El Shaddai (movement)
Encyclopedia
El Shaddai is a Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement
from the Philippines
founded by Mariano Mike Velarde
, known as Brother Mike.
Velarde then held once-a-month prayer rallies outside the vicinity of the radio station. After the number of attendees kept growing, he made the rallies weekly until the crowd could no longer be accommodated by the area. The rallies were then moved to various locations such as a football stadium and then to Manila
's Quirino Grandstand at Rizal Park
; then to a field grounds outside the Philippine International Convention Center
and the Cultural Center of the Philippines
in Pasay City
, which is near Manila Bay
; and finally in Amvel Business Park, San Dionisio, Parañaque City
in order to address the size of the crowds attending.
El Shaddai Movement has grown rapidly in the last decade and, as of 2005, had a reported 8 million members worldwide.
In 2001, Velarde and Jesus is Lord Church leader Eddie Villanueva
engaged in a legal battle over control of the Christian TV station Quality Television
(Channel 11). Villanueva has the franchise and the authority to operate the facility, but Velarde, using political connections, was able to import transmission equipment, the value of which he claims to have converted into equity in the station. The Philippine Congress intervened and awarded to Eddie Villanueva the right the acquire the frequency held by Channel 11. Villanueva paid Velarde for the stock and assets held by Delta Broadcasting System (DBS).
On August 20, 2009, El Shaddai inaugurated a 1 billion Philippine peso
House of Prayer (approximately US$21 million at the contemporary exchange rate) on a ten hectare site in Amvel City, Barangay San Dionisio, Paranaque, Metro Manila
. The cost does not included the land, which will be paid for over 20 years. The building is 10,000 square meters and seats 16,000 with standing room for another 25,000. There is space on the site for an overflow crowd. The building was inaugurated by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
on Velarde's 70th birthday.
Their Diocesan Bishop is the Reverend Jessie Mercado of the Diocese of Parañaque
, and its Spiritual Director is Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani of the Roman Catholic Church
.
Israel, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, Greece, Italy, Malta, Cyprus, and Libya.
. They assert that former President Fidel Ramos won the 1992 Presidential elections because of El Shaddai's votes, although this has never been corroborated with an actual tally of votes correlated with El Shaddai membership rosters. Some counter this claim as well by stating that El Shaddai members vote independently.
During the impeachment trial of deposed President Joseph Estrada
, Velarde rejected the call of then Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin to join a prayer rally urging Estrada to resign. Velarde said that El Shaddai members were free to join the rally of their own volition and reiterated that the movement was neither for nor against Estrada's resignation.
In 2005, it was reported that Velarde attempted to end a Philippine electoral crisis by reuniting the Estrada camp and Arroyo
camp.
Catholic Charismatic Renewal
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is a movement within the Catholic Church. Worship is characterized by vibrant Masses, as well as prayer meetings featuring prophecy, healing and "praying in tongues." This movement is based on the belief that certain charismata , bestowed by the Holy Spirit, such as...
from the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
founded by Mariano Mike Velarde
Mike Velarde
Mariano "Mike" Zuniega Velarde or better known as Bro. Mike Velarde is the founder and Servant Leader of the Philippine based Catholic Charismatic religious group El Shaddai Movement which has a following of an estimated three to seven million Filipinos.He is the owner of Amvel Land Development...
, known as Brother Mike.
History
Inspired by his recovery from a heart ailment in 1978, Mike Verlarde started a weekly Bible-quoting radio show on DWXI, a station he acquired in 1982 as part of a real estate deal. Listeners, he says, began reporting that his voice had cured their afflictions. In 1984, Velarde christened his show "El Shaddai," a biblical name for God that he found in a U.S. religious pamphlet.Velarde then held once-a-month prayer rallies outside the vicinity of the radio station. After the number of attendees kept growing, he made the rallies weekly until the crowd could no longer be accommodated by the area. The rallies were then moved to various locations such as a football stadium and then to Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
's Quirino Grandstand at Rizal Park
Rizal Park
Rizal Park, also known as Luneta Park or colloquially Luneta, is a historical urban park located in the heart of the city of Manila, Philippines, adjacent to the old walled city of Manila, now Intramuros. Since the Spanish Colonial Era, the park has been a favorite spot for unwinding, socializing,...
; then to a field grounds outside the Philippine International Convention Center
Philippine International Convention Center
The Philippine International Convention Center is a convention center located in the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines...
and the Cultural Center of the Philippines
Cultural Center of the Philippines
The Cultural Center of the Philippines is a government-owned and controlled corporation established to preserve, develop and promote arts and culture in the Philippines. The CCP was established through Executive Order No. 30 s. 1966 by President Ferdinand Marcos...
in Pasay City
Pasay City
The City of Pasay is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is bordered on the north by the country's capital, Manila, to the northeast by Makati City, to the east by Taguig City, and Parañaque City to the south.Pasay City was one of the original four...
, which is near Manila Bay
Manila Bay
Manila Bay is a natural harbor which serves the Port of Manila , in the Philippines.The bay is considered to be one of the best natural harbors in Southeast Asia and one of the finest in the world...
; and finally in Amvel Business Park, San Dionisio, Parañaque City
Parañaque City
The City of Parañaque , or simply Parañaque , is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in the Philippines....
in order to address the size of the crowds attending.
El Shaddai Movement has grown rapidly in the last decade and, as of 2005, had a reported 8 million members worldwide.
In 2001, Velarde and Jesus is Lord Church leader Eddie Villanueva
Eddie Villanueva
Eduardo C. Villanueva , known as Bro. Eddie Villanueva, is a religious and political leader in the Philippines and a presidential candidate in the 2010 Philippine election as standard bearer of the Bangon Pilipinas Party...
engaged in a legal battle over control of the Christian TV station Quality Television
Quality TeleVision
Q was a commercial television station in the Philippines and it is owned and operated by GMA Network, Inc. An airtime block agreement between GMA Network Inc. and ZOE Broadcasting Network started its commercial operation in November 2005 using DZOE-TV channel 11 frequency...
(Channel 11). Villanueva has the franchise and the authority to operate the facility, but Velarde, using political connections, was able to import transmission equipment, the value of which he claims to have converted into equity in the station. The Philippine Congress intervened and awarded to Eddie Villanueva the right the acquire the frequency held by Channel 11. Villanueva paid Velarde for the stock and assets held by Delta Broadcasting System (DBS).
On August 20, 2009, El Shaddai inaugurated a 1 billion Philippine peso
Philippine peso
The peso is the currency of the Philippines. It is subdivided into 100 centavos . Before 1967, the language used on the banknotes and coins was English and so "peso" was the name used...
House of Prayer (approximately US$21 million at the contemporary exchange rate) on a ten hectare site in Amvel City, Barangay San Dionisio, Paranaque, Metro Manila
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
. The cost does not included the land, which will be paid for over 20 years. The building is 10,000 square meters and seats 16,000 with standing room for another 25,000. There is space on the site for an overflow crowd. The building was inaugurated by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
on Velarde's 70th birthday.
Their Diocesan Bishop is the Reverend Jessie Mercado of the Diocese of Parañaque
Diocese of Parañaque
The Diocese of Parañaque is one of the 72 ecclesiastical territories called dioceses of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines. It comprises the cities of Parañaque, Las Piñas, and Muntinlupa...
, and its Spiritual Director is Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
International Chapters
They have chapters worldwide, including in the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Guam, Saipan, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon, Jordan,Israel, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, Greece, Italy, Malta, Cyprus, and Libya.
Political influence
Some believe that El Shaddai plays a major role in Philippine politicsPolitics of the Philippines
The Politics of the Philippines takes place in an organized framework of a presidential, representative, and democratic republic whereby the president is both the head of state and the head of government within a pluriform multi-party system...
. They assert that former President Fidel Ramos won the 1992 Presidential elections because of El Shaddai's votes, although this has never been corroborated with an actual tally of votes correlated with El Shaddai membership rosters. Some counter this claim as well by stating that El Shaddai members vote independently.
During the impeachment trial of deposed President Joseph Estrada
Joseph Estrada
Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until 2001. Estrada was the first person in the Post-EDSA era to be elected both to the presidency and vice-presidency.Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in...
, Velarde rejected the call of then Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin to join a prayer rally urging Estrada to resign. Velarde said that El Shaddai members were free to join the rally of their own volition and reiterated that the movement was neither for nor against Estrada's resignation.
In 2005, it was reported that Velarde attempted to end a Philippine electoral crisis by reuniting the Estrada camp and Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
camp.
Further reading
- Wiegele, Katharine L. (2005). Investing in miracles: El Shaddai and the transformation of popular Catholicism in the Philippines. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0824828615.