Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Pasko sa WECA 2013

Pasko sa WECA 2013 was held on Saturday, December 14, 2013 from 6-9:30pm at WECA Conference Room. This year was a record high of 170 sign ups. Master of ceremonies was Malu Razado while Pastor Denise Kroeker shared a short Christmas message about the mother of Jesus, Mary.  Pastor Denise emphasized the importance of obedience to the Lord as Mary did. Dr. Tim Wollin, the team leader of WECA Philippine Missions 2013 did a presentation on this year's 1st missions to the Philippines that include medical-dental services, school backpack distribution, grocery outreach, church ceiling project in Binangonan, Antipolo, Caloocan, and Payatas, and a visit to an orphanage in Baliuag, Bulacan. He further shared the missions' extension by way of awarding WECA Schorlaship grants to 4 post-secondary students in Binangonan, Rizal. Worship songs were led by Mark Yanez and the H2O Band with the introductory song by Julie Ann Villanueva and backed up by kids and Pinoys at WECA of all ages. A piano Christmas rendition by Puyaoan brothers Kevin and Ethan added to the spirit of Christmas.  While attendees were savoring delicious Filipino foods from Lechon (roasted pig) to kare-kare, egado, papaitan, caldereta, adobo, apritada, beef steak, fried chicken, sisig, pinakbet, laing and chop suey, Karilagan Dance Society entertained the crowd with their nostalgic Filipino cultural dances such as binasuan. Door and game prizes kept the night alive which was highlighted by balut eating contest and won by a non-Filipino, Mr. Ross. Community songs concluded the night with Filipino Christmas carols.  The spirit of bayanihan was again observed on clearing up the tables and chairs and cleaning up the conference room and kitchen. Each attendee exited the building down to the parking with extra caution due to freezing rain and each driver had to scrape the ice coating on windshields and glass windows.  Once again, on behalf of this year's Pasko sa WECA committees and the Pinoys at WECA, thank you for your support in keeping this annual tradition a success. Thank you for sharing your cooking skill and the fellowship each one of you has shared during the night.  A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.  Maligayang Pasko at Manigong Bagong Taon sa inyong lahat.

Friday, July 26, 2013

WECA Philippine Missions 2013

West Edmonton Christian Assembly (WECA) Philippine Missions Team 2013 left Edmonton on July 1st via Vancouver, took Philippine Airlines flight and arrived at NAIA 2 past 4:00am.  The team was composed of 19 and later totalled 20 when Loren Eneria also from Edmonton joined the team in Binangonan.  Team Canada was fetched at the airport by Pastors Ed Aquino and Danny de Leon, and Michelle de Leon, better half of Ptr Danny.  After approx. 45 minutes of travel the team reached Hannah and Katie Resort in Binangonan and have to get off at the nearby Petron gasoline station due to space constraint. The team was so grateful with the management (Ptr Eli) and staff of the resort who immediately gave us hands on carrying our baggage into our accommodation.  A good breakfast has been readied by the cook Imelda and Belcy, the resort caretaker. The team started the day sorting out all brought materials from Canada including sports stuff, salvation bracelets, medical supplies, stuff toys, power tools, etc. On that same day, the purchased 2000 New Testament Tagalog bibles and 2000 Gospel of John also in Tagalog, and the 600 school backpacks were transported to the resort from Ptr Ed's house via our new limo - a 24-seater jeepney driven by brothers Derwin & Bitoon who drove us for the next 7 days. Ptr Ed and his team surprised the team with tasty Filipino foods and dessert, Filipino folkdances and harana (serenade).  The following are the activities that kept the team busy: 1). Thursday, July 4th -Medical and Dental services, Vision and Mission Church(VMC), Bilibiran, Binangonan; 2). Friday, July 5th (am) - Blue Whale elderly home in Binangonan/ Ceiling project (VMC), (pm) School Backpack distribution - Jesus First Christian Ministries(JFCM)-Binangonan; 3). Saturday, July 6th (am) Grocery Outreach (JFCM)/ Ceiling project (VMC), (pm) Music Practice (JFCM); 4). Sunday July 7th (am) Worship Service (JFCM) - Ptr Denise on preaching and Abi Spencer on worship, (pm) Leadership and Worship Seminars (VMC); 5) Monday, July 8th (am) Kanlungan ni Maria, elderly home in Nayong Silangan, Antipolo, (pm) School Backpack distribution (JFCM); 6) Tuesday, July 9th Medical and Dental services, Antipolo National High School (Cogeo); 7) Wednesday, July 10th, Medical and Dental services, School Backpack distribution - Pangarap High School (North Caloocan City), Grocery outreach - Payatas Dumpsite; 8). Thursday/Friday, July 11th/12th Baby Anne's Mansion, an orphanage in Tarcan, Baliuag, Bulacan and activities include interacting with the kids, home visits, dental service and shelving project; 9). Saturday, July 13th Discover Manila Tour, a horse driven carriage in Intramuros including Fort Santiago, a shopping at a souvenir shop, picture taking at Rizal monument in Luneta, a lunch and shopping at Mall of Asia, and finally, shopping at Greenhills Tiangge where almost everyone enjoyed bargaining; 10) Sunday, July 14th Team Canada left for Edmonton via Vancouver.  This mission is a lifetime experience.  To all who supported this mission through resources and prayers - a big thanks.  See some photos to view the different activities and to recollect the daily actions.
EMBC Bus Enroute to Binangonan from NAIA

Arrival to Binangonan

Preparing for Day 1

Team Canada was welcomed by Filipino folkdance - Tinkling
 

24-Seater Jeepney

Inside the 24-Seater Limo

Medical/ Dental - VMC Binangonan

Ceiling Project - Vision and Mission Church, Binangonan

Grocery Oureach, JFCM Binangonan
 
Worship Service - JFCM Binangonan

 
Leadership and Worship Seminars, Vision and Mission Church, Binangonan

 
School Backpack Distribution - JFCM Binangonan

 
Medical-Dental Antipolo National High School (Cogeo)

Bible Distribution - Antipolo

 
Medical - Dental, Pangarap High School, Caloocan

Grocery Outreach - Payatas Dumpsite

Shelving Project - Baby Anne's Mansion, Baliuag, Bulacan

Calesa Ride - Intramuros


Calesa Ride at Fort Santiago

Rizal Park

SM Mall of Asia

Departure to Canada


 



 


 
 

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Maraming Salamat Sa Inyong Lahat

The Filipino Lunch Fundraiser was a success.  Thanks to all who volunteered their time and resources on the food preparation and food serving, the band with their music while others are listening and savoring the delicious lunch, and those who supported this cause financially.  We heard good feedback on the tasty foods. Around $4500 was collected for the lunch tickets.  Mission team leader Tim Wollin is extending his thanks and appreciation to all who contributed to this fundraiser.
Wrapping Lumpia even to the wee hours of the morning.
 
Pancit Cooking

Pancit is almost ready


Yummy Caldereta
It tastes good!

Ready to serve

We're ready


Food servers in Barong Tagalog costume
Lunch at the Conference Room

The Band singing Tagalog songs

 

The Food Servers/ Mission Team

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Taste of Philippines

 
Don't forget this Sunday's "Taste of Philippines" mission fundraiser lunch at WECA starting at 10:30am.  Invite friends and relatives and share delicious Filipino foods: Pancit Guisado, Beef Caldereta, and Lumpia (Spring Rolls).  For those who have already purchased their tickets - Thank You for supporting this year's Philippine Missions.
 



Pancit Guisado



Beef Caldereta



Lumpia



Friday, April 26, 2013

A Taste of Filipino Lunch at WECA - June 9, 2013

On Sunday, June 9, 2013 WECA Missions Committee is hosting "A Taste of Filipino" Lunch as part of the fundraising for this year's WECA Philippine Mission which will be conducted on July 3-14 in Rizal and Bulacan provinces. Please support this mission on reaching out those less fortunate through free medical-dental services, feeding program, school backpack giving, church building maintenance, and leadership/ worship seminars.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

2013 WECA Inter-Church Invitational Basketball Games

The 2013 WECA Inter-Church Invitational Basketball Games have been scheduled for May 11th and 18th, 2013.  Filipino churches in Edmonton, AB have been invited to participate with the end of registration on May 4th.  Portion of the proceeds will go to this year's WECA Philippine Mission which will be held in Rizal and Bulacan provinces.  The mission will include free medical and dental services, feeding program, school backpack and bible giving, leadership/worship seminar, church building maintenance and activities at an orphanage in cooperation with local churches and respective municipalities.

Don Moen Concert in Edmonton, April 24, 2013

God Will Make a Way tour of Don Moen with guest artist Laura Story was held at ChristCity Church in Edmonton, AB on Wednesday, April 24, 2013.  It was a wonderful night with Don, Laura and the band with thousand of worshippers singing along.  A lot of kababayan attended the event passionately praising the King of Kings.  Many people's heart were touched deeply by Laura's testimony about her husband's experience and the composition of the hit song Blessings.