Mental health issues surged during the pandemic as the world grappled with the harsh realities of COVID-19. Losses were not only financial but also included lives and businesses. While some succumbed to the deadly virus, others fell into deep depression.
Many people walked into hospital emergency rooms with symptoms like fever and loss of taste only, but unfortunately, some were no longer able to walk through those doors alive. Cries for food and medical attention were not isolated to the poor; even the wealthy faced similar struggles.
The COVID-19 virus made no distinctions; everyone it affected found themselves in distressing circumstances.
With most people confined to their homes, many turned their attention to television, where discussions about mental health became increasingly prominent. One of the voices that resonated during this time was Pastor Ricardo de Asis Jr.—affectionately known as Pastor Bong. Currently a church pastor in Ormoc City, his advocacy for mental health drew in people and organizations eager to hear his message aimed at emotionally and mentally struggling individuals. They sought guidance on how to rise above the crisis and find hope for a return to normalcy.
Among those inspired by Pastor Bong’s words was Sir Jeremy Balondo, a professor at Biliran Island Province State University. He is also the head of the Community Development Unit for the extension services office.
Sir Balondo first encountered Pastor Bong during a lecture organized by the school on mental health.
“His lecture captivated my attention. He didn’t just provide tips on resilience; he taught us in a holistic manner. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet alongside mental well-being,” Sir Balondo shared.
At that moment, he realized that he was living in stark contrast to Pastor Bong’s teachings. He was already experiencing symptoms indicative of diabetes, yet he found it difficult to adopt a healthier diet.
“He also stressed the importance of taking time to rest from work and dedicating a day to God. This was something my wife and I lacked, as we were working even on weekends and had no time for rest.”
After the lecture, Sir Balondo had an increased desire to learn how to maintain the lifestyle Pastor Bong encouraged.
“He mentioned he was an Adventist, and that reminded me of some Adventist colleagues. I decided to reach out to Bro. Vivencio Pellesco.”
Bro. Pellesco, an elder at the Naval Seventh-Day Adventist Church, visited Sir Balondo’s home with fellow church members. This initiated a series of Bible studies with a Bible worker from Anislagan Church, Bro. Niño Pinote.
Sir Balondo’s wife, Ritchelle, was a devoted Roman Catholic since birth. When asked about her view of religion before she and her husband joined the Adventist Church, she said, “Salvation, for us, was by work. We have to follow the church’s doctrines, wear amulets of the blessed virgin, observe church celebrations, do confessions before the priests, and play the holy rosary every day.”
Not long after, Sir Balondo and his wife accepted Jesus through baptism. A year later, two of their three children also followed suit. On the momentous day of September 25, 2021, Pastor Jacob Suarez conducted their baptism against the serene backdrop of Zac Spring Resort in Naval, Biliran.
He described the experience as wonderful, as he and his wife had long been searching for a congregation to join. They were eager for deeper Bible study but had difficulty finding one they were most comfortable with.
“At first, we found the church culture to be strange. Although I wasn’t particularly fond of jewelry, I wasn’t accustomed to not wearing any. I always wore earrings and pants to church, which Adventists do not,” Mrs. Balondo said. “But now I am a proud Adventist, and I can no longer imagine life without Christ.”
Now, Sir Balondo is an active member of the Adventist Church. He serves on the church board of the Naval SDA Church and acts as the adviser for the Adventist Ministry to College and University Students (AMiCUS), Naval Biliran Chapter. Together with his wife, they are happily involved in the ministry.
On the other hand, Pastor Bong specializes in urban elite evangelism, courageously addressing high-ranking government officials about the gospel. Since the onset of the pandemic, he has also taken on the role of a mental health coach, delivering lectures to faculty and students at various universities and secondary schools. Additionally, he has engaged with professionals across various sectors, bringing elites, politicians, and others to the foot of the cross.
Currently, his ministry extends beyond prison bars, where he provides guidance on mental health to incarcerated individuals and personnel from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, both in city and regional branches.
His advocacy flourishes through God’s great commission and Ellen White’s call to engage urban communities in ministry.
In a recent interview, he quoted Ellen White’s passage from her book “Ministries to the Cities,” which states, “Mission work should be done in all our large cities. There is special talent among us for this line of labor, and this talent should be educated and trained.”
He also referenced another passage from her book, “The Medical Ministry,” that reads, “The work in the cities is the essential work for this time. When the cities are worked as God would have them, the result will be the setting in operation of a mighty movement such as we have not yet witnessed.”
Pastor Bong also mentioned, “We may never know whose hearts will be touched among the listeners during our lectures. We’ll just have to continue our zeal in reaching out to these urban elites, and God will handle the rest.”