In January 1996, Bro. Mike Velarde arrived in Japan early on his annual visit to the different chapters abroad. The chapter's members and followers have greatly increased since it was first opened in 1992. This was noted during the successful Mass and Healing Rally held on January 28. Some two thousand and five hundred Filipinos, Japanese, and other foreign national covenant members and friends joyfully converged at the Nippon Kyoiku Kaikan Hall, situated at 2-6-2 Hitotsubashi Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo.

On February 25, in response to Bro. Mike's call for unity, some 100,000 members and followers of the Foundation braved the scorching heat of the sun as early as 10:00 a.m. to join hands with the nation in commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the 1986 EDSA Revolution. The whole-day affair aimed to rally the nation for peace, unity, freedom and thanksgiving.  The Foundation was assigned to lead the ecumenical prayer and worship activities.

After the Mass led by His Eminence, Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, the prayer-partners began their fellowship at about 6:00 p.m. with joyful praise songs.  To the delight of everyone, Bishop Bacani, in his white robe and scarlet sash, expressed his joy and appreciation for the presence of the thousands of prayer-partners  that  evening.  During the lighting of thousands of candles, a magnificent  glow  filtered  through the  darkness of the night  filling  the intersection  of  Ortigas  Avenue  and

EDSA. Brother Mike delivered his healing message about the "Extraordinary People of the Lord." He concluded his message with a healing and deliverance prayer which included five particular intentions, as follows: that God forgive the sins of our nation; that He grant us the freedom we seek in our land; that He grant us "amnesia" from the past and the courage to look forward to our future with faith, love and unity; that He grant divine wisdom and extra-ordinary courage to our president so he could continue his vision of Philippines 2000; and that God grant to all of us the extraordinary power to remain firm in our faith. The fellowship ended at midnight.

From April 4-7, the Foundation held its Holy Week Family Appointment with El Shaddai at the PICC-CCP Grounds beamed live nationwide via satellite on IBC TV-13. Sixty five converts from other sects, young and old, was baptized during the Holy Mass on Easter Sunday. The newly-baptized converts joined more than 300 more for confirmation during the Pentecost Overnight Celebration of the Foundation held at the PICC-CCP Grounds from May 24-25 beamed live nationwide via satellite on ABC TV-5.

In June 1996, when Bro. Mike flew out of the country to fulfill some engagements, a former service-volunteer assigned to security filed charges of illegal transfer of funds against him with the SEC. The allegations appeared in various newspapers, as well as on TV news programs, not only in the Philippines, but throughout the world as well. Brother Mike, upon his return, denied the accusations and narrated the facts of the case in a Special Mass and Healing Rally held at the PICC-CCP Grounds on July 6, before close to a million people. He also invited his accuser and cohorts to look into the accounts of the Foundation. On August 14, the SEC Court through a resolution cleared Bro. Mike of the charges.

His Excellency, President Fidel V. Ramos was the guest of honor during the Twelfth Anniversary of the Foundation at the PICC-CCP Grounds from August 17-18. In line with the anniversary theme, which is unity, leaders from the different charismatic groups were invited to speak in a CLSS. During the Thanksgiving Mass officiated by Bishop Bacani , a mass wedding took place, in which eighty couples who had been living together as common-law spouses finally tied the knot. Brother Mike delivered the Healing Message about the "Miracle Touch of Unwavering Faith."

On September 2, 1996, Bro. Mike and Hon. Leonardo Quisumbing, Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), signed an agreement between the government and the Foundation to set up an El Shaddai Overseas "Desk" to look after the welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers worldwide. The signing took place in the presence of Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., author of the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act of 1995, at his Makati City residence. The Memorandum of Agreement states that the DOLE through the POEA shall allow whenever feasible and appropriate the Foundation to maintain an active Guidance, Counseling and Spiritual Assistance Desk at the POEA Action Center to attend to the morale, welfare and spiritual concern related to overseas employment and other matters; that the DOLE through the OWWA shall extend possible and appropriate assistance to its members who may be in need of guidance counseling and spiritual assistance as well as other welfare services while at the jobsite; that the Foundation shall assign at least two responsible members/officers to man its desk at the POEA Action Center and shall communicate to DOLE/POEA/OWWA the concerns of its members which require immediate action or solution. The said agreement is a positive step of the government in its serious efforts to help alleviate the plight of our Filipino migrant workers abroad.

The House of Representatives Chapter of the Foundation held its 2nd Anniversary on Nov. 28, 1996 at the main lobby of the Batasang Pambansa Bldg., Batasan Complex, Quezon City. Several employees of the Congress and prayer-partners within the area including Cong. Dante Liban of Quezon City were present during the occasion. The affair started with the celebration of the Holy Mass which was officiated by Rev. Fr. Fernando Canicula, parish priest of St. John of the Cross, Pembo, Makati City. This was followed by a CLSS. Brother Mike delivered the message on the importance of being empowered by the Holy Spirit—the power that we need in order for us to overcome trials and temptations and to turn our problems into miracles.

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