Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP)

by Carmelita Cochingco Ballesteros.
March 16, 2013
Brotherhood? Sounds like a fraternity. Why would I want to join a fraternity in my old age?
Christian? I have wonderful non-Catholic friends, but I am not about to become non-Catholic.
Businessmen? Sounds sexist! The answer is no. I’m not joining this sexist brotherhood. But it says ‘professionals.’ I’ve got too much on my plate right now. No, definitely no, I told myself.
This was in January 2013. I had been personally invited to join the BCBP by Mrs. Janet Manalo, HRD Director of De La Salle Health Sciences Institute in Dasmarinas, Cavite. I thanked Mrs. Manalo, but I didn’t make any commitment.
On February 24, 2013, Engr. Rodel Manalo, his wife Janet, and daughters Abigail and Therese surprised my family and me with a visit to the Faithful Shepherd’s Garden (http://faithfulshepherdsgarden.weebly.com) in Mendez, Cavite.
The Faithful Shepherd’s Garden is a garden venue for social, educational, cultural, and religious events. Together with a friend, we co-own the small piece of land. We are currently marketing our in-house events, the Children’s Rosary Learning Journey and the Rosary Camp.
We had invited the Manalos to the Faithful Shepherd’s Garden as part of our marketing campaign. So we were very happy to welcome them. We got acquainted by talking about our personal lives as individuals and as families.
We had brownies and tarragon tea. Then we had baked honey burger which rivals the commercial burgers in terms of size, taste, freshness, juiciness, and 100% beefiness.
Engr. Rodel Manalo has a ready smile and a childlike sense of humor. It’s easy to like him. Mrs. Janet Manalo is kind, humble, gracious, and very motherly to her two daughters. Abigail is a confident 10-year old while Therese is a bubbly 7-year old.
When they left, they invited us again to the breakfast meeting of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) on March 9. We could only politely say, “Thanks; we’ll check our schedule.”
Then an e-mail invite came. It was then that we said a definite yes to return the favor of their visit.
On the morning of March 9, my son, daughter-in-law and I left Mendez, Cavite at 6:30 in the morning to make it on time to the eight o’clock Breakfast Meeting. The venue was the Conrado Benitez Hall at the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Imus, Cavite.
The breakfast and the coffee were bland compared to the ‘gourmet’ breakfast we usually have at the Faithful Shepherd’s Garden. The morning started sleepily and we were not sure if we would stay or make a French leave.
Happily, a male look-alike of the movie star Snooky Serna went to the podium and introduced himself as Nooky Umali, the morning’s emcee. He was a naturally-gifted and joyful master of ceremonies. There was an opening song, prayer, and introduction of first-timers (us!). Then a couple sharer were introduced, Carlos and Anna (not their real names).
Carlos opened his sharing by saying, “Sibat na. Escape na.” He explained that it was the urge he felt during the first BCBP breakfast meeting he attended in 2011. So why were he and his wife Anna still attending breakfast meetings?
Carlos said he was getting ahead of his life story and Anna’s. He said they’d go back to the very beginning.
Both Carlos and Anna had Narnia-like childhoods. Their respective families of origin provided them with the best of everything. They went to the best schools in Metro Manila. Carlos had a crush on Anna but did nothing during their college days. They met again as career professionals, fell in love, got married.
Shortly after, Carlos went into business while Anna became a full-time home engineer and did everything else that a full-time wife and mother does.
Carlos and his business partners had a great time. They were on a roll. Money was easy. They expanded and explored other business opportunities outside their range of expertise. They felt invincible.
When their business interests tumbled, they fell flat on their faces. They became deeply indebted to the tune of tens of millions and had to fend off several lawsuits.
I was riveted. Carlos and Anna had my full attention.
Their extended families and circle of friends helped them out to keep them afloat. Carlos said he spent his idle time in churches and prayer rooms. He said he’d pick up novena prayers left in pews, and he’d actually say those novena prayers. He and Anna decided that he should go back to the corporate world. He updated his resume and sent off copies to about 100 possible employers. He and Anna prayed hard for God’s mercy.
To their utter surprise and eternal gratitude, a ‘miracle’ corporate position with a generous benefits package was offered to Carlos.
Tears welled up in my eyes. I breathed hard to keep the tears from falling down.
Carlos said it wasn’t the happy ending Narnia stories have. Not yet. He said with a straight face that he had an affair. When Anna discovered it, all hell broke loose.
Anna said the pain was so deep that it was indescribable. She said that she’s still healing from the pain. There had been moments when she wanted to end her marriage, but during the most desolate moments, she’d pray with all her heart, and she would feel a heavenly peace which could only be grace from Above.
Carlos and Anna have stayed married, have sought counseling, and have exerted efforts to transform themselves as Christians, as individuals, as spouses, as parents, and as citizens of the marketplace.
Carlos said that it was Anna who wanted the two of them to join BCBP as one support system for their struggling marriage. “Sige, pagbibigyan ko na.” Contrary to his initial misgivings, Carlos said he’s found authentic friendships with no hidden agendas. Anna said she’s found genuine Good Samaritans who minister to her wounds.
And now, they have decided to pay it forward by sharing their life with some friends and some strangers (us!) They said they’re not really over the hump yet. They’re still paying off debts and they’re still working on their marriage. They are confident that the Faithful Shepherd will keep them nourished in His green pastures.
Like the prodigal Son, Carlos has gone back to the Father with a repentant heart. And the Father has run to him while he was still walking in the distance, embraced him, and welcomed him, Anna, and their children to the kingdom of God!
I wanted to hug Carlos and Anna had I not been a stranger. But we’re not strangers anymore, are we?