Filipino Evangelical Churches in Canada - Our Beginnings

It had been a blessing to be a part of the Beginnings of the Filipino Evangelical Churches in Canada. 1970's was a year of influx for a lot of Filipino Professionals. During this decade Filipino Nurses arrived in most major cities of Canada. My own odessy started in Montreal in mid 70's. Then in the fall of 1976 I moved to Toronto.

TORONTO

First Filipino Baptist Church in Toronto
Under the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches of Canada

This is the first filipino work in Toronto. It started with a youth Bible Study in a School in Jameson . The leader of this group was Glenn Diel. From this group, a Sunday School for Filipinos was organized in High Park Baptist Church and later on the First Filipino Baptist Church was organized in 1977 with Pastor Godfrey Catanus as it's Pastor. We moved our services to Bonar Parkdale Prysbeterian Church and then in 1979 we purchased a building owned by the Salvation Army in Lippincott St. From this beginnings a number of Filipino Churches have followed. These are some of the people involved in the start Ramon Zerrudo, Alex and Rosie Pacis, Paul and Aleli Narvaez, Oscar and Norma Castanos, Vivian Godoyo,Ging Bacarissas, Anita and Conny Matias, Tod Ramirez, Mario Lopez, Bolivar family,Lyn Soriano, Edna Santos, Naval Family, Romy Manzo, Mario Lopez, OT, Bondoc family, Edna Santos, Hortillosa family Sherryl and Vic, Sonia, Lloyd McDougal, Myra Gualberto, Castelvi family,Albert and Luningning Mendoza, Elsa Cambil,Edralin sisters etc.

VANCOUVER AND SURREY

Filipino Baptist Church ( Fleetwood International Church)
Surrey, BC
Under the Baptist General Conference

When I arrived in Vancouver in January, 1981 there was already a Filipino group meeting in a basement of an apartment complex in Boundary Rd. , the Filipino Christian Fellowship. This group was headed by late Pastor Carlos San Luis. Members of this fellowship are from Surrey and Vancouver. In 1982, the Surrey group organized to form the Filipino Baptist Church with Pastor Carlos San Luis and the first meeting place for worship was at Cedar Grove Baptist Church. The rest of the filipinos in Vancouver joined the Jasper Crescent Baptist Church which later renamed themselves to Grace International Baptist Church. It was at this time that Grace International called Godfrey Catanus as their pastor and then later on Dr. Luis Pantoja.
The Filipino Baptist Church in Surrey purchased a lot near Fraser Highway and we built our Church Building. The building was completed in late 1984.
Prominent names during the beginnings of the ministry in Vancouver : Sanidad family, Domingo family, Alex and Beverly Canete, Jess and Luz Mendoza, Doo family, Gilbert and Luz Barlit, Villanueva family, Pastrano family, Kuya Joe De Guzman and Ate Lourdes, Malinis family, Jordan family, manang Carmen, Cynthia and Ellis Natividad, Anolin, Ferdie and Leila Chata, Madrid family , Lonzon family, etc.

MONTREAL

Snowdon Baptist Church Filipino Fellowship / First Filipino Baptist Church
Under the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches of Canada

I went back to Montreal in August of 1985. This is the time the next influx of Filipinos in Canada. Most of the new arrivals are filipino Care Givers from Europe. In September of 1985 I met Marlyn Ugaban and Lolit in a Christian bookstore in Guy St. They told me that they have a Bible study group meeting in an apartment in Plamondon. I eventually took the leadership of this group. We started a Sunday School Class in Snowdon Baptist Church in October 1986. From a group of 13 ladies we have grown in number in Snowdon. This led to the formation of the First Filipino Baptist Church in 1992. When I left Montreal in 1991, Bro. Rod Tenorio who is now a Pastor of Snowdon Baptist took over the leadership. The First Filipino Baptist Church has Dr. Vic Gavino as their leader. They later called Pastor Gonzaga.
Prominent names in Montreal, Cauton family, Ate Rose, Ochinang's, Raboy family, Tanoja family, Penalosa family, Gose sisters , Agustin family Robert and Marissa Matue, Flor Barcenas, Alconcel sisters, Vic and Grace Gavino,Louie Santileces etc.

OTTAWA
Filipino Community Church
Under the Christian and Missionary Alliance Churches of Canada

In 1989 I started to work in Ottawa in my profession while at thesame time conducting a Bible Study. On Friday evenings we have a Bible Study at Sis Emma's employer's residence in Rockcliffe. Ladies who comprized this group are also working in the Rockcliffe area. During this time I was conducting 2 groups. Friday Bible Study in Ottawa and then Saturday Bible study in Montreal. This was the usual schedule between 1989 to 1991. Most of the time we have a joint fellowship with the group in Montreal. I eventually started a Filipino Sunday School in Parkdale Baptist Church. The Filipino Community Church of Ottawa started in 1996 and we called Pastor Lloyd Rodriguez as our first Pastor. Prominent names, Jun and Merly Sola, Orly and Liza Reyes, Sharon and Danny de Jesus,Leonardo and Michelle Fernandez,  Imelda Austria, Linda Alumno, Ethel and Mark Bergado, Joseph and Anna Abalos, Rey and Edna Noynay, Celso and Vicky Salvatierra, Ernie and Evelyn de La Cruz and family, Gary and Girly Sun, Lito and Agnes Sola, Alwina and Felix Soangco, Abe and Bang Calderon, Max and Melba Humilde , Mina Garabiles, Junie and Brenda Sudiacal, Norma Ocampo, Gil and Rose Barut, Julie Ponce, Edgar and Dolor Hipolito and family, Danny and Vilma Marasigan, Melchor and Racel Bautista etc.

These are the start of the Filipino work in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Ottawa.



Currently a lot of Filipino Christian Ministries have sprung up in most major cities of Canada but above are the pioneers.