The Open House began with a ribbon cutting and candlelit blessing of the Center.  The Baguio Choral Group sang visions of joy and festivity through the building before President and CEO, Danny Urquico, shared his message of welcome and inspiration. Mr Urquico paid tribute to CFSPI’s honorary founder and benefactress Consuelo Zobel Alger and shared CFSPI’s vision to pioneer a brighter future for women, children and families in the Cordillera. “CFSPI is now in a unique position to lead the way” said Mr. Urquico, “As we continue to develop and share innovative social technologies and best practices for the benefit of those we serve.”

CFSPI develops new social technology-programs, strategies and procedures in the areas of family nurturance, child abuse and juvenile justice.  It also enhances current practices.  The concepts are “tried” or piloted in CFSPI’s different programs and its experiences are packaged into training programs that are offered to our partners. The primary goal of the Consuelo Center for Leadership and Social Innovation for 2008-2010 is to project the image of CFSPI as one of the leaders in the development of innovative social technology in the field of child, youth and family welfare. It is through these training services that CFSPI contributes in the competency development of duty bearers in the sector of child, youth and family development.

The Open House celebration continued on through the evening with dinner, musical guests and exhibitions of CFSPI’s 20 years of service. The exhibitions also featured children’s artwork, artistic contributions from Bliss Café and local artist Bumbo Villanueva as well as furniture and woodcraft displays from the community and youth enrolled in CFSPI’s Carpentry and Furniture Making Course.  The entire Center was open for display including the beautiful wooden lodging rooms, chapel and conference facilities; the tranquil gardens lit by the warmth of lanterns.

The Consuelo Center for Leadership and Social Innovation Open House has been part of a major advocacy and awareness outreach to the community; an effort to reinvigorate existing partnerships and create new alliances for the benefit of those we serve. It has also been an effort to promote the services offered by the Center, which are part of the resource-generating arm of CFSPI, which helps to sustain effective programs and financial stability.