Let me start this by allowing us here at GenSan News Online Magazine to greet our brothers and sisters from the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), “Happy 95th Birthday!

The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) or Church of Christ, is celebrating its 95th Foundation Day Anniversary on July 27, 2009.  All over the Philippines, there will be the usual yearly thanksgiving services in their temples.  This year however, making it truly special is their plan to gather all the faithful in 14 huge venues across the country, including the General Santos City Oval Plaza at the Tuna Capital, in what they have dubbed as “Iglesia ni Cristo Day”.

The GenSan chapter of the INC has already secured the whole perimeter of the oval plaza with a wire fench and the local government, under Mayor Jun Acharon,  has provided security through the local police and the Civil Security Unit.  With the INC members numbering by the tens of thousands in Soccsksargen, this will definitely be a sight to behold and an experience not to be missed!

The INC’s house of worship in General Santos City is one of the city’s oldest landmarks and it has been here at their Pendatun Avenue location since as far back as Bariles can remember.  He recently featured its pictures taken by an English guy during the Solar Eclipse of 1988.  CLICK HERE to view them.

Anyway, for its part, Malacanang has declared through Republic Act 9645, July 27 of every year as a Special National Working Day.  Whatever that means (how did a holiday become a working day?), we wish the whole INC Family all the best in their Grand Celebration!

Special 95th INC Anniversary greetings go to my relatives from my late Uncle Sofronio Manansala’s Family, led by my first cousin, Dr. Rose Manansala-Evangelio, her husband, Dan and kids, especially Bren, my famous soon-to-be-wed nephew. Uncle Ompong, a former Stanfilco banana grower, is one of the pillars of the Iglesia ni Cristo in GenSan who settled here in the 1930s.

Do you also have friends and relatives from the INC?  You may write them a message below and I am sure that they will come upon this.  Go! Now na!