For a Better Tomorrow
Resources to serve the Filipino youth are plenty within our community and it is great to know that these resources continue to grow.
Rev. Orlan T. Racacho, full-time ordained minister, and his wife Lucy Bermejo Racacho of the Fellowship Bible Baptist Church have relocated their congregation to 3737 Van Horne Avenue, on the corner Côte-des-Neiges. The two-storey building was the former “Pomeratz House”, a Hebrew school for youth. The building was purchased by some members of the church to better serve for its ministries as well as another space in the building designated to the new Friendship & Fellowship Centre. The centre will be open to serve the Filipino youth to
develop self-worth and character building, focussing on the theme of “Impacting Young Lives for a Better Tomorrow.” The centre will be open every Saturday afternoon with the help of youth coordinator Medianera “Medy” Maningding, a retired military officer.
Pastor Orlan is a psychology graduate, entrepreneur, mental health worker and former director of therapy at the Douglas Hospital. He is also the past president of Filipino Association of Montreal & Suburbs (FAMAS) and past national chairman, United Council of Filipino Associations in Canada (UCFAC). Pastor Orlan was also the recipient of the “Silver Medal Award” in Ottawa for the 25th anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen to the throne in 1977. Mrs. Racacho is a retired registered nurse since 1997 and together their passion for the ministry
and youth has taken them on this path to provide a safe and encouraging place within the community. Their frequent activities include but not limited to regular Saturday Bible studies and Sunday school for all ages.
The services provided by the Friendship & Fellowship Centre will focus on:
1. To promote mental health among the Filipino Youth in our community;
2. To provide guidance and counselling for career opportunities;
3. To promote genuine camaraderie among Filipino youth especially among the new arrivals;
4. To help the new immigrants integrate into the mainstream of Canadian society;
5. To provide a fellowship that will help the Filipino youth develop a wholesome attitude towards their peers, parents and authorities, and
ultimately lead them into a spiritual understanding of divine truth, love and fear of God.
The goal of the centre is to encourage Filipino youth to focus on their academics with a mind on career options; inform and educate them on the consequences of delinquent choices that could affect mental health; and to challenge them to concentrate on positive energy towards constructive and wholesome activities.
The centre will reach out to young newly arrived Filipinos to guide and assist their integration into the community and Canadian society. This is not the first time that Pastor Orlan and Mrs. Racacho have created a youth programme; in the late 1990s, in conjunction with CLSC and Lavoie Elementary School a guidance and counselling program.
The centre will conduct activities such as educational games, social interaction and inspirational dialogue to apply to everyday life and important decision making.
The official inauguration of the church and centre took place on Sunday, November 13, 2011. Mr. Michael Applebaum, borough mayor of CDN-NDG, attended the opening ceremony and assisted to cut the red ribbon.
The first consultative meeting took place on November 26. The topic of the meeting was to discuss how other organizations and associations in the Filipino community can work in the “spirit of baynanihan.” Representatives of other organizations were in attendance: Sophie Toledo, Filipino Nurses Association of Quebec; Al Abdon, FAMAS; and myself, representing both PAMANA ng LuzViMinda and Montreal Pinoy Post. Since the inauguration, progress has already taken place. Amy Anam Manon-og, retired registered nurse, has accepted to be the over-all volunteer coordinator; and Lavoie Secondary School, which has a high volume of young Filipinos, will cooperate with the centre and implement the objectives of the program. The official opening of the centre’s program will be on January 7, 2012.
For more information about the church and centre, please contact Pastor Orlan at 450-466-8711.
