The author would like to give the readers a panorama of what is Central in Apalit and Central in Diliman:
Central in Apalit
This is the Convention Center of the Church of God International (CGI), popularly known as Ang Dating Daan. It is the place where they hold Thanksgiving to God, various activities and very important events in their congregation. The Presiding Minister of CGI is Brother Eliseo Soriano and Vice-Presiding Minister is Brother Daniel Razon. It is located in the heart of the Municipality of Apalit, Pampanga, where majority of the residents of this place are poor families.Central in Diliman
This is the Central Office of the Church of Manalo, popularly known as Iglesia ni Kristo (INK). The owners of this Church are the Manalo Family, a corporation sole, now headed by Mr. Eranio Manalo. It is located in Diliman, along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, where majority of the residents of this place are rich, educated, famous politicians and businessmen as shown by the facts in the records of the Mayor's Office of Quezon City, called as the wealthiest City in the Philippines for having the highest collection of taxes.
Definition of Terms
Apalit
A word idem sonans or same sounding with “Up-A-Lit”. “Up” means of a high level or heavenly as people points their fingers up, whenever they want to declare something higher/heavenly. “A-Lit” is “a light”, connotes brightness related to heaven or heavenly bodies like the sun, moon and the stars and the shining armor of God.Diliman
This is taken from the root word “dilim”, a Tagalog or Pilipino term referring to darkness/night. Diliman means in English as darkness or dark place. Darkness is descriptive of a place where there is no light but total darkness.
The Theory
Having defined the significant terms of this article, we can now explore in our minds supported with the succeeding facts and circumstances how this author arrived at the theory that the places where the two “Centrals” of two opposing religious organizations, the Church of God International (CGI) or ADD and the Iglesia ni Kristo (INK) in this end times where situated, are not just a coincidence but preordained.
Facts and Circumstances
These two religious organizations are exactly opposite from each other in many ways, such that, one can be accepted as “from the light” and the other one as “from darkness.” As the succeeding facts and circumstances will be presented to the readers, we will use CGI and INK to shorten the presentation as we go further in our discussions. To enumerate the basis of this author, among others, the following are the most apparent and pragmatic comparison based on notorious facts, actual research, interviews and observations, to wit:
God vs. Man
The Central in Diliman, INK for short, believes that Jesus Christ is just a man. On the other hand, the Central in Apalit, CGI for short, believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, thus, Jesus is a God and not just a man.
Physical vs. Spiritual Lavishness
Apparently, the INK is wealthy as manifested by their luxurious and grandeus places of worship and residential buildings for free occupancy by their workers and church officers not to mention the sumptuous palace where the Manalo's are comfortably residing and not that visible to the public view
On the other hand, the CGI's place of worship is an unfinished building or edifice. For a long time already, it remains unfinished due to scarcity of funds. Their Locales or places of worship are mere rented humble spaces, comparable during the time of Jesus Christ where in order to meet the apostles and their followers, most of the times, they gather in rented spaces or even just stay outside, under the heat of the sun because they have no money and permanent places to go or lay their heads.
Holy Supper
The INK celebrates their Holy Supper in the morning, whereas, CGI celebrates theirs in the evening, as to what the word supper connotes which should be after dusk or after sunset or end of the day and as what the Scriptures dictates
Treatment for Non-members
The INK believes that non-members of their church are already destined or bound to go to hell. Whereas, the CGI believes that non-members are dependent for the mercy of God's justice. Thus, they are not necessarily bound to go to hell but will still have hope for God's mercy.
Characters of members
In the INK, once a person becomes a member, they stop being merciful, instead their characters are worsened, becomes more proud, cruel and unsympathetic. However, in the CGI group, once a person becomes a member, they become merciful, charitable and reformed to a true Christian, in words and in deeds.
