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