WHO WE ARE

Filco-operative One Housing Society (OHS) is a non-profit organization actively seeking various solutions to the housing affordability challenges faced by its members as well as by low-income and middle-class British Columbians.

It pursues this overarching goal by building partnerships, building membership engagement, and building capacity.

It aspires to reach this goal through community organizing, information-education-communication initiatives, asset acquisition and management, governance enhancement, networking, and advocacy.

OUR VISION

To be a leading Canadian Filipino provider of affordable, sustainable, innovative, and inclusive housing solutions.

OUR MISSION

To build, operate and manage affordable housing for Canadian Filipinos in partnership with stakeholders.

OUR GOALS

To provide affordable housing market opportunities for its members as well as for eligible low income residents of BC

To develop, own, operate and enter into agreements as a non-profit housing operator of a BC Housing facility or a municipal housing as well as other cooperative housing providers.

OUR STORY

It all started in 2010 when a group of immigrants to Canada established the first Filipino co -operative owned, operated, managed, and governed by the members - in British Columbia. One Filipino Cooperative of BC (Filco-op) was registered, on January 8, 2010, under the BC Cooperative Association Act.

Filco-op encouraged members to save, through their membership shares, which enabled them to borrow from the co-op the cash they need to buy basic necessities, send money home, consolidate other debts and purchase other goods and services to meet the family’s needs. In return, they earned dividends and patronage refunds at the end of Filco-op’s fiscal year.

In 2016, Filco-op set up a housing task force to recommend an appropriate response to the tightening availability, affordability, and accessibility of housing for low-income and middle-class British Columbians.

Filco-operative One Housing Society (OHS) was registered on November 2, 2016, under the BC Society Act, to carry out an affordable housing initiative that will enable Filco-op’s over 500 members access affordable housing options available through existing and future social housing programs, services and funding at the federal, provincial and municipal levels.

Since then, the housing society has engaged in building partnerships with potential sources of financing and technical assistance to build its first housing project; establishing connections with federal and provincial government agencies, housing sector non-profit organizations and advocacy groups; and enhancing the society’s capabilities for governance, membership growth and engagement, financial management and community advocacy.

MEET THE TEAM

BOARD MEMBERS

Jody Flores

President

JODY as they call him is an Accountant. He graduated Bachelor of Science in Commerce major in Accounting at the Laguna College, San Pablo City and passed the CPA Board Exam. He has occupied various positions mostly in Operations, last of which as Operations Director-Provincial Branches of Metro Drug Distribution Inc. He is currently the Payroll and Accounting Specialist of Alzheimer Society of BC since 2019. A member of One Fil Coop since it started.

Marilyn Paulin

Vice President

MARILYN is a registered nurse in the Philippines and earned her master’s degree in Public Administration at the University of the Philippines-Davao. She is a member of the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA).

She has extensive nursing experience in Canada and in the Philippines. In Canada,
she has attended various community programs and helped new immigrants of diverse ethnicities by providing English tutorial services. Marilyn also organized a support group for visible minority women and assisted a group of caregivers in this country.

Aside from being a caring nurse, she is also an artist. She used to organize stage drama and fashion shows; plays her favorite musical instruments and paints during her free time.

She is one of the founding members of the One Filipino Cooperative of BC and One Housing Society. A member of the One Housing Society Board since 2016, she always reminds everybody, “we can do it”.

Marichu Celi

Treasurer

MARICHU is a CPA in the Philippines. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Commerce major in accounting (cum laude) and earned her Masters in Business Administration.

Her career centered on auditing, controllership, academe, and governance. She worked as a consultant at the Asian Development Bank on Micro Insurance Framework and at the German Cooperative Development on Risk-Based Capital and Annual Statement Revision.

At present, Marichu is the Finance Manager at ECEBC. She is also an associate member of the Professional Business Accountants Society of Canada, and a member and former board member of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants Vancouver Chapter.

She is one of the founding members of the One Housing Society. She lives by the golden rule and is passionate about sharing her skills and knowledge. She described her volunteerism as “Divine commitment”.

Rona Bunda

Secretary

RONA joined the One Housing Society in 2017 as a volunteer coordinator in charge of organizing and conducting One Housing Orientation for new and potential members. She has been the Board Secretary since 2019.

She worked with non-government organizations and cooperatives in the Philippines. She was also involved in the development of mandated training courses for all cooperative leaders, management, and staff. Her last engagement was the four-year project of Rabobank Foundation, a Netherland-based foundation that supports farmers in the Philippines.

As a volunteer, she was the first President of the Salesian Lay Volunteer for the Salesians of Don Bosco in Cambodia and Papua New Guinea. She also partnered with the Don Bosco Schools in organizing immersion programs among its students and young professionals.

Rona obtained her Bachelor's degree in Accounting at the University of St. La Salle. She advocates volunteerism and affordable housing.

Isidro Cris photo 20170214 (1)_edited.jpg

Isidro Cresencio Saguindan

Assistant Treasurer

ISIDRO is a Senior Accountant of Taan Forest Limited Partnership, a First Nation company managing acres of ancient and second-growth forest in Haida Gwaii, BC. It markets lumber and logs.

He is a designated Canadian Public Business Accountant (PBA) and a Certified Public Accountant in the Philippines. In mid-2000, he assumed the finance of Aramark Healthcare in Vancouver and obtained the contracts of Providence Healthcare and Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. His work experiences in Asia and the Middle East enhanced his finance competencies in commercial banks, real estate construction, and hospital.

Aside from his regular job, he is also a mentor of “Futurpreneur Canada”, a non-profit organization providing financing and mentoring to young entrepreneurs. He teaches Catechism in “Our Lady of Mercy – Parish Religious Education Program” and an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion since 2018.

Married and with 5 children, Isidro is guided by a postulate “Never judge according to appearance but see the beauty of the soul and never close to the call”.

Maria Pamela Gonzales

Assistant Secretary

PAM is a Certified Public Accountant in the Philippines. She has worked for several private and not-for profit organizations both in the Philippines and Canada with various administrative and financial positions for over 35 years.

Presently, she works with the Association of Neighbourhood Houses of BC (ANHBC) as a Financial Services Associate and Payroll Administrator. Concurrently, to broaden her career she is also a Supervision Aide with Surrey School District and a Life Planner consultant.

She volunteers for the Philippines Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Vancouver for 2021-2023 as a Board Member and Vice- President for Membership, and where she was a former President in 2016 to 2017. In addition, she sits as a Board Member- Assistant Secretary for One Housing Society. She has called Canada her second home since 2011, married and a mother of four boys.

Allen May Robles

Board Memeber

ALLEN is a registered nurse in the Philippines with a degree of Bachelor of Science in nursing. She is an alumna of Colegio de Sta. Isabel and a member of the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA).

Before coming to Canada, she worked in the Philippines as nurse for 7 years then went overseas to work at Dhahran Health Center in Saudi Arabia. She has been in the nursing profession for over 25 years. She is now working as a Community Health Worker at the Vancouver Coastal Health since 2016. She is passionate in caring for other people especially for the sick and people with disabilities.

Allen has been a member of the One Filipino Cooperative of BC since 2015 and joined the One Housing Society in 2017. Aside from his regular and volunteer jobs, she is also an active member of the Couples for Christ (CFC). As a person and as a nurse, she values compassion, commitment, communication, and care.

Edzel Escala

Board Member

EDZEL has a Masters in Business Administration and an Electronics and Communications Engineer. Over 30 years of management experience in various functions: Manufacturing, Training and Development, Human Resources, Quality Assurance, Lean Implementation and Integrated ISO Management Systems (QMS, EMS, OHSAS). Companies successfully managed include: Matsushita Group of Companies, American Power Conversion and Garaventa Lift Canada. Currently he is the Quality Assurance Manager and Safety Program Coordinator of Garaventa Lift Canada. Outside work he volunteers in the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Surrey.

He is one of the “founding fathers” of the One Filipino Cooperative of BC and became a member of the Board of the One Housing Society in 2020.

Edzel finds true meaning in the life of service to others, especially those most in need. His life’s motto is ‘Serve others with joy’.

Rosalinda Purificacion D. Sangalang

Board Member

ROSE is a compassionate caregiver with years of experience working in special care facilities and is passionate about taking care of the elderly. She is a Resident Care Aide at Providence Health Care.

Aside from her job, Rose has also been active in their housing cooperative having been a member of the following committees: membership, maintenance, landscaping, social, and as an amenity assistant.

Back in the Philippines, she worked as an accounting manager in a feed mill company for 18 years where she honed her accounting skills and knowledge.

A graduate of Bachelor of Science in Commerce (major in Accounting), Rose is also into arts and crafts and enjoys making design patterns.

Her guiding principle in life? “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile” (Albert Einstein).

OFFICERS

Joselito Palencia

General Manager

JOJO graduated with a degree in Business Administration major in Management at the Philippine School of Business Administration and earned his post graduate education Diploma in Social Work at the University of the Philippines.

Back in the Philippines, he worked with different Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) as Cooperative Trainer and Organizer. He has vast training and experience in cooperative financial management, credit, collection delinquency and control management and other coop-related activities. He used to be the Chairman of the Barangka Credit Cooperative in the Philippines.

In Canada, he took up bookkeeping and management program to broaden his skills. In 2009, he collaborated with other Filipinos in British Columbia to form the One Filipino Cooperative of BC. Since then, he has been the General Manager of the said organization and recently, was also appointed as the General Manager of the One Housing Society. Jojo is a firm believer of the Filipino cooperative slogan, “kayang-kaya kung sama-sama” (we can do anything as long as we’re together).

OUR APPROACH

The Spirit of Bayanihan:
One Housing Society's Approach

One Housing Society’s approach to housing management and core competencies are inspired by the Filipino spirit of Bayanihan (cooperative endeavor). The society’s approach to housing management seeks to encourage the spirit of self-help in building and maintaining safe, affordable, inclusive and inspiring housing for its eligible members.