04/10/2022
Northern Samar governor Edwin Ongchuan meets Catarman stake leaders and bishops to culminate National Family Week Celebration
By Brother Peter A. Delima
Catarman Stake Communication Committee Assistant Director
On October 3, 2022, Northern Samar governor Edwin Ongchuan meets Catarman stake leaders and bishops in a courtesy call meeting at the Northern Samar provincial capitol building to culminate the National Family Week celebration of the stake. Catarman stake delegation is headed by President Amada Estonanto Jr., the Catarman stake president. Catarman stake leaders included President Oliver Capangpangan, second counselor in the stake presidency, Brother Aradelio Dabon, a stake high councilman, Brother Renato Madronio, stake communication committee director and Brother Delima the stake communication committee assistant director. Present in the meeting are Bishop Richard O. Gesulga of Catarman First Ward, Bishop Jestonie Biago of Bobon First Ward, Bishop Vicente Jazmin of Bobon Second Ward, Bishop Jon Almazan of Allen First Ward and Bishop Luis Yabao of Allen Second Ward.
The courtesy call opened by placing a copy of the Book of Mormon and a copy of the triple set of scriptures to Governor Edwin Ongchuan. President Capangpangan and Brother Madronio handed the scriptures and discussed some brief explanation about the Book of Mormon. Governor Ongchuan graciously accepted the copies of the scripture and commented the sincerity of the latter-day saints in living like no normal citizens in a very conventional way.
The courtesy call progressed as the Catarman Stake leaders presented Church programs and activities that start from families and each organization of the Church in the stake and ward levels. The governor said “the provincial government of Northern Samar has social services which we call caravan that outreaches civic organizations to serve the general public in different areas that include risk reduction management, calamity preparedness, health, education and medical missions” The governor is inviting the Church members to join their forthcoming caravan that would focus on health consciousness in some remote barangays in the last week of October this year. He also emphasized malnutrition programs detailing on the role of the mother before giving birth like breastfeeding. He appreciated the Church initiative on nutrition issues and said that the Church can coordinate with Provincial National Nutrition Council to further strengthen the resolution on nutrition issues in the province. The provincial chief executive mentioned that the provincial government can also provide experts on rescue operations in times of calamity as the Church request for training.
President Estonanto assured the governor that the members of the stake would support and would be present in the upcoming caravan of the province. The governor in turn has assured that he will advise the caravan in charge to fit in a slot for the Church members in the conduct of the caravan. Governor Ongchuan stressed that the provincial government welcomes the Church for a cooperative opportunity to strengthen families. Ongchuan proposed that on the next National Family Celebration he would likely top DSWD with the Church. Brother Renato Madronio related that the Church building may be a venue for appropriate training and conference that would strengthen families and individuals
