Overview
Executive Summary & Key Facts
The plan at a glance
Prepared byDiocesan Commission for Filipino Catholics (DCFC)
DateOctober 2026 · Draft for discussion
PlatformWordPress (likely), with an English/Spanish switcher and an events plugin. Page last updated Jan. 15, 2026.
Page ownerOffice for Ethnic & Intercultural Communities (one of 18 community pages)
AudienceDCFC leaders, the Vicar for Ethnic & Intercultural Communities, and Diocesan Communications
Summary
The DCFC presence online today is one page on the diocesan website. It holds the Commission’s preamble and six objectives, two contacts, a Simbang Gabi 2025 schedule, a photo gallery, an empty “Videos” section, and a contact form. Nothing on it covers the Commission’s year-round events, parish Filipino communities, or the planning tools DCFC has already built, such as the feast-day plan, brochure, missal, speaker guides, and table signs.
This plan describes how to turn that page into a useful, well-run site. The site would explain who DCFC is and what it is for, show what is happening and where, and give parishes and ministry leaders the forms, templates, and guidance they need. Because we do not yet know who maintains the diocesan site, how it is hosted, or what it costs, the plan starts with a short discovery phase to answer those questions before anything is built.
Two Paths Compared
Plan A Bottom-up pilot
Modernize DCFC first, then share the template
Rebuild the Filipino Community section as a pilot within diocesan standards. Package it as a reusable template, offer it to the other 17 cultural communities, and use the results to make the case for a diocese-wide refresh.
About 6–9 months to launch · mostly volunteer effort with modest costs · DCFC controls the pace
Plan B Top-down redesign
Modernize the whole diocesan site at once
Propose a full redesign of sdcatholic.org led by the Chancery and Communications, with a hired agency. It would cover offices, parishes, schools, and all cultural communities together, with DCFC as one stakeholder.
About 12–24 months · agency budget and Chancery approval required · diocese controls the pace
Recommendation
Pursue Plan A, built so it can grow into Plan B. It is feasible now, delivers value to Filipino families within a year, needs no large budget during the diocese’s Chapter 11 reorganization, and gives the diocese a tested, low-risk model to adopt. If discovery shows the diocese already has a redesign planned or funded, switch to Plan B and join it as the pilot community. The comparison is in Section 7.
Section 1
Current State Assessment
A review of the Filipino Community page as of October 2026
What the Page Has Today
| Section | Content | Observation |
|---|---|---|
| Who We Are | The Commission’s preamble and six objectives: pastoral needs, diocesan procedures, planning and finances, social action, spiritual traditions, and unity across generations. | The material is solid but reads like bylaws. There is no plain-language mission statement or welcome. |
| Leadership | Athena Besa, President; Rev. Nemesio Sungcad, Spiritual Advisor; office staff contact Alejandra Diaz. | The page lists personal email addresses, and contacts change with every new board. Role-based addresses would fix both. |
| Simbang Gabi 2025 | A short note and a PDF schedule. | This is the only event on the page, it is a year old, and there is no calendar. |
| Photos | Seven gallery images. | The images have no captions or alt text, and there is no record of photo consent. |
| Videos | Heading only. | The section is empty, which makes the page look abandoned. |
| Contact form | Name, email, phone, and message. | It is unclear who receives submissions and how fast they get a reply. |
Gaps Against What the Community Needs
- No events calendar. Major celebrations such as the San Pedro Calungsod Feast and Simbang Gabi are missing or out of date.
- No resource library. The plans, brochures, missals, liturgy planning sheets, and signs DCFC already produces are not shared.
- No map of Filipino communities. Families cannot find which parishes have Filipino ministries, Masses, or choirs.
- No youth or young adult content, even though San Pedro Calungsod is the patron of Filipino youth.
- No news, stories, or sign-ups. There is no way to subscribe, volunteer, or register for an event.
- The page is hard to find. It sits three levels deep under Cultural Diversity, with no short address such as sdcatholic.org/filipino.
- Language. The page has English and Spanish, but no Tagalog or Cebuano for elders and new arrivals.
- Accessibility. Images lack alt text, menus are duplicated for screen readers, and required fields are marked only with asterisks.
What We Don’t Know Yet
Discovery in Phase 0 has to answer these questions. They decide which plan is feasible and what it costs.
- Who maintains sdcatholic.org: Communications staff, Diocesan IT, or an outside agency, and under what contract?
- Where is the site hosted, who holds the domain and DNS, and who has administrator access?
- Can a ministry volunteer receive an Editor login for one section, or must every change go through staff?
- Does the diocese have brand guidelines, a web policy, or a social media and photo policy for ministries?
- Is a redesign of the diocesan site already planned, budgeted, or out for bids?
- How do Chapter 11 reorganization rules affect new vendor contracts or spending?
- Which of the other 17 cultural communities have active leaders who would want a better page?
- Who in DCFC can commit 3–5 hours a week to keep content current after launch?
Section 2
Vision, Audiences & Site Map
A site that welcomes, informs, and equips
VisionAny Filipino Catholic in the Diocese of San Diego, whether a lola, a youth minister, a parish coordinator, or a family that just arrived, can find out what DCFC is, what is coming up, where to belong, and what tools are available, in under a minute and on a phone.
Who the Site Serves
| Audience | What they come for | Must-have on the site |
|---|---|---|
| Families & parishioners | Upcoming Masses and feasts, Simbang Gabi locations, and a Filipino community near them | Calendar, parish map, mobile-first layout |
| Parish coordinators | How to host Simbang Gabi or a feast day, plus templates, liturgy sheets, and deadlines | Resource library, host-parish guides, request forms |
| Youth & young adults | Events, service opportunities, and San Pedro Calungsod as their patron | Youth page, social links, short video |
| Clergy & diocesan staff | Who DCFC is, its leaders, and how to partner with it | About, leadership, contact routing |
| Newcomers & elders | A welcome in their own language and someone to call | Tagalog summary pages, phone contact, large readable text |
Proposed Site Map
Home
- Welcome & mission in one sentence
- Next 3 events
- Find a community
- Featured resource
About DCFC
- Mission & objectives (plain language)
- History
- Leadership & Spiritual Advisor
- Annual report
Events
- Diocesan calendar feed
- Simbang Gabi (map of host parishes)
- San Pedro Calungsod Feast
- Past events & photos
Communities
- Parish directory with Filipino ministries
- Map
- Choirs, prayer groups, associations
Resources
- Event planning toolkit
- Liturgy & missal templates
- Forms (host request, volunteer)
- Guides & policies
Youth & Young Adults
- San Pedro Calungsod, patron
- Upcoming youth events
- Ways to serve
Faith & Traditions
- Filipino devotions explained
- Prayers (Eng / Tagalog)
- Saints & feast days
Get Involved
- Volunteer sign-up
- Newsletter
- Contact (routed by topic)
- Give (diocesan giving)
The Resource Library: What We Already Have to Share
- Event Planning Toolkit: plan of activities, run of show, check-in and setup checklist, and a speaker talking-points template, based on the 2026 San Pedro Calungsod feast
- Liturgy: missal and worship-aid template, liturgy planning sheet, and Prayers of the Faithful format
- Print templates: trifold brochure, flyer, and reserved-table tent cards
- Forms: host-parish request (Simbang Gabi or feast), volunteer interest, speaker or ministry nomination, and event photo consent
- Guidance: how to request diocesan participation, safe-environment requirements for volunteers who work with minors, and brand and logo use
- Formats: each item as a PDF to print plus an editable version (Word or Google Docs), with a “last reviewed” date
Section 3
Discovery, Roles & Governance
Finding who owns the site, and deciding who owns what next
Phase 0: Find the Owners (2–4 weeks)
Neither plan can start until we know who runs the diocesan site. Ask in this order, starting with the people DCFC already works with.
Step 1Very Rev. Chris Bongato, Vicar for Ethnic & Intercultural Communities: sponsorship and introductions
Step 2Office for Ethnic & Intercultural Communities (Alejandra Diaz): who edits the community pages today
Step 3Diocesan Communications Office, publisher of The Southern Cross: web policy, brand, and vendor
Step 4Diocesan IT or the web vendor: hosting, access, security, and costs
Bring a one-page summary of this plan, two or three sketches of the new page, and a specific request: an Editor login for the Filipino Community section, or a named staff contact who will publish our updates within 5 business days.
Who Is Responsible: Proposed Roles
| Role | Responsibilities | Who (proposed) |
|---|---|---|
| Executive sponsor | Approves the project, opens doors at the Chancery, and settles disagreements | Vicar for Ethnic & Intercultural Communities |
| Site owner | Owns sdcatholic.org: hosting, domain, security, backups, brand standards, final publish rights | Diocesan Communications / IT |
| DCFC web lead | Runs the project: plan, timeline, vendor and staff contact, and weekly check-ins. Single point of contact. | DCFC volunteer (to be named) |
| Content editors (2–3) | Write and update pages, events, and resources; keep the calendar current | DCFC board & committee members |
| Pastoral reviewer | Reviews prayers, liturgy, and doctrinal content before publishing | DCFC Spiritual Advisor |
| Translators | Spanish (diocesan requirement) and Tagalog / Cebuano summaries | Volunteers; diocesan translation for Spanish |
| Media & photo lead | Photos, video, and captions; collects photo consent, especially for minors | Young Adult Committee |
| Builder (if needed) | Theme or template work, accessibility testing, migration | Diocesan vendor or skilled volunteer |
Governance Rules That Keep the Site Alive
- Diocese owns accounts and domains, never an individual. Use role emails such as dcfc@… or dcfc.president@… that pass from board to board.
- Publishing workflow: an editor drafts, the web lead reviews, the pastoral reviewer checks faith content, and the site owner publishes when required.
- Service levels: event updates live within 5 business days; contact-form replies within 3 business days.
- Content calendar: monthly events refresh, quarterly review of resources and contacts, and an annual leadership update after each election.
- Handover document: logins (in a shared password manager), procedures, and vendor contacts, so a change in volunteers does not stall the site.
- Sunset rule: anything older than 12 months moves to an archive, so nothing like the empty “Videos” section stays up.
Section 4
Hosting & Platform Options
Starting from the infrastructure the diocese already runs
The current page appears to run on the diocese’s WordPress site, with an English/Spanish plugin and an events calendar plugin. That is a reasonable base: WordPress is widely supported, easy for volunteers to edit, and already paid for. The options below run from most integrated to most independent.
| Option | How it works | Est. cost / yr | Best when… |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Section of sdcatholic.org Preferred | Rebuild the Filipino Community page as a small set of child pages in the same WordPress install, with a reusable page template or block patterns and a short address such as sdcatholic.org/filipino. | $0 hosting; volunteer or vendor time | The diocese grants section-level Editor access or a responsive staff contact |
| 2. Diocesan sub-site | A WordPress Multisite sub-site, such as filipino.sdcatholic.org, on diocesan hosting with the diocesan theme. DCFC administers only its own sub-site. | $0–$500 added hosting; setup by vendor | The diocese wants communities to self-manage while keeping central control |
| 3. Separate DCFC site | DCFC’s own domain on managed WordPress hosting or a site builder such as Squarespace or Wix, linked from the diocesan page. | $200–$600 plus domain (~$20) | The diocese cannot give access, and DCFC needs to move fast |
| 4. Static site | A site generated from Markdown files and hosted free on a static host, with forms through a form service. | $0–$100 | A technical volunteer will maintain it long term (otherwise not advised) |
Costs are rough market ranges for planning only and should be confirmed with quotes. Ask vendors about nonprofit and religious-organization pricing.
Decision Guide
Choose Option 1 if…
- Communications agrees to an Editor role or a named publisher
- The diocesan theme can support cards, calendars, and downloads
- We want the change to carry over to other communities (Plan A)
Choose Option 2 if…
- Several communities want their own space
- IT is comfortable running Multisite
- The diocese wants a model for all 18 communities
Use Option 3 only as a bridge
- Register the domain to DCFC (or the diocese), not a person
- Follow diocesan brand rules and link back to sdcatholic.org
- Plan to merge back into the diocesan site later
Technical Requirements for Any Option
- Security: HTTPS, automatic core and plugin updates, two-factor login for every editor, and the lowest access role that works
- Backups: daily, kept off-site, with a tested restore at launch and once a year
- Performance: optimized images (WebP), loads in under 3 seconds on a phone, cached pages
- Forms: spam protection, routing to a role inbox, no sensitive data collected, and a written retention period
- Calendar: use the diocesan events plugin, filtered to a “Filipino” category, so events also appear in the main diocesan calendar
- Search & sharing: clean addresses, page titles and descriptions, social preview images, and a Google Business-style listing for DCFC
- Analytics: privacy-respecting page counts to see what people use, such as downloads and the most-viewed events
- Documentation: a one-page “how to update the site” guide for every editor
Section 5 · Plan A
Bottom-Up: DCFC Pilot, Then Expand the Template
Prove it with one community, then share it with all of them
ApproachDCFC builds a modern Filipino Community section inside the diocesan site (Hosting Option 1 or 2), designed as a reusable template. After launch, the template is packaged with a how-to guide and offered to the other 17 cultural communities, followed by a proposal to apply the same design system diocese-wide.
Phases & Timeline
Phase 0 · DiscoveryNov – Dec 2026
Identify the site owner and vendor, confirm access and policies, name the DCFC web lead and editors, and agree on the scope and short address with Communications. Output: signed-off scope and roles.
Phase 1 · ContentDec 2026 – Feb 2027
Rewrite the mission in plain language; gather leadership bios, the parish community directory, the 2027 event list, and the resource library; collect photos with consent; arrange Spanish and Tagalog translation. Output: approved content in a shared folder.
Phase 2 · DesignJan – Feb 2027
Design wireframes for Home, About, Events, Communities, and Resources inside diocesan brand rules. Build the template as WordPress block patterns that any community can reuse. Output: approved page designs.
Phase 3 · Build & testMar – Apr 2027
Build pages on a staging copy, connect the calendar category and forms, run an accessibility check (WCAG 2.1 AA), test on phones, and have 5–8 parishioners of different ages try it. Output: a site ready to launch.
Phase 4 · LaunchMay 2027
Go live, set up redirects from the old address, announce through parish bulletins, The Southern Cross, and social media, and train editors. Output: live site and editor guide.
Phase 5 · Template kitJun – Sep 2027
Package the “Community Page Kit”: patterns, a content checklist, a photo consent form, and a governance guide. Pilot it with 2–3 other communities (for example Vietnamese, Chamorro, or Korean) with the Office for Ethnic & Intercultural Communities. Output: 3–4 community sections on one model.
Phase 6 · ProposalOct – Dec 2027
Present results (traffic, downloads, sign-ups, and staff time saved) to Communications and the Chancery with a proposal to extend the design system to the whole site. That proposal becomes Plan B on proven ground.
Team & Effort
- DCFC web lead: 4–6 hrs/week during the build, 2 hrs/week after
- 2–3 content editors: 2–3 hrs/week during content, then monthly
- Diocesan staff: approvals and publishing, roughly 1–2 hrs/week
- Optional vendor or freelancer for template work: 20–60 hours
Budget (Planning Range)
- Hosting: $0 (existing diocesan site)
- Template or theme work: $0 if volunteer; roughly $2,000–$6,000 if contracted
- Photography and video: $0–$1,500
- Translation: volunteer, or about $500–$1,500 for professional review
- Total: about $0–$9,000, fundable through DCFC events or a sponsor
Section 6 · Plan B
Top-Down: Modernize the Whole Diocesan Site
One coordinated redesign of sdcatholic.org, with DCFC at the table
ApproachDCFC, through the Vicar for Ethnic & Intercultural Communities, proposes that the diocese redesign sdcatholic.org as a whole. The Chancery and Communications lead it with a hired agency. Offices, parishes, schools, and all 18 cultural communities are redesigned together on a shared design system, in English and Spanish. DCFC serves as one stakeholder and an early pilot.
Phases & Timeline
Phase 0 · Sponsorship2–4 months
Build the case and win approval from the Bishop, Chancellor, CFO, and Communications Director; confirm budget and Chapter 11 spending approval; form a steering committee. Output: approved charter and budget.
Phase 1 · Audit & RFP2–4 months
Inventory all pages, documents, and plugins, often thousands of items. Interview offices, parishes, and communities. Write a request for proposals, compare 3–5 agencies, and check references from other dioceses. Output: selected vendor and contract.
Phase 2 · Strategy & design3–4 months
Design the site structure, navigation, design system, and accessibility standard; plan the parish and school directory, events, giving, and Spanish workflow. Output: approved designs and a content model.
Phase 3 · Build & migrate4–8 months
Build the theme and integrations (giving, calendar, personnel search, and Protect & Report), migrate and clean up content, train office editors, and test accessibility. Output: new site on staging.
Phase 4 · Launch & support1–2 months, then ongoing
Go live, map redirects for every old address, watch search traffic, and set up an ongoing support contract and governance. Output: modernized diocesan site.
Team & Effort
- Steering committee: Chancery, Communications, IT, Finance, and the Vicar for Ethnic & Intercultural Communities
- A project manager, from the diocese or the agency
- An agency team for strategy, design, development, and QA
- A content owner in every office and community, including DCFC
Budget (Planning Range)
- Agency redesign for a large diocese: often $40,000–$150,000+
- Managed hosting and support: about $3,000–$15,000 per year
- Staff time across offices for content and approvals: significant
- Total: $45,000–$165,000+ over 12–24 months; quotes required
What DCFC Would Contribute
Requirements
A written list of what cultural communities need: calendars, directories, resources, multilingual pages, and youth content.
Pilot content
The Filipino section’s content, ready to migrate, as the first community section on the new site.
User testing
Parishioners of every generation to test designs, including elders and newcomers.
Section 7
Plan A vs. Plan B: Pros, Cons & Feasibility
Which path is better, and which one can we actually do?
Plan A Bottom-up pilot
Pros
- DCFC can start now, with no large budget
- Visible results within about 6–9 months
- Small scope, so it is easy to approve and lower risk
- Creates a tested model and evidence for the diocese
- DCFC sets priorities for Filipino families
- Builds volunteer web skills inside the community
Cons
- Limited by the current diocesan theme and access
- The rest of the site stays dated around our section
- Depends on a few volunteers, so continuity is a risk
- Other communities may not adopt the template
- Some work may be redone if the diocese later redesigns
Plan B Top-down redesign
Pros
- Consistent, modern experience across the whole diocese
- Fixes shared problems (navigation, accessibility, search) once
- Professional build, paid support, clear accountability
- All 18 communities benefit at the same time
- Stronger security and long-term maintainability
Cons
- Needs Bishop and Chancery approval and a large budget
- Hard to fund during Chapter 11 reorganization
- 12–24 months before anything changes for families
- DCFC is one voice among many offices
- Large projects stall when leaders or budgets change
- Outside DCFC’s authority to start
Scorecard
| Criterion | Plan A | Plan B | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feasibility for DCFC | 5 | 2 | Plan A is within DCFC’s reach; Plan B needs diocesan leadership to act |
| Cost | 5 | 1 | Roughly $0–$9k, compared with $45k–$165k+ |
| Time to value | 5 | 2 | Live by spring 2027, compared with 2028 or later |
| Breadth of impact | 2 | 5 | One community at first, compared with the whole diocese |
| Quality & consistency | 3 | 5 | Limited by the current theme, compared with a fresh design system |
| Long-term sustainability | 3 | 4 | Volunteer-dependent, compared with a paid support contract |
| Risk of stalling | 4 | 2 | A small scope finishes; a large scope is exposed to budget and leadership changes |
| Total (out of 35) | 27 | 21 | Higher is better. Scores are the planning team’s judgment, to be revisited after discovery. |
VerdictPlan A is the better and more feasible first step. Plan B is the better end state, but DCFC cannot start or fund it. Plan A delivers value now and is the most credible way to make Plan B happen: a working pilot, a reusable template, and real usage numbers turn a large request into an easy next step. Switch to Plan B if discovery finds a diocesan redesign already approved or underway. In that case, DCFC joins as the pilot community and brings the Plan A content and requirements with it.
Section 8
Important Considerations
Standards that apply under either plan
Accessibility
- Target WCAG 2.1 Level AA: alt text on every image, captions on video, strong color contrast, keyboard navigation, and labeled form fields
- Large, readable type and simple navigation for older parishioners
- Accessible PDFs (tagged, with real text, not scanned images), or an HTML version of key documents
- Test with a screen reader and an automated checker before launch
Language & Culture
- English first, with Spanish through the diocesan workflow
- Tagalog (and, where possible, Cebuano or Ilocano) summaries of key pages: welcome, mission, events, contact
- Respectful use of Filipino devotions, names, and images, with the Spiritual Advisor’s review
- Use “San Pedro Calungsod” and other naming conventions consistently
Child Protection & Privacy
- Written photo and video consent; parent or guardian consent for minors; no full names of minors next to photos
- Follow diocesan Safe Environment and Protect & Report policies; link to them from volunteer pages
- Collect only what each form needs. No birthdates, sacramental records, or financial data through web forms.
- Publish a privacy note on every form saying who sees the data and how long it is kept
Brand & Content Quality
- Follow diocesan brand standards; place the DCFC logo next to the diocesan identity, not in place of it
- A short style guide: voice, photo style, and event-listing format
- Every page has an owner and a “last reviewed” date
- Copyright: only use music, liturgical texts, and images we have rights to; credit photographers
Sustainability & Continuity
- At least two trained editors at all times, so no single point of failure
- Logins in a shared password manager owned by the organization; two-factor login required
- Plan for board transitions: hand over the site when officers change
- An annual review of the site, plugins, and resources each fall before Simbang Gabi
Measuring Success
| Measure | Year-one target |
|---|---|
| Event calendar always current | 100% of DCFC events listed 3+ weeks ahead |
| Resource downloads | 200+ per year |
| Newsletter or volunteer sign-ups | 100+ |
| Contact replies | Within 3 business days |
| Accessibility check | No critical issues |
| Communities using the template | 3+ by end of 2027 |
Key Risks
- No diocesan access: use Hosting Option 3 as a temporary bridge
- Volunteer burnout: keep the scope small; share the work across committees
- Stale content: follow the content calendar and the sunset rule
Section 9
Next Steps: The First 90 Days
What DCFC can start doing this month
30 · 60 · 90 Day Plan
Days 1–30 · Nov 2026
Organize & ask
- DCFC board approves this plan and names the web lead
- Meet with Fr. Chris Bongato for sponsorship
- Contact the Office for Ethnic & Intercultural Communities and Communications
- Start gathering existing resources in one shared folder
- Update the current page now: remove the empty Videos section and add the 2026 Simbang Gabi schedule
Days 31–60 · Dec 2026
Decide & plan
- Answer the discovery questions in Section 1
- Pick the hosting option and confirm Plan A or Plan B
- Recruit 2–3 editors, a translator, and a photo lead
- Set up role-based email and a shared password manager
- Use Simbang Gabi 2026 to collect photos (with consent) and sign-ups
Days 61–90 · Jan 2027
Write & design
- Draft plain-language mission, About, and leadership pages
- Build the 2027 events list and parish community directory
- Prepare the first 6–10 resource-library items
- Sketch the Home, Events, and Resources pages; review with Communications
- Report progress to the DCFC board
Questions to Bring to the Diocese
- Who manages sdcatholic.org day to day, and is there an outside vendor?
- Can DCFC have an Editor login for the Filipino Community section?
- Is a site redesign planned, and could DCFC pilot the community pages?
- Are there brand, web, social media, or photo policies we must follow?
- Can we have a short address such as sdcatholic.org/filipino?
- Can DCFC events go into the diocesan calendar under their own category?
- How is Spanish translation handled for ministry pages?
- What approvals apply to spending or vendors during reorganization?
Decisions Needed from the DCFC Board
| Decision | Recommendation | By |
|---|---|---|
| Adopt this plan | Approve Plan A as the working plan, with Plan B as the long-term goal | Nov 2026 |
| Name a DCFC web lead | One accountable volunteer, with a backup | Nov 2026 |
| Budget | Set aside up to $2,000 for year one, with more only if a vendor is required | Dec 2026 |
| Languages | English and Spanish everywhere; Tagalog summaries for key pages | Dec 2026 |
| Resource library scope | Start with the 2026 San Pedro Calungsod feast toolkit and Simbang Gabi host guide | Jan 2027 |
“Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”
Mark 16:15