NAME: FEAST SM SANTA ROSA
VENUE: Cinema 1, SM City, Sta. Rosa, Laguna SCHEDULE: Sunday, 10:00 A.M. -12:30 P.M. NUMBER OF ATTENDEES: 380
DATE ESTABLISHED: June 5, 2022
The BUILDER
NAME: Niño Bryan Aguilar
ADDRESS: B33 BLK17 Berkeley Heights, Brgy Pulong, Sta. Cruz, Sta.Rosa, Laguna EMAIL: bryanaguilar.core@gmail.com BIRTHDAY: February 15, 1982 AGE 43
Before he joined the Light of Jesus Family, Bro. Bryan says “life was a dead-end.”
He shares: “Addicted to alcohol, lost everything due to gambling, drowning in debt…”
Life changed when he found out about the Light of Jesus.
Finding the Light of Jesus Feast
Bro. Bryan relates:
“I joined the Light of Jesus Family sometime in February 2015. It was my wife Monica who introduced The Feast to me.
“I started serving in the Music Ministry as a drummer in August of the same year.
“Monica wanted to attend The Feast, but I was hesitant at first because of my arrogance.
“But since at the time I was at rock bottom, I decided to give it a try.
“During our first attendance, tears streamed down our face, and from that moment on, we never looked back.
“Then, Bro. Jon Escoto, Feast Laguna District Builder, started a Feast in Calamba and needed help to cover for him.
So, he asked me to preach on his absence.
“Eventually, he delegated roles in our Feast. He eventually asked me to lead and become the Feast Builder which I had no plan in becoming. Never did I ask to become one– but God has a plan.
Beginnings
Feast SM Santa Rosa started in 2017.
Bro. Bryan continues: “We started a Feast at Vista Mall, Sta Rosa, in 2017.
“I took over as Feast Builder when Bro. Jon was starting to build Feast Calamba. We started with around 130+- attendees.”
At the outset, the Feast was inaccessible to many of its attendees.
So, Bro. Jon, decided to move their Feast to a more accessible location– at SM Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
Challenges
Like Feasts in their infant stages, Feast SM Santa Rosa struggled through financial problems.
“We had a hard time carrying costs of our operations.”
Bro. Bryan recalls.
Bro. Bryan encouraged the servants and members through teachings on Love Offering for the Lord, claiming God’s promise that when they give, God will give them back double of their offering.
Bro. Bryan adds, “We also formed many small groups to create disciples who understand their roles in building the Community.”
Here, the happy Light Groups…
Blessings
Christ Defeats My Big C
By MARILIZ SON
I FIRST learned about The Feast PICC in 2014.
At that time, my husband Anel and I were regular Sunday Mass-goers.
Nevertheless, I felt something was missing in my life.
I later realized that it was a deeper relationship with the Lord.
Anel and I became regular attendees at The Feast PICC. In 2016 we moved to Santa Rosa,
Laguna, so, we went on attending The Feast at SM Santa Rosa.
Later, I started serving at The Feast Liturgy Ministry. And I realized that being a servant during Feast gatherings felt different— more fulfilling—compared to just being an attendee.
In 2017, I was diagnosed with active cancer cells. I didn’t pay much attention to it, perhaps because I was in denial that I was sick. I resorted to self-medication and herbal treatments instead.
In 2019, however, I started feeling weak and then I noticed a new lump in my right breast. That was when my battle with the Big C really began.
I was diagnosed with Invasive Carcinoma, Stage 2B Breast Cancer. I had to undergo 16 cycles of chemotherapy and an additional 18 cycles of targeted chemotherapy—32 cycles in total. I was gripped with fear, unsure if I could endure my illness both physically and financially.
The entire chemotherapy treatment would cost roughly a million pesos, an amount we simply could not afford.
I prayed to the Lord that whatever His will was, I would humbly follow. I only asked Him, “Lord, just be with me. Be my refuge and strength.”
And the Lord stayed true to His promise. He made everything lighter for me. He provided funds for every cycle of my chemotherapy. He used so many people as instruments to help me complete all 32 cycles, despite the overwhelming costs.
The Feast SM Santa Rosa community was with me all the way in my journey. They provided the encouragement and support that I so needed.
Gradually, I began to understand God’s plan for me. Through this situation, He opened my eyes to His immense love for me—a love so great that He will never, ever abandon me.
Now, only CHRIST flows through me – and He will never be defeated by the Big C.
