The Man who makes miracles happen by Chat G. Ocampo

Note: first published on March 19, 2002 of under the Features section of Mr. & Ms. magazine with article titled “The Man who makes miracles happen” authored by Chat G. Ocampo.


In the present time when greed and callousness abound and when people seem to be less kind and giving, one man stands out and brings hope to many because of his generosity and understanding. He heals, drives away evil spirits and even makes dreams come true. Indeed, he is an extraordinary human being with an extraordinary big heart yearning to help as many people possible. The man is Anthony Vivero, an entrepreneur and a resident of Parañaque.

He may appear ordinary as his ways are very simple and unpretentious. He jokes around, playfully teases his “patients” about their illness to lighten their mood, talks in plain language which everyone from all walks of life can understand and tell stories to which everyone can relate well. While other faith healers carry an aura of superiority and importance, Anthony gives the impression of an amiable, funny and helpful next-door-neighbor whom you can approach anytime for help. But this unassuming man has powers so great that hundreds of people troop to his residence for his healing or advice. And despite his gifts for healing and prediction which have resulted in a massive following, Anthony prefers to keep a low profile wanting badly to be able to work peacefully so that he can reach out and touch so many lives.

Healing Sessions

Anthony has unselfishly opened his home to people who seek his help. He conducts healing sessions every Wednesday and Saturday and hundreds of people troop to his place waiting for his diagnosis and healing touch. At nine o’clock in the morning, the number of people cannot anymore be contained in his residence that they spill into the street. Many come from provinces and are there beginning the wee hours of the morning. Always, there would not be enough seats for everyone simply because there are just so many people who ask for his assistance.

When the people have settled, Anthony would come out of his house, and being a gracious host, would ask everyone if they have already eaten. Soon, bread and juice are served for free. Anthony would say in jest “kung di ko man kayo mapagaling, at least napakain ko kayo.” Then Anthony introduces himself and explains how he acquired his power to heal. He encourages people to ask questions which he answers extensively. As he answers, Anthony injects funny stories and jokes making everyone laugh. He is a good entertainer. However, one wonders why he does not immediately start his session as a number of people have started to become impatient specially in the morning heat. One of his volunteers reveals that Anthony waits for something – “pagbaba ng power sa kanya para makapagpagaling. Kaya kailangan ng tao maging mapagpasensiyensya lalo pagkat hinihingi nilang gumaling ang kanilang mga karamdaman.”

Then Anthony starts his diagnosis. He is known to have “x-ray eyes” because by merely looking at a person, he can tell his or her ailment. Many of the patients who go there have already seen a doctor but do not tell Anthony about their doctor’s diagnosis. Yet when Anthony tells them what their illness is, they confirm that it was what their doctor said. Sometimes, Anthony would advise the patients to have another check-up because the diagnosis given is wrong. True enough, the patient would then go back to confirm what Anthony said.

After the diagnosis, Anthony would start the mass healing by putting his hand on every person’s head and putting oil in the person’s palm so that the latter, in turn, could put the same on the ailing part of his body. He would bless everyone and then distribute rosaries particularly to those with grave ailments. The morning session usually ends at way past lunchtime. After which, Anthony would take a short break as many people start trooping in again for his afternoon healing session.

How Anthony Acquired his gifts

Anthony would be the first to admit that he is the most unlikely person to receive the power of healing. In fact when the gift of healing was given to him, he asked, “Why me? I am not worth it. I have been bad all my life.” Anthony was given the answer: “I know you better than you know yourself. God sees a person not in his actions but in his intentions behind his actions.”

Anthony discovered his abilities after attending the seminars of the Inner Mind Development Institute founded by Jimmy Licauco. He had a collection of guns which were safely kept in locked drawers but which mysteriously disappeared. What was mind-boggling was that the drawers remained locked and the other more valuable things were still there. After searching the house thoroughly, the guns were still nowhere to be found. Anthony sought the help of a card reader, Beth Cruz who told him that there was a shimmering light behind him and that the “spirits” had taken the guns away. Unable to believe her explanation, Anthony sought the help of a spiritist or medium, who surprisingly gave him the same reply.

One night, while driving home with his wife, he turned on the radio which unexplainably turned in to the station which aired Jimmy Licauco’s program. Anthony heard the lady co-host announce the seminars to be conducted by the Inner Mind Development Institute. Thinking he would find his missing guns or at least get an explaination regarding their mysterious disappearance, Anthony attended the seminars of which he was initially skeptical of. But after trying the lessons and exercises outside the class and finding out that they worked, Anthony began taking the seminar seriously. Soon after, he tried the lessons on healing which learned from the seminar on his sinusitis. What he did was “self-healing through visualization technique – and he got cured! His next patients were the members of his household, relatives and friends. They, too, were healed of their respective ailments.

Shortly after the seminar, Anthony saw a ball of light in his house. He mentally spoke to it asking who it was and if it could show itself to him. The ball of light started to resemble a human form but Anthony could not make out the features. Then the ball of light disappeared. At three in the morning, the ball of light appeared again and revealed to Anthony that he was a healer. He was given the healing prayer which was dictated to him by his guide. He did not write the prayers down but he had never forgotten them.

The following day, he and his household help found a picture of an old man which dropped from nowhere. The old man looked like “Diyos Ama” as many people have observed. One time, the old man appeared to him. Anthony asked what he should call him: “Are you a hermit?” to which the old man did not reply; ‘Impo?’ To which he said no; ‘Ama?’ the old man then replied, “Yes, you can call me ‘Ama’.”

Anthony then asked Ama, “if I were really a healer, who would come to me and be healed? Who would believe me and how would people know?” He got the reply: “We will pave the way.”

After his conversation with Ama, a figure of a woman manifested herself to Anthony ang gently and lovingly embraced him. Anthony could not help himself and cried unabashedly. As he remained in the woman’s tender embrace, she whishpered to him, “Do not worry, we will be there for you.” The next day, the helpers found Anthony still awake and crying as he was overwhelmed by his extraordinary experience.

Anthony’s Generosity

For the food that he serves, the rosaries he distributed and the use of his own facilities, Anthony never charges a single cent. His wife, Sonia, said “it was our decision not to charge people because we really want to help them. We understand that many of them may not have the money to pay because either their illness has caused them to stop working and they have probably spent much for their medical needs. Ayaw na ayaw naming maningil sa may sakit. Anyway, we have a business which covers our needs. More importantly, Anthony’s power to heal is a gift. We did not spend anything for it, unlike medical doctors who spent a fortune for their education. That’s why we want to share with others Anthony’s gift for healing.”

Anthony only asks for donations for his out of town trips to heal the sick. The money is not even used to cover his expenses but for the fare of the volunteers who will assist him. “Pumupunta siya kung saan-saan, nagpapagaling ng tao pero walang hinihingi. Kahuli-hulihang pera niya ibibigay pa niya,” said Bert Reyes, 48 years, from Isabela whose wife Anthony has healed. In fact, Anthony even offers his own vehicle to bring people who do not have their own transportation from his place to the main highway where they can easily get a ride. “Libre na ang panggagamot, libre na ang merienda, libre pa ang sakay,” Sonia said. To this, she does not at all complain. “Masarap kasi talaga ang pakiramdam na nakakatulong ka sa iba. Hindi nabibili ng pera . Maglalakad lang ako, may pupunta sa akin para magpasalamat dahil napagaling ng asawa ko. Ang saya ng pakiramdam. Iba kaysa sa pagtamo ng mga pansariling bagay lamang.”

Indeed, Anthony asks for nothing when he gives favors. “I don’t allow people to do or give anything in return. Instead I ask them to do good to others,” he said. Anthony calls himself merely an instrument, “I am here to serve. I serve people for the Lord,” he said as he pointed to the figurine of Jesus Christ washing the feet of his disciples. “He is my inspiration. Paborito kong tinitignan ang figurine na iyan because it reminds me of my mission which is to serve,” said Anthony.

His Expanding Family

Anthony’s family is unique because they are most unselfish. Their home, which they have opened for people who need Anthony’s healing touch, has lost its privacy. People start coming even before the Vivero household has awakened and use their facilities, occupy their living room and even stream into their dining room. There are people in every part of their house. Indeed, Anthony’s wife is admirable for being so patient and understanding. She moves about her home like all the visitors were family members.

“Noong umpisa mahirap. Nakapambahay ka pa may bisita ka na sa bahay , ginagamit ang banyo mo, halos hanggang sa kuwarto mo nandiyan sila, pero naiintindihan ko. Misyon ito ni Anthony, eh. Natanggap ko na hindi na kami ang priority niya. Kailangan naming magsakripisyo para sa kapakanan ng nakakarami,” said Sonia. “Malungkot minsan kasi nabawasan na ang oras niya sa amin. Kahit oras ng pahinga may tao pa ring lalapit. Nagkakahiwalay pa kami dahil kailangan siyang umikot para manggamot. Pero maganda ring hindi lang pangsarili ang iniisip.”

Indeed with Anthony, devoting more time to healing and helping others, Sonia took on added responsibility in their laundry business and in matters concerning their family. “Masakit pa nga dahil kahit na gusto kong magksama kami, di puwede kasi kailangan ako ng negosyo at ng mga bata. Pero naiintindihan ko. Nagpapasalamat pa nga ako kasi noong una ay hindi naman dating ideal family man si Anthony. Dasal ako ng dasal na sana magbago siya. Pinabait na nga siya ng Panginoon, may bonus pang binigay. Kaya hindi ako nagrereklamo. Kung privacy naming ang kapalit dahil dinidinig naman niya ang mga dasal ko, nagpapasalamat ako ng husto.”

It was not just Sonia who had to make a sacrifice but the entire household – from the children to the household helpers. The children could not use their own facilities for their activities. Anthony’s second child played with his PlayStation with the volume turned off because the noise might disturb the healing session. Even his helper, Boy Bautista, also said he had to wake up early and sleep late because people just kept coming. “Matagal na ako sa kanila, umuwi lang ako ng probinsiya pero bumabalik din. Nakakapagod kasi dito sa Maynila kasi handa ka ng handa dahil may mga tao. Pero Masaya naman kami.” Indeed Boy has no reason to complain because Anthony treats his household helpers like family. In fact, boy was among the first ones to be healed by Anthony. One time Boy had a lot of blood in his stool and Sonia offered to take him to the hospital. He refused because he said “Señior (Anthony) could heal me.” Anthony refused, believing he did not have the power to heal. Boy got Anthony’s hand and put it on his stomach. True enough, Boy was healed. Anthony, for his part felt something stick to his palm from Boy’s stomach. He couldn’t wash it off and only until he rubbed it with salt did it come off.

Anthony’s family even gets extended with friends and volunteers helping out. “May mga natulungan si Anthony na gumaling na pumupunta dito para tumulong kapag may healing session,” Sonia volunteers, “hindi sila binabayaran pero nandito sila, tumutulong lang.” More than 10 volunteers give their time every Wednesday and Saturday to assist Anthony. Many of them, he has helped one way or another. Among them, Bert Reyes said: “Kung di niya mabilis na mapapagaling ang iyong sakit, gagawa at gagawa siya ng paraan para matulungan ka. Medyo mabagal ang paggaling ng katarata ko kaya ni-refer niya ako sa kaibigan niyang duktor na ginamot ako ng libre. Sobra siya kung magbigay. Kaya ako at ang iba pa, tumutulong sa ginagawa niya bilang aming pasasalamat.”

Stories of Miraculous Healing

Many people whom Anthony has healed attend his healing sessions to give their testimony and inspire those who come for healing. Among them is Olive Velasco who was diagnosed as having fourth stage ovarian cancer. “Binigyan na lang ako ng duktor ng three to four months to live. Nag-chemo ako ng apat na beses. Noong ikaapat, sumusuko na ako. Sunog na ang balat ko sa chemo, kalbong-kalbo ako atsaka buto’t balat na. Noong pumupunta ako kay Anthony halos wala na akong pag-asa na gumaling. Noong tinanong ko si Anthony kung puede pa akong gumaling, ang sagot niya ‘susubukan ko.’ Pero alam ko na sa puso ko na gagaling ako,” Olive narrated. “Hiningi ko kay Hesus na pagalingin ako. Sa loob ng limang buwan, pumupunta ako kay Anthony. Pagkatapos noon, bumalik ako sa duktor, negative na ang resulta.”

Olive said that for a long time she did not have her monthly period. But after two years, she suddenly had menstruation which stopped after a few months. “Kinabahan ako, yun pala buntis ako. Gusto ng duktor i-abort ang baby kasi baka daw lumabas na abnormal. Di ako pumayag. Lumabas na normal at malusog ang anak ko.” Olive’s healing was one big miracle. Indeed, Olive and her baby is proof that faith can do more than move mountains – it can make other impossible things come true.

Meanwhile, Mr. Emeterio Lugo was diagnosed with fourth stage lung cancer. He went to see Anthony adnafter one month of constant visits, he felt he was healed. “I got to know about Anthony from one of my employees. I was weak and my lungs were full of phlegm. But every time I came from healing, I would feel stronger and better. After two or three more sessions I will see my doctor again,” said Mr. Lugo.

Still another man, Mang Vicente, was revived when he died from a stroke. Before he had stroke, Mang Vicente’s wife went to Anthony with Mang Vicente’s picture for the latter’s distance-healing. Anthony told her to immediately bring Mang Vicente to him because he could suffer a stroke. Mang Vicente and his wife came the next Saturday and Anthony gave Mang Vicente his diagnosis. He particulary warned Mang Vicente against smoking. Mang Vicente said he would just finish the last two sticks he had. During the healing, Mang Vicente coughed badly and then collapsed. People rushed to help him. After a while, he had no more pulse or heartbeat. One of the patients offered his van and the volunteers carried Mang Vicente to the air-conditioned vehicle. Anthony followed them and put his hand on Mang Vicente’s chest. Mang Vicente regained consciousness and lived to tell that he felt Anthony’s hand enter his chest to give him life.

Olive, Mr. Lugo and Mang Vicente are just a few among the many people whom Anthony has healed. Still, there are those who have told their stories of healing to those who cared to listen. There was one pregnant woman who came to Anthony’s healing session. She did not say anything but she had a thankful expression on her face. Mang Bert said “marami nang natulungan si Anthony na mga mag-asawang hindi magkaroon ng anak. Wala pa siyang playa pagdating diyan.”

Indeed, there are many stories of healing that attending Anthony’s sessions could give one a very pleasant overdose of miracles.

Anthony’s Guide

Anthony’s good friend, Lisa Mata, says that whenever Anthony heals, she sees an old man in white robe with white long hair and white long beard watching him. “Ang amo-amo ng mukha niya,” says Lisa which was also confirmed by one of Anthony’s another helpers, Susan Gastador.

Anthony said he still gets messages from “Ama” and continues to get guidance from him. “If a person wants to be healed, he must have total faith and belief. He must never doubt because for a person truly believes, nothing is impossible.”

Anthony has touched so many lives and has healed countless sick individuals. He has given hope and inspiration to so many who emerged from his healing sessions happier and forward-looking. For his own family, Anthony asks for nothing more. “I just know that my children will do good in life,” he said.

Anthony said if he has a dream, it would be to become a hero. “I want to give my life to others. I want to die fighting, be a warrior for the people…” And Anthony is living that dream.