They were at it again last Saturday… wearing the same masks… with the same picket signs. Expelled members stood outside the gates of another house of worship in Southern California – this time, in Long Beach, California, attempting to disrupt the peaceful religious worship of the members; but to no avail.
“Subalit ng lumabas po ang mga kapatid, at hindi sila pinansin, na parang wala silang nakita.” Resident Minister of the Local Congregation Alex M. Reyes confirmed their rallying did nothing to affect the worshippers.
A little over a dozen protestors stood outside of the chapel hiding behind Guy Fawkes masks. Just two days before, was “Guy Fawkes day”, who is regarded in history as a religious terrorist, a traitor and a zealot who sought out to kill so he could impose his views on others. Terrorizing and imposing their views is what this group attempted to do today to people who simply just wanted to worship God.
“At about 9:30 when it usually ends, we open the gates, prepare for the brethren to leave …” said Wes Leong, local officer. “That’s when we noticed those people holding up the signs.”
This is the same group of protestors with whom Julius and Liezl Deocampo, expelled INC members, have close ties with and have joined with in earlier protests. One thing is certain though—these events are planned and calculated and that there are leaders behind these events; a group desperately wanting to gain supporters, but certainly didn’t find it here in Long Beach after the worship service.
“Nang lumabas po ang mga kapatid sa unang gate, naroon sila, hindi sila pinansin….” Reported Reyes. “Nagpalipat-lipat po sila ng mga gates sa pagkat dito sa aming lokal, mayron pong kami tatlong gates….sa other side, ganun din po ang naging reaksyon ng mga kapatid, na parang walang nagkita, lumipat po doon sila sa pinaka-back gate po, sa likod, narinig po ang ginawa ng mga kapatid, parang walang nagkita sila.”
“I was really happy because when they were leaving, they just ignored them completely and went home.”
For the 2nd weekend in a row, the protestors have attempted to disrupt the solemnity of activities held by the Iglesia Ni Cristo in Southern California, towards questionable motives. It is clear that their efforts are to disrupt the activities of the members of the Church or deter them from their activities.
The members, though, generally ignore their presence. For as quick as they arrived; they dispelled within the hour. Local officer Elijah Marie Reyes liked their unfruitful actions to those of persecutors –
“… When they bully you, they want to get a reaction out of you, so then the best thing to do is not to have a reaction. So they just—that’s why they probably left earlier, because they’re like “Oh, they’re not doing anything, let’s leave.”
These disgruntled protestors continue to hide behind their Guy Fawkes masks but do they even know the truth behind the persona they’ve chosen to represent them?
A man who history books say conspired with others towards a failed assassination attempt by trying to blow up the English Parliament. Their real plot was to kill then King James I of England and Scotland.
Hopefully, these individuals have no such intent; but the use of the masks still leave one questioning their real motives – this may be connected to the previously reported events designed to defame the Church administration.
But for true members, this is just another failed attempt to derail them from their strong faith and love for the Church.
“Ang totoo po, yung nangyari kanina ay bale wala sa kanila, solido ang kanilang pananampalataya,” Reyes proclaimed. “At mula po sa aming mga may tungkulin dito sa Long Beach hanggang sa lahat ng kapatid, mananatili po kami nagkaisa ng kasalukuyang Tagapamahala Pangkalahatan. Ipagtatanggol po namin ang Iglesia ang na Namamahala sa lahat ng gustong puminsala sa Tagapamahalang Pangkalahatan. Yan po ay kaya namin ipapangako sa Diyos at sa kasalukyang Pamamahala.”
– Ernani Zapanta, Eagle News
