By Willy E. Arcilla, Contributor
INQUIRER.net
THE AWARENESS and popularity of Canadian-based Fr. Fernando Suarez has been soaring in recent weeks as increasingly more Filipino faithful and Christians worldwide attend and bear witness to his healing ministry at which the disabled walk, the visually-impaired see, the deaf hear and the mute speak. There are patients with cancer and other diseases who are cured. Yet, despite a cult following that seems to rival local celebrities, Father Suarez remains admirably humble, insisting that “I am not a healer” amid persistent labels as the “healing priest” or “miracle priest.” Raising his voice somewhat to emphasize the point and ensure that all can hear clearly, “it is not me who heals, but our Lord Jesus Christ, and He uses me merely as an instrument for His grace.” He draws an analogy to Christ’s healing power with “water passing through one’s hands.”
During a healing mass held recently at SM Megamall’s Trade Hall, Father Suarez repeatedly said in his homily, “I feel so embarrassed whenever people reach out to touch my robes,” again emphasizing it is God’s omnipotence that heals both the body and spirit. But despite this self-effacing attitude, he urged all the faithful present “not to feel embarrassed in praying for compassion and healing” for all afflictions — physical or spiritual — for nothing is impossible with God. He explains that the miracles people see or personally experience are demonstrations of God’s love that serve to help strengthen the people’s faith. If the source of all evil in this world is pride, manifested in being self-centered and an egoistic “ownership” of one’s accomplishments, he says the source of all good must lie in being “Christ-centered” and complete abandonment and surrender to God. “If we rely on Jesus, we will not be disappointed based on His promise that He will not fail us if we trust in Him.” However, while he urged all brethren to implore good health and a fullness of life with total confidence as children of God, he also admonished that God wants “holistic healing,” and not just “partial healing,” including the healing of one’s heart and conversion of one’s soul. He went on to pray for the moral illnesses and social injustices that bedevil the country, specifically the graft and corruption plaguing government and the wrenching poverty oppressing millions; for the deepest divisions to be healed and discrimination of all forms banished. In offering a reason for why God does not seem to answer all our supplications, he said perhaps “sometimes, what we ask for may not be good for us.”
In an interview prior to the mass, this writer asked Father Suarez if he can share what God tells him in his personal conversations during private moments of prayer, to which he replied, “God says He loves me, and He is happy with what I do in sharing the gift of healing with all the faithful.” This writer later learned that Father Suarez interacts, touches and prays over each and every person in all of his healing services — regardless of how long it takes or how exhausting it can get.
Before an audience consisting of the sick and the curious, the faithful and the skeptics, captured on digital cameras and video recorders, shown live on closed-circuit TV and later on nationwide TV, Father Suarez performed his individualized healing ministry on thousands, moving constantly and laying his hands on the old and the young, many of whom rose from wheelchairs and spontaneously shared poignant stories, testifying to God’s goodness through Father Suarez.
When this writer asked Father Suarez what he would like to tell the millions of Filipinos who may have desperately wished to attend his healing sessions, but cannot because they are preoccupied with earning a living or do not possess the means, he says reassuringly, “God heals in different ways, so we must all believe in his goodness. While it is God who heals, it is faith that saves.” Fittingly, Father Suarez reminds us of the gospel passages when Jesus brings back to life a grief-stricken father’s only daughter, and a woman suffering from years of debilitating illness touches the hem of His cloak, in which He says “Take courage… your faith has made you well.”
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January 25th, 2008 at 12:17 am
I do not know about this Fr. Suarez and his healings, no matter he says it was him or the Lord.
But I know personally about the former famous healers in Baguio. We have been a group from Europe visiting the Philippines 1978, when still very few westrn foreigners came in.
We got an appointment to the super healer for next morning but when we went to the house, they realized that we all are photographers and came with cameras. We saw the curtain at the window moving while we have been told that the healer has been urgently called to come to Manila so we could not meet a healing session. Aftrnoon, we got informed by people that he still is at home. It was alo reported that he, being sick, went to a hospital under a fake name, not able to heal himself or trusting another healer.
His business was also connected to a German nurse who organised group flights to Baguio. Mostly people who have been told at home that they could not be healed anymore, plenty of them with cancer.
A widespread German Magazine managed to go with one group of cancer patients and let them be checked and making x-ray copies for later to compare the result.
It has been very simply. Near all of the patients have been “healed” by removing the cancerous body parts. So, they have been happy even the charge for the flight was very high. Back to Europe, the healed patients have been checked by x-ray and everyone still had his cancer. The magazine reported later that just one year after, near all “healed” have been at the cemetery already.
The nurse remained in the Philippines when a German court sentenced her to five years jail for cheating.
But still, there have been people who claimed to feel better after treatment. With the problem, that often more treatments have been needed as long as they had money. So, I would not so easy trust somebody who heals, the more as not one of them ever agreed to do it in front of medical experts and video cameras. If Fr. Suarez really healed, let the patients be happy, I still trust more my University Hospital in Switzerland.
January 24th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Maybe i am just too demanding. What i wanted too see is a healing like what jesus did to the leper, the blind man and the bed ridden guy and Lazarus of course. Since these so called healers are claiming that their powers are from Jesus, why can’t they do the same or maybe closer to that? I wish other people have seen something like that and i haven’t or may i just say that may the Lord forgive me for this unbelieving heart.
January 24th, 2008 at 11:42 am
A One-Dollar Moral Crusade Against
Graft and Corruption
Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS*
Chairman, Filipino United Network (USA)
How would you like to launch a historical fight against graft and corruption in the Philippines and “buy” back morality in our government — all for just One Dollar?
You and I have always abhorred the corruption among our government officials in the Philippines, from top to bottom, and deplored the sad state of our country, where more than 70% of our people wallow in massive poverty. While the issue is a complex one, the most obvious etiology of this shameful malady is the overwhelming graft and corruption among our amoral and decadent government leaders.
Would you be willing to invest a dollar — yes, one single US dollar — in the fight against graft and corruption in the Philippines?
Our inspiration in this battle is a man of God, the Reverend Father “Among Ed” Panlilio, the newly elected “Miracle” Governor of Pampanga, a man of dignity and integrity.
What happened in that province is amazingly unbelievable. A humble priest, without political experience, without a bank account, without a political machinery, beating two “unbeatable” seasoned, well-funded, and powerful political giants. “Impossible,” said the political gurus when “Among Ed” first started his crusade. But the Greater Power above obviously had a grander plan for “Among Ed,” and proved the pundits wrong. Suddenly, there was hope for the Philippines.
Armed with his unblemished character, moral ascendancy, love of country, and a strong commitment to honesty and transparency in government, “Among Ed” handily won the election, in spite of widespread vote-buying and rampant cheating. It was evident that a visionary leader with integrity can truly inspire and bring out the best in the Filipino.
The billions of “missing” revenues from the Lahar collection in the past, which Governor Panlilio has exposed since he assumed office June 30, 2007, is only the tip of the iceberg of the invasive cancer of graft and corruption afflicting every level of government in the entire country.
Unfortunately, an honest man makes some people uncomfortable, so there is now a move to eliminate “Among Ed, or oust him thru a Recall, Recount, or, as rumored (hopefully not true), by “Requiem.”
One can easily imagine what a man of God, of honesty and decency, of principle and genuine love of country, can do when elected President of the Philippines. A dream, yes. A tall order, definitely. An impossible task? No, not with the Divine Providence, with YOU, and people power on his side!
Governor Panlilio has adopted Gawad Kalinga as the pillar of his vision for Pampanga and the nation. His crusade is gaining speed and momentum, and like Tony Meloto’s GK, it will soon be unstoppable. Two giant national religious groups, and many other segments of society, are now supporting “Among Ed.” Filipinos around the world are rejoicing and rallying behind him. And we want you to be a part of this historical transformation.
Come and fly high with Governor Panlilio in this moral crusade, to get rid of gutter politicians and immoral officials. Our country and our neglected poor need heroes like you in our battle for morality in government, for justice and dignity for our people. This is, indeed, a revolution. Not a revolution of arms where blood will be shed, but a revolution of ideals and of principle, where dreams and vision, sweat and tears shall bathe the nation clean.
All this crusade needs is your personal commitment and moral support, an investment for the future of the Philippines. Let’s not miss this opportunity. Let’s use our power to help change our country for the better. The Reverend “Among Ed” Panlilio is heaven-sent and is the hope for our ailing nation.
The Filipino United Network Drive (FUND) for HOPE is a commitment of overseas Filipinos to rally behind the crusade against graft and corruption in the Philippines. We invite you to be a patriot and join us in this historical revolution.
Please make your donation payable to: FUND FOR HOPE, and mail it to: 1830 Mirmar Road, Munster, Indiana, 46321, USA, or, to Buenaventura Condominium, 62 E. Osmena St., Guadalupe, Cebu City, 6000, Philippines.
For your convenience, whichever country you are in, you may also donate thru PayPal with your credit card, a globally accepted and very secure entity owned by eBay. (Please visit http://www.filipinoUNITEDnetwork.com and click on the orange DONATE button similar to the one below. All donors and amount will be published on this website. No amount is too small or too large for this vital revolution. We are all together in this moral crusade.
More than the dollar, your commitment and support are what we need. Kindly include your full name and email address for our Historical Archive. Be a patriot. This will be the best dollar/peso investment you’ll ever make, and help in nation building. Please do visit the FUN website at http://www.filipinoUNITEDnetwork.com
Each token dollar “invested” symbolizes one Filipino patriot who is coming to the aid of our country, and is committed to support this moral crusade for a better Philippines. More important than the dollar is your commitment and dedication.
The funds we receive will be sent to Kapampangan Marangal, Inc. (KMI), a benevolent group supporting this moral crusade in the Philippines. They will be used to purchase media time and space (local and national newspaper, radio, TV), for printing of flyers, posters, newsletters, brochures, etc. needed in the crusade against graft and corruption, and in fighting the Recall plotted against Governor Panlilio by his political opponents. The Filipino United Network (FUN) is also donating part of the fund for the purchase of computers for public high schools, with programs to educate the students about good citizenship, honesty and transparency in governance, vigilance, voting obligations, self-reliance, industry, and other proactive and progressive disciplines.
Join this revolution, help our country and our people, and leave a proud and lasting legacy for our children and the future generations to cherish with honor and dignity.
PLEASE FORWARD THIS LETTER TO ALL YOUR EMAIL CONTACTS AND REQUEST
YOUR FRIENDS TO DO THE SAME.
NOTHING BAD WILL HAPPEN IF YOU DO NOT FORWARD THIS APPEAL,
BUT SOMETHING GOOD WILL, IF YOU DO.
THANK YOU, AND GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
*Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana, USA, trained at the Texas Heart Institute in Houston, is Chairman of Filipino United Network (FUN-USA), Vice Chairman of Filipino American Leadership Council (www.FALCONadvocacy.com) and Vice President for Far East of Cardiovascular Hospitals of America (www.cvhospitals.com), Wichita, Kansas. He is a columnist for five newspapers and one magazine in the United States and five newspapers and one magazine in the Philippines. Google him for more information. His email address is scalpelpen@gmail.com
Be a patriot. Join this moral crusade. Go to the FUN website at http://www.filipinoUNITEDnetwork.com
January 24th, 2008 at 12:16 am
‘Holistic Healing’ as Fr.Fernando said,and pray that all of us can start a life,a new life based on Jesus’ teachings,and that’s the beginning of healing,personally and sharing it to everybody and to the world…and if you can see and feel that Fr. is being used and feel that it can begin the process for you,then,believe,and do it ‘let him touch you and feel God’s love’…as Fr.Fernando is really being used as instrument for healing you,me and all who meet him and to all who would do all all to meet him,and may it be the beginning of ‘healing also to our own people and country the Philippines.
(check http://www.fatherfrnando.com/index.html)
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:04 pm
check http://www.fatherfernando.com for his schedule this january until feb 8. he will soon be leaving for the US so better hurry…