ST. MARIA VIRGINIA: MATRIARCH OF APOSTOLIC CATHOLIC CHURCH

Santa Maria Virginia, The Covenant of God

Santa Maria Virginia (1922-2005)
Honorary Foundress of the Apostolic Catholic Church

St. Maria Virinia is the Holy Covenant of God (or God's Bride in Rev. 21:9), "One of the angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me: 'Come, I will show you the Bride, and the Wife of the Lamb.' " The lamb who is the Holy Spirit, Beloved Ingkong. Santa Maria Virginia, was the first true Saint of the Apostolic Catholic Church (ACC), beatified and canonized by Patriarch, Dr. John Florentine Teruel, P.P., on the feast day of the Pentecost in 1995.

Honorary Foundress of the Apostolic Catholic Church (ACC) and Foundress of the Holy Spirit Apostolic Catholic Cursillo Foundation, Inc. (HSACCFI), College of the Most Holy Trinity (CMHT), Nature's Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the National Block Rosary Convention.

First called by Beloved Ingkong in the Dambanang Kawayan Cursillo House, in Tipaz, Taguig. Until her body became a Covenant of Beloved Ingkong, to spread God's Third Testament with mankind. Healing countless pilgrims and sealing them with Holy Seals of Salvation.

Philanthropist and Foundress of the Don Pacifico Leonzon Foundation which gives free technical training to the less fortunate youth and women. Recipient of different prestigious awards from different independent award-giving bodies, including numerous posthumous awards.

The Holy Covenant being used by Beloved Ingkong sealing worthy souls making them covenants of saints and angels

CONFRATERNITY OF THE MIRACULOUS LADY INA POON BATO

OUR LADY OF ROCK

Long before the arrival of the Spaniards, the Philippines was inhabited by waves of immigrants like the Aetas, Malays and Indonesians. The Aetas were the original black-skinned inhabitants who lived along the coastlines into the steep hills and mountains. Their religion was animistic and performed rituals to their gods called anitos. Having no written historical accounts, much of their folklore, customs and traditions were handed down orally. One such is the story of Djadig, a Aeta leader who was a special man revered for his unmatched skills in hunting with bow and arrow. No one in all the tribes could run as fast as he, and it was known that even without arrows Djadig could capture the fleetest deer. Among the Negrito people he was the acknowledged leader of leaders.

It was during a hunting expedition with his three sons that he first experienced a miracle. The hunting party had stopped to rest at the bank of the Pastac River when an ethereal voice filled the air, commanding, "Get up, Djadig. Look for me. Come and take me home with you."

The voice had come from the top of a towering rock where Djadig, alone, saw a beautiful lady shining like the sun and dressed in shimmering gold. Her hair was like the sunlight, her eyes dark and filled with compassion. He was drawn to the spot instinctively, like metal to a magnet, all the time his eyes entranced by the vision. As he drew closer his vision dematerialized and the beautiful Lady remained only an image carved on shining gold wood.

"Take me home with you," the ethereal voice commanded again, and Djadig instinctively obeyed.

When he reached home, his wife was unwilling to believe his mysterious tale. Angry that he had neglected his duties as a hunter, she seized the wooden image and cast it indignantly into their fire pit. Flames shot up instantly, burning the walls and ceiling, and before help could arrive, Djadig's hut was reduced to ashes. "Wait Look!" exclaimed the children, who were poking the glowing embers with a bamboo pole, "The shinning image is not burned." It was true. The image was intact and still shining like gold. With due honors, the Negritos reverently enshrined the image on the selfsame rock where Djadig had discovered it.

When the Dominicans arrived in 1680, they heard about the appearance of this “Beautiful Lady”. When the shining image discovered by Djadig was revealed to the Spanish missionaries, they were forced to believe that their own Reverend Mother had preceded them. The Negritos explained that "Ina Poonbato" was the source of many miracles to them. She was their patroness and the provider of rains, filling the mountains with deer and an abundance of food. When an image of the Virgin Mary was presented to the Negrito people, they were delighted to see that it was a replica of their own patroness, "Ina Poonbato". Today, a landmark stands on the spot where the “Beautiful Lady” appeared which is visited by pilgrims.

When the Recollects visited San Fernando de Rivera,(when?) they changed the name to Poonbato and built a church of light materials. They enshrined the image of the Nuestra Senora de la Paz y Buen Viaje as the patron saint of the Aetas of Poonbato. The image came from Mexico.

In 1896 or 1897, the Reverend Father Julian Jimenez was brutally murdered while saying Mass. After the priest’s death, the parish of Poonbato did not have any resident priest. The church building was torn down and burned. There are conflicting reports that the image of the Virgin was smashed and thrown in the river while others report that the image was burned.

With the absence of a Catholic Church, the Philippine Independent Church or Aglipayan Church established a foothold in Poonbato and built a church there. They also enshrined an image of the Nuestra Senora de la Paz y Buen Viaje carved in Pampanga. From the early 1900’s to the1940’s the fiesta of the place was hosted by the Aglipayans.

Eventually in 1945, a Catholic priest was assigned to say Mass in some barrios including that of Poonbato. With the guidance of Bishop Byrne, donation for a piece of land was negotiated for a church in Poonbato. The donor was Mrs. Gerido from Manila. The church was constructed with the help of Elizabeth Chan, a mosaic artist who studied in Venice. The priest then went to the Aglipayan Church to have an idea of what the statue of Nuestra Senora de la Paz y Buen Viaje looked like which was supposed to be a copy of the original statue brought by the friars in 1894. The statue was small with the height of two inches, hair loosely hanging over the shoulders. The carved statue had a simple dress which was ankle length and the Virgin’s arms were outstretched like hands beckoning. Over her dress was a simple unadorned blue cape. The Virgin’s face had features of a Spanish or mestiza woman.

The priest then went to Manila and sought out a famous carver, Maximo Vicente to carve the image of Nuestra Senora de la Paz y Buen Viaje. When it was finished, the priest brought back the image to Poonbato and was enthroned in the niche above the altar. The Nuestra Senora de la Paz y Buen Viaje is locally known as Apo de la Paz or Apo Apang.

The original image of Our Lady brought by the friars in 1894 is long gone and in subsequent years, various renditions of the image of Nuestra Senora de la Paz y Buen Viaje of Poonbato have been sculptured. The position of her hands which are now praying hands differ from the original outstretched hands. Versions of Our Lady have been reproduced. Nevertheless, the devotion of Our Lady of Poonbato continues to be a favorite devotion to the people of Zambales.

ACC MEMBERS

Members of Apostolic Catholic Church 

Holy Sealing. It is the Baptism of fire and Spirit that our Beloved Ingkong, bestowed to His people, who were called to serve Him. The following are the bible verses that emphasizes the importance of receiving the Holy Seal:

"If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit says to the Churches. To everyone who wins the victory, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give each one a white stone with a new name written on it.  No one will know that name except the one who is given the stone."
Rev. 2:17

"Don't harm the earth or the sea or any tree! Wait until I have marked the foreheads of the servants of our God."
Rev. 7:3

"Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
Ephesians 4:30

"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing are inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession to the praise of His glory."
Ephesians 1:13-14

Full-pledged Members. Full-pledged are those members who had received the Holy Sealing of our Beloved Ingkong. The faithful were commonly called as, Sealed Servants or "Tinatakan/Binasbasan." They are also classified as:

APOs.Men and women who are 19 years old and above. They have specific names of a Saint who once lived a holy life while on earth.
Auxillaries. The Auxiliaries or the youth who 6-18 years old. They have their regular "Ganapan" or special assembly, where divine spirits given to them by Beloved Ingkong manifests in trances every week. They give God's Holy messages to the congregation. The auxillaries can be grouped into the following:
Hijas de Maria. Girls, 13-18 years old.
Cherubim. Boys, 13-18 years old.
Seraphim. Boys, 10-12 years old.
Angelitos/Angelitas. Boys and girls, 6-9 years old.
Dress Code. Our members observe the following dress regulation:

They were required to wear a type-A uniform (white cassocks with veils to women and hoods for men);
They usually wear a silver necklace of a Resurrected Christ crucifix with a Miraculous Medal of our Blessed Virgin Mary;
They should always bring a Holy Rosary;
Short haircut for the male members;
Long hair for the female members;
Women are not allowed to wear t-shirts and pants;
Finally, men are not allowed to wear sandos and shorts.
Associate members.   Those members:

Who had received Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Matrimony, but not of the Holy Sealing of Beloved Ingkong;
Who joined our community and attend our Holy Masses regularly.
Membership Process.
All Candidates will fill up an application form for Admission, supported by their corresponding sponsors.
They will be interviewed by which whom are mostly clergies assigned in the Screening Committee, regarding his/her intention for becoming members of the Church.
After carrying out all necessary requirements including Sacrament of Confession, Baptism, Confirmation and Matrimony (if necessary), they will attend a "compro" that is administered by clergies. Compro is an encounter with God, in listening to the doctrines, values, policies, rules and regulations to be followed by a member obediently. Different topics are prepared in different sessions in order to refresh one's Catholic faith.
After the "compro", the candidates are now ready to recieve the Holy Seal depending on the will of Beloved Ingkong and whether they have fully repented.
They will receive a copy of Certificate of Membership, after the rites of Holy Sealing by our Beloved Ingkong.
Duties and Obligations of a member.
To exercise the 7 Sacraments of the Holy Spirit.
Daily recitation of the 15 Mysteries of the Holy Rosary; in addition, the 5 Mysteries of Light.
To help the mission of the Church through evangelization.
To serve the Church in different Pastoral Ministries.

HOLINESS OF ACC PATRIARCH

The Patriarch

His Holiness John Florentine Teruel, P.P,
Patriarch and Founding Bishop of The Apostolic Catholic Church (ACC)

His Holiness John Florentine Teruel, P.P. was a former Jesuit Seminarian at the Ateneo de Manila, San Jose Major Seminary.

His Holiness John Florentine Teruel, P.P,
Patriarch and Founding Bishop of The Apostolic Catholic Church (ACC) 

He is an Achiever in the field of Public Service.

He was the first instrument of Beloved Ingkong, God, the Holy Spirit, in revealing His Third Covenant with mankind, His Divine Sealing, as prophesied in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 7:2-3), “I saw another Angel coming up from the east holding the seal of the living God. He cried out at the top of his voice to the four angels who were given the power to ravage the land and the sea. ‘Do no harm to the land or the trees until we imprint this seal on the foreheads of the servants of God.,” And healing and converting many souls.

He was consecrated as Patriarch by the National Conference of Old Catholic and Orthodox Archbishops, on July 13, 1991, at St. Paul's German Old Catholic Church in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. by the following Archbishops: namely Archbishop Paul Christian G.W., Christian 1, Shultz, D.D. of the Order of the Corporate Reunion (OCR), Archbishop Emile Rodriguez y Fairfield, D.D., of the Mexican Old Catholic Church (MOCC), Archbishop, Mar Markus, Mark Miller, D.D., of the Byzantine Catholic Church (BCC), Archbishop Bernard Dawe, D.D., of the Independent Catholic Church International (ICCI), Archbishop Jurgen Bless, D.D., of the German Old Catholic Church (GOCC), Archbishop Petros Eric T. Ong Veloso, D.D., of the Orthodox Catholic Church of the Philippines, Archbishop Michael Marshall, D.D., of the Orthodox Catholic Church (OCC). Synod of the National Conference of the Old Catholic and Orthodox Archbishop.

From left to right: Abp. Paul Christian W.G. Shultz, D.D., 

Bishop Arthur T. Garrow, D.D., Abp. Emile Rodriguez y Fairfield, 

Bishop Karl Barwin, Abp. Bertil Persson, D.D., Bishop Howard D. Van Orden, D. D.,

Abp. Petros Eric T. Veloso Ong, D.D., Bishop Carrol T. Lowery, D.D., 

Abp. William C. Thompson, D.D.

DOCTRINES AND BELIEFS OF APOSTOLIC CATHOLIC CHURCH

The Doctrines and Beliefs of  Apostolic Catholic Church

1. THE WAY OF SALVATION
Eternal Salvation is merited, as promised by our Holy Redeemer, Jesus Christ, only through the condition of obedience to the teaching of the Gospel, which requires FAITH, CHARITY and HOPE, and due observance of the Messages of Mahal na Ingkong, God, the Holy Spirit.

2. THE CREED
The basis of the Church's beliefs is the Nicene Creed, which affirms the Divinity of the Triune God. And the Mystical Body of Christ, consisting of the Militant Church on earth, the Cleansing Church in the Purgatory, and the Triumphant Church in Heaven.

3. THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS
The Apostolic Catholic Church (ACC) observes the Seven Sacraments as the fundamental ordinance of the Gospel. The first two which are called the Sacraments of the Dead (consisting of the Sacraments of Baptism and of Confession) omit one's sins. While the other remaining five, which is called the Sacraments of the Living (consisting of the Sacraments of Matrimony, of Holy Orders, of Confirmation, of the Holy Eucharist and of Extreme Unction) maintain one's state in spiritual grace. The Apostolic Catholic Church's Sacrament of Holy Orders (Diaconate, Presbyterate, and Episcopate), follows the apostolic tradition of having married as well as celibate clerics, which tradition emanated from the Old Catholic and Orthodox Teachings. The Apostolic Catholic Church values greatly the essence of receiving the Holy Eucharist in every Sacrifice of the Mass.

4. MARIAN DEVOTION AND MARIOLOGY
The Apostolic Catholic Church celebrates different Marian Feasts, like the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8, the Feast of Lourdes on February 11, and most specially the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, which is preceded by a grand procession of great Marian Images. The Church believes that the Blessed Virgin Mary is the Mediatrix of all Graces between Our Lord God, Jesus Christ and mankind. The Apostolic Catholic Church promotes different Marian devotions, and the daily recitation of the fifteen decades of the Holy Rosary, complete with the Litany and the singing of SALVE REGINA and the recitation of the ANGELUS.

The Church believes in the Immaculate Conception of Mary. The Church accepts the Messages of the Blessed Mother in Her Major Apparitions. The Church promotes Block Rosary, as headed by its members or sealed servants. The Church reveres the Blessed Mary so much so that it uses the Marian salutation of "AVE MARIA PURISSIMA, CIN PECADO CON SUVIDA."

WHAT IS YOUR VIEW TO APOSTOLIC CATHOLIC CHURCH PICTURES

One of the Mañaneta during the Feast Day of all Saints Day, held at Apostolic Catholic Church (ACC) Cathedral, Sacrifice Valley, Hermosa, Bataan, Philippines.All the candles being held by all Sealed Servants of God or Tinatakan, all candles' flame produces a long flame of light which became visible through pictures when developed.An act of the Holy Spirit.

The Nature's Basilica place located at the Sacrifice Valley, Hermosa, Bataan, Philippines. In-housed more than Sixteen (16) life-sized Images of Mama Mary representing its regional Dioceses. The one that sparks a glaring light is one images of Mama Mary that appear to be a miracle.

God Holy Spirit in the body of St. Maria Virginia taken in Sacrifice Valley Hermosa , Batan

"The Face of God the Holy Spirit & the FAce of the Holy Covenant-in-one:During the 11th Station of the Carrying of the Cross held at the Sacrifice Valley, Hermosa, Bataan, Philippines, taken last 1984 by one of the visitors and said to be a neophyte photographer."

St. Maria Virginia P. Leonzon

St. Maria Virginia and Former First Lady Imelda Marcos

"This is the exact site where the Apostolic Catholic Church Basilica at the Sacrifice Valley is located. Where a miraculous transformation from church to God the Father happened: A photographer took pictures early morning in a beautiful morning sunrise where the intention is having capturing the beautiful sunrise as background of the church-that appears the God the Father after having picture developed."

Photo taken in the shooting of Alpha and Omega movie

Taken during the Easter Season in Sacrifice Valley, Hermosa, Bataan

THING I REGRET

2 Corinthian 7:10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

Do you have things you regret of doing it, but you have nothing to do but to accept the result of what you did?

When I was in high school I pursued to study in Polytechnic University of the Philippines, a State University in Philippines. This University offered a12 pesos/unit tuition fee the lowest tuition fee in

South East Asia. Students in this University pursuing studies here have a goal having a better life afterwards. PUP belongs to top 15 University in Philippines according to Commission on Higher Education competing to other prestigious Universities. It does not only offer low cost tuition fee but home of top notches and leaders.

I took, Polytechnic University of the Philippines College Entrance Examination (PUPCET). Before, I did not expect to pass the exam and yet I did it. I took Bachelor in Office Administration because I just want to be a simple person who wants to work inside an office.

Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Mabini Campus, Sta. Mesa, Manila

Sending me to school is not simple thing to my parents for reason of financial.  My father is fish ball vendor while my mother is just plain house wife. My father's profit to his whole day selling of fish balls is not adequate for our everyday expenses including my allowance for food and transportation going to school. I still remember how I sacrificed to finish my first semester in college. I felt I was carrying the big cross going to Calvary of sacrifice. Do you experience searching money I will use to pay for my books? Walking 3 kilometers going to train station because you have only 20 pesos and you can't afford to ride tricycle because you have only for paying tickets back and forth of riding train. Starving on school lucky if you have 2 pesos to buy candy and Automatic Tubig Machine mineral water.

Days after first semester, supposedly, our Semester break it changed my life into a gloomy tragedy that happened in our family. My father died not in accident or he has illness, but he was killed. We don't know the purpose of those evil persons who did inhuman brutal killing to a person like my father. He is such person who has his own affirmation. A father wanted the food he will give to his family would come from his work- to his blood and sweat. Many persons who know my father said how kind he is. Asking why those persons who have kindhearted got first. Why not those who do badly will die.

Right now, I have guilt on my feelings because if I were not pursuing to continue my study still my father will not sell fish ball on weekends. He passed away October 17, 2010, Sunday. Maybe right now he is still alive if I listened to him to stop. That day, I will never forget forever. The day we will celebrate for he found peace right now in heaven together with all angels and saints beside our God.

Pa, wherever you are right now. I am missing you. I have regretted all. You sacrificed a lot for the sake of your morality as person. I did not do anything just to have justice with your death. I know you always told to us "you fight if you know you are not the one who did first, and don’t ever afraid to die because people will die when it is their time. If it is your time, it's your time". Pa, you are such wonderful person I know. You wouldn't see what you need to yourself but always for us. I couldn’t remember you buy clothes, shorts, brief, and pants for yourself. I already know the hardships you were experiencing before just to give our needs. Pa, thank you for everything. I will not let anybody harm Mama and Mayang of anybody else. I will follow my dreams, your dreams for me and to our family. I know you don't want to have a wealthy that we have all, but simple but contented life with a smile in our lips.