Philippine Partner Church

International Partnership Historical Overview:  MVUUC and Calapayan, Philippines

2005    Backstory: Rev Ellen Livingston celebrated retirement with her second pilgrimage to Transylvania, taking along daughter Katherine Acenas. On this trip, sponsored by the UU Partner Church Council, they learn about newly developing partnerships in the Philippines. Katherine (whose husband David is part Filipino) brought back the exciting possibility to MVUUC, specifically to our own sparkplug Filipina Jackie Albay-Yenney. who leads the developmental research effort.

2007     Board of Trustees acceptance (April 15) of Jackie’s proposal for a Philippine partnership

Congregational Meeting unanimous approval (June 17) of full partnership between   MVUUC and Calapayan  UU Congregation, Negros Oriental, Philippines

2008    Rev Nihal Attanayake, UU Church of the Philippines (UUCP) Faith-in-Action chair, visits

    MVUUC Pathway Project funded (including $800 donation by Renee Oehler)

2009    Additional financial support for culvert and upgrading primitive chapel.

2010    Educational support program launched for Calapayan elementary & HS students

Annual fundraising pitch yields $1200-2000 for the 12-25 children yearly.  (Budget line item varies from zero to $500 to $1000)

2010    July – First MVUUC visit to Calapayan, special congregational trip:

Jackie, Dave, Angela & Lucien Albay-Yenney; Julie Steinbach

Dedication of Calapayan Chapel and Blessing of Pathway led by Rev Rebecca Sienes, UUCP President and daughter of founder Toribio Quimada

2011   March – Rev Ann Schranz to Calapayan via Partner Church Council (UUPCC) Pilgrimage

June – Jackie receives UUPCC Partner of Stewardship Award

Summer – Auction Item Field Trip to Little Manila, West Covina; led by Jackie

October – Julie’s 65th birthday fundraising for Edna Jurolan college scholarship

November – Rev Nihal Attanayake visits, evening presentation & Filipino dinner

2012    February – ICUU Meeting in Philippines: Julie attends, visits Calapayan

August – Knitting Group produces Caps for Calapayan, shipped in balikbayan boxes with special Rummage Sale selections

2013    April  – Auction Item Field Trip to Filipino Town, LA, led by Jackie

July – Rev. Rebecca Sienes visits – evening presentation & Filipino dinner

Special fundraising for UU BUILD dormitory project

August – Knitting Group packing party for Balikbayan Boxes collection  (cont’d 2014-17)

September – Peace Pole dedication of Tagalog panel

2014    July – Rev. Tet Gallardo, Manila, Sunday service & feast; UU-BUILD collection

2015    March 25 – “It’s a Small Wuurld” Annual Dinner celebration of International Partnership

March 31 – Edna Jurolan graduates Central Philippines State University – Hinoba’an:

First college grad in Philippine Partner Church world on Negros Island

Maribel Dana and Julie attend commencement, visit Calapayan, celebrate.

April – Dave and three Appleton members arrive, visit Calapayan and BanayBanay

First guests in UUCP Dormitory; participate in Annual UUCP General Assembly

2016    Tragedies in the jungle:  Jonathan Pata falls from coconut tree, severe injuries, recovery;

Rev Samuel Gino’s 23-year-old son dies of tetanus; special collections dispatched Scholarship funds (May) and balikbayan boxes (Oct.) sent.

2017     Scholarship funds sent, May; Dave visits w/ Chrome book project, June;

balikbayan boxes, September

2018    April – Youth leaders DoniBoy Gino, Margie Diacosa graduate CPSU, Dave attends,

    MV funds salo-salo beach celebration