2 million flock to ‘once in a lifetime’ Iglesia ni Cristo centennial celebration

Aside from heavy traffic caused by an estimated two million members of the Iglesia ni Cristo converging on Ciudad de Victoria, a church-owned complex in Bocaue, Bulacan, there were few hitches in the centennial celebration that some faithful described as a once in a lifetime event.

According to a "24 Oras" report aired Sunday evening, at least 100 of the two million attendees, a number estimated by both INC and the Philippine National Police, were given first aid.



"Sobrang importante po [nito]. Siyempre, 100 years, minsan lang mangyari sa buhay mo 'yun," one INC member said in the report.

Lito Maahon, an INC member who has been based in Singapore for the last 15 years, said he did not mind having to walk to the site because of the heavy traffic.

"Exciting nga po, eh. Dahil kasama yung mga kapatid, naglalakad, tapos, ang saya," he said.

"Masaya ang aming puso dahil ang tagal namin itong pinakami-mithi," another lady said.

A peaceful celebration

In a text message to GMA News Online, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino said there had been no untoward incidents reported to the MMDA or the inter-agency Task Force Sentenaryo as of Sunday afternoon. MMDA headed the task force.

Crowds began to arrive as early as noon on Saturday, causing traffic along NLEX to build up. Thousands of members spent the night at nearby inns or in makeshift tents they set up all over Ciudad de Victoria.

Bro. Edwil Zabala, INC’s spokesman for the centennial celebration, likewise said the church leadership has not received reports of any major disruption or problem experienced by its members on Saturday and Sunday.

“Generally speaking, naging payapa [ang selebrasyon],” he said.

In a separate "24 Oras" report, he said that the number of attendees was not the primary thing for the influential Philippine-based church.

"Ang dahilan kung bakit maligaya ang Iglesia ni Cristo ay sapagkat kahit naging masungit ang panahon, natuloy ang pagsamba," he said, adding the worship was the most important aspect of the celebration.

Video footage of the event showed some members in tears during the worship service.



Zabala said the INC did not aim to reach a specific number of people to attend the celebration since the leaders are aware that not everyone can make it to Bulacan.

“Wala kaming tina-target na kinakailangan 3 or 2 or 1 [million] ang pupunta. Ang sa amin, may tanging pagsamba rito sa Ciudad de Victoria at ‘yang tanging pagsamba na ‘yan ay ibi-beam nang live sa more than 1,100 houses of worship around the world, kaya hindi namin inaasahan na lahat ng kaanib ng Iglesia ni Cristo ay pupunta rito,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bulacan police said the celebration was "generally peaceful."

Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta, regional director of Police Regional Office 3, said police "maximized its efforts on traffic management, parking and security deployment to make sure that our tasks will be successful with minimal incidents while maintaining our anti-criminality campaign in the whole area of Central Luzon."

The regional police chief said, however, that the large number of attendees meant heavy traffic on the North Luzon Expressway from Valenzuela to Bocaue.

He said traffic to Ciudad de Victoria "totally blocked" the four-lane road, prompting the allocation of two southbound lanes for vehicles heading north.

Two world records

One of the highlights of the celebration on Sunday was the preaching of INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo inside the Philippine Arena.

INC members who were able to secure tickets filled the 55,000-seater complex to hear the grandson of church founder Felix Manalo speak.

Those who were unable to attend the worship service inside the air-conditioned arena watched Manalo’s sermon through giant LED screens set up outside.

An original musical presentation or oratorio entitled “Iglesia ni Cristo sa mga Huling Araw (Church of Christ in these Last Days)” took place after the worship service.

INC set a new world record for the largest gospel choir in the world as 4,745 members sang at the event.

According to a representative of the Guinness World Records, that, and the record for the Philippine Arena, the largest mixed-use theater in the world, meant the church has set eight world records.

According to Zabala, these achievements “added to the INC’s joy” as it marked its centennial year.

“Nakadaragdag [sila] sa tingkad ng ligaya ng mga kaanib ng Iglesia ni Cristo dahil may dagdag muli kaming maiaalay sa ating Panginoong Diyos,” he said.

INC’s 100th year celebration will continue on Tuesday with the staging of another musical, “Ang Bayan Mo’y Nagpupuri,” at the Philippine Arena. Close to 500 singers, actors and dancers and a 1,100-member chorale will perform at the event.

Other activities lined up for the church’s centennial include the staging of “Ang Sugo,”  a play based on Bro. Felix Manalo’s life on Thursday, an international Bible quiz bee on Friday, and an evangelical campaign on Saturday. — JDS, GMA News