There were twelve of them last June 12. One by one, they said, "Opò," to each of three questions posed to them. The first time, to say that, yes, they confess Jesus Christ alone is their Lord and Savior. The second time, to say that, yes, they know by going in for baptism by immersion they unite themselves with Christ in His death and resurrection. The third time, to say that, yes, from now on they will die to sin daily as they live for Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Isa-isa, sila ay nilubog at inahon. Twelve who chose to announce their independence from sin, dependent now on the Lord Jesus only. Twelve who chose the Freedom found only in the Truth.

We could call them "The June Twelve." (Mainly because we cannot resist making obvious puns any more than we can resist ice cream.) But it was only a coincidence, really. Though the baptism was set for June 12, the next handy holiday, we could never have guessed that exactly twelve people would show up to be baptized.

At first, at 8AM on the dot (by our punctual Pastor Bel Magalit's trusty watch), just ten baptism candidates from Diliman Campus Bible Church sat in front of the Diliman Bible Church pulpit. Pastor Bel had of course already begun to give them final instructions on what they had to do. Then a woman arrived—number eleven—and said that she was there to be baptized, having taken the required baptism class the week before. Yet another woman present was found to be a baptism candidate in good standing, but was thinking twice. She was not feeling well enough. Convinced to go ahead despite mild health concerns, she became number twelve.

While there were more who had said they had wanted to be baptized that morning, only these twelve came through and went through with it. We believe that to go get baptized by being immersed in water (even for a second) in front of onlookers—brethren, family, friends, strangers—is to publicly proclaim one's commitment to Jesus as Lord, and one's gratitude to Jesus as Savior. But only a handful came to witness the act for these twelve that early Monday.

Good thing cyberspace gives everybody a second chance to go public. Two of the twelve, Ernie and Tess Maliwat, 'fresh graduates' of our Discovery Meetings (circa February to April 2006), attend English worship service. Ten are members of our Tagalog congregation, ranging from nanays (young matrons and older), to dalagitas (teenaged girls), to a token tatay (he looked not merely happy to be there, but filled with peace and joy). The ten Tagalog service members were Maria Quinto, Nanay Isabel Adriano, Marlon Gardon, Maggie Gardon, Eloisa Colvera, Nora Velasco, Eden de Vera, Nanay Darlina Bilbao, Nanay Amelia Tiburcio, and Jenny Marimat.

Among family who witnessed the event were, for young Maria, her deaconess aunt Nam Ugaddan, and for young Eloisa, her mother Elsa Colvera. Young Maggie's father of course was her co-baptisant. The small children of Nora, Eden, and Jenny now have their young memories etched with the sight of their mothers symbolically dying to sin by dying with and rising in Christ. Of course they cannot know this now. But this is what they, years later, will realize was meant when these young women were briefly dipped backwards in then quickly raised forward from DBC waters by Pastor Bel (Elder Mon Rocha assisting). For all we know, on June 12, 2006 was sown the seed of the Kingdom in certain very young hearts.

Also on hand to witness the joyful event were Kuya Mon's family, Elders Kuya Ken Villanueva and Glen Ibañez, Elder Kuya Jess Espina and family, Pastor Wilson Dumelod, Deacon Armin Alforque and family, and Gio and Rexie Amantillo. From the Tagalog congregation were Pastor Chris Canuto, Brother Vic Mandalupe, Nanay Edy Yuson, Nanay Esmie Sosa, Nanay Pilar Gerlingo, Nanay Betty Alojipan, and Nanay Carmen Baldoza. Then of course there was our worthy pastor's worthy wife Ate Lety Magalit, who graciously provided the piano accompaniment during the baptism worship service, and Pabs Mallari of DBC (original 'Barnabas' to the Maliwats).

With no one else arriving for the ceremony, Pastor Bel led those present in song, with the hymn "O for a Thousand Tongues", then in prayer, then again in song, with the hymn "Blessed Assurance."

He read from Romans 6:1-14 (NIV), reminding both those baptized and those to be baptized to live as people who have died to sin and are assured of sharing in Christ's resurrection. He followed with the message in which he stressed that baptism was not needed for salvation since one already took the gift of salvation when one let Jesus Christ take over as Lord. However, as all were reminded, we should be baptized just like our Lord was, to obey Him and to proclaim Him.

The happy group from DCBC then went up the DBC stage with The June Twelve (not The Twelve)-because the pool is under the removable floor at the back. The festive crowd cheerfully allowed themselves to be pressed into service, taking photographic evidence (Pabs Mallari and Deaconess Nam), holding the twelve white robes which awaited the just baptized (taking on the new), even holding the microphone over the pool toward Pastor Bel and each baptisant (not as easy as one might think, just ask Deacon Armin). The perch was precarious—one could either fall forward into the long narrow pool, or backward from the narrow stage—but there must have been angels keeping all present, young and older, sure of foot.

"Dahil sa inyong pahayag, binabautismo naming kayo sa ngalan ng Ama, ng Anak, at ng Espirito Santo..." The baptisants, one by one, stepped from the right end into the pool wide enough for one person flanked by Pastor Bel and Elder Mon and were duly baptized. One by one, they got out at the other end and put on white robes. When the last baptisant, Jenny Marimat, thus "put on the new", having "put off the old", everybody clapped, cheered, and shook hands with the twelve in congratulations.

The clapping turned rhythmic as everyone broke into "Welcome to the Family" (the children's song). The smiling twelve then posed for the camera again then went down to the DBC restrooms to change into clean dry clothes. (Kuya Mon went with them, but Pastor Bel said he would change at home and merely toweled off his waterlogged barong and pants.)

While waiting for them to come back up, there was time to sit back in a pew and think of other reasons why June 12 was important. It was, of course, Independence Day for all Filipinos (not just the twelve).

Since the twelve and Kuya Mon were taking some time to come back up (there is only one ladies' room and one men's room beneath the DBC sanctuary), there was also plenty of time to recall Pastor Bel's sermon of the day before (the Sunday of June 11). In keeping with Philippine Independence Day Eve, it was on "Can a Christian Be a Nationalist?" (This, for those who might not know yet, is the title of a book Pastor Bel authored as well as a favorite subject of his to expound on—next to Scripture.)

Good thing worshippers had had a chance to wear Filipiniana on Sunday. Some had braved the heat and come in barong Tagalog and baro't saya, made of traditional jusi. But one sensible worshipper had worn a white cotton eyelet dress that looked coolly casual, yet distinctly Filipino still. Two children had worn the very cool cotton camisa chino only, the undershirt without the stiff scratchy shirt worn over it.

Good thing the national costume (in varying degrees of authenticity and style) got an airing Sunday as worn by the patriotic faithful. Because Monday, June 12, which was Philippine Independence Day proper, the clothing of choice in DCBC (aside from white robes for the twelve), were blue, green, red, and yellow T-shirts, jogging pants, sneakers, and caps. June 12 also happened to be DCBC Family Day.

It was almost 9:30AM when everyone was uniformly dry and seated once again on the DBC pews. Most of DCBC was probably already at the UP Track Oval letting the games begin, and the remnant in DBC were anxious to join their families and church family. Pastor Bel led them in a final appropriate hymn, "Trust and Obey", raised his right hand and intoned the final blessing, sending everybody off to their cars and vans. Most were already filled with passengers, plastic chairs, and folding tables headed for the UP Track Oval. Some were going home first to fetch food and water and plenty of ice to bring to the outdoor exertions no doubt heating up on the grass by then.

The baptism of the twelve on June 12 was actually the second already in a little over only two months performed by DCBC. On April 29, the baptism of six Sunset Service members took place in a pool near UP. What a joy it would be to see baptism in DCBC performed every month, because twelve or six or any number of new members are moved by the Spirit to be baptized. After all, with Philip, one was enough. ('As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.' Acts 8:36-39)