VENUE: Chapel of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, 5/F SM City Grand Central, Caloocan City
SCHEDULE: Every Sunday at 10:15 A.M. NUMBER OF ATTENDEES: 400-500 DAY ESTABLISHED: September 2016
The BUILDER
NAME: Randel Joseph Serrano HOMETOWN: Valenzuela City
EMAIL: randeljoseph_serrano@yahoo.com BIRTHDAY: March 12, 1976 AGE: 48
In 1991, when he was 15 years old. Randel entered the Our Lady of Guadalupe Minor Seminary, where he stayed until 1994. From there, he transferred to San Carlos Seminary.
In 1998, he decided to take a break and experience the outside world.
He worked as a manager in Jollibee. Then, he was about to go back to the seminary when he met his co-manager, Rowena Serrano, who then became his wife, and they are now 23 years married. They have three children.
Finding The Feast
A burden led to a blessing for Randel.
He relates: “In 2011, things didn’t go well with our family business, so, I longed for God.
“Since I was a seminarian, I was already familiar with prayer gatherings, one of them, The Feast led by Bro. Bo Sanchez, as well as the Kerygma (now called The Feast), inspirational magazine he founded.
“One Sunday, I decided to attend The Feast at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) at the Manila Bay Area. After sometime, I started attending Feast Valenzuela since it was closer to our home. I served in its Music Ministry as a singer, and I also became a worship leader.
“Eventually, I took up LOJ’s School of Leadership course supervised by Dean Jon Escoto. The course was for developing Feast Builders and I became one shortly after I graduated in 2016. In that same year, Feast Sangandaan
in Caloocan City was born. That Feast is under the LOJ District of CAMANAVA (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela), and so, being in Valenzuela,
I was appointed as its Feast Builder.”
Beginnings
Feast Sangandaan, which would become Feast Caloocan, started in the cinema of SM Center Sangandaan in 2016.
Like most Feasts, Feast Caloocan struggled through birth pains.
Bro. Randel shares: “We started Saturday evenings. We relentlessly promoted our Feast on social media. But alas, not enough people were coming. Hence, donations were also short. There was a time when we were on the verge of closing shop. But by God’s grace, we realized that people go to church on Sunday mornings. So, we changed our Feast day from Saturday to Sunday morning in the same venue. And Glory to God, people started to flock to our Feast.
Feast Caloocan Flourishes
In September 2024, Feast Caloocan celebrated its 8th Founding Anniversary with a joyful program with Bro. Arun Gogna (top) as guest speaker.
Feast Caloocan sustains its operations through its iGivers program attracting supporters and donors.
Last December, Feast Caloocan honored them with Thanksgiving iGivers Gathering (above).
Hello, 2025!
Feast Caloocan welcomed 2025 with an impressive line of mission events.
In January, at the Flu outbreak, it promptly provided free flu vaccination for servants.
This February, it is holding a Couples Gathering.
In April, Feast Caloocan is holding a Lenten Retreat. In July, it is gathering its iGivers again.
Ready to Serve:
Feast Caloocan pillars, from left: Evangeline Magalong, Caritas Ministry; Marjorie Mae Cruzat, Call Ministry; Jover Carlo Sy, Care Ministry; Wheng Serrano, wife of Feast Builder Randel Serrano; Bro. Randel; Jomark Agno, Connect Ministry; and Lala Uy, Creatives Ministry.
Blessing
A New Heart for a New Start
By PETE RIVERA
NOT too long ago, I worked in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry also known as Call Center.
It was my world for 12 years. I started as a customer service agent, got promoted to the post of subject matter expert, to quality analyst, then became a trainer and finally, a team leader.
I was blessed with a promising career, supportive friends, and a loving family.
Life was good. From time to time, however, I felt I didn’t have enough– but I could not pinpoint what else I lacked.
Working in a call center is not your normal 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. job.
Call center agents make day night and night day. To stay awake, I resorted to smoking and drinking coffee. Before I knew it, I was already a chain smoker, consuming one pack of cigarettes a day. And drinking six cups of coffee a day was normal for me.
I so abused myself that in 2017, I suffered heart attack. I survived but then next, I struggled through bouts of anxiety disorder — a psychiatric case that involved extreme fear or worry. I worried over just about everything– getting sick, being alone. I feared climbing stairs, sleeping because I might not wake up anymore, and yes, I feared death.
Then depression kicked-in, resulting in low self-esteem. I felt so worthless
that I simply quit my job, and contemplated committing suicide. I cried out to my sister. She comforted me, told me everyone in our family loves me. I have a caring family but they could not heal my pain.
Then I thought of converting to a different religion. But my sister wanted me to stay as a Catholic so, she introduced me to Feast Caloocan.
The first time I attended, in January 19, 2019, I felt the talks were meant directly for me. I heard about God’s unconditional love, and that reduced me to tears, sobbing uncontrollably.
And I simply realized that was what I’d been searching for, what was sorely lacking in my life.
I attended The Feast for the second time. And that very day, I told myself, this Feast will be my spiritual family from now on.
Today, I am very happy serving in the Ushers Ministry. Eventually, my sister also started serving with me.
And I am back working in a company as a virtual assistant.
The Feast is teaching me to have a loving relationship with God as well as with myself. I agree that we should love our work but not to the point of sacrificing our health. You can change jobs but you have only one life.
There are times fear still grips me. But when those imagined enemies attack me, I ward them off with what I learned at The Feast– the assuring, comforting words in Deuteronomy 31:6: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Looking back, now I know why God saved me from that heart attack. He would give me a new heart. A heart made for serving Him and serving others.
All glory and honor to You, oh, Jesus!
