May 2024

The “alampay” or shawl holds a deep significance in Filipino culture. It symbolizes many long-held values and traditions of our people. Among its important meanings are: Warmth and Welcome. Presenting a shawl is a gesture of hospitality and warmth. It signifies Filipino hospitality and the desire to make guests feel at home. Respect and Honor. A shawl symbolizes respect. It is given to someone held in high esteem. Cultural Sharing. The act of offering an “alampay” symbolizes the sharing of Filipino culture and heritage. It represents a bridge between cultures, fostering understanding and connection. Protection and Care. The alampay symbolizes protection, much like the way it provides physical warmth. Giving a shawl conveys care and a wish for the recipient’s well-being. Symbol of Identity: Shawls can be intricately designed, showcasing traditional Filipino weaving techniques and patterns. Presenting a shawl highlights the rich textile heritage and artistry of the Philippines. Ceremonial Significance. In many Filipino ceremonies and rites, shawls are used to signify important milestones or transitions. Giving a shawl can imply the recognition of a significant event or achievement in the recipient’s life. Connection and Friendship. The alampay represents the formation of a bond or friendship. It’s a tangible expression of goodwill and the desire to maintain a lasting relationship. Blessing. In the Filipino tradition, the shawls are used in rituals to bless and protect individuals. Presenting a shawl can be seen as offering a blessing to the recipient. The shawl or alampay carries with it our prayers, offering those who receive it the warmth of God’s comfort, the radiant joy of His love, and the serene solace of His protection. It provides support during times of illness or pain and joy during life’s celebrations. Whether comforting someone through grief, pain, illness, or celebrating milestones in partnership covenants, this alampay will make a difference to countless lives. From our local community members to individuals in distant places, our woven prayers will form a tapestry that will mark our healing together and being well.

The Mary Johnston Hospital (MJH), a 118-year-old mission hospital in the Philippine Central Conference (PCC) and the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area (GNEA) of the United Methodist Church (UMC) is set to forge a historic partnership on May 24, Manila time (May 23 in Seattle, WA time). An online consecration service to celebrate the new partnership will be broadcast on Facebook (@MJHhealingtogether1906) simultaneously in Manila and Seattle, WA, at 11:30 a.m. on May 24, 2024, and at 7:30 p.m. on May 23, 2024, respectively. Bishop Ruby-Nell Estrella, resident bishop of the Manila Episcopal Area (MEA) representing the MJH, and Bishop Cedrick Bridgeforth, resident bishop of the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area in the Western Jurisdiction of the UMC, will lead the consecration service. The event, which signals the birth of a new alliance, aims to bring hope, justice, and healing. Its theme is “Healing Together and BEing Well,” inspired by John 4:13-14, which reads: “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The theme is a combination of MJH’s tagline (“Healing Together”) and the GNEA’s annual conference theme (BEing Well). He marveled at how MJH’s tagline and the theme of the annual conference of the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area seemed to have synchronized to point in one direction. “I think it’s providential,” Dr. Paraso remarked. According to Dr. Glenn Roy V. Paraso, the Executive Director of MJH, the policymakers of the mission hospital have formulated what they call the Wesleyan Health System, described as “a holistic approach to health considering the health of body, mind, and spirit,” as the philosophy of its operation. “Each cannot be separated from the other two,” Dr. Paraso explained. “Our tagline — Healing Together — encapsulates it all.” Dr. Paraso narrated the rationale behind the tagline: “When a person who is sick comes to MJH, they are sick. By the time they go back to their community, they are already healed and have become productive and an asset to the community again.” He explained further: “The doctors who heal the sick also experience healing. Both the recipients and givers of healing heal together.”

Who is Jabez in the Book of Chronicles? What is his significance to Mary Johnston Hospital (MJH) today? Jabez is renowned as the biblical figure who boldly implored God to expand his territory. In his famous prayer, he cried out for protection and blessings, demonstrating his unwavering faith and dependence on God. Jabez’s audacity to seek divine favor with an open heart serves as a testament that boundless possibilities await those who dare to ask. Like Jabez, MJH has been fervently pleading for an expansion of its own territories. Founded as a mission institution at the turn of the 20th century by American missionaries introducing Protestantism to the Philippines, MJH now operates in Tondo, one of the poorest areas of Manila. The rise of modern medical centers with state-of-the-art facilities has pushed Mary Johnston to the bottom of the list of desirable hospitals. For years, MJH has struggled to reclaim its standing in the medical field and expand its reach. Then, a miracle occurred late last year. Seven American bishops visited the mission hospital in Manila, initiating talks of partnerships. God is beginning to answer MJH’s “Jabez Prayer.” The first of several partnerships is set to unfold soon. On May 24, 2024 (May 23, 2024, in Seattle, WA), a consecration service will mark the covenant between MJH and the Greater Northwest Area (GNWA) of the United Methodist Church (UMC). The event’s theme, “Healing Together and BEing Well,” aptly reflects the hospital’s mission to bring health and well-being to the poor and marginalized sectors of Philippine society. This theme combines MJH’s 2016 tagline, “Healing Together,” and this year’s GNWA annual conference theme, “Being Well,” inspired by the story of the Samaritan woman at the well in the Gospel of John, Chapter 4. In this biblical narrative, Jesus speaks to a Samaritan woman, breaking cultural and social barriers, and offers her “living water” that leads to eternal life. The interaction leads to her transformation and that of her community, illustrating that healing transcends physical wellness to encompass spiritual and emotional restoration. MJH and GNWA are uniting to demonstrate that healing is a communal journey. By joining forces, they aim to achieve greater wellness for all. This partnership represents a crucial step in MJH’s mission to modernize and innovate, bringing world-class medical services to the poor and marginalized in Tondo and beyond. The MJH is not just praying for expanded territories; it, along with GNWA and the other current and future partners, is taking bold steps to make it a reality. There is a call to action to support this mission. Join this transformative journey and help MJH provide the medical care that the underserved communities of the Philippines deserve.