CFC ANCOP Planning Workshop

Despite the busy January schedule, CFC ANCOP successfully held a planning workshop last Saturday, January 11, 2014, at the Holy Cross High School in Surrey. It was a whole day event where attendees learned and shared their experiences in working for the poor through ANCOP. They discussed their gains and challenges for the previous year and contemplated in setting goals and objectives for the coming period. Moving forward, it was the meeting's aspiration to build an enthusiastic team for ANCOP and to develop a strategic plan of action.

The CFC ANCOP Planning Workshop was well attended by representatives from the West, Central, and East Clusters as well as the Family Ministries.

Rene Garrucho, Overall ANCOP Coordinator for BC stressed the importance of planning and critical thinking to improve program implementation.

Melody Yambao, ANCOP Coordinator for Surrey 3 shared what works for St. Bernadette. Among them is the increased participation of CFC members in various ANCOP programs brought about by their unique organizational structure.

Philip Razon of Surrey 1 who is also Treasurer of the Vancouver Magic Circle, was brought in to recount his ordeals in expeditiously setting up a variety show benefitting victims of Typhoon Haiyan.

Cookie Aytona, Executive Committee member introduced members of the Tessa Beauchamp Foundation which donated funds to ANCOP. The amount was sufficient to build a sixth (6th) house in time for the Holy Cross Mission Team's visit to the Philippines in March 2014.

The house donation was made possible through the Tessa Beauchamp Foundation. Tessa, a Holy Cross basketball player and one of the top in the province, would have wanted to be a part of the Mission Team.  Unfortunately, she succumbed to cancer in 2012. The Holy Cross Mission Team will build the house and dedicate it to Tessa.

Wendy, Tessa's mother, is thanked by Rene Garrucho of ANCOP, after officially handing over the check for the house donation.

Elmer Tangco, East Cluster Head talked on the benefits of immersion.

Henjie San Juan, Central Cluster Head stressed the importance of continuously building the church of the poor.

Rene Trinidad of the Executive Committee proposed fund-raising ideas to the participants.

Mary Ann Marfori of the Executive Committee related development efforts with St. Matthew's Parish about a musical project.

Attendees were divided into smaller groups to discuss in detail the strengths and weaknesses that needed addressing and to recommend action points.

Under the attentive and thoughtful consideration of the overall coordinators, the participants then presented their data to the group.

Gerry Andrada, Chapter Head, Burnaby West

Noel Bucad, Central Cluster ANCOP Coordinator

Paul Atienza, CFC Youth Pacific Area Coordinator

Fe Magno, Household ANCOP Coordinator, St. Bernadette

Rocky Nguyen, YFC ANCOP Coordinator

Edna Garrucho,  Overall ANCOP Coordinator, recapped the salient points of the day's activities and reiterated the need to build an effective communications infrastructure.