Mike Velarde
By Justin | Published | No Comments
Brother Mike Velarde, whose real name is Mariano Zuniega Velarde, was born on August 20, 1939. He is well-known as the leader of a Catholic group in the Philippines called El Shaddai. This group has around three to seven million followers and is known for its lively religious gatherings. Brother Mike is also a popular speaker on TV and is considered a televangelist in the Philippines.
Aside from his religious role, Brother Mike owns a real estate company called Amvel Land Development Corporation and a broadcasting company called Delta Broadcasting System.
Personal life
| Born | Mariano Zuniega Velarde August 20, 1939 (age 84) Caramoran, Catanduanes, Commonwealth of the Philippines |
|---|---|
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Spouse | Avelina del Monte |
| Children | Franklin, Rene, Sherry, and Michael |
| Profession | Real estate developer |
| Institute | El Shaddai |
| Senior posting | |
| Based in | San Dionisio, Parañaque, Metro Manila |
| Period in office | 1984–present |
| Profession | Real estate developer |
Brother Mike Velarde is married to Avelina “Belen” del Monte, and they have four children: Franklin, Rene, Sherry, and Michael. Rene Velarde, Brother Mike’s son, represents the Buhay party-list in Congress and is known as the wealthiest party-list congressman, with a net worth of P30.9 million. Another son, Franklin, is an investor in Manila Bank, which is controlled by the Puyat family and has total assets of P7.57 billion.
Mariano Michael Velarde Jr., Brother Mike’s son, was appointed as the deputy director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in 2019. Currently, he is involved in the El Shaddai Movement, serving as the assistant servant leader.
Brother Mike Velarde got involved in Charismatic Christianity along with Ronald Remy, a Russian-Filipino actor-turned-evangelist. Ronald Remy later founded the Corpus Christi Community, which is now known as Lord Jesus Our Redeemer (LJOR) Church. Despite being exposed to the Charismatic movement, Brother Mike decided to stay within the Roman Catholic Church. In 1984, he founded the El Shaddai movement, which blends elements of Philippine folk Christianity, the Charismatic movement, and Roman Catholicism. Despite this, Velarde remains a layman in the Roman Catholic Church.
His way of preaching is similar to the style of prosperity gospel-driven Pentecostal televangelists. He promises God’s blessings, both financially and physically, to those who faithfully attend gatherings, give their tithes and offerings, and obey. In his practical teachings, Velarde encourages the use of certain objects like handkerchiefs, bankbooks, and umbrellas during services. These practices are familiar in Filipino indigenous and folk religion. As a result, Velarde’s version of Catholic Charismaticism is widely accepted by many Filipinos. Initially, he notes that only “the poorest of the poor” attended El Shaddai’s services.
Politics
Over the years, Brother Mike Velarde has supported and endorsed various political candidates. In 2022, he publicly endorsed Bongbong Marcos for the presidential candidacy.
On television, El Shaddai has been airing since 1992, and it continues to be broadcast to the present day. Additionally, there was a program titled “Mga Himala at Gintong Aral ni El Shaddai,” which ran from 1994 to 1997.
In the realm of films, there is a documentary titled “Bro. Mike’s Miracles are Forever,” released in 2016.
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