Bukidnon, Mindanao, Philippines

Our Feast of Tabernacles and the Eighth Day 2022 for Mindanao, Philippines, will have a new site at Hotel De Susana and Resort at Purok 2, Patag Bagontaas, Valencia City, Bukidnon. Bukidnon is labeled as the highland paradise in the heart of Mindanao. While it derived its name from the Visayan term "bukid" for "mountain,” it is predominantly a rolling grassland plateau with an average elevation of 915 meters. The rolling uplands, deep canyons, and valleys alternating with low plains create a refreshing vista for dwellers and travelers alike. One of the most striking and impressive features of Bukidnon is its breathtaking mountain landscape—with some areas still covered with forest. Significant portions, however, are grasslands planted with corn, pineapple, and sugarcane as the soil and climate render the area highly suited to agriculture. Bukidnon is the primary source of agricultural products and raw materials that feed the processing plants in the province and the primary processing centers of Northern Mindanao. Hence, Bukidnon is tagged as the region's "Food Basket.”

Since this year's Fall Festival season is fast approaching, we need to prepare viable plans which will enable us to faithfully observe these God-ordained feasts. Of course, we still have two (2) important God's Holy Day Festivals to be observed before these; namely, the Feast of Trumpets (Sept. 26, Monday) and the Day of Atonement (Oct. 5, Wednesday, which is to be observed with fasting starting Tuesday sunset Oct. 4) but these festivals will be kept right in your respective congregation.

The Feast of Tabernacles will start on Monday, Oct. 10 and The Eighth Day on Monday, Oct. 17. It is best to plan to arrive at the feast site early on Sunday, Oct. 9, to give enough time for registration and preparation for the Opening Night, orientation & welcome dinner at 7 p.m. Please arrange your travel plans accordingly and let us know your schedules so we can coordinate your arrivals.

For guests outside Mindanao who wish to reach the venue themselves, Hotel De Susana and Resort is accessible by plane from Laguindingan Airport via Cagayan de Oro City (150 km) or Francisco Bangoy International Airport, Davao City (176 km). From these airports, find your way to the bus station and ride a bus bound for Bukidnon. Drop off at Valencia City Bus Terminal. From the bus terminal, ride a tricycle to the resort. Our brethren from Mindanao can also take the following routes to the site: from the South, by Kidapawan City, North Cotabato (160 km via Kabacan) and Davao City (176 km), from the East by Butuan City, Agusan del Norte (260 km via CDO) and Tagum, Davao del Norte (154 km via San Fernando), and from the West by Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur.

God has commanded the keeping of the Feast of Tabernacles and The Eighth Day to ancient Israel (Leviticus 23:34-36 Leviticus 23:34-36 [34] Speak to the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days to the LORD. [35] On the first day shall be an holy convocation: you shall do no servile work therein. [36] Seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation to you; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and you shall do no servile work therein.
American King James Version×, 41-43). The same feasts were taught and observed by Jesus Christ and His disciples (John 7:1-38 John 7:1-38 [1] After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. [2] Now the Jew's feast of tabernacles was at hand. [3] His brothers therefore said to him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that your disciples also may see the works that you do. [4] For there is no man that does any thing in secret, and he himself seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world. [5] For neither did his brothers believe in him. [6] Then Jesus said to them, My time is not yet come: but your time is always ready. [7] The world cannot hate you; but me it hates, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. [8] Go you up to this feast: I go not up yet to this feast: for my time is not yet full come. [9] When he had said these words to them, he stayed still in Galilee. [10] But when his brothers were gone up, then went he also up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. [11] Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he? [12] And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, No; but he deceives the people. [13] However, no man spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews. [14] Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. [15] And the Jews marveled, saying, How knows this man letters, having never learned? [16] Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. [17] If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. [18] He that speaks of himself seeks his own glory: but he that seeks his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. [19] Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law? Why go you about to kill me? [20] The people answered and said, You have a devil: who goes about to kill you? [21] Jesus answered and said to them, I have done one work, and you all marvel. [22] Moses therefore gave to you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and you on the sabbath day circumcise a man. [23] If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are you angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? [24] Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. [25] Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? [26] But, see, he speaks boldly, and they say nothing to him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? [27] However, we know this man from where he is: but when Christ comes, no man knows from where he is. [28] Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, You both know me, and you know from where I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom you know not. [29] But I know him: for I am from him, and he has sent me. [30] Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. [31] And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ comes, will he do more miracles than these which this man has done? [32] The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him. [33] Then said Jesus to them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go to him that sent me. [34] You shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither you cannot come. [35] Then said the Jews among themselves, Where will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go to the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles? [36] What manner of saying is this that he said, You shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither you cannot come? [37] In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come to me, and drink. [38] He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
American King James Version×). And the keeping of the Feast will be required of all families at the return of Jesus Christ (Zechariah 14:16-19 Zechariah 14:16-19 [16] And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. [17] And it shall be, that whoever will not come up of all the families of the earth to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even on them shall be no rain. [18] And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, with which the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. [19] This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
American King James Version×). You and I are privileged to keep these festivals now. This privilege allows us to glimpse what the world will be like when Christ rules the earth. Also, it’s a rehearsal, a practice, for the parts or roles we will play in His Kingdom. Considering the importance of keeping these festivals, let us do our best to prepare ourselves physically, financially, and spiritually. Any challenge we will encounter in planning, preparation, and keeping these festivals should be viewed as part of our training and an opportunity to develop godly character.

FESTIVAL RESERVATIONS & PAYMENTS
Please contact the Festival Coordinator and coordinate with your local elders. You may also settle your accounts through our assigned and designated Festival Registration and Finance coordinators at the Festival Business Office during the Feast

REGISTRATION FOR THE FEAST
To register for this Feast site, please fill out the attached Festival Registration Form. This is required of you if you are: 1) baptized, 2) coming alone, or 3) head of household. Please fill out and return the attached form as soon as possible. You can download a PDF under "Downloads" on the right hand side of this page. You can email the completed form to Noel Roy Gilos, Festival Coordinator, by sending it to nrgilos@ucg.org.ph.

Let us all work and pray together that God will grant us again a blessed, spiritually rewarding, and successful Feast of Tabernacles and Eighth Day this year!                                                      

Sincerely in Christ’s service,

NOEL ROY GILOS
Festival Coordinator
Email Address: nrgilos@ucg.org.ph 
Contact Numbers: 0932 886 0933 (SUN)
0917 545 2435 (Globe/TM)