber, introspective season of Lent, the powerful reminder of God’s unconditional love depicted in the sacrifice and death of Jesus on the cross. The significance of Easter is the victory of Jesus’ resurrection, the son of God’s power over death. The sovereign Lord is alive.

Somehow, God gave me other gifts to be grateful for this Easter. Last year, I started a modest family charity in Naga City, Philippines, the place where I grew up and spent my youth. JMP Group (Jacob-Manuel-Pandes family charity) held Easter Joy event at the Missionaries of the Poor (MOP) residence in Naga this April. Started in Jamaica, this international order of Catholic brothers and priests over the decades has faithfully and painstakingly served the poor, homeless, abandoned and disadvantaged in various countries. In the Philippines, MOP has established homes in Manila and Naga city.

At Easter, adults, youths and children in our JMP team (some from Manila, Laguna and La Union provinces) gathered with Naga team members to serve abandoned elderly, and abandoned paraplegic and sick children housed in a facility at Cararayan, Naga.

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