October 16 - 31 , 2016 PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY LOCAL NEWS A15 etc .)
• Money Remittance Services
• Referral Services ( travel agency , entertainment package , auto insurance , financial products and services , healthy living products and services , real estate purchase and mortgage , skilled trades services , rewards programs )
• Mutual Help and Benevolent Program
• Financial Literacy Education through a grant from VanCity Savings Credit Union
• Information , Education and Communication : website , Facebook , General Manager ’ s updates and notes to members , regular Cooptalk column in Philippine Asian News Today , occasional education seminars on financial services , healthy living , skills development ( QuickBooks ) participation in Philippine community cultural celebrations , events and network meetings
• Social development programs : camping , out-oftown trips , potlucks , summer bingo and raffles . To cap this brief story of One Filipino Co-operative of BC , perhaps it is timely to say at this point that our co-operative has recently initiated the formation of the FilCo-op One Housing Society whose aim is to :
• provide affordable housing market opportunities for its members as well as for low-income residents of BC ; and
• develop , own , operate and engage into agreement as a non-profit housing operator of a BC Housing Authority facility or a municipal as well as other coop housing providers .
This initiative has progressed from a perceived need to a desire to find out how to fill it . This time , with a track record behind it , OneFilCo-op of BC has stepped into new territory when our co-op ’ s President , with the Board of Director ’ s approval and volunteer consultancy support , initiated the formation of a Task Force on Housing . For about a year now , the group has conducted consultation meetings , research and planning which have resulted in the filing of the registration of the FilCo-op One Housing Society recently .
A new chapter of OneFilCo-op of BC ‘ s story is being written .
In 2009 , we asked ourselves : How can we generate the interest of the Filipino community in the Lower Mainland to take action in the face of the economic recession that was then impacting its members ’ families , jobs , financial wellbeing and social stability ?
It seems we have found an answer in the principles of cooperativism to find a social enterprise that is by , of and for the Filipino community . Many of the initiators and followers of OneFilCo-op of BC seem to be also imbued with the spirit of the following : “ Go to the people ; Live among them , Learn from them ; Plan with them , Work with them ; Start with what they know , Build on what they have ; Teach by showing , Learn by doing ; Not a showcase but a pattern ; Not odds and ends but a system ; Not piecemeal but integrated approach ; Not to conform but to transform ; NOT RELIEF BUT RELEASE .” ( Credo of Rural Reconstruction ).
The One Filipino Co-operative of BC , the first ever Filipino Co-operative Organization in BC was launched on October 31 , 2009 . The Co-op ’ s objective is to enhance the lives of the members , our kababayans , and support one another through cooperative effort or bayanihan . It is founded on the principles of selfhelp , responsibility , equality , democratic governance , focus on services to members , equitable distribution of benefits and earnings , and commitment for community growth and development .
H A P P Y A N N I V E R S A R Y COOPERATORS !
Open to all our kababayan to join ! For more information and inquiries , please call 604-780-2061 or email filcoopbc @ yahoo . ca . You can visit the website www . filcoopbc . com . Facebook : Filipino Cooperative
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