The Minister of Bayith HaShem Messianic Ministries is Maximiano Maximo Tuason, Jr., also known by his nicknames “Nonong” (little boy) or “Max”. He was born on the 10th day of May in a small town of duck-raisers – Pateros, Rizal (now Metro Manila) – of his mother, Emilia P. Maximo, and father, Maximiano De Borja Tuason, of Chinese-Filipino descent (son-tua, meaning “great or big son”).
Max took his college education at the University of the Philippines (U.P.), where he earned 151 units, more than those required for a degree in Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service. He is a graduate of the Managers Course at the U.P. Institute for Small-Scale Industries. Writing fiction while still a student, he won a Carlos P. Romulo Award for the Short Story. In 1965, he received an Asia Foundation fellowship to the Silliman Writers Workshop in Dumaguete City and the first U.P. Writers Workshop in Baguio City.
He was drafted into the advertising industry, where, in less than ten years, after garnering many local and international awards, he was named one of the “Ten Most Creative Writers in Philippine Advertising of All Time” by the Creative Guild of the Philippines.
He became a member of International Mensa, based in London, United Kingdom, in 1983, and served as secretary of Mensa Philippines for several years. In 1985, he was appointed Mensa representative in the Sultanate of Oman.
Nonong put up Market Placers, Inc., a non-traditional media agency, as well as Magic Eye, an advertising photography studio. He also operated a duck farm and a salted egg factory intermittently, whenever conditions were favorable.
He set up two non-profit organization: Media ng Masa, Inc. (development communications) and Seed Jar Relief Association, Inc. (holistic health).
Responding to divine intervention, Nonong was baptized by the Taberah World Mission Church of Korea and became a born-again Christian in October 1992. He trained for the ministry at the CPA (Calamba Pastors Association) Bible School, Assemblies of God School of Ministry (AGSOM), and the International School of Theology-Asia (ISOT-Asia), where he graduated with a certificate in Foundations for Christian Leadership (FCL). He has also earned units leading to Master in Ministry from the Trinity Bible College and Seminary – Philippine Extension. He was ordained a minister on June 5, 2001, by the bishop-chairman of the Ordaining Council of Christian Ministers in the Philippines (OCCMP).
Nonong works part-time with the U.P. Alumni Association (UPAA) as Communication Consultant and was editor of the U.P. General Alumni Homecoming Yearbook twice (2009 and 2016).
He has six children, four sons and two daughters, namely: Maghiar De Borja, Maximilius Tibur, Mikhael Maximian, Maharia Emily, Maranatha Yahshua, and Melita Eloi.
