et’s touch on expulsions which has become quite common these days, in fact almost as if we anticipate it coming after every worship service and it wouldn’t be complete without it. If the circular starts with, “The Office of the Executive Minister …” chances are you have one family who made the oversight of uttering the three letter word, “Why?”.
Actually I also made that mistake a few months ago. I posted on my real FB account some words of encouragement to a close friend who fell grace from the Administration. The only time I made such a comment. This only proves that not only the defenders are being monitored but all of the members particularly the Officers or Maytungkulin. In short I was asked, or more appropriately, instructed to execute a salaysay of my loyalty to the present Administration and that I would not side with those commenting against the Administration. Initially I was deeply insulted but after giving it much thought, what the hell, I made that salaysay and asked our Pastor if I needed to take a picture with the OWE sign and T-Shirt to boot, or if they wanted me to have the thumbmark tatooed on my forearm. They must have sensed my sarcasm and irritation so much so that they assured me while reading my salaysay, “Ok na po ito Ka ****, ok na po ito.” I have deactivated my FB account since then.
Going back to the Pagtitiwalag issue. Here is the formal process that anyone will have to go through before being expelled.
First, there will have to be a written report or salaysay from the accuser whoever that may be on the violation supposedly committed by the respondent. No verbal accusation is honored here, it has to be written and signed by the accuser. The report is usually addressed to the Pastor, Katiwala ng Purok or Grupo. (So, in short if there is no written report, there is no violation. I guess this explains why Jun Santos’ or his children, or even Tumanan’s children continue to remain favored in this Administration)
Next, the respondent is confronted in the presence of the accuser to ascertain if the report is accurate. If the respondent denies the accusation, the inquiry extends with additional witnesses to prove or disprove the allegations. This process is handled by the Pastor and Pamunan of the locale. All additional witnesses submit their salaysay on the issue.
After everything is considered, evaluation is conducted with the Katiwala ng Grupo where the respondent is a member, the Katiwala ng Purok, the five Pamunuan, and the Pastor. They make the final evaluation, conclusion, and recommendation to the District Office. The final letter of recommendation is prepared and signed by the Pastor, 5 Pamunuan, and the Kalihim ng Lokal.
That basically concludes the process. But if that is the process, how was this “express expulsion” conducted? I’ll confide to you something not many are aware of. Would you believe if I tell you that all those express expulsions if you check with the locale, you’ll find that all the paper works are in order? How could that be? Well, its like this. There is such a thing as “documents to follow”. The expulsion is immediate as advised by the District or Central Office and the Expulsion Circular is read in all the locales concerned. Then, the District Office instructs the corresponding locale to prepare all the documents related to the case including the final recommendation for expulsion signed by the Pastor, 5 Pamunuan, and Kalihim ng Lokal with dates retroactive. So in effect, the District Office or Central Office free themselves from any liability as the recommendation duly signed by the corresponding parties came from their local chapters. For fear of being disfavored by the Administration, the Pamunuan sign the letters of recommendation together with the Kalihim ng Lokal confirming the legality of the expulsion. As the saying goes,“Ginigisa sa sariling mantika”.
So what is real now in the Church we hold dear? Is it still sacred as we were taught to be? Where is the love, the compassion that separated it from the rest of the Churches in this world?
I remember a time during the evaluation of one former deaconess let’s call her Ka Menang, accused of “living-In”. She is already in her late 80s, a widower to a former deacon living off a pension. It so happened that she came close to another widow Ka Romy, also in his late 80s, after the death of her husband. Both had no children. Ka Romy was indoctrinated and became a member of the Church. And since both were childless they decided to live together in a small make-shift house in a squatters area. We advised them to get married first but Ka Menang was reluctant because she would then be deprived of her monthly pension – the only means of livelihood available for them. So during the evaluation of her case it came to a point should we recommend her for expulsion for “living-in” which is a violation of Church procedure.
I asked my co PDs, “Ano gagawin natin, patitiwalag ba natin sila? Ano bang kinatatakot natin? Ano, baka mabuntis? Ilan taon pa ba ang nalalabi nila sa mundo sa tingin nyo? Baka mauna pa ang lapida nila bago bumaba ang disisyon ng Distrito sa tiwalag nila. Mahalay ba ang pagsasama nila sa paningin nyo? Kung ako ang tanungin ninyo, baka hindi ko masikmura tignan silang hubad.” Of course this was a closed door discussion. But to me, I would rather just let them be. With no children of their own and the remaining happiness being experienced by the two for the remaining few years of their lives, I believed we had no right to take that away. In ending, I said to my co PDs, “Pabayaan natin Diyos ang mamroblema sa kanila, huwag na tayo.”
Kapatid,
Sa pagkaka alam ko po, hindi marapat na magsama ang isang babae at lalake kung hindi po kasal. Wala po akong alam na hindi na kailangan pang magpakasal ang dalawang kapatid na may karapatan naman kahit sila ay matanda na o kahit sr citizen pa.
Bilang maytungkulin, hindi naman po tayo ang magpapasya kung sila ay ititiwalag o hindi. Ang tungkulin lang po natin ay mag ulat, lalo na kung alam natin na labag ito sa aral na itinuturo sa atin.
Ang kasalanan po, walang pinipiling edad… at kung wala tayong ginawang aksion ukol dito, tayo po bilang maytungkulin ang nanagot dito.
Salamat po at nawa maghari ang pag ibig, kapayapaan at kapangyarihan ng Ama sa loob ng INC.
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May katuwiran ka at maganda naman ang sinulat mo. Pero alam mo ba na depende kung sino ang pamunuan, destinado o kung may koneksiyon ang nagkasalang kapatid? Maraming mga kapatid na babae ang buntis na nang ikasal. Kadalasan nga alam ito ng pamunuan at destinado pero pinagtatakpan lalo na kung malakas ang pamilya ng babae. Ako mismo may alam na anak mismo ng Pangulong Diakono ang buntis na bago ikasal. May kilala rin akong isang diakono na may ka-live in o kabit sa kabila na may ibang asawa (hiwalay). Ang ginawa nitong diakono ay pinag-doktrinahan ang kabit at naging kaanib. Dekada na inabot ang relasyon na ito at batid ito ng marami sa lokal. Iyon nga lang mayaman itong diakono at lahat na naging destinado ay dinadaan niya sa padulas at tulong material. Kung ito man ay tutoong tulong o para ipagtakpan ang kanyang bawal na relasyon ay ewan ko.
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This cruel act of Marlex Cantor (I wouldn’t call him “Brother” by this regard) reminds of a North Korean prison camp escapee Shin Dong-hyuk, who reported his own mother and brother to the prison guards of planning to escape not only because it was his obligation, but he also believed that he would get more food by doing so. He deeply regretted doing it after his escape in the South.
This is an excerpt from his interview:
Anderson Cooper: You reported your mother and your brother?
Shin Dong-hyuk: Yes.
Anderson Cooper: What did you hope to get out of reporting your mother and your brother?
Shin Dong-hyuk: Being full for the first time.
Anderson Cooper: More food?
Shin Dong-hyuk: Yes. But the biggest reason was I was supposed to report it.
Anderson Cooper: Why was Shin tortured after ratting out his mother and brother?
Blaine Harden: The guard who he ratted out to did not tell his superiors that he got the information from Shin.
Anderson Cooper: So the guard basically was trying to claim credit?
Blaine Harden: Yes.
Shin Dong-hyuk: My mother and brother, if I could meet them through a time machine I would like to go back and apologize. By telling this story I think that I can compensate, kind of repent for what I did.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/north-korean-prisoner-escaped-after-23-brutal-years-15-05-2013/
At least Shin had regrets later on in his life. I’m not sure about Marlex.
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First of all, with all the writings posted in this blog and several disagreements with the church administration be it policies and decisions being made these days after EGM’s passing, I would like to ask our dear brother author WS why he still remains as PD at his locale. A brethren or ordinary officers who have mixed feelings or emotions already find it very hard to go on with their duties under the current controversial leadership, what more the head deacons? Perhaps like other officers who are outcast and treated differently after stepping down from office, our dear WS could be on the same boat. Just go on with the flow of the river and hold on to the office title.
In one of AE’s recent articles, expulsion is now intended to instill fear and even outright black mail. Having indoctrinated that only those inside the church would be saved comes Judgment Day, membership has become a must. Many are constrained to remain in the church despite frustrations, doubts, lack of respect and obedience at the current leadership. They don’t care if they miss some worship services, give token offerings, preform their duties half heartedly as long as they remain in the church. However, are they fooling and deceiving themselves? They’re taught that failure to perform to the standard set by the church administration is itself committing sin. Not totally performing what God requires is a sin so they’re not assured of salvation. Why not step down and have peace in your heart and in yourself? Why care what they say? It’s God Who knows what’s in your heart.
Unlike the Philippines, I think announcing expulsion during the worship service is not being practiced in other countries simply because a member could sue the church for human right violation. If the member is humiliated and his honor affected by the announcement, he could take legal action against the church.
During one of lowest moments, I asked myself what if INC is not the true church after all. That it’s not true this is the church where all can attain salvation. If this is just an ordinary church like the others and it all comes down to one’s direct relationship to God, then how many years of services, financial contributions did I waste? I could have just simply be in another religious group or have a relationship with Jesus and God. Church is just a money making station to fatten the pockets of the ministers all the way up to the top.
Fortunately and unfortunately, I’m still a member.
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Dear Mario, like you said, fortunately or unfortunately we are still members like so many out there continuing with their regular chores inside the Church and under the present Administration. Silently complaining but still maintaining membership with the Church. Their faith is based basically on the premise of “to each his own” or in other words sila ang mananagot sa pagkakasala nila, basta kami ay magpapatuloy sa aming gampanin which is in a sense correct too. But like you and I we both have our own conviction and interpretation on the issue. But mine is on a more practical aspect. In warfare, the more you know how the enemy thinks and implements policies, much more better from our point of view. That’s why we have what we call DPAs (Deep Penetration Agents). They mingle with the powers to be, gain their trust, and in so doing, gather sensitive information for the good of the cause. This way we are more effective. Any organization is more apt to destruct from the core rather than from its enclosures where it strengthens its hold. If you study history, ours included, governments were not toppled overnight. Great amount of Intelligence work were involved to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the foe before the actual uprising and subsequent fall of that state.
And one more thing dear Mario. X-men Apocalypse is coming soon. It’s a great movie! Give yourself a break. Life is short. Take care 🙂 .
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Speaking of DPA or Deep Penetration Agent, I know you were once with NICA and fully familiar with such. Am I to understand that you’re a PDA at your locale occupying the PD position? PD stands for Pangulong Diakono not Penetrating Deep 🙂
I’m also sure you’re familiar with counter-intelligence or those who spy on another comrade. I think the church administration has placed lots of counter-intelligence brethren all around domestically and abroad. They can be found everywhere…locale leadership to spy on another PD like you, choir group, Buklod, Kadiwa and who knows even Binhi. Those kids could be trained early at CWS. Binhi vs Binhi. Why did we reach such a stage where one spies another? There’s no trust anymore. Anyone is a suspect. I hope there’s one PDA at Sanggunian but am sure it’s not Ka Jun Santos. 🙂
Having trained in intelligence work, have you found out who around you is spying on you? He or she could be your closest fellow officers and friends. Watch your back brother.
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Oo naman. Pastor namin. Pinainan ko kinagat naman, huli siya. Ang stilo kasi dito bro kelangan normal kilos mo. Minsan bira ka sa Admin sabay bawi, bira uli, bawi. Para wala silang duda sa panig mo. Ang importante, mahal ka ng mga kapatid sa lokal at kahit wala ka sa harapan nila, pag may nagtanong sa kanila, susuportahan ka nila. Importante yon.
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Another reason to remain in the Church despite disagreeing with what is being done, is precisely because of our last lesson. I disagree with what the administration is doing, but I wholeheartedly believe in the teachings, including loving the brotherhood. As long as I can remain in the Church, I can give words of encouragement to those who are growing weak. I have no doubt a day will come when I will be expelled, but until that day comes I will remain, and I will try to strengthen those who need it. For one day they will be told to not talk to me at all, and then what can I do for those I still consider my brethren?
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I commend your faith. However, allow me to remind you that disagreeing with the church administration or not in unity with it is in itself committing sin. It’s even a sin of the Spirit meaning unforgivable. I’ve indicated this in the past and allow me to reiterate that there are two types of sins: Sins of the flesh and sins of the Holy Spirit. Sins of the flesh are those stealing, getting drunk, killing, raping an innocent girl which WS said the brother was expelled. And the expelled brother could return to the church because it was a sin against flesh. Sins against the Spirit are eating “dinuguan”, marrying non-members, not being united with the church administration or rebelling against the church. Therefore, you may still a member but is not assured of salvation.
What you possess is just the membership your name being registered.
This is where the danger of keeping silent to the church administration’s wrong doings.
In order not to commit sin against questioning the leadership’s actions and decisions, many like you just keep silent as long as they remain in the church believing that they can be saved. This is what I see to Ka Tenny’s and other family members’ predicament is. They were perceived to have rebelled against the Executive Minister and the church administration. They have committed sins against the Spirit. If we follow the logic based on the above explanation, they can never return to the church because they committed sins against the Spirit. I think we will only know their fate comes Judgment Day.
Last but not least, expulsion comes in two ways: Being expelled by the church or the brethren expels himself. What do we mean by “brethren expels himself”? It means a brother or sister who becomes cold; not regularly attending services, offended in giving offerings, etc. until one day he or she completely is not heard or seen anymore.
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I too is in the same boat as you. There are times I would like to stand and walk out then I remember, who will bring those brethren to church? Who will pick and drop them off after the worship service. Two of them are frail. pagsamba na lang ang kaligayahan. Tapos walang masakyan, Ipinakiusap na nga lang sa akin ng PD namin. Paano na ang mga sakop ko? Many are losing faith and hope. Its when they see the genuine and sincere care that we bring to them that keeps them going. But then I feel my time will come. I just pray that before that comes, God will extend his hand and fix these issues. I think its not too much to ask to bring us back to kind of service we have in the past.Glorious in praises to God, full of the holy spirit, where we get out renewed and strengthened in our faith.
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“many like you just keep silent as long as they remain in the church believing that they can be saved” That is an awfully big assumption. Though your bias is very clear now, I will still respond to you comment.
Perhaps it is a sin to disagree with what the administration is doing. However that can put anyone in to quite a predicament. On one hand the administration is telling us that we should be united in our worship to God. I don’t disagree with this at all. I fully support the administration on this. However in practice, you can go to different locales, and some locales will allow you in after the worship service has started, others will not. Some locales treat the nursery as an extension of the sanctuary, and others do not. So in action the administration does not show that we should be united in our worship to God. This has been brought up with deacons, ministers, and letters written to the district minister and higher, but to no avail.
So am I sinning if I support what the administration says but not what they are actually doing? Or perhaps I am sinning if I support what they are doing, which means I don’t agree with what they are saying. I for one am going to support what they are saying, because what they are saying is what the bible is telling us. The locale minister even agreed with me when I recently brought this up with him that we should follow the rules.
So I guess in response to your comment that is a sin, does that mean to not sin I must support the administration that we should be united in worship to God, and support their actions for us to not be united in worship to God?
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There are certain things you can do while still in. I agree with Bro William. Your responsibility to God as an officer is brethren under your care. When members depart certain strict religions (such as Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses or INC), they often become atheists/agnostics and that is what we don’t want; that personal relationship with God and Jesus is critical. There are other things you do as an overseer that go outside the realm of the Church Administration like when the civil rights of one of your group members has been violated.
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WS, kung minsan ang tawag sa mga spies ay mga balimbing, doble cara. May mga iba diyan grabe ang pagtatanggol sa Tagapamahala iyon pala kabaligtaran sa sariling tahanan o kung kasama ang mga taga sanlibutan. Hindi ako magtataka kung napasukan na tayo dito ng mga spies. Kunwari “defender” o kakampi iyon pala inaalam kung sino talaga tayo. Kung ako, mahirap ninyo akong makilala. HIndi ninyo alam kung nasa Pilipinas o nasa ibang bansa ako. Hindi ninyo alam kung talagang kaanib pa ako o wala na sa loob. Hindi ninyo alam kung ano ang plano ko at gagawin.
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Yes, it works both ways. So you do the best you can. We’re the good guys di ba? And the good guys always win. As Yoda would say “Be with you, may the Force be.” :-).
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There was once a great spy of the Mossad, essential for winning the 6-Day War of Israel. His name was Eli Cohen
stay and be like Eli Cohen my dear brothers. Victory be with us.
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Ka William, being a PD on your lokal, sabi mo nga “kelangan normal kilos”. It’s a “show”, dapat kasang-ayon ka nila, Pose dito, post doon. Whatever! Palabas nga eh.
But, have you (you probably did) signed any of these express expulsion documents? Have you spoken to those brethren truthfully?
Right now, I am a PD myself…. and this is excruciatingly painful. Like a physical stab in the heart.
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So far, expulsions that have come across my table are the usual. No express … yet. Except for one I forgot. One of our brethren, a tricycle driver raped an innocent girl and was caught. He was immediately expelled and all documents pertaining to the expulsion followed.
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Was the girl raped a fellow member? Like what I earlier explained, there are two kinds of sins: Sins against the flesh and sins against the Holy Spirit (kasalanan sa laman at kasalanan sa Espiritu). Since the brother committed a sin against the flesh, he has the chance to be reinstated in the church. Maaari siyang magbalik-loob.
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Ka William, I sent an anonymous message to our brethren who were expelled from our locale, but they went into hiding and I cannot reach them nor cover for them anymore. I have to do what I need to do – to save myself from being exposed. I have to retain my duty. I pray to God endlessly for forgiveness, but that was one of the saddest day of my life.
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Check this out:
https://thecorneliustheory.wordpress.com/2016/05/19/i-weighed-the-church-but-found-wanting/
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Correct me if I am wrong, is Mario a MINISTER pretending to be a Defender?
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I’m not a minister but a former deacon. I stepped down years ago. Even before EVM took over, I couldn’t swallow what I witnessed not just in my locale but other locales as well. If it was bad during EGM’s time meaning ministers and high officials were already bad, it’s much worse this time under the new leadership. Why should I pretend to be a defender? WS and I share the same opinions and positions. The only difference between us is that he’s still a PD while I’m no longer a deacon. I’ve been asked to return but if I do I would only be committing more sins. It’s only in this forum that I spit put my frustrations with the church and some corrupt ministers and that include EVM for condoning them. Around the brethren and others, I don’t say much. You may ask why am I still a member…same question can be ask to WS and other disgruntled officers and brethren.
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Guys let’s not be hasty incfromtheedge. And Mario is right…. a lot went on under EGM’s nose even 20+ years ago. Backstabbing in the ministry is nothing new.
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2000/aug2000/127803.htm we get reminded by ADD and some Catholics about this incident.
The other thing is that sometimes you can do more on the inside. Like what The Medium said.
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To Disgusted, thanks for your kind words. The truth is, many feel the same way as we do but are afraid to speak up. That incident wherein many were tortured and killed gave a black eye to INC in those days. If Duterte has Death Squad, INC has too. There’s no denying and if any minister, officer or member denies INC has liquidation (death) squad, tell them BS. A group that’s organized to protect and defend the church is not wrong per se. Church history has the Knights Templar. It’s when they abuse and protect some corrupt ministers that’s wrong. The church had several incidents in the past where justice was served for harming and killing brethren. Those old timers like our author WS would tell you about the Bagong Bantay incident. Many brethren not only were persecuted in the past but were physically harmed and killed. That came about the so called “INC squad”. BTW, Duterte knows about INC’s squad. He could have even copied it from INC.
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Off topic:
The election has just ended and all the senatorial candidates endorsed by INC won except for two, Leila de Lima and Kiko Pangilinan. De LIma’s non endorsement was expected but not Pangilinan who was always supported by the church since he started his political career. Can anyone tell me why INC did not endorse Pangilinan this time?
The reason could be far serious than what people know. Imagine, the church endorsed a leftist, Risa Hontiveros but not Pangilinan who’s always been close to the leadership since the time of the late Ka Erdy.
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I heard in net25 that there was a time — pangilinan did not agree or vote yes to a certain bill that is need to be pass.. Something like that.. Maybe thats why they dont endorse pangilinan again.
But i glad he won! Haha i only vote two senators pangilinan and de lima.
Bro, do u mean that once a member marry a non member then expelled, will that member will have a questionable chance in the day of salvation?? Even that member able to convert the non member husband,wife then they become inc member again?
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Bro. Daniel, thanks for your feedback. What I know is that Pangilinan’s wife Sharon Cuneta is a close friend of Beth Manalo. Sharon was even one of the bridal sponsors of Beth who I think is married to Albert Albert (wonder if he’s related to singer Joey Albert). Since Beth was among those expelled by EVM together with Ka Tenny and other siblings, Sharon could have shown her sympathy to Beth which EVM perceived to be siding with Beth. This is just a speculation, though.
Church doctrine forbids a member to marry a non-member which is considered unbeliever. The church uses the bible literally as basis of this teaching. We always hear of the lesson “How can darkness and light be together”. Worse, this is a sin against the Spirit therefore unforgivable, at least this is what the church argues. Will you be saved if you marry a non-member? Honestly, I don’t know until the day of Judgment.
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Bro. Mario and Daniel, FYI po, Sister Beth Manalo is not expelled, and her husband Albert Albert is actually a cousin of Joey Albert.
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BTW, how’s Erich Gonzales, Ka Daniel?
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Bradpeet, thanks for the info. I wonder why Ka Beth is not with the rest of the siblings who were expelled. Did she also turn against her own mom and siblings by siding with EVM? Before Albert Albert, Ka Beth was being courted by the late matinee idol Joel Alano, a brother who died at a very young age.
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The instances of innocent active members (and even OWEs) being expelled merely for living in the same house as the so-called “violator” (if you could call it that) are getting more frequent.
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