Mike Velarde

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{{Infobox religious biography

| name = Mike Velarde

| image =

| alt =

| religion = Roman Catholic

| institute = El Shaddai

| nationality = Filipino

| birth_name = Mariano Zuniega Velarde

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1939|8|20}}

| birth_place = {{longitem|Caramoran, Catanduanes, Republic of the Philippines}}

| location = San Dionisio, Parañaque, Metro Manila

| title = Servant Leader

| period = 1984–present

| spouse = Avelina del Monte (m.1964)

| children = 4

| parents =

| profession = Real estate developer

}}

Mariano Zuniega "Bro. Mike" Velarde (born August 20, 1939) is a Filipino televangelist and founder of El Shaddai, a Catholic charismatic movement in the Philippines. The movement reportedly has a following estimated between three and seven million members.

He is also the owner of Amvel Land Development Corporation, a real estate company, and Delta Broadcasting System.

Personal life

Brother Mike is married to Avelina "Belen" del Monte{{cite news|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/09/22/08/el-shaddais-bro-mike-presidency-its-my-boyhood-dream|title=El Shaddai's Bro. Mike on presidency: 'It's my boyhood dream'|date=September 22, 2008|publisher=abs-cbnNEWS.com|accessdate=February 19, 2009}} and they have four children:{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} Franklin, Rene, Sherry, and Michael. Velarde's son Rene Velarde, represents the Buhay party-list.[http://dynamic2.philonline.com/pdf_may_2006/pdf_may18_2006.pdf Party List Representatives among richest lawmakers, Manila Standard Today] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030021640/http://dynamic2.philonline.com/pdf_may_2006/pdf_may18_2006.pdf |date=October 30, 2008 }} His son, Franklin, is an investor in the Puyat-controlled Manila Bank.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uFU1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=aiUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2010,10816127 Philippine Daily Inquirer]

His son, Mariano Michael Velarde Jr. was appointed deputy director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in 2019.{{Cite web |last=Esguerra |first=Darryl John |date=July 19, 2019 |title=Son of El Shaddai founder named deputy Tesda director general |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1143758/son-of-el-shaddai-founder-named-tesda-deputy-director-general |access-date=August 11, 2022 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en}} He currently serves in El Shaddai as the assistant servant leader.

Theology

Brother Mike began his involvement with Charismatic Christianity together with the late Russian-Filipino actor-turned-evangelist Ronald Remy who eventually founded the Corpus Christi Community, an Evangelical congregation now known as Lord Jesus Our Redeemer (LJOR) Church. Velarde, having experienced and been exposed to the Charismatic movement, decided to remain within the Roman Catholic Church. {{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} In 1984, he founded the El Shaddai movement{{cite news|last=SYMONS|first=Emma-Kate|title=Preacher Power|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704635204575241740134677222|accessdate=September 10, 2013|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=May 14, 2010}} which has become an eclectic expression of Philippine folk Christianity, the Charismatic movement, and Roman Catholicism.{{cn|date=September 2013}} Velarde remains a layman within the Roman Catholic Church.

His preaching style is no different from typical prosperity gospel-driven Pentecostal televangelists. It promises God's financial and physical blessings to all provided that they remain faithful in attendance to gatherings, giving their tithes and offerings, and obedience. Part of Velarde's practical theology is the use of certain inanimate objects such as handkerchiefs, bankbooks, and umbrellas, which are held aloft during services.

Politics

Brother Mike, over the years, has endorsed political candidates.

In 2022, he endorsed Bongbong Marcos for the presidential candidacy.{{Cite web |last=Bautista |first=Jane |date=February 15, 2022 |title=Bacani slams Brother Mike Velarde for endorsing Marcos Jr. |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1554766/bacani-slams-bro-mike-velarde-for-endorsing-marcos-jr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811153443/https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1554766/bacani-slams-bro-mike-velarde-for-endorsing-marcos-jr |archive-date=2022-08-11 |access-date=August 11, 2022 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en}}