Monday, September 2, 2024

Residential Fires August, 2024

This is a reported list of residential fires in the Philippines for August, 2024. The Bureau of Fire Protection is on record saying the fire codes does not apply to residential areas which is why so many of them go up in flames during a fire. Being made of light materials all it takes is one spark to cause massive devastation. 


https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/1/1-hurt-15-houses-razed-in-bacolod-fire
A 49-year-old man was injured and 15 houses were razed by a fire in Purok Kingfisher, Barangay 16, this city, before dawn on Thursday morning, August 1.

Fire Supt. Jenny Mae Masip, city fire marshal, said they did not receive a fire call, but firefighters from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Rodriguez Baybay substation in neighboring Barangay 35 saw and responded to the fire.

Masip said the blaze broke out around 2:42 a.m. from the house owned by Florentino Sevilla rented by Gerald Arroyo.

The fire destroyed 10 houses and partially damaged five others mostly made of light materials.

Masip said the fire started from a bedroom on the second floor of the rented house.

Arroyo was not at home when the fire broke out as he went out around 11 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31.

Masip said the fire was caused by an overheated ceiling fan. She added that Arroyo would usually leave the ceiling fan on even if he leaves home.

Masip said that a man sustained second-degree burns and suffered difficulty in breathing after he was trapped on his way out when he returned to their house to check on his children.

Two firefighters were able to rescue him after they heard him shouting for help. Masip said the victim was taken to a private hospital here where he was placed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The fire reached the third alarm. Fire out was declared at 3:34 a.m. Damage to property was placed at P675,000, affecting 450-square meters.

A three-year-old boy and his one-year-old brother were both burned beyond recognition when their house in Tulunan town in Cotabato province got razed by fire on Wednesday.

Local executives and investigators in the Tulunan Municipal Police Station told reporters on Thursday that the parents of the victims were out to attend to something in another barangay when their house in Purok 7 in Barangay Magbok was destroyed by fire of still undetermined origin.

Their house, made of semi-permanent materials, was totally burned down in just a few minutes, according to barangay officials.

Personnel of the Tulunan Social Welfare Office are still trying to determine why the mother and father of the two children just left their houses without anyone to watch over them.

The children who perished in the incident were immediately buried by barangay officials and relatives. 


A fire razed a five-story building in a commercial district in Binondo, Manila on Friday morning, killing 11.

Investigators from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the fire started at around 7:28 a.m.at the ground floor of the Pingco Building, a mixed residential and commercial building in Carvajal St., Barangay 289.

The fire reached the second alarm at 8:14 a.m. and was declared out at 10:03 a.m.

The cost of damage was placed at PHP100,000 while the cause of the fire was still under investigation.

In a radio interview, village councilor Nelson Ty confirmed that firefighters found 11 bodies inside the building after the fire was completely extinguished.

"The spouse of the building's owner was among those who died," he said.

Ty said the building had four residential rooms, a Chinese drug store, an eatery and a clothing shop.

Following the incident, Mayor Honey Lacuna ordered an inspection of buildings in the city that are at least 15 years old.

"The structures at highest fire risk especially those buildings that are at least 15 years old will be prioritized in the inspection to determine their compliance with the National Building Code and the Revised Fire Code of the Philippines,” Lacuna said in a statement.

She said these checks would ensure compliance with existing building and fire regulations to prevent a repeat of similar incidents.

Lacuna condoled with the families of the victims.

“The MSWD immediately sent assistance to hep the families who lost their loved ones and properties," she said.

The assistance included psycho-social, medical and financial aid.


https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/5/fire-hits-houses-in-sampaloc-manila

Two fire responders were injured in a fire that hit 50 establishments and displaced 110 families along Matimyas Street in Sampaloc, Manila on Monday morning, August 5.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), two firemen sustained burns on their hands and arms.

BFP said the fire was raised to the first alarm at 10:27 a.m. and to the second alarm at 10:36 p.m.

It elevated to the third alarm at 10:39 a.m.

Firefighters were able to put the blaze under control at 11:37 a.m. and extinguish it at 1:05 p.m.

Arson investigators said the fire started on the third floor of a three-story house.

They have yet to determine the cause of the fire.

The local government had deployed personnel to check the situation and distribute food packs to 110 families or 330 individuals who were left homeless by the fire.


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1969911/fire-razes-6-houses-in-dasmarinas-city

A fire of still unknown origin on Monday razed six houses in DasmariƱas City, Cavite.

The blaze erupted around 8 p.m. in Barangay San Antonio De Padua 2, the Region 4A police reported on Tuesday, citing information from the DasmariƱas City police.

The firemen put off the fire after one hour and 38 minutes.

At least seven families affected by the fire were temporarily settled in the village evacuation center.

No one was injured during the blaze, the report said.

The property damage and the cause of the fire have yet to be determined by authorities.


https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/08/06/2375814/3-hurt-fire-hits-makati-tower

Three persons, including an elderly, were injured when a fire broke out on the 29th floor of the Burgundy Corporate Tower along Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati yesterday.

The victims, who suffered smoke inhalation and breathing difficulty, were Gabriel Bustamante, 61; Franklin Oreiro, 39, and Aireene Labios, 27.

The blaze started at 5:28 a.m. and reached first alarm at 5:40 a.m., according to the Bureau of Fire Protection.

The BFP declared the fire under control at 7:52 a.m.

Arson probers said they are still determining the cause of the fire.

 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/7/600-families-lose-their-homes-in-bacoor-fire

Around 600 families lost their houses in a fire that broke out in Sitio Wawa in Barangay Zapote 3, Bacoor City, early morning Wednesday, August 7.

The blaze was reported at 1:16 a.m. and was escalated to the second alarm at 1:21 a.m. The flames were declared under control at 2:50 a.m. and extinguished by 3:55 a.m.

The Bureau of Fire Protection Bacoor told the Manila Bulletin that the estimated worth of damage is P500,000.

Initial information from the Bacoor Component City Police Station stated that most of the houses in the residential area were made of wood.

The City Social Welfare and Development Office, meanwhile, has already identified evacuation centers where the fire victims could take temporary shelter.

 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/916316/20-families-lose-homes-in-manila-fire/story/

At least 20 families lost their homes as fire broke out in Sampaloc, Manila, James Agustin reported Wednesday on Saksi.

According to the investigation, the fire along G. Tuazon corner Dela Fuente Street in Barangay 185 began at 5 p.m.

The blaze reached the second alarm and was extinguished at 6:18 p.m.

Authorities estimated at least 13 houses were burned.


https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/12/80-informal-settlers-evacuate-as-fire-hits-wooden-crates-slum-houses-in-tondo

At least 80 informal settler families (ISF) were evacuated after a fire hit wooden crates and around 10 slum houses along Barangay 128, Balut, Tondo, on Monday morning, August 12 

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire started at 6:07 a.m. from a pile of wooden crates along Mel Lopez Boulevard. 

The fire was quickly raised to the second alarm at 6:12 a.m. 

Fire responders said the blaze also damaged a car that was parked near the pile of wooden crates. 

Most of the families that were evacuated were living under the bridge. 

The fire was brought under control at 6:50 a.m. and was extinguished at 7:13 a.m. 

The affected families received hot meals from the barangay officials. 

Authorities said some the evacuees went home after the BFP’s mopping up operation. 

The cause of the fire is still undetermined, the BFP said.


https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/589583/two-fires-hit-cebu-city-12-houses-burned-down

Two fires struck Cebu City, one of which burned down 12 houses and destroyed over P600,000 worth of properties, on Monday, August 12.

Firefighters first responded to a fire alarm raised over Singson Village in Brgy. Guadalupe, Cebu City at 12:11 p.m.

Five minutes after arriving at the scene, they raised it to first alarm due to the presence of light and flammable materials in the area.

Fortunately, they were able to put the flames under control at 12:46 p.m. or approximately 30 minutes later. By 12:59 p.m., they officially declared fire out.

Around two hours later, they responded to another fire alarm, this time at the corner of Don Pedro Cui and R. Landon Streets in Brgy. San Antonio. Like the fire in Brgy. Guadalupe, it involved a residential property.

Firefighters were quick to douse the flames within minutes.

Meanwhile, initial findings from fire investigators showed that a total of 14 houses at Singson Village were damaged by the fire, 12 of which were totally burned down. They pegged the damages at P600,000.

The fire reportedly started at the house owned by a certain Mercedita Pagao.

As of this writing, fire investigators continue to investigate the cause of the two fires.

 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/14/fire-hits-10-houses-in-silay-city

A fire hit 10 houses in Zone 2 Centro, Barangay Mambulac, Silay City, Negros Occidental on Tuesday, August 13.

Fire Supt. Rodel Legaspi, Silay fire marshal, said the blaze originated from an unoccupied house at around 12:06 p.m. 

Six houses were destroyed and four others were partially damaged.

Legaspi said the area is considered to be thickly populated and most of the houses were made of light materials.

Residents saw some children reportedly playing matches near the unoccupied house before the fire.

Fire out was declared at 1:05 p.m. and no injuries were reported. Damage to property was estimated at P96,250.

Mayor Joedith Gallego met fire victims on Wednesday, August 14, to provide assistance.

https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/16/fire-hits-6-houses-in-bacolod


Six houses were hit by a fire in Purok Planeta, Barangay Taculing here on Thursday, August 15.

Fire Supt. Jenny Mae Masip, city fire marshal, said that three houses were destroyed and three were partially damaged.

The fire originated from the house of Eduardo Tanghal at around 1:19 p.m. and immediately spread to neighboring houses made mostly of light materials.

Masip said the fire started after Tanghal and his wife, both senior citizens, left their house to gather scrap materials.

Tanghal’s wife suffered hyperventilation after she learned that their house was on fire but she was able to recover through the assistance of rescuers, Masip said.

Masip said the area has been identified as one of the red zones or fire-prone areas in this city.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Bacolod is initially looking at electrical as possible cause of fire. 

Masip said that this is subject to confirmation, pending the result of the examination on the evidence they submitted to the arson laboratory at the BFP national headquarters to determine the specific cause of the blaze.

Damage to property was estimated at P24,500. No injuries were reported and fire out was declared at 1:32 p.m.

 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/17/40-families-lose-homes-in-cebu-city-fire

Forty families were left homeless in a fire in Barangay Labangon here on Saturday morning, August 17.

The fire destroyed 28 houses and damaged two others. 

The fire started at 6:35 p.m. and reached second alarm at 6:43 a.m. 

It was put out at 8:17 a.m., the Cebu City Fire office said.

Damage to property was estimated at P1.3 million. 

The cause of the fire is still being determined.

The Department of Social Welfare and Services here said that  the fire displaced 143 individuals. They are temporarily sheltered in the barangay’s elementary school.

 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/20/27-families-affected-by-fire-in-barangay-buli-in-muntinlupa

A total of 27 families were affected when a fire hit a residential area in Barangay Buli, Muntinlupa on Aug. 19. 

According to the Muntinlupa City Fire Station, the blaze started at about 6:53 p.m. from a house at 301 Manatra in Buli. 

The first alarm was raised at 6:56 p.m. followed by a second alarm at 7:03 p.m. It damaged P175,000 worth of properties. 

The latest tally from the Muntinlupa City government stated that 27 families were affected by the fire. 

The fire station’s report stated that 15 houses were destroyed by the fire and 15 families or 45 individuals were affected. 

Authorities said the fire started from the kitchen area of a house but the cause is under investigation. The fire was put under control at 7:48 p.m. before it was put out at 8 p.m. 

According to Barangay Buli, the affected families are staying at the Buli covered court. 

A total of 40 fire trucks and nine ambulances responded to the incident.

 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1975111/fire-in-marikina-city-kills-two-senior-citizens-affects-24-families

Two senior citizens died in a fire that broke out in a residential area in Barangay Fortune in Marikina City early Wednesday, said the Bureau of Fire Protection – National Capital Region (BFP-NCR).

BFP-NCR said the blaze killed an 80-year-old male and an 84-year-old female while 24 families or 94 individuals were affected.

Meanwhile, the estimated cost of the damage to 11 houses and establishments amounted to approximately P200,000.

According to the report of BFP-NCR, the first alarm was raised at 12:38 a.m and it was eventually raised to the second alarm at 12:45 a.m.

It was reported under control at 1:01 a.m and fire out was declared at 1:39 a.m.

The fire started in a two-storey house.

The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1975044/fire-razes-6-houses-in-quezon-island-town

A fire of still unknown origin broke out in the island town of Perez in Quezon province on Tuesday, Aug. 20, and razed six houses.

The Quezon police said in a report Wednesday, Aug. 21, that the fire started around 4 p.m. from the house of a certain Violeta Villabroza in Barangay Pagkakaisa.

The fire spread to five other houses, all made of light materials, inside a compound before the blaze was put off by firemen after two hours and 40 minutes.

No one was injured during the blaze, the report said.

Authorities estimated the damage from the fire at P2,610,000.

The police are still investigating the cause of the blaze.


https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/20/68-year-old-woman-hurt-in-fire-in-san-andres-bukid-manila-1

A 68-year-old woman was injured in a fire that gutted seven houses on Rein Street in San Andres Bukid, Manila on Tuesday, August 20.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the injured woman sustained first degree burn on her left arm up to the left part of her face.

BFP reported that the fire started at 12:28 p.m. and escalated to the second alarm at 12:34 p.m.

It took the firefighters more than an hour before the fire was put under control at 1:58 p.m. 

They extinguished the fire at 2:31 p.m.

Four of the seven affected houses were gutted by the fire.

Initial investigation disclosed that the fire started on the second floor of a three-story residential structure.

At least 15 families or 30 individuals were displaced by the fire.

BFP is still determining the cause of the blaze


https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1975568/girl-dead-in-batangas-fire

 A 13-year-old girl died Wednesday in a fire that gutted her house in Lipa City, Batangas.

The odor of burnt objects awakened Jersey Gabuna, an occupant of a house in Barangay San Carlos, as the fire started around 2:45 a.m., the Region 4A police said in a belated report on Thursday, Aug. 22.

When Gabuna opened her eyes, she saw thick smoke inside the house.

She immediately woke the other people inside the house and herded them to safety. Two families were living together in the house.

The local fire department responded and declared the blaze under control at 3:41 a.m.

During the clearing operation, firefighters recovered the body of “Meagan,” who was trapped inside the burning house.

Investigators found that a lit candle inside the victim’s bedroom caused the fire.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1976980/1-dead-as-fire-razes-houses-in-baguio

A 60-year-old man reportedly died while seven families, or 30 people, were displaced after a fire razed several houses in this city early Tuesday (Aug. 27), authorities said.

The fatality was identified as Joseph Deeije, a resident of Barangay Campo Filipino, according to the local firefighters.

An initial investigation showed that the fire started at 5:30 a.m. and spread quickly, destroying at least three houses inside a residential compound.

The firefighters declared the fire out at 8:12 a.m. while the displaced residents were temporarily staying with their neighbors or relatives.

Village officials have started soliciting donations for the victims and the Department of Social Welfare and Development Cordillera has begun assessing the situation to determine the appropriate assistance for the fire victims.

Fire officials were still determining the cause of the fire and the cost of the damage.


https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/27/fire-hits-residential-area-in-navotas-city

A fire broke out at a residential area in Sitio Puting Bato, Barangay NBBS, Navotas City, on Tuesday, August 27.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire was raised to the first alarm at 11:26 a.m. and immediately escalated to the 2nd alarm at 11:27 a.m.

 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/29/baseco-fire-leaves-20-families-homeless

Around 20 families were left homeless by a fire that gutted 10 houses at Block 17, Barangay 649, Baseco Compound in Manila on Thursday, August 29.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) reported that the fire was raised to first alarm at 11:16 a.m. and was immediately escalated to second alarm at 11:17 a.m.

The blaze was raised to the third alarm at 11:21 a.m.

Firefighters were able to put the fire under control at 11:51 a.m. and extinguish it at 1:13 p.m.

The affected families were given hot meals and modular tents by members of the Manila- Department of Social Welfare (DSW). 

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

 

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/08/23/2379924/malabon-government-aids-fire-victims

At least 10 families affected by a fire that struck Barangay Longos in Malabon received assistance from the local government on Wednesday.

According to the city’s public information office, the displaced families were evacuated to a multipurpose hall in the barangay. They were provided modular tents and hot meals.

Residents also received relief packs from the local social welfare and development office.

On Wednesday, a fire of still unknown origin engulfed houses in Barangay Longos, the Bureau of Fire Protection said.

No one was reported injured in the incident.

In Quezon City, a man was injured and eight families were left homeless when a fire razed a slum area yesterday.

Michael Dacapias was hurt after he, his wife and children jumped from the second floor of the house at the height of the fire.

“Pagbukas ng pinto ng asawa ko andun na apoy,” Dacapias said in an interview on GMA News.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)’s National Capital Region field office said the blaze started at 12:18 p.m. and reached the first alarm.

The fire destroyed five shanties along Usafe street in Barangay Holy Spirit, the BFP said.

Firefighters doused the fire at 12:44 a.m., which displaced eight families.

An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the fire, which destroyed P7,500 worth of property.

The affected residents sought shelter at a covered court in the area.


https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/30/fire-hits-residential-area-in-commonwealth-ave-qc

A fire broke out at a residential area in Kasunduan St. Barangay Commonwealth, Quezon City on Friday morning, August 30.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire was raised to the first alarm at around 8:03 a.m.

The blaze was declared under control at around 8:29 a.m. and was extinguished at around 8:34 a.m.

The BFP said there were no reported injuries.

Probers are still investigating the cause of the blaze

 

https://mb.com.ph/2024/8/31/fire-hits-houses-in-tondo-5

A fire hit houses along Dagupan Street in Barangay 62, Tondo, Manila on Saturday, August 31.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire was raised to first alarm at 4:37 p.m. and was immediately declared to second alarm at 4:48 p.m.

Six fire trucks have arrived at the scene to control the blaze.

That is 25 reported incidents for August. Remember, these are only the major fires reported in the national media. Residential fires are up all across the nation and they do not all make the news. This is the tip of the iceberg concerning the real situation in the Philippines. 

Sunday, September 1, 2024

The God Culture: Lost Isles of Gold Small Group Study Guide

Four years after publishing The Search for King Solomon's Treasure Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture has finally released his promised small group study guide

https://issuu.com/thegodculture/docs/lost_isles_small_group_study_ebook

This study guide is being released in conjunction with the launch of The God Culture app. The reader is instructed to follow along using the app. 

Use this 13-week Small Group Study Guide and follow our new Lost Isles of Gold Live Series free on The God Culture App, YouTube, Rumble, Instagram, Facebook, SubStack, Brighteon, Odyssey, etc. In some cases, your Pastor or leader will present the content as well which we strongly encourage and offer our support to assist them in bringing this explosive research to you. All video links at TheGodCulture.com. 

The format of the book is a series of 13 chapters divided into several questions. The student is supposed to write the answer based on what he hears Tim say during the course of the accompanying video series. Now, keep in mind this is supposed to be a teaching tool. In fact, the cover blurb declares:

The End of Colonial Propaganda In Geography

What is "colonial propaganda in geography?" It's a loaded term. There is nothing neutral about that phrase. Perhaps a better phrase would be:

Learn About the Biblical History of the Philippines

That phrase informs the student of what he is about to learn. Tim's blurb is biased and sets him against everyone else. He is right and they are wrong. This stance is quite nakedly apparent in the questions Tim asks as it is in all his other books and videos. 

There are 212 questions but I shall only take a look at a few of them. Everything Tim teaches is the same. His books and videos merely repeat each other. The information Tim teaches in this guide has been refuted many times on this blog so there is no need to refute him again point by point.

Let's start with the very first question. 

1. Does archaeology prove that Ophir existed as a land abundant in gold?

The answer is an unambiguous NO! Tim has said as much several times. You can read about that here. According to Tim there is no archaeology proving anything about Ophir and anyone who asks such a question is stuck in a false paradigm. This is not a simple question about an 8th century B.C. pottery shard being found in Israel. We already know Tim thinks the Philippines is Ophir and we see where this question leads in questions 6 and 7.

6. Does the fact that an academic colonial paradigm that chooses to ignore massive history gets to use their admission of ignorance as evidence against the very history and maps they ignore? 

7. If the Philippines is proven factually to have been labelled Ophir and Tarshish of the Bible historically, on maps, and ultimately in the Bible itself, how does this impact our thinking? 

What is "an academic colonial paradigm?" Tim does not explain what it means but it is loaded language.  It's not very different from the kind of empty language used by critical race theorists. As for question seven, why is Tim asking this hypothetical? It is not only a leading question but an appeal to emotion as Tim asks, "how does this impact our thinking?" That is a totally subjective question that has no place here if Tim is actually trying to teach a history of the Philippines based on factual evidence. 

Already the book is off to a horrible start. And there are 12 more chapters to go!

Chapter 2 is about the location of Ophir.

3. How can one calling themselves a scholar not know that the King of Spain hired explorer after explorer to head to Tarshish in the Orient demonstrating Spain historically knew it was not Tarshish?

Again, this is another loaded question meant to guide the student into disdaining anything academics and scholars have to say about the location of Tarshish. There are a lot of factors not counted in here such as tin, a commodity from Tarshish, being found in Israel that dates to the 13th century BC and whose provenance is Britain. Also the Septuagint translates Tarshish as Carthage which is not in the Far East. 

Not to mention it does not follow that because the King of Spain sent explorers to find Tarshish in the Orient means they were right in thinking Tarshish was in the Orient. It's as wrongheaded as Tim's assertion that because Magellan thought something about Ophir that thing was true.

Chapter 3 has more leading questions and bias against scholars. 

1. With the resources of Ophir and Tarshish being the same, how could an academic even suggest they are thousands of km apart?

Not only is this bias against academics but it is a non-sequitur. It does not follow that if Ophir and Tarshish have the same resources they are the same place. Tim is on record saying India has all the resources of Ophir but he denies it is Ophir. According to Tim the Philippines has the same resources as Ophir. Obviously India is not the Philippines but if it has the same resources as the Philippines then, according to Tim, we should be able to say India and the Philippines are the same place. But that would make no sense because they are different places. Likewise it is readily apparent Ophir and Tarshish are different places if one reads 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles closely. 

The same reading shows it is not true that Tarshish and Ophir have the same resources. 

1 Kings 10:11 And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.

2 Chronicles 9:21 For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.

In question 9 Tim suddenly thinks the Jesuit scholars who helped colonize the Philippines are credible. 

9. Who were the "principal settlers" of the Philippines according to credible Spanish history in 1601, 1627, 1663, and even 1891, among others?

The answer is in the quote above the question. But why is this "credible Spanish history?" So much for  "the end of colonial propaganda in geography." How is it Tim distrusts the Catholics on everything they write, claims they burned Philippine historic documents (not true see here for more), and yet now appeals to them for his own revisionist history project? Here is a rebuttal from Fransiscan Juan Fransisco de San Antonio who wrote in the 18th century. 

For to endeavor to determine the first settlers of these lands, whence and how they came, whether they were Carthaginians, Jews, Spaniards, Phoenicians, Greeks, Chinese, Tartars, etc., is reserved for God, who knows everything; and this task exceeds all human endeavor. And if such study obtain anything, it will amount only to a few fallible conjectures with danger of the judgment, and without any advance of the truth or of reputation.

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803, Vol. 40, pg. 296-297 

And here is a second witness from Gaspar de San Augustin who was an Augustinian missionary and historian in 18th century Philippines.

42. They are so ignorant that they do not have the slightest knowledge concerning the origin of the ancestors from whom they descend, and whence they came to settle these islands. They do not give any information concerning their paganism, which is not the worst; and they only preserve in certain parts some ridiculous abuses, which they observe at births and sicknesses, and the cursed belief that persuades them that the souls of their ancestors or the grandfathers of the families are present in the trees and at the bottom of bamboos, and that they have the power of giving and taking away health and of giving success or failure to the crops. Therefore, they make their ancestors offerings of food, according to their custom; and what has been preached to them and printed in books avails but little, for the word of any old man regarded as a sage has more weight With them than the word of the whole world.

So, question 9 is a fallacious appeal to authority and of no weight. What should be of weight and concern is fact, not the conjecture of the Jesuits or Timothy Jay Schwab.


Chapter 3 also has the following error.

Two question 4s! Someone call an editor. 

Chapter 4 is all about maps.

1. As the First Century shift to Greek in maps is attested by the same in the New Testament, are there actual maps that still identify Ophir in its original Hebrew form? 

Where in the New Testament is there anything about maps? Nowhere! The rest is the same nonsense I have refuted at length. Read it here

Chapter 10 is about how the three kings or wise men who visited Jesus Christ actually came from the Philippines.

12. Why did Daniel call his wise men in the Greek Septuagint Sophos and not Magos in Greek?

What is this supposed to prove or clarify? In the New Testament the word translated wise men is Magos. The word Sophos, which is Strongs's G6480 is used several times in the New Testament to describe wise men. Magos, G3907, is used several times to describe sorcerers such as Elymas the sorcerer in Acts 13:8. The word Magos tells us more about these three men than the word Sophos. It tells us they were astrologers from the East, likely from Persia. This is a terrible question that doesn't offer anything except proof that Timothy Jay Schwab is no linguist. 

Chapter 11 is about Columbus and has the following two questions involving one of Tim's stupidest errors.

4. What Globe/Sphere is identified as the source for Columbus and Magellan in Columbus' and Pigafetta's Journals?  
5. Who paid for and commissioned the 1492 Behaim Globe? 
The answer to 4 is in the fifth question, the Behaim Globe. The answer to 5 is the City of Nuremburg. Tim will say Portugal which is so obviously wrong and rectified by a simple Wikipedia search but Tim doesn't care. He remains entrenched in his ignorance and passes it along on to others. 


Why does Tim continue to repeat this lie? Why is he willing to die on this hill? Is it really that important to his project? It is a mystery. For a complete, thorough, and final rebuttal to this false claim read this article.

Question 9 is rather representative of many of the questions in this study guide.

9. Did Honshu, Japan move 2,700 km South into the South China Sea only to return back to modern Japan (Nippon), or is Luzon actually Luzon? 
This question is based on Tim's teaching that the Philippines is Japan, specifically it is the land Marco Polo called Zipangu. First of all that is completely wrong and you can read about that here. Second of all the question is not only unnecessarily sarcastic and leading but it betrays a misunderstanding of the Behaim map which has a depiction of Zipangu.


Tim thinks this whole area is the Philippines because the islands appear to have the shape of some of the Philippine Islands. Never mind the Behaim globe was made in 1492 long before any European had visited the Philippines. That fact does not matter to Tim. It's the shapes that matter. Question 9, in conjunction with the following questions, is designed to make the reader feel stupid and think Zipangu can't be Japan because Tim has already led them to think so in Chapter 4 questions 13-15.


Look at that! There are two question 15s. Tim needs an editor. 

Also take a look at the first question 15.
why is called Japan by the West when the locals call it Nippon or Nihon?
The answer is simple. Japan is based on the name Cipangu and that name is based on what the CHINESE called Japan!
Marco Polo called Japan 'Cipangu' around 1300, based on the Chinese name, probably ę—„ęœ¬åœ‹; 'sun source country' (compare modern Min Nan pronunciation jĆ­t pĆŗn kok). In the 16th century in MalaccaPortuguese traders first heard from Malay and Indonesian the names JepangJipang, and Jepun.

This is a misleading question and just goes to show that Tim is not interested in truthful history but in pushing his own false narrative about the Philippines. 

Chapter 12 is about Hebrew in Philippine place names and has the following questions. 




3. With chaggiyah literally meaning "feast of Yah" and yan as "Yah's grace," how do you believe this name was applied to multiple sites throughout the Philippines? 

4. If Cagayan referred to a river, as some scholars attempt, why would the name appear on an island without a river at all? 

7. Is it a coincidence that the pronunciation of Igorot is the same in Hebrew "eeg-ge-roht, iggerOt" meaning "letter, epistle?" 

8. Why did American Archeology and Ethnology conclude Igorot law "ranks fairly with Hebrew law?" 

10. When Panay in Hebrew means "front of, overlooking" and pana "before the face of God," is it likely a linguistic association can be inferred

11. When Solomon's navy landed in Ophir, would it not be appropriate for them to identify the plentiful saba meaning "abundant, fill to satisfaction" in Hebrew? 

15. Is it possible that God allowed the name Pili Pinnah as a name for this land which in Hebrew means "miraculous cornerstone" matching its history as the land of Creation? 
Can you see the problem here? "How do you believe", "is it a coincidence", is it likely", "would it not be appropriate?" Those are subjective questions. They do not lead to anything substantial or factual regarding Hebrew being in Philippine place names. Philippines is not Pili Pinnah. It's named after King Philip II and Philip means horse lover. Never forget Tim is not a linguist nor does he wish to be one. 

5:06 We are not linguists nor do we care to be

Lost Tribes Series Part 2F: Decoding the Butuan Ivory Seal - Evidence

The last chapter is titled "End Times Prophecy of the Philippines?" We shall only look at the last eight questions. 


8. How could Jesus (Yahusha) have known that Cebu would call itself the “Queen City of the South” with Iloilo bearing a similar nomenclature?

9. How did he and Isaiah both know Ophir, Philippines would fall and need to rise?

10. Did Jesus (Yahusha) know the geography of the world when He placed the isle of the Queen of Sheba’s origin in the uttermost parts of the Earth?

11. What does it mean to you to “rise up in the judgment” with the End Times generation and “condemn it?”

12. How can a conquered nation be restored as the judges of the Earth?

13. Do the words of Jesus(Yahusha) ever return to Him void? Can His prophecy every fail?

13. How do you believe this will occur?

14. What will your role be in the rising of the Philippines in these Last Days?

15. Are you ready to rise?

Look at that. There are two question 13s! So, that's two question 4s in chapter 3, two question 15s in chapter 11, and two question 13s in chapter 13. Tim really needs an editor. That is more proof there is no God Culture Team.

All of these questions are based on a wrong interpretation of Matthew 12:42


That verse is not a prophecy of the end times. It is a condemnation of the people listening to the preaching of Jesus Christ and rejecting Him. Jesus says the men of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah and the Queen of Sheba heard the wisdom of Solomon. He says the men of Nineveh and the Queen of Sheba will rise up IN THE JUDGEMENT and condemn those who rejected Christ because one who is greater than both Jonah and Solomon had come. 

The rising up of the Queen of Sheba and Nineveh will not be in the last days but IN THE JUDGEMENT. They will not be condemning the beast, the antichrist, or the New World Order but those who refused to repent and believe on Jesus Christ. 

The last question is arguably the most important because it sums up what Tim's whole project is about. It's all about "restoring prophecy" which has nothing to do with Israel but everything to do with the Philippines. The question indicates this study guide is not for non-Filipinos. According to Tim Filipinos will "rise up" in the last days to condemn the New World Order. That is where this study guide wants to lead its users. 

However, if one pays attention to how these questions are worded and does the most basic Bible study and historical research they have to reject this conclusion. The study guide will only accomplish Tim's goal of leading Filipinos into believing his nonsense if they do not do what he says and test all things including himself. Sadly so many of Tim's listeners fail to take the time to fact check him. 

If you didn't notice the front cover has a Fedora floating in the ocean.


It seems this Fedora is so important it appears three times throughout the book on the front and back covers as well as the title page. That's because Tim is equating his historical revisionism project with Indiana Jones. From the back cover:

You are about to embark on the most monumental journey of all archaeological discoveries in this 13-Week Small Group Study by The God Culture, a group of independent researchers. A 3,000-year gold rush documented so many ways it will make your head spin. The mother lode that would cause the likes of Indiana Jones to salivate.

Yes, fiction appealing to fiction. How appropriate. 

Tim has previously said he is working on a textbook to promote his ideas in the classroom. 

2:30:58 But we're working on a textbook. A real textbook. A four year course that will teach, especially Filipinos but people all over the world, the foundation of the Bible which includes the Philippines. Because it includes the Garden of Eden which is here. You don't get a more significant land than that of the Garden of Eden, the very land of creation itself. So, we're working on that project right now and we hope to get that out in time. 

https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2023/02/the-god-culture-kalinga-hebrew-youth.html

If this study guide is any indication Filipinos who take the course will only be dumber and more ignorant thanks to Professor Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture.