We finally had the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony of our orphan care facility inside the Casa Esperanza of Angels Philippine Mission last, Wednesday, October 23, 2019. The event marks an important milestone for our Orphan Care Program, one of the core programs of our mission in the Philippines.
After years of working through all the regulatory paperwork, constant fund-raising, and the challenges we encountered during the initial stages of construction of the first children’s building of the orphanage, we’ve finally opened our facility to welcome orphaned, abandoned, and distressed children from the community here in Negros Island in central Philippines.
We were fortunate to gain the support of the community early on and the ribbon-cutting event was well-attended by family, friends, and supporters of Philippine Mission, as well as officials from the local government, police, and disaster management agencies.
Most importantly, personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the regulatory government agency tasked with overseeing our operations and procedures at the mission’s orphan care facility, were also in full force during the event.
Elmer Palacio and his wife, who are also members of the church of Christ and are long-time supporters of our mission, came all the way from Cebu Island where they are actively involved in their own evangelism ministry. Elmer opened the ceremonies as he gave the opening prayer, thanking God for the blessing and guidance that helped us reach this important landmark in our mission.
Ron Brown, CEA Philippine Mission Managing Director made the welcome remarks telling the audience of about 150 guests in attendance that the mission is willing to work hand in hand with the community to help, in any way, save orphans and abandoned children, and in improving the lives of marginalized sectors in the community. Watch our interview with Director Ron Brown conducted after the event.
Hon. Greg Zerna, Barangay Captain of Barangay San Isidro (the local government jurisdiction in the area where our mission is located), expressed his gratitude to the founders of Casa Esperanza of Angels Philippine Mission for choosing their barangay for the site of the mission’s facilities and his willingness to work with us in all our future endeavors.
Atty. Froilan Pinili, in his capacity as the official representative for the provincial government of Negros Oriental, highlighted the remarkable pace of construction of the first children’s building of the orphanage. He also noted that the provincial government may be able to share resources and assistance to the mission now that the facility is formally operational.
To see more photos of the Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony, please visit our image gallery.
Finally, Elmer Palacio, who also serves as the President of the Board of Directors of our registered nonprofit in the Philippines, shared some inspirational words about doing God’s work in Asia in his closing remarks.
The event was hosted by Ms. Iris Rubi.
After the remarks, CEA Managing Director Ron Brown and Barangay Captain Greg Zerna, assisted by CEA Activities Director Gigi Brown and other local officials, performed the ceremonial ribbon-cutting at the porch of the first children’s building to mark the formal opening of the orphanage facility.
A brief tour of the first children’s building and the facility grounds was then followed by the serving of refreshments to the guests.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the following individuals and businesses for helping make our Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for the CEA Orphan Care Facility in Tanjay City, Philippines a resounding success:
Annie’s RestoBar
Through their owner Ms. Anita Olis Moran
Shoutout to the owners Mark and Fatima Barot
Coca Cola Beverages Philippines
Thanks to Mr. Ronald Roa, Manager
Rhian’s Food Products
Special thanks to the owners, Engr. And Mrs. Rigberto R. Rotea
The Casa Esperanza of Angels Philippine Mission orphanage facility is part of our mission’s Orphan Care Program. Each of the four planned children’s buildings in the facility is designed to house 16 children and their house parents.
At the moment, one children’s building is operational and staffed by house parents, Renante and Erlyn Dela Torre. Last month, we welcomed the first two orphaned children, siblings Jellian and Albert, to the facility. For those interested in helping support a child in our facility, please refer to the Sponsor A Child page for more information.
A second children’s building now under construction adjacent to the first building is designated to exclusively shelter children (girls) at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking. One of our mission’s core programs, the Human Trafficking Prevention Program, is being run in close cooperation and with the full support of the Save Asian Souls Foundation.
From all of us here at Casa Esperanza of Angels Philippine Mission, a huge THANK YOU! to everyone who supported and encouraged us through all the years of hard work and who helped make last Wednesday’s ribbon-cutting ceremonies possible. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Please visit our image gallery for more photos of the event.