The Villanuevas

Prior to being the president and founder of the Jesus is Lord Church and being one of the country’s most compelling televangelists, Eduardo Villanueva or Bro. Eddie used to be a small town bloke in Bocaue, Bulacan smitten by the riveting sentiments of young love.

Amidst the height of his involvement in student activism in the 1970s, he found himself fervently diverted by the charms of a pretty mass lector, Adoracion Jose. “The first time I saw her, she was delivering a reading for the Sunday mass, I was captivated by her long hair and lovely face. Then I saw her again in a restaurant shaving ice for halo-halo and I instantly knew I was in love,” Bro. Eddie mused.

Adoracion or Sister Dory, who’s actually the daughter of the restaurant owners, was irked by the young Eddie’s constant visits to their store. “At that time, I wasn’t very fond of socializing with men, especially those I didn’t know. But when he finally mustered the guts to formally introduce himself, he said his name was Boy Tuazon,” Sister Dory shared.

For the most part of their courtship, Sister Dory believed the little charade of Boy Tuazon which, according to her, was Eddie’s way to save himself from humiliation if ever he got rejected. To this, Bro. Eddie tenderly clarifies, “Boy is my nickname while Tuazon is my grandmother’s family name, I introduced myself as such because our family is quite eminent in Bulacan, and I wanted her to like me for who I am – not for who my family was.”

Courting Sister Dory was anything but easy for the spiritual leader. But it was a heart-shaped nickel that did the trick..

“He gave me a tarnished heart-shaped nickel and said, ‘Alam mo ito 'pag kinuskos mo kikintab. Ngayon ibibigay ko sayo itong nickel. 'Pag nakita kong kinuskos mo ito, ibig sabihin yes na.’ So one time I got curious and rubbed it, I didn’t know he was there; he just came out of nowhere and said, ‘O! Kinuskos mo na! Ibig sabihin yes na.’ Kaya wala na akong nagawa. Nakulitan na rin ako kaya sinagot ko na,” she said laughing.

After five years, regardless of her parent’s stark displeasure, the religious kolehiyala got married to the radical student activist, not knowing that their marriage will be put to the test by Bro. Eddie’s involvement in activist movements in Bulacan.

“'Pagdating namin sa bahay, kagagaling lang namin sa honeymoon, nag-strike 'yung mga empleyado sa noodle factory, pumunta 'yung mga nag-strike sa bahay. Humihingi ng tulong sa kanya. Hala, sumama siya sa mga manggagawa tapos doon na natulog. Hindi na umuuwi. Doon na halos nakatira. Umuuwi lang para magbihis at kumuha ng pagkain. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, ‘Ito talaga napapala ng hindi nakikinig sa magulang,’ she shared.

When the writ of habeas corpus was suspended, authorities were vigilant in arresting revolutionary activists and Bro. Eddie was one of their targets. “I had to leave Bulacan and hide. Doris was pregnant at that time, as much as I wanted to be with her, I couldn’t. We could all get killed,” he said.

“Naisip ko nga noon, parang mas mahal pa niya yang mga aktibista at mahihirap kaysa sa akin. Pero wala na rin akong magagawa, kung hindi suportahan at intindihin siya. Ganoon ko siya kamahal,” she explained.

During those trying times, one would assume that he turned to his faith to seek divine retribution. But aside from being radically involved in activism, Bro. Eddie was also an atheist; for him there was no God. If not for a personal miracle, Bro. Eddie would not be who he is now.

“I received a letter from my sister telling me to change my attitude towards God, asking me to say a simple prayer to Jesus and surrender my life to him,” he narrated. “Eh gulong-gulo na ako sa nangyayari sa buhay ko, walang nangyayari sa land-grabbing case namin. Kahit awang-awa ako sa pamilya ko, iiwan ko na talaga, mamumundok na ko. Kaya ginawa ko na rin 'yung formula ng kapatid ko, nagdasal ako, tapos in 5 days time pinatawag ako sa Crame, telling me that I won the case. That opened my mind to the Lord and to the bible.”

Along with Bro. Eddie’s renewed faith came a new beginning for him and his family. He still possesses the same idealism towards politics but it now veers towards righteous governance rather than revolutionary. Shortly after, Sister Dory joined him in his Bible studies which led them to start the Jesus is Lord Church, a Fundamentalist Charismatic Christian Church, which, in later years, gained a huge following worldwide.

On having a God-centered relationship

He said: Ang married life namin, Christ-centered. 'Pag kami’y hindi mag kasundo, tatanungin lang namin sa sarili namin, ‘o, naririnig ka ni Lord Jesus,’ kasi kung ikaw ay tunay na Christian, alam mong 'yan ay against the will of God, kaya matibay ang aming bond.  At saka kailangan hindi linulubugan ng araw ang mga away. Hindi dapat matapos ang gabi ng hindi kami nagkakaayos. Automatic 'yan.

She said: Ang daming nagtatanong sa akin if Bro. Eddie and I ever quarrel, and I tell them, ‘if I tell you you that we never quarrel, I’ll be a hypocrite.’ Pero ngayong born again na kami, we learned how to say sorry. Eh noon, patigasan kami. Our relationship is truly bound by the love of Christ.

On Parenting

He said: I don’t believe in using violence when it comes to disciplining children. And besides they weren’t a stubborn bunch.

She said: Ang mga anak, dapat sumunod at gumalang sa kanilang mga magulang. That’s what I tell my kids when they misbehave.

On Travel

He said: We travel a lot especially when we need to attend JIL conferences abroad. Pero siyempre after our commitments we find time to wander around together. Just last week magkasama kami sa Australia.

She said: But sometimes, we also want to go on separate tours when we go to a certain country. Like the time we were in Canada, ang laki nong bansang 'yon, kaya minsan naghihiwalay kami para mapasyalan lahat.

On Dining

He said: Naku, akala ko nakatiyempo na ko ng magaling magluto kasi may restaurant nga sila. 'Yun pala, hindi naman tumutulong sa kusina. Ang kaya niya lang lutuin para sa akin torta; sibuyas, kamatis, itlog. 'Yun lang.

She said: Sobrang galing magluto ng mommy ko. And since may restaurant nga kami hindi na ko nag aral magluto.

On making decisions for the family

He said: Ako ang may final say sa pamilya namin, at kadalasan ang sagot doon ay yes – yes, ma’am. (Laughs) But seriously, whoever is right siya ang masusunod.

She said: Sabi nga nila eh, ‘wives, submit to your husbands’, sila nga naman ang head of the family. But what they don’t know is the wife is the neck. We make sure to get each other’s opinion first before making a decision.

On building a strong foundation for a lasting marriage

He said: First of all, marriage should be taken seriously. Hindi ito laro na basta-basta lang sinasalihan. Second, provide a good future for your children.  It’s important that parents know their responsibilities and make sure they do it responsibly. Lastly, marriage should be built under the grace of our Lord, and all else will follow.

She said: Sa relasyon ng mag-asawa, there’s always a third party – God. Marriage is like a triangle, with God at the top and the husband and wife on both sides. Through that triangle, as a couple draws closer to God, they become more secure with each other and their marriage gets stronger.