Calabrians Main Page
Author: calabrians
Cagayan de Oro City – From April 21 to 24, 2025, Calabrian Children’s Foundation (CCF), together with two other institutions: Just One Touch Foundation of Claveria Misamis Oriental and Fr. Palau Center of Pangantucan Inc., gathered for Summer Camp 2025 with the theme: “Light up your spirit: Ignite friendships and Spark adventure. Little beacons: big hope.” It was held at Fr. Luigi Pedrollo Formation House, Brgy. Lumbia, Cagayan de Oro City.
Annually, this activity is held for children to have a break from their academic studies as they engage into sports, parlor games, quiz bee, and variety show. The goal of this activity is to provide an opportunity where children discover their hidden strengths, make lifelong friends, and create beautiful memories.
Cagayan de Oro City – Emanuelle and Elena Frigo are Italian married couple who stayed in Calabrian Children’s Foundation (CCF) community for nearly two weeks, that is from March 10-22, 2025. They came to Cagayan de Oro City to visit CCF and spend fruitful time with the children.
Emanuelle, in particular, is not new to the mission of the Congregation of the Poor Servants of Divine Providence (Calabrians). His parents are affiliated to the congregation as members of the Calabrian Family. In fact, Emmanuelle had been in the Philippines in the year 2018 and he had his immersion in CCF of that same year. By that time, he was still single and he was together with another Italian youth. They were invited by a Calabrian priest who worked in a parish in Verona, Italy to come to the Philippines and stay for some days in CCF.
Coming for the second time around in the Philippines, he brought his wife, Elena. Accordingly, they got newly married and Emanuelle wanted to introduce to her the reality and the beauty of CCF and the Philippines.
Indeed, their experience in CCF was truly remarkable. They had good memories with the children. They spent time with the children in their tutorial sessions in the evening and they taught them some songs. They also played with them for games in the afternoon.
Furthermore, they were toured around some tourist destinations in Cagayan de Oro City and they went for an outing with the Calabrian priests and brothers in Camiguin where they enjoyed the white sand and the salty waters of Mantigue Island, the cold and fresh waters of Tuasan Falls, the tasty and delicious sea food of the island and many others.
In a farewell program, organized for them in the evening of 21st of March 2025, they thanked the entire community of CCF for their warm hospitality and kindness. They were touched by the simplicity and joyful atmosphere of the community. It was as if they felt that they are truly part of the family. They will carry the love they received as they will travel back to Italy. But they hope to be back in the future.
With tearful eyes, they said, “Goodbye for now, but we will see each other again.”
Cagayan de Oro City – The wait is finally over for five (5) children from Calabrian Children’s Foundation (CCF) who were baptized yesterday, 22nd of March 2025, at San Isidro Labrador Parish, Eco Church, Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City. Fr. Miller John Masillones, PSDP served as their minister in this christening ceremony.
It was October of last year when the preparation for this ceremony started. Their regular week-end catechesis helped them a lot to get to know and understand the sacrament of baptism. This predisposed them and encouraged them to welcome in humility the sacred ceremony that they are going to partake.
Some staff members of CCF and some members of the Calabrian family stood as godparents to these children. Their presence is greatly significant for they stand as their companions in faith and support-system when moments of trials and adversities come.
The sacrament of baptism marks an entry of the baptized into Christian life. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church nos. 1262-1270, the baptized are “incorporated into Christ… formed into God’s People… obtain forgiveness of all our sins… raised to the dignity of adopted children of God… and become a new creation through water and the Holy Spirit.”
After receiving the sacrament of baptism, these five (5) children will then undertake another period of catechesis in preparation for receiving the sacrament of confirmation.
Cagayan de Oro City – In the afternoon of 17th of March 2025, the staff of Calabrian Children’s Foundation (CCF), Inc. gathered at CCF-Kauswagan for a three-hour spiritual exercise. Br. Arnel Gawonay, PSDP, the recollection facilitator, invited them to enter more deeply into the spirit of Lenten season through silence, prayer, and reflection. In his talk, he asked them to go back to their experiences in their families, workplace, and community, and see how God is mysteriously orchestrating His wondrous work in their lives.
Considered as an important part of the spiritual formation of the staff, CCF envisions that their service providers, its staff, are not only well-equipped with human and psychological tools, but they too are spiritually mature to lead their clients to a deeper and more mature relationship with God.
Having been led into the deepest recesses of their hearts, Br. Arnel concluded this gathering with a serene prayer, hoping that they may strengthen their Lenten observance of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Cagayan de Oro City – Lent is a forty-day season in the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar where Christian faithful are invited to prayer, fasting and almsgiving. This event is a period of preparation which ushers Christians to union with Jesus in his passion, death, and resurrection.
Giving importance to this special event, the children of Calabrian Children’s Foundation (CCF), Inc. had a recollection yesterday, 8th of March 2025, at CCF-Home for Girls, Brgy. Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City. Br. Arnel Gawonay, PSDP served as their recollection facilitator.
In his talk, he invited the children to enter more deeply into the Lenten season by giving importance to the value of prayer and silence. He asked the children to reconsider the way they pray especially that, in CCF, prayer is one of its main activities and faith in God is one of its core values.
After the recollection, the children were spiritually revitalized to proceed to the season of lent with faith and devotion.
Cagayan de Oro City – On Ash Wednesday, 5th of March 2025, Staff of Calabrian Children’s Foundation (CCF), Inc. went to the Archdiocesan Shrine of Divine Mercy in Brgy. Ulaliman, El Salvador City to spend some moment of silence, prayer, and reflection as a way to welcome the season of lent. Embracing this opportunity of spiritual renewal, they also availed to the sacrament of reconciliation where God’s mercy is made available and visible.
The season of lent is a forty-day season in the calendar of the Catholic Church which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday. This is a period of preparation where Catholics are invited to embark on a spiritual journey through prayer, fasting and almsgiving, leading them to union with Christ in his suffering and self-oblation on the cross.
The staff of CCF, grateful for this opportunity, lifted up their hands in prayer to the Lord in thanksgiving for this day and the days ahead throughout the Lenten season.
Cagayan de Oro City – In the afternoon of 23rd of February 2025, the children of Calabrian Children’s Foundation (CCF) received their yellow belts in karate-do. This means that the children have already advanced in learning and have mastered basic karate techniques.
To formally receive this significant milestone, a belting rites ceremony was held at CCF-Kauswagan. It began with a eucharistic celebration presided over by Fr. Miller John Masillones, PSDP. Then, a program followed where the meaning and significance of these belts were explained to the children.
It can be recalled that this karate training for CCF children started in the year 2022. It was just then an occasional training session up until it became a regular Sunday schedule. The purpose of which is not mainly that children will learn the art of karate itself, but it is for them to instill the values of discipline, perseverance, and respect.
Indeed, the fruits of this martial art are now being seen in the good manners developed by the children. Thanks to those persons who became instrumental for this achievement most especially to the PSKAI-Kauswagan Karate Martial Arts Club for their unwavering support and dedication. CCF children know that there is still more to achieve, and the best is yet to come!
Cagayan de Oro City – Valentine’s Day celebration is not yet over for Calabrian Children’s Foundation (CCF), Inc. A day after the Valentine’s Day, 15th of February 2025, the staff and residents of CCF went to Valera Camping Site, Claveria, Misamis Oriental for an outing and post-valentine day celebration.
Their day started with a eucharistic celebration held in one of the kiosks of the camping site. Then, without further ado, the children and staff of CCF toured around the site and others went for a splash in their cold swimming pool.
The scenic panorama of the site, the green lush of trees, the chirping of birds plus the cold breeze added extra spice to this very rare experience. It gave them a hiatus from their usual routine in CCF and it served as an opportunity to bond together as a community and renew their commitment towards building a therapeutic community where everyone is welcomed and accepted.
It was still last year since they went for an outing. The children had been asking for this activity many times. Thanks be to God! Their wish is now granted. However, they wish for another opportunity in the future.
Cagayan de Oro City – Last 12th of February 2025, Calabrian Children’s Foundation (CCF), Inc., gladly welcomed Mr. Raiz Ampaso, standard section head of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region X, together with his companions from the same office – Mr. Donald Lim, RSW and Ms. Novelyn Santiago, RSW – and also representatives from other institutions namely, Ms. Pamela Romasanta, RSW from Kasanag Daughters Foundation, Inc., and Ms. Marilou Perocho, RSW from Balay Canossa Foundation Inc. They came to visit CCF-Bayabas and monitor CCF’s compliance with licensing and accreditation requirements.
Fr. Miller John Masillones, PSDP, the executive director of CCF, with the social worker of CCF-Bayabas, Ms. Santalia Sangcopan, RSW, held a conference with them. In this convocation, the visitors gave their observation about the facilities and program of CCF. They also indicated some suggestions or areas to improve which include providing an isolation room and a tantrum room for children and many others.
This event is very significant for it helps optimize CCF’s readiness and capability to shelter children and help them grow holistically to become better citizens of the country. Through this, CCF as well upholds its commitment to grow more as service providers to the poor, abandoned, and neglected children entrusted to their care.
Cagayan de Oro City – Ms. Yolanda Templa, RSW, or “ate Yolly” as she is fondly called in the Calabrian Children’s Foundation (CCF), Inc. retires from service. She was the first social worker of CCF and has worked in CCF since 2003.
In a tearful and meaningful program set for her in the evening of 9th of December 2024, the CCF family extends their warm thanksgiving to her for her tireless and selfless service to CCF. Many children who were once under her watchful care became successful in their lives. Current and former CCF children owe her a lot for everything she has done in CCF.
Fr. Marvin Tadena, PSDP, Fr. Ronaldo Eborde, PSDP, and Fr. Ronnie Lapara, PSDP – then religious brothers who worked side by side with her in the inception of CCF as a licensed social agency – were present in her despedida party. Her relatives and close friends, current and former CCF children, also came to express their support and appreciation. Fr. Miller John Masillones, PSPD, the current executive director of CCF, presided over the eucharistic celebration. In his homily, he points out that just like the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, whose solemnity is celebrated on the 9th of December this year, Ate Yolly has said her ‘yes’ and her willingness to serve and be part of CCF has truly changed her life forever.
