rise.. my country

JONATHAN WITTIG

2009-11-07T04:25:00.000-08:00

By: GK1MB Bulletin

Everyone in the GK community has heard of Jonathan. He is the guy who graduated from Loyola University and joined the 1st batch of GK Builder's Corps in the Philippines. Three years have passed and he continues to work passionately for GK full time. He is also pursuing his Masters in International Public Service at DePaul. Jonathan's heart of service is an inspiration to me and a great example of being a blessing to the poor.

Ish: You introduced GKCU to over a hundred students this weekend, what is it?

Jonathan: GKCU stands for Gawad Kalinga Colleges & Universities. GK is the heart and GKCU is the science that will help young people get involved. It is the student led movement of GK in the U.S. to end poverty through research, volunteering, and creating awareness. The aim is to develop leaders that are aware of global issues and strive to address these issues in creative ways on their campuses and around the world.

Ish: What are the most exciting projects occurring in GKCU right now?

Jonathan: There are so many stories to tell but to name a few, MIT launched an engineering challenge where students innovate to build a GK house that can sustain 250km/hour in the most eco-friendly and economic way. UCLA is developing strong partnerships where the School of Public Health will be sending students on medical missions and build trips regularly. Another is GK Hope Institute in Singapore where thousands of students are being sent to the Philippines to research and volunteer.

Ish: What's the future of GKCU?

Jonathan: The capacity is infinite. GKCU shows hope for a better world. The growing interest and initiative of the youth is significant. It gives them a heart of service. Less for self, more for others, and enough for all.

There is no greater heart than a heart of a VOLUNTEER…

2009-10-18T05:14:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the home of heroes of Gawad Kalinga Butuan, I believe this site has been long overdue, knowing that for almost a decade now, we have done so much for Butuan & Agusan del Norte in terms of reaching out to our least brethren who are truly in need of hope & help in allowing them to dream once more thereby allowing us to be part in building that dream, a dream of a future full of hope. Allow me as well to mention that most of us GK volunteers of Butuan had been instrumental, & I believe will always be, in the opening up of different villages in the region outside of Butuan/Agusan del Norte & more importantly was able to inspire other volunteers in those areas as the same time bringing out the heroism in them.

As a maiden post to this refuge, allow me to honor all of the UNSUNG living heroes of GK Butuan, who like the very source of our inspiration, would put to stake his life for the sake of the vision of Gawad Kalinga, I honor you all, for despite so much struggle that you have to go through personally, you never for once thought of giving up on the people you’ve come to love and help rise out of that hopeless situation & instead use the very work of loving the least to draw strength in overcoming that struggle. I honor you all for the boldness & courage to stand your ground when persecutions & rejections are hurdled upon you, all because of your deep love for the least. Allow me to quote one of the beatitudes, “Happy are you when people hate you, reject you, insult you & say that you are evil, all because of the Son of Man & His teachings. Be glad when that happens and dance for joy, because a great reward is kept for you in heaven. For their ancestors did the very same things to the prophets”. I honor as well our GK elders who nurtured us like sons & daughters, molding us to love our God and Country with so much passion and conviction, for allowing us to draw so much inspiration & wisdom in doing this great work of Nation & Kingdom building. Most of all, I would like to honor our God for allowing us to see His son Jesus Christ in the poor that we give care, our very reason for doing this work, for allowing us to put to action our faith in Him, for praising Him in a concrete way, for allowing us to be invited & enlisted in this great work which Christ Himself started more than two thousand years ago and along the way allowing us to endure despite so much reason to give up.

Let this refuge be another source of inspiration for us as we walk the path to Heroism.

Smart, PLDT and the GK Village in Sooc

2009-01-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

SMART Communications (Smart) gave cheer to 37 families of PLDT-SMART Amazing Gawad Kalinga (GK) Village in Sooc Arevalo, Iloilo when they gave out food packs and household stuff to them.

Maria Jane Paredes, manager for Smart Public Affairs for Visayas and Mindanao, said that Christmas is a good time to express gratitude for the blessings they received in 2008. “What better way to be grateful than by sharing these blessings to others,” she said.

Smart employees turned over two industrial sewing machines to support the residents' livelihood. Through these machines, tarpaulins are converted into bags and then sold.
Mother and kids with their basket of goods

The PLDT-SMART Amazing GK Village in Sooc is a home to former street children and their families.

In partnership with the Gawad Kalinga Foundation, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., SMART and PLDT-SMART Foundation adopted the GK Village.

INVITATION TO CHRISTIANS

2009-01-09T04:42:00.000-08:00

BY: BOY MONTELIBANO

Greeting the New Year is letting go of one that just passed. And whatever trials and tribulations 2008 may have brought, the magic of the Christmas season lifts the spirit and prepares a Christian for the New Year. For three years in a row, surveys conducted during this special period have monitored optimism among Filipinos to be as high as 90%. In the context of life in the Philippines, that level of optimism is simply miraculous.

It is no surprise, then, that the message of the Philippine Church hierarchy is for Christians to be bearers of hope. Optimism reflects hope, and it is hope sparked by the spirit of Christmas. To be bearers of hope require different tasks for different people and groups. For Christians, hope is a virtue and a perennial invitation.

Hope is not a seasonal virtue, but admittedly, needs seasonal triggers in the Philippines. Poverty sets a very un-Christian atmosphere and corruption, at present levels, further degrades life. Hope turns to fantasy for many Christians as evidenced by the propensity of Filipinos to gamble in search of relief from material deprivation. To be hope bearers is as much to ground ourselves and those we touch by our presence and example into reality.

Hope is not elusive, not when one's reality recognizes God as an omnipresent and omnipotent Father. It is that recognition that influences our daily life, our daily behaviour. It is forgetting the reality of God that causes us to lose our sense of security and, thereafter, adopt various ways of coping, often perverse and destructive to self and others.

The level of insecurity in one's life is directly proportional to one's losing recognition of a God who has provided abundantly for all Creation, and who arranged for man to be stewards of the earth. The loss of hope triggers the beginning of despair, or the beginning of aggression and greed. Life in the Philippines, despite its Christian posture, reflects a massive loss of hope. Greed that has led to corruption, and corruption that has caused poverty and violence, define Philippine society more than its Christianity. It used to be that the Philippines was known to be the only Christian country in Asia; now, it is more known as poor and the most corrupt.

The failure of Christianity to be an evangelistic force is the failure of all Christians who have not been faithful to the footsteps and teachings of Jesus, but it is especially a failure of leadership. Religion is not a democratic system. It is led solely by example, by the purity of its Source, and the faithfulness of its disciples. The leadership is the light, the force, and the very path itself, as all leaders are invited to reflect Christ. From this reality flows the principle of anointment,; otherwise, anointment is meaningless when it derives its value from position rather than fidelity.
The intent to be faithful is finally judged by its fruit. The mission of Jesus has specific components, all of which allow their fruits to finally attest to one's fidelity to and passion for thepo mission. The delivery of glad tidings to the poor, release of captives, healing of the sick and freedom for the oppressed is the purpose and invitation to all who would follow His footsteps, who would be faithful Christians. May the Lord grants us the wisdom and the courage to accept and follow His mission.

Boy Montelibano

LIFE CHANGERS

2009-01-09T04:33:00.000-08:00

by: Jonathan Rickard, GK News Bureau

With the company vision of "We change lives", US-based high-quality cookware manufacturer Saladmaster has found partnership with Gawad Kalinga to be a natural alliance.

It was just such a vision – combined with a strong love for the poor – that drove Toronto-based Director of Filipino Business Development Pidoy Pacis to partner with Gawad Kalinga - first as a personal crusade of him and his wife - and then as the driving force in a growing partnership that included Saladmaster dealers, and later on the corporation itself.

With GK being but one good cause among many to present themselves in front of corporate executives, it was the impassioned and clear presentation of Pacis and visiting GK volunteers Dylan Wilk and Tony Meloto that moved Saladmaster executives to partner.

“As Pidoy explained it, and as the GK representatives in Canada and USA came to meetings and did a wonderful job of explaining the specialness of the program - people started getting it!” explains Saladmaster President Keith Peterson. “I think GK777 has a unique strength in that people can understand it - they get it, they can relate to it.”

He joined Pidoy Pacis in visiting the GK village in Visayas Avenue, Quezon City, to see first-hand the results of their partnership.

“You know, it's one thing to understand the logic and the reason behind this kind of project - and we got into it for a large degree because of the soundness of the thought behind it - but being here adds the passion,” Said Peterson.

As the visitors walked into the village, well-dressed children from pre-school to high-school age lined the street in welcome. The children pressed the back of the visitors’ hands to their foreheads, a traditional Filipino way of blessing those older than oneself.

An oasis of development in an area that has traditionally been wholly slum, the GK Visayas Avenue village has a main street of brightly-painted houses, the different pastel shades enlivening the community. The volunteer project director guided the visitors through the community, introducing them to residents who have homes built through Saladmaster contributions, as well as providing background to the villagers’ lives.

The children aged from preschool to high-school ages entertained the visitors with dance items, and several residents took the opportunity to share how much their lives have changed. The young SIBOL children in their tidy pink and blue uniforms impressed the guests, much more the potential of the young lives being changed.

“When you see the potential to change those children's lives - as they become adults - from the environment that they're coming out of, that creates passion,” Peterson said

“My impression is that GK is doing a wonderful job of bringing support structure, raising the quality of life.” He said, continuing, “Most importantly for me, it is providing a totally changed opportunity for the children growing up to move on to a different life.”

With the surrounding slum areas yet to be transformed, visitors to Visayas Avenue have a clear picture of both before and after.

“What surprised me is the orderliness and the depth of the thought that is behind the structure of the project (GK),” he said. “The detail to all the underlying causes that have to be addressed I think is unusual - I was very impressed with that.”

And while impressed by the transformation of the physical environment, Peterson professed greater admiration for the attitude of the residents, and for GK’s efforts to create change through bringing new attitudes and values – the values formation program.

“I am so very impressed with the part of the program where people have to attend seminars or classes on the responsibilities, the standards, the ethics, and the effort that goes into building that moral foundation as a bedrock for that community.” He said, “I think that was something that I got out of this trip today that I didn't fully appreciate.”

For Pidoy Pacis, the chance to bring the Saladmaster president to the GK village was a chance to share the passion that drove his original personal crusade for GK.

“We had the opportunity to have a business meeting here, and despite the hectic schedule we have we managed to squeeze in a visit to GK,” he described. “I thought that actual visitation to the site would not only reaffirm the faith and belief of corporate, once they see for themselves, but also allow them to speak about GK, not only regarding the systems etc, but also to say "I was there, I was able to witness and to touch it."

Meeting the children of Visayas Avenue also moved Pidoy greatly.
“Well, I'm deeply touched. You know, sometimes you get goosebumps, you get really emotional,” he describes. “Because it goes beyond just giving a roof to them, shelter. It goes beyond that. When you hear the testimony of the kids (on the change in their lives) - you know there's no amount of money that can buy that!”

Pidoy finds Saladmaster’s own company motto – “We change lives” –perfectly suited to partnering with Gawad Kalinga. “‘Life changers’ - that's what we in Saladmaster stand for,” he says, “and changing lives is what our wish is, so we are truly now a living example of this.”

“That's why I think it's easy for us to embrace this project because truly this is changing lives. I tell our dealers around the world and in the Philippines that it's not just giving, it's truly building a nation, bringing dignity back to the poor,” he says.

Now, Pacis’ personal crusade has borne fruit, fruit that includes not only renewal of the poor, but a greater level of fulfillment.

“At the end of the day when you sit down it's not the amount of money that you have in your bank account, or the jewelry, but the personal satisfaction that you have changed somebody's life,” he says.

Gawad Kalinga Community to Soar in Balanga City

2009-01-09T04:29:00.000-08:00

Written by Loren

The Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation will start the construction of housing units in the upland site of Bane in Barangay Cataning, Balanga City, which is schedule for occupancy this year by some 150 indigent families.

The site, about five kilometers away from the city proper, is a progressive agricultural community, facing the historic Mt. Samat in the town of Pilar.

Angel Pizarro, Gawad Kalinga project director and a prominent business executive in Bataan, Dr. Fortunato Abello, a Balanga City resident based in San Antonio, Texas has earmarked P2.5-M for the construction of 30 housing units in the GK Kanlungan ng Pag-Asa Project.

The beneficiaries will undergo a three-month seminar on membership training and values formation to be administered by the couples for Christ and Gawad Kalinga Caretaker team.

Governor Enrique Garcia Jr., Balanga City Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III and other officials lauded GK for leading a movement that envisions building 700, 000 homes in 7, 000 communities in seven years up to October 2010. GK villages have been built in Limay, Orion, Abucay, and Orani towns in Bataan in the past five years.

The said project would at least minimize the number of informal dwellers living under bridges and along creeks.

THE BEST GIFT IS HOPE by: TONY MELOTO

2008-12-31T05:07:00.000-08:00

This Christmas I realized is my happiest, despite the doom and the gloom I watch on television or read in the papers, because there is so much goodness in my world. Thank you for being a part of it.

Every day I walk with heroes.

Some are successful and powerful who use their resources and influence for the good of many. Most are ordinary day to day heroes who sacrifice their time with family or work to be with the less fortunate. Like the Three Kings and the shepherds, they follow the star to give hope and the priceless gift of self to the abandoned and the suffering in their search for the Savior, who came to bring glad tidings to the poor.

Every day for me is Christmas.

There is no absence of generosity or goodwill or good faith around me. People are in a giving mode all year round when they realize that they can truly make a difference and they can see where their efforts and resources are going. Vision and values are important for many to believe. Credibility is the key that opens heroic generosity.

Every day I see hope for our country.

This is the country of my deepest affection, a gift from God that I treasure. This is the country that still nurtures my belief that the greatest source of hope came to the world in the lowliest circumstances over two thousand years ago – not with economic or military might, without prejudice to color, race, status or gender. It is my faith that it is possible in this land for us to create wealth and spread it, by simply living out our greatest qualities as a people – kalinga and bayanihan – caring and sharing. This is the only way that I know for me to fulfill the dreams of our forefathers and live out the tenets of our Christian faith – to be my brother’s keeper, leaving no Filipino behind. This not only includes but prioritizes the needs of our Muslim brethren and those of other faiths who belong to the minority and are often forgotten.

Starting this Christmas, I pray that more Filipinos can be radical optimists.

Let us consciously spread hope by seeing the good in others, starting with our informal settlers and slum dwellers and the poor farmers and fisher-folks in the countryside, and wishing well and supporting all those who are helping them.

Let us make it our prayer for the day to come that no Filipino will be landless or homeless in this country where there is enough land for all. Likewise, let us make it our firm resolve to harness every idle hand and every idle land to plant and produce until we achieve abundance and no one is hungry among our people. This is not just about capital or technology but about justice and leadership. Social justice is the gift that we can give to the poor that will please the Father, if we look at the mission of the Son as the way to His heart. We need to lead everyone, by example, along this path.

With the recession and depression in the more affluent countries, the Mumbai incident, the growing unrest in Thailand and Malaysia – two Asian neighbors that many thought had it all figured out, it is clear to me that we are not so bad after all. I do not say this for us to gloss over our problems or to exonerate those who are responsible for our woes, but for us not to lose heart or blame one another or bash our country. Definitely, the global recession will affect us but it can also trigger heroic sacrifice among our people. We can turn adversity abroad into opportunities at home. We can start to produce and patronize world-class products instead of importing contaminated goods. We can channel our investments and philanthropy to the Philippines like what many migrants, expats and overseas workers are doing. They are investing in real estate and local businesses with the uncertainty of the stock and money market abroad, and helping the needy in our country, not just their relatives. Gawad Kalinga, and its mission of nation-building, is helping spur patriotic investment and philanthropy to the motherland. Many local corporations are going beyond conventional CSR and investing in viable and effective social enterprises.

Let us continue to pray for our business climate to improve, for investments to pour in, for the GDP to rise, for profit to grow a bigger social conscience, and for the day to come when transactions can be conducted more ethically without resorting to bribes and other corrupt practices. Love for God and country will help us overcome this global economic crisis, and ultimately, free us from poverty and corruption.

Let us not get tired of doing what is good and what is right.

For those of us who are over fifty, let us invest the remaining years of our life building a better world and a future full of hope for our children. Let us not consider ourselves too old or the time too late for us to make a difference. Let us turn our regret into reform and offer our country our energy, our expertise and the greatness of our spirit. This is the way of hope for many of us: the best caring for the least…raising the best to become their best…leaving no one behind…seeing no one as an enemy. It is the way to peace and our ticket to heaven.

Let our lives be good news to others.

Oftentimes, people say that media reports too much bad news. We have discovered that they are equally interested in covering inspiring stories that are relevant to the issues of the day and the needs of our times. Good news also sells.

The best news is the poor themselves. They have shown us that they do not want to beg or steal or remain idle –that they can turn troubled and ugly slums into peaceful and beautiful communities, barren lands into fields of abundance – if they regain their dignity and their dreams for their children.

The next great news is that the young are starting to believe that there is hope in this country. Many of them are mobilizing the campuses to be in solidarity with the less privileged in their communities – to build, to care, to mentor and to learn…and to reconnect with the forgotten Filipino again. It is my great belief that change is coming that will make the future much better than what it is now.

Finally, I pray that we can all be grateful for the gift of this country.

As we advocate for change, let us not forget to count our blessings. Let us discard the mentality that everything is bad and wrong in our country, while everything is good and right abroad. Let us observe a moment of grace when we can simply thank God for this beautiful land and the great privilege of being a Filipino. With all our imperfections and problems, this is still the best spot in the planet for many of us who see this country through the eyes of hope.
This is the Gawad Kalinga dream and I am profoundly grateful to all those who have made it real. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for hoping for our country and caring for our people. May God bestow His infinite blessing on you, and to all those who are precious to you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I WANNA BE LIKE THE JULIUS & TINTIN

2008-12-27T17:48:00.000-08:00

Cheers to Julius Babao and his wife Tintin Bersola, together with their artist friends, who made Christmas more meaningful to residents of Gawad Kalinga Village in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City. They turned over the first batch of 30 houses to the beneficiaries of Julius’ birthday project, ART 40 art auction and exhibit, last July 20 which raised P2.5-M.

Said Julius, “We are happy because this Christmas, the beneficiaries will start living in their new homes. What makes our Art 40 Village unique is that the houses have artworks painted on them. I invited a group of graffiti artists to spray-paint the houses.”

Eighteen more houses will be turned over to the rest of the beneficiaries in January next year, the target completion of the project. Julius and Tintin have tapped the support of Tesda which will give skills training in preparation for the livelihood projects for the GK families.

Aside from the success of ART 40, the couple has so much to thank for this year. Julius was awarded Best Male News Anchor for the sixth consecutive time by Star Awards for TV organized by the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) and for two straight years now, was voted No. 1 Favorite Male Personality by Anak TV, a yearly top-of-mind nationwide survey being conducted by the Southeast Asian Foundation for Children and Television.

On the other hand, Tintin received a special citation from the recent Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA) for her book The Story of Christine. She made it again to the list of Top 10 Most Favorite Female Personalities by the Anak TV Awards (her fifth from Anak TV since it was launched five years ago).

They look forward to more blessings in the Year of the Ox.

a christmas story

2008-12-27T17:42:00.000-08:00

A student who was writing his paper on Christmas conducted a survey on people he met in the street on what Christmas meant to them.

On the first question, “Do you celebrate Christmas?” The most frequent answer was “a little.” He then asked a follow-up question of what they mean for “a little.” The common explanation was “the times were hard. We could only prepare just enough for every member of the family to gather around something on Christmas Eve.”

To the question, “Why do you celebrate Christmas?” Many street respondents raised quizzical eyebrows as if the question is stupid, nonsensical. “Of course, it’s the birthday of Jesus Christ!” was the usual answer.

What’s so important about that? To this question many respondents looked at the student wondering if he was kidding them. Many just walked away without answering him. Those who courteously remained for a while had varied open-ended circular replies to the question, like:

1. It’s important because it’s his birthday…
2. It’s time to celebrate, to rejoice, to be happy…
3. It makes the members of the family closer to each other…
4. It’s a get-together times for long unseen friends…

The student almost gave up his quest and thought of changing his topic to what the New Year means to the persons on the street. But in the park, that afternoon, he saw an elderly woman sitting leisurely on a bench. He approached and began to interview her. The lady was kind and happy enough to answer all his questions.

Yes, she celebrated Christmas. She usually celebrated the season for sometime now by soliciting for three weeks used toys from well-off families in the neighborhood and distributed them to some children who lived along the railway on Christmas day. In the evening, she would go to church for the Christmas Eve mass, after which she would savor the hot chocolate and puto maya in the dining stall near the park, then sit until the break of dawn on the very bench she was sitting, recalling the past when she and her entire family would celebrate Christmas Eve together the same way. She was alone now; her entire family – her husband and three sons, perished in a landslide a few days before Christmas day in a nearby classy residential area some years back.

The student was stunned by what he heard but pursued his questioning. Why of all things do you focus your solicitation and distribution on toys? My donors asked the same question, she said. Well, I told them, I treasure those moments seeing my husband and my three young boys playing with their new toys on Christmas day. Actually, most of the toys I receive from the neighborhood are not old but new ones, she chuckled; and they are all ready for picking up when I moved around to collect them. One Christmas a fine lady got very interested to witness what I was doing and helped me distributed the toys to the kids. She was so happy with the experience and told her story to some friends. Now, actually I am no longer alone in distributing toys in some depressed areas. A lady circle was organized in the neighborhood and the members distributed not just toys but used clothing and packs of goodies during the Christmas season.

With that tragedy, what does Christmas mean to you now, the student asked.

I t never changes, she said. Christmas is always and will always be a thanksgiving celebration. A Savior was once born for us and that’s enough big reason why we should always be thankful and happy, not only during Christmas time but through all the days of our lives. I overcome the tragedy by counting my blessings. I once had a happy family. Yes, my loved ones were all gone now but not everybody had the opportunity to have a happy family. They died and disappeared from my sight but they are all alive in my heart and in my mind. You can’t kill a beautiful memory. You can only add more beauty to it. This I do by making little children happy with the toys that kind-hearted people give to them. Without thinking about it, my act touched and changed the lives of some people in my neighborhood. Anyway, the birth of Christ assures me that someday I will be with my family again. That what makes the season so special to me, she smiled.

Some lessons could be gleaned from the widow’s Christmas story.

First, Christmas is a thanksgiving celebration for mankind because of the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ. Thanking God for giving us a Savior is the essence of the celebration.

Second, we can overcome some tragedies in life if we know how to count our blessings. Even tragedies are blessing in disguise because they could make us a much better person. Unfortunately, many of us do not know how to count our blessings. When something bad or something we do not like happens to us we blamed other people, or ourselves or God. It is very sickening. It makes everybody feel bad. We must learn to count our blessings to make life more bearable.

Finally, we can transform tragedies into blessings to others.

The story of the woman becomes a blessing to the toy givers. It enlightens them on the beauty of life amidst the cruelty of fate. It makes them cheerful givers and more sensitive to the needs of other people. They don’t only give discards of things they don’t need anymore but share a portion of their material possessions if only to make the least of their kind happy even just for a day or two. They have become a blessing to the railway kids and street children and their families. The giving neighbors have become truly rich. For it is not what we possess but what we give away that makes us rich.

But one may say that I have no possessions to share to others. I am willing to give but I have nothing to give.

That is not true. We always have something to give away, to share with others. If not wealth, then we give our talents, our skills, and our time to some worthy causes to improve the quality of life of other people. Your cheerful mood, your contagious smile, and your capacity to listen to the wails of friends in despair make a big difference in this fickle, cruel but beautiful world.

THE LUCKY GENERATION

2008-12-27T17:26:00.000-08:00

TO ALL FOLKS WHO WERE BORN IN THE 1950's, 60' s, 70's and early 80's !!First, some of us survived being born to mothers who did not have an OB-Gyne and drank San Miguel Beer while they carried us. While pregnant, they took cold or cough medicine, a te Linunod, balikutsa, bukhayo and didn't worry about diabetes.

Then after all that trauma, our baby cribs were made of hard wood covered with lead-based paints, ang uban kay duyan nga habol gihigtan ug pisi nga inigtabyog ug kusog ma pakong intawon ta sa bongbong. We had no soft cushy cribs that play music, no disposable diapers (lampin lang sa General Milling nga naa'y faded picture nga nag-salute), and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, no kneepads, wala pa gyu'y brake ang bisikleta.

As children, we would ride in hot un-airconditioned buses with wooden seats (Bisaya Bus nga pultahan puros ang kilid, Corominas Bus nga senimana ang brake), or cars with no airconditioning & no seat belts (karon kay Minibus na nga nindot kaayo ug sounds or Ceres Bus nga bugnaw ug aircon) Riding on the back of a carabao on a breezy summer day was considered a treat. (karon; ang mga bata wala na kaila ug Kabaw) We drank water from the garden hose and NOT bottled mineral water sa Nature Spring or Viva, or Absolute Mineral water (usahay gani, straight from the faucet or poso or Tabay!) We shared one soft drink bottle with four of our friends, and NO ONE actually died from this. Or contracted hepatitis.

We ate rice with star margarine, bahaw nga gibutangan ug asin ug mantika sa baboy, drank raw eggs straight from the shell, and drank softdrinks with real sugar in it (dili diet coke or Pepsi Max), but we weren't sick or overweight kay......

WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!! We would leave home in the morning and play all day, and get back when the streetlights came on. Syatong, Bato-Lata, Bagol, Dakop-Dakop, Tago-Tago, Ngita'g Kaka. No one was able to reach us all day ( wala pa'y uso ang cellphone) . And yes, we were O.K. We would spend hours building our wooden trolleys (katong bearing ang ligid) or Karitong Kawayan nga karaang tsinilas ang giporma nga ligid and then ride down the street , wala ma'y gidungog nga naligsan atoh! After hitting the sidewalk or falling! into a canal (sewage channel) a few times, we learned to solve the problem ourselves with our bare & dirty hands .

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 100 channels on cable, no DVD movies, no surround stereo, no IPOD's, no cell phones, no computers, no Internet, no chat rooms, and no Friendsters. ........ ...WE HAD REAL FRIENDS and we went outside to actually talk and play with them! We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no stupid lawsuits from these accidents. The only rubbing we get is from our friends with the words..sakit bai ? pero kung kontra gani nimo ang imong kadula,,,,singgitan lang dayon ug..Mayra,Gabaan! We played marbles (jolen) in the dirt , washed our hands just a little and ate Pan Bahug-bahug & Bagumbayan (recycled bread man diay to kay wala mahalin!)

We were not afraid of getting germs in our stomachs. We had to live with homemade guns (giporma nga kahoy, gihigtan ug garter ug lastiko) , saplong , tirador ug uban pa nga pwedeng magkasakitay. Pero lingaw gihapon kaayo ang tanan. We made up games with sticks ( syatong ), and cans ( Bato-Lata )and although we were told they were dangerous, wala man gyud to'y actual nga nabuta bah, bukol lang nuon sa agtang naa. We walked, rode bikes, or took tricycles to a friend's house and knocked on the door or batoon ug gagmay nga bato ang bungbong, or just yelled for them to jump out the window! Mini basketball teams had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't pass had to learn to deal with the disappointment. Wala pa nang mga childhood depression ug damaged self esteem ek-ek ra na. Ang maglagot, pildi. Ang mga Ginikanan naa ra sa daplin para motan-aw ra sa duwa sa mga bata, dili para manghilabot ug makig-away sa ubang parents.

That generation of ours has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers, creative thinkers and successful professionals ever! They are the CEO's, Engineers, Doctors and Military Generals of today. The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had failure, success, and responsibility. We learned from our mistakes the hard way. You might want to share this with others who've had the luck to grow up as real kids. We were lucky indeed.

And if you like, forward it to your kids too, so they will know how brave their parents were. It kind of makes you wanna go out and climb a tree, doesn't it?!

P.S. - The big letters are because your eyes may not be able to read this if they were typed any smaller (at your age? Duh!). "Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way."

THOUSANDS WALK THE GK WAY: GK HOLDS A SUCCESSFUL EXPO

2008-12-13T01:51:00.000-08:00

by: Marjorie Duterte, GK News Bureau

Thousands walk the GK way of friendship, as Gawad Kalinga celebrated its 5th anniversary last October 11 at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig city, attended by thousands of GK residents, builders, workers, volunteers, partners from the government, corporate, academe, NGOs, religious organizations and the civil society -- all in solidarity for love of God and country.
It was an amazing sight: the rich and the poor walking together in unity, competitors in business encouraging each other, government leaders inspiring their compatriots towards integrity and excellence, and the kapitbahayan (GK residents) walking proudly alongside caretaker teams, their dignity fully restored.
It was a covergence of a variety of peoples formerly divided but now moving forward as one towards a common vision of a first-class Philippines. Everyone was blessed to be a part of the miracle and the friendship.
Here is a run-down of the events that transpired during this year's Gawad Kalinga Expo, an annual anniversary celebration of the pioneering movement that seeks to alleviate extreme poverty in the Philippines and the world.
THE GK Expo Highlights:
The Caretaker Summit (October 10, Ateneo)
Focusing on the heart of Gawad Kalinga, the caretaker teams soaked in a day of information and inspiration to renew and encourage them in their work as mentors for the poor. The Field Book Manual, aimed at providing the science and system to the faith-based movement, was officially launched by GK and the Ateneo GK Builders Institute. Program Heads and GK champions recounted their mission and goals for the caretakers who will empower their army working with them on the ground while partners from government and GK1MB shared their best practices and strategies.
The caretaker team were exhorted to plan and "dream for your community" as executive director Luis Oquiñena emphasized the importance of their presence on the ground. "Our presence tells them that you are important to me," operations head Mari Oquiñena affirmed while enumerating the building blocks of GK which is W.I.S.E: wholisitc, integrated, sustainable, and empowering. "There is no exclusivity in caring for others," he said and encouraged the caretakers of the vision to help the kapitbahayan become benefactors.
Meanwhile, GK visionary Tony Meloto, laid out the vision for Gawad Kalinga. He said that 2003-2010 or GK777 was a time for Social Healing, providing social justice and just structures for the poorest of the poor while moving towards the designer phase or Social Artistry (2011-2017) furthering empowering them by providing the best for the least and helping them achieve their fullest potentials, onwards to Social Progress and sustainability (2018-2024) where the dream of a first-class Philippines will have been fully realized. He announced that Gawad Kalinga's global model for development will be officially launched at the GK Global Summit at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts on June 12 to 15, 2009.
The First GK Mabuhay Pageant Held (October 10, Ateneo)
It was a time for celebration. GK's very own Mabuhay Ladies from various GK communities in Metro Manila came together to showcase the true beauty of the Filipino people. The Mabuhay pageant night saw an inspiring show of support from GK residents who came to cheer on their respective candidates as they participated in the talent, evening gown, and question and answer portions.
Mabuhay Lady Violeta Julian of GK Roque, West-C shone brightly among the nine finalists, winning the crown Ms. Mabuhay, as well as the titles Ms. Friendship, Best in Talent, and Best in Evening Gown. "I am very happy. I am am mother already and I did not expect to reach this, God is really good," the radiant Mabuhay Lady expressed, grateful for her neighbors who came to pray for her and give their support. Charisma Español of GK Amparo-North A and Marivic Eñal of GK Busilak-Central A were the first and second runners-up. Former Tourism Secretary and now GK Champion Tony Gonzalez lead the judges in choosing the winners based on the following criteria: social relationships, personality and leadership.
GK's Tony Meloto who happily graced the event said, "Mabuhay is a celebration of the life and the greatness of the Filipino spirit." "Matagal nilang tiniis ang pangit na kapaligiran, ngayon sila po ang bida," he added. (They long endured an ugly environment, now they are the stars). He added that everyone in GK is beautiful, good, and excellent and that there was no room for the ugly whether it be the house or their character. The Mabuhay pageant is set to become an annual event, to include GK beauties from the provinces.
Running for your country, the GK - Adidas Marathon (October 11, Fort Bonifacio)
Running for you country has now become an annual event held during the GK Expo, a tradition that began last year in partnership with Adidas King of the Road marathon. As early as two weeks before the event, registrations at P300 each to join the marathon was closed, the event was sold out with the proceeds set to go to building GK communities for the poorest of the poor. About 5,500 runners joined the event that kicked-off the GK celebrations last October 11, with a blast signaling 21 kilometer runners to start pounding the roads of Fort Bonifacio in Taguig city, followed by 5K and 10K runners. Young and old alike - the youngest being a 2-year old in a jogger accompanied by his family and the oldest a 77 year-old doctor - gave their individual contributions to the country by running for the poor.
The Executive Director's Report (October 11, Fort Bonifacio)
Attended by Gawad Kalinga's friends from the government, corporate and private sectors, GK's executive director Luis Oquiñena noted the movement's milestones for 2008. "GK is a work of renewal, it brings new things. We have had a lot of breakthroughs," he said. He announced that the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) has already signed the resolution which makes GK an official beneficiary of real estate developers who are mandated by law to give 20% of their building budget to socialized housing. This recent development provides additional resources for helping reach the goal of building 7,000 GK communities by 2010.
Business competitors SMART Communications and GK Expo event sponsor Globe Telecoms, shared what they learned working with GK. "We learned what partnership and collaboration is all about, that competing corporations can come together for nation-building," said Smart's Mon Isberto. "We are very happy to see Globe as a partner of GK," he said. "Kahit umuunlad tayo, kung hindi ninyo tutulungan ang katabi nyo, maraming maiiwan," he said while sharing the story of their adopted community in General Nakkar, Quezon, whose fishermen turned sculptors gave P100,000 of the proceeds of their art sales to help build the community in GK Budlaan in Cebu.
Globe's said that working with GK, "gave the company a sense of purpose and meaning for its corporate existence." "It's not [only] the resources that we bring to the community but it's the friendship we make along the way," said Globe family's vice-president Ferdz De La Cruz who noted the hundreds of Globe employees who have been touched by GK and quietly volunteering in GK villages on their own.
Armed Forces of the Philippines General Natalio Ecarma III committed his service to the Filipinos, "Ang uniporme ay hindi importante. Ang importante ay ang samahan...Sa GK walang iwanan. Kami ay sundalo ninyo." The general is one of the dreamers for the building of a GK Village in Patikul, Sulu scheduled for the annual Bayani Challenge in April 2009. It is a major step towards pursuing peace in Mindanao through the GK way, the kind of peace that the Moslem community represented by Sultan Akraman Saripada of GK Wao, Lanao del Sur and Bangsamoro commander Hadji Sangcopan Bansil seeks to end the war in Mindanao and alleviate their poor people's sufferings. "Kapatid ko kayo. Magkakapatid tayong lahat, walang iwanan!," Sultan Akraman said. The general and sultan would be seen shaking hands during the event as a sign of unity towards this shared vision of peace in Mindanao, and in solidarity with One UTAK, the united transport group composed of the nation's jeepney and bus drivers who initiated the tie a white ribbon for peace in jeepneys and buses throughout the troubled region.
The Executive Director Luis Oquiñena reiterated the expo's them: Walang Iwanan, Anong taya mo para sa Bayan? "Yung walang ginagawa para sa bayan, yun ang squatter," he said and encouraged everyone to be anchored in their motherland, to make their stake in the country.
GK Expo Taguig Mayor Freddie Tinga capped the session with his inspiring realization that GK is the glue that brings people together for a nation long beset by division exemplified by the city of Taguig, that has a big gap between the rich and poor. Taguig which is working towards closing this gap and is one with the GK's vision in creating it a designer city. "The one thing that GK tells us is we cannot do it alone. We are changing and learning...GK is telling everyone that it can be done," he said. "If it can be done here in Taguig, it can be done anywhere in the country," he believed. "Dito sa GK, patapos na ang dilim at nagsisimula na ang umaga," he said.
Echoing his predecessor's realization that "the national government cannot do it alone," the Department of Agriculture secretary Arthur Yap committed to working with GK in producing sustainable farms so that the poor will have food on their people and Filipinos will not be hungry in a land so blessed with an abundance of natural resources. This synergy and alliance with the agriculture government will convert idle lands to productive ones, starting with 300 GK sites, where the technical expertise and support of the agriculture department will be applied in partnership with GK.
The executive director noted that the road ahead is full of hard work as GK aims to build 3,500 communities in 2009 and build a million homes. He exhorted those present to protect unity at all cost. "Do not allow cracks," he said. "The Filipino poor is the priority."
Goldilock's Birthday Blow-Out for 7,000 GK Kids (October 11, Fort Bonifacio)
In celebration of Gawad Kalinga's 5th anniversary, Goldilocks Bakeshop treated the SIBOL, SAGIP children and Kids for Christ members to a big birthday blow-out with an hourly party from catering to 1,000 kids per batch. Many of the kids, who have never had a birthday party before in their lives and cannot afford a birthday cake, were all happy to have the opportunity to celebrate their birthday with other kids, the next generation of Filipinos. The children were treated to a program with games and blowing of their birthday cakes. All were happy bringing their gift packs from Goldilocks after the party.
Building a Nation (October 11, Fort Bonifacio)
The session began with a riveting performance of GK SIGA members in a powerful play written by Ron Capinding entitled Tao Po (It is I), co-presented by Gawad Kalinga and the Department of Foreign Affairs. It was a show of world-class excellence featuring the talents of our GK youth who just came from Indonesia to teach and perform with fellow Siga members there. Their performance during the GK Expo with foreign dignitaries and company presidents as their guests, was simply exceptional. It showed that the poor can really excel given the opportunity and empowerment. The famous choir from GK Tatalon also performed to an amazed audience.
"You just have seen the transformation of our greatest asset," GK visionary Tony Meloto began as he welcomed honorable diplomats from different countries. "These are the lost Filipinos," Meloto said, noting that there are talents in the most depressed areas. "Today, we see a convergence of our people, raising the least of our brethren to their highest potential for excellence," he said as he introduced Gawad Kalinga's next phase of development, Social Artistry or the designer phase where the best Filipinos give of their excellence to help the least attain to their fullest potentials as well.
He honored the caretakers from Couples for Christ in Bagong Silang who started GK with a sense of mission. "In the spirit of sacrifice, we have built GK," said the chief inspirational officer as he presented the Addurru family, whose house was the very first home built by GK. They represent the many GK communities since then whose lives have been changed. Bagong Silang, the largest baranggay in Metro Manila and formerly the haven of dangerous gangs and criminals, has been transformed from within, evolving steadily into GK's designer baranggay.
Former Philippine Ambassador to Milan, honorable Amb. Peter Chan while representing the DFA diplomatic corps handed out a cheque to Meloto saying it was "a gift from the heart" from overseas Filipino workers in the country were he served.
Bukas Loob sa Diyos represented by Bro. Ric Pascua said they are striving to raise 1,000 GK communities. "We are all children of God. This work is too big for any one community to handle. It is for everyone," he said.
Meloto called on competing schools Ateneo and La Salle to participate in a "Patriot Games", which unlike the coveted men's basketball championship, would compete
instead for the most number of land donated for the poor of the country. "Now, we are united as a people. We have a dream that unites us," he said as he spoke of the vision for the Philippines, as the first world-class nation in Southeast Asia.
Partners from local government lead by inspiring mayors Sonia Lorenzo of San Isidro, Nueva Ecija, Camarines Sur Governor LRay Villafuerte, and Taguig's Freddie Tinga who all espoused good governance, integrity and excellence, agreeing that GK is integrative. "It brings people together and it integrates the dreams of the poor," Mayor Lorenzo said. Our motto now is "Maka-Diyos, maka-bayan, at maka-deliver," as she affirmed her commitment with GK.
"I sought change - and with unrelenting determination, took off to a path that was unexpected, unconventional and untested," shared Governor Villafuerte of how he transformed Camarines Sur into a world-class tourist destination with its now famous wakeboarding facility. Akin to the revolutionary and faith-filled spirit of GK: Build it and they will come, the inspiring governor embraces wholeheartedly GK's vision of christening Cam Sur as a Designer province with world-class GK villages complete with bed and breakfast homes for guests, a livelihood ran by GK's residents.
"The partnership of GK and Cam Sur is a match made in heaven - it is an answered prayer - because it came at a time when I felt the compelling need to do more for my people," shared Gov. Villafuerte. " I wanted to elevate our humble success to a more meaningful level," he said.
Meanwhile, dynamic mayor Freddie Tinga affirmed his all-out support for GK's vision for Taguig as a designer city, " Taguig is going to be a great city. GK is making people believe lalo na ang mga mahihirap na kaya pala!" Paranaque mayor Jun Bernabe also reaffirmed his commitment, "Itinaya ko na po ang aking sarili, and aking pamilya," he said.
Former Wyeth chief and marketing brain, now GK champion Boy de Claro said that he now has the best brand to sell to the world: The Filipino.
"It is a great gift and a great privilege to be a Filipino," Meloto affirmed.
40,000 GK heroes join Martsa ng mga Bayani
(October 11, GK Expo Grounds)
The annual GK tradition -- the parade of heroes honors the caretaker teams, kapitbahayan, partners and volunteers who tirelessly work on the ground to build the country of their dreams. This year, the GK expo ground was filled to the brim. A 40,000-strong army of GK heroes from all over the country and the world, joined this year's march for a massive show of unity.
What is notable of this year's march is its changing face: the rich and the poor march together in full equality, and many more partners fully adopting their GK communities. The kapitbahayans were the main focus with their caretaker teams proudly marching alongside them as friends. It was the emergence of "The New Middle Class" as GK's Tony Meloto puts it. GK heroes from as far as Mindanao and patriots returning from America, all waited in line to join the parade. Many GK communities showcased their province's treasures in a float, notable of them were Batangas and Laguna. Some came with full marching and dancing bands such as Metro Manila's West sector that reminded one of great festivals in the Philippines.
Company presidents marched with their employees and GK1MB volunteers from schools, universities and fraternities marched fully in support of the GK vision. Even Ateneo and La Salle laid aside school pride, sharing a float together acknowledging that they were only rivals in the basketball court but more imporantly, co-builders of the country. Lastly, it is significant to mention that almost all the baranggays of Taguig came, having the longest delegation in an all out show of their support for Gawad Kalinga.
This year's Martsa ng mga Bayani, showed the significant growth of the movement. Indeed, we might need a bigger area in the future as GK continues to grow to its fullest potential.
The GK1World Concert
(October 11, Fort Bonifacio)
The renowned Fort Bonifacio grounds used for international concerts, was filled to the brim. The only difference now is that the poor who cannot afford to go to these international events, were the very important guests for GK1World's concert aired worldwide through internet television.
Vice President Noli de Castro graced the auspicious event affirming that: "Ganyan talaga ang magkakaibigan, walang iwanan!" He thanked Gawad Kalinga's gift of building transformative friendships. "True friendship brings about change in those involved in the relationship."
He said that his friendship with GK transformed him personally as the inspiration of ordinary citizen sacrificing for their country, humbles him, engages him and allows him to be focused on providing the basic needs of the poor Filipinos. "Your own zeal and enthusiasm for the mission is contangious," he said as he honored the many heroes of Gawad Kalinga. "We must remain focused on our mission in GK," said the servant of the people.
"Walang atrasan, at ito ang taya ko!," the vice president said. He encouraged everyone to resolve to keep moving forward in spite of the current global crisis and challenges faced, and to rely on those transformative friendships to keep moving on towards the fulfillment of GK's dreams for the poor.
Representing the corporate sector, SMART committed to send a team to Sulu for the 2009 Bayani Challenge for a peaceful Mindanao, pledged to send a representative to the GK Global Summit in Boston, and vowed to provide internet connection to GK communities all over the Philippines. Meralco committed to continue building Sibol schools and provide light to GK villages while Shell committed to growing and develping its GK farms and to be a staunch ally of Green Kalinga. Wyeth committed to continue raising healthy homes and developing healthy kids in GK communities.
"My fellow citizens, ano yung taya ninyo?" challenged GK's executive director Luis Oquiñena. "Pamilya ko, eto ang taya ko" as he committed his kids and family. Many people expressed their commitments through SMS or text as they quietly prayed and considered their personal contributions to their country.
Representing GK's international network, Dr. Charlie Capati who has lived in the USA for 37 years, committed to helping spread the vision of GK in America. "This is our time. [Let us] embrace our destiny," he said. Filipino-American entrepreneur Tony Olaes, committed to never forget the Philippines. "My heart is for the Philippines and it will never leave you, I promise you that," he affirmed as he continues to promote the work of GK in States and raise villages with other Fil-Ams in business.
The expo drew to a close with everyone renewing their commitment and hope hope for the Philippines. The GK heroes on stage and on the ground locked arms in a show of solidarity singing together "Bayan Ko."The concert ended with a praise fest, everyone expressing their love for God.
World-class Filipino talents Ryan Cayabyab, River Maya, 6Cycle Mind, Imago, Sponge Cola, Cueshe and Gloc9 contributed their talents towards a first-class Philippines. According to many participants, the GK1World Expo Walang Iwanan: Anong Taya mo Para sa Bayan? was the best expo to date.
Happy Anniversary GK Bayani!

RUN FOR YOUR COUNTRY WITH GK AND ADIDAS

2008-09-25T05:44:00.000-07:00

Filipinos in Manila and Dublin, Ireland are putting their best foot forward to run for the country's poor.

On October 11, 2008, coinciding with the annual Gawad Kalinga Expo, Adidas will be holding the "King of the Road 2008" marathon where GK volunteers and partners in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces can run the 5K, 10K, or 21K marathon for an affordable registration fee of P300.00, inclusive of race singlet, race number, certificate, and entrance fee to the GK Expo. The race starts at 5:30 am at 28th Street, Fort Santiago in Taguig City and is open to youth and adults ages 13 years old and above.

To join the Adidas-GK marathon in Manila, you may register from September 22 to October 9 at Adidas Shops in Podium,Trinoma, Megamall and Rockwell. For bulk registrations of corporations, schools and organizations, please register at the ground floor of Vazquez-Madrigal Bldg., Annapolis Street in Greenhills, San Juan.

Meanwhile, several thousand miles away in Ireland, Liza Jane Jorque is getting ready to run the challenging 42K Adidas Dublin Marathon, along with other GK advocates, on October 27,2008 to help raise funds for Gawad Kalinga.

If you are living in Ireland, you and your family can also participate. The Dublin Marathon showcases a 3-mile Family Fun Run and is open to all the families. You can walk, jog or run for the poor in the Philippines.

SUCCESSFUL CYD CONGRESS HELD

2008-09-06T17:07:00.000-07:00

by: Jonathan Rickard, GK News Bureau

The GK Child and Youth Development Congress was successfully held last August 23 at the De La Salle University-Manila campus. Community leaders and subject specialists came together to share their experiences, knowledge, and expertise for the benefit of GK children and youth.

Evangelina Lawas presented the Rights of a SAGIP Child, answering the significant question "How do we protect our children?" including those caught up in such widely prevalent slum-issues as youth crime and drugs. GK community leaders discussed how their communities should interact with authorities in order to achieve constructive outcomes for all.

The second session of the congress focused on the value of education in Gawad Kalinga, highlighting the participation of some of Manila's private schools such as Poveda in aiding the GK children’s education through volunteer tutoring and school group involvement, and the creation of GK's very first grade school at GK Pinagkuartelan village in Pandi,Bulacan.

The Caring Jesus Elementary school in Pandi was built through the generosity of the Pineda family, with son Dino Pineda working with Gawad Kalinga to bring to fruition a vision that started with his grandmother and father who wanted to provide quality education for the poor. With GK Pinagkuartelan housing 650 families, the Caring Jesus elementary school will be opening one new class every year for the next six years, until grades 1 to 6 are provided for the community.

While GK has provided pre-school education through its SIBOL schools, this is the fist instance of elementary education being provided inside a GK community.

Gawad Kalinga Reaches Out to Aetas

2008-08-06T02:56:00.000-07:00

By Patricia Esteves, The Philippine Star, March 2, 2008

In a Gawad Kalinga village in Burog, Bamban town, Tarlac, neatly dressed Aeta children gather inside a Sibol classroom, GK’s pre-school facility, listening intently as their teacher reads books and counts numbers.

Their parents, meanwhile, are out in the field, harvesting fruits and vegetables or tending to livestock.

A few years back, Aeta children and their mothers picked through trash for bottles, metal scraps and newspapers that earned them around P50 a day, while others simply roamed around the city begging for food.

For a time, Aetas in Tarlac have been used to living in poverty, with misery and ugliness all around them, and people paying little or no attention to them.

But today, things are different. The 100 Aeta families in this town now live in brightly colored, clean and sturdy homes and are beneficiaries of free schooling and sustainable livelihood.

Apart from this, Singles for Christ (SFC) and Couple’s for Christ (CFC) members continue to care for the Aetas through various “Kapatiran” and fellowship activities meant to “reinforce GK’s thrust on building not just homes but more importantly, relationships.” CFC members conduct values formation programs among the Aetas.

Last February 12-14, SFC members from Zamboanga Sibugay, Metro Manila, Tarlac, Canada, Australia, United States and the Middle East spent three days in GK Burog to bond and interact with the Aetas.

After having built more than 150 houses for the Aetas, GK said that by bringing volunteers to the Aeta sites, they are able to show that GK genuinely cares for them.

SFC members like Delson Villanueva, an engineer from Qatar who participated in the event dubbed “Kapatid, sa GK walang Iwanan,” said they did not only teach the Aetas but also learned their culture, history and way of life.

“The event wanted to highlight the beauty and the treasure within the Aetas. It also aims to awaken participants on some social issues affecting the Aetas,” GK champion Tony Meloto said.

‘Survivor series’

The SFC participants did not just construct houses but activities, patterned after the “Survivor Series”, were integrated in the building process. A total of 33 participants were divided into three tribes such as Manwelek, Oyha, and Abukay, Ayta Mag-antsi for a large forest rat, deer and civet cat, respectively. Some of the workshops/challenges were the “Hunt”, where participants were taught how to use the bow & arrow used by the Aetas for hunting; and archery.The participants were given an overview of the history and culture of the Aetas and were oriented on the Mag-Antsi language of the Aetas.

The indigenous people harvest and sell papaya, the main source of income in GK Burog, for only P10 pesos per kilo (farm-gate price).

‘Love the other’

Filipino-American Justin Claravall said he felt a profound calling to “love the other” when he spent time with Aetas in Burog.

“When I first got off the minicab and saw the children playing, shouting, rolling on the dirty ground, a thought invaded my head: ‘These kids are dirty.’ How embarrassing it was for me to judge these kids so immediately,” Justin said, recalling his first visit to a GK site.

He said he reflected on his guilt and asked for God’s forgiveness and this drove him to be close to the children.

“After a couple days, the Aeta children returned love in spades. Little girls followed me around, hugging me and telling me they’ll cry when I leave,” Justin said.

“From the initial prejudice up to the time we left, I felt more accepted and I cared more for the well-being of the villagers, especially the children, who lavished me with so much affection,” he added.

In totality, he said the whole experience brought him closer to God by showing him that to love Him, he must learn to love his neighbors.

Justine was raised in California and is a member of the GK Builders Corp for six months.

Delson, who also spent time in GK Burog, was introduced to GK by SFC-Qatar. As an overseas Filipino worker (OFW), he realized that GK was the perfect vehicle for him to express his love to his poor kababayans, particularly street children.

“Everytime I do GK work, I’m very inspired because I know that it is full of love – love for people, love for country and love for God,” Delson said.

“It’s a different experience for me. We were very happy to be welcomed by the Aetas.

You can see that they were very willing to learn and improve their lifestyle. They do not want to beg but they would rather crave for attention, understanding and love,” Delson said.

“My commitment to GK is to continue to support their program and as an OFW, I will continue promoting GK in our area in the Middle East particularly in Qatar. By God’s will, I want to be a full time GK worker someday. We in SFC-Qatar have a GK pledge and that is going to GK San Martin every year, that’s the place we want to build a village,” Delson said.

The Aetas’ homes, free school education and livelihood programs are part of GK’s Indigenous People (IP) program, which aims to help indigenous communities build ecologically sound and sustainable villages, sharing a common vision that is economically progressive, promoting social equity and providing a good quality of life.

“So we are bringing in the programs for health, education, food production together with improvement of shelter that respects the history, tradition of indigenous peoples,” said Meloto in an interview.

Their goal is to preserve the beautiful culture and unique qualities not only of Aetas in Pampanga, Zambales and Tarlac but also of the Mangyans in Mindoro, the Dumagats in Aurora and Rizal, the Palawonons of Palawans, the Bilaans, Tibolis, Mamawons, Subanens and other indigenous peoples in Mindanao.

Come take up your Flag & Follow Me

2008-08-06T02:53:00.000-07:00

by Willy E. Arcilla

Come, take up your flag and follow me. In answer to the clarion call of the country’s Church officials for “communal action” and the public clamor for a new brand of people power amidst the unfolding ZTE bribery and corruption scandal, the social-realist painter Joey Velasco, whose famous work “Hapag ng Pag-Asa” moved millions in the country and around the world, has responded with his newest creation entitled, “Take Up Your Flag”. The oil-on-canvass painting depicts Jesus Christ, who is no longer dead on the cross nor meek as a lamb as usually projected, but grim-faced and defiant. Jesus has taken up the role as the country’s paramount leader, to symbolize the need for a reunification — not a separation — of religious beliefs and temporal affairs. It is a message to all our leaders in government, the church and civil society to live a “unity-of-life” in communion with Jesus Christ and in consonance with his teachings — as real-life disciples, and not merely nominal Sunday churchgoers.

Jesus Christ is boldly depicted raising a tattered Philippine flag, a poignant symbolism of the countless upheavals the country has been through ” from the Cry of Pugad Lawin in 1896 to the volley of musketry in Bagumbayan in 1898; from the Fall of Bataan to the infamous Death March in 1942, from the anguish of 1983 to the euphoria of 1986, and then again in 2001. But now, after all the time consumed and the energy spent, we find ourselves once again caught in a turbulent maelstrom. Many already show signs of frustration and weariness, hopelessness and despair as a tattered nation. So Velasco has decided the only real way to move forward is if we anoint Jesus our paramount leader.

Velasco shares his thoughts and feelings, “The face of Jesus beckons; the eyes challenge us; the tough stance tells us there is no way to lose. We will definitely win this war. And the battle cry is love. He is offering his life in the frontlines of the battlefield. His Eucharistic action of life giving is extended to social action. Hence, it is a call to action”.

What makes Velasco’s painting even more gripping is Jesus has not only picked up the tattered flag â€” which in fact resembles many flags around the country â€” faded and torn â€” but He has inverted the flag showing the red band atop the blue, declaring that the nation is in a state of war. Jesus seems to rally His people for the final conflict in the saga of the Filipino nation. Jesus is urging all Filipinos to join an uprising He will personally lead â€” not only against graft and corruption â€” but against all forms of human wrongdoing â€” yet not through violent means, but by pursuing the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity, reinforced by the human virtues of courage and confidence, infused with the supernatural virtues of faith, hope and charity, powered by prayer and brought to life in action and leadership by example. Jesus issues a “call to arms” in the war of the good over the evil. Indeed, amidst all the seemingly intractable challenges and crises that continue to bedevil the country, we must all agree that our nation is not at peacetime. Our nation is at war.

We continue to fight the massive and protracted war against graft and corruption; against the vicious cycle of poverty and destitution; hunger and malnutrition; landlessness and homelessness; poor health and high mortality; the war against illiteracy and inferior education; the war against unemployment and underemployment; labor exploitation and low productivity; the war against the lack of opportunities causing the Filipino diaspora; against selfish gratification and ostentatious hedonism; the war against a widening rich-poor gap and undue concentration of wealth; the war against alcoholism and illegal gambling; drug abuse and prostitution; and all forms of crime and violence; the war against pride and hubris; greed and avarice; the war against colonial mentality and crab mentality; the war against nominal Christianity and religious intolerance vs. our Muslim brothers; the war against all physical and armed conflict â€” extrajudicial killings and communist insurgency, terrorist attacks and secession; abuses by the armed forces and abuses against the armed forces; the war against marital infidelity and broken families; against indecency and immorality; lust and licentiousness; the war against apathy and indifference; negativism and pessimism; the war against treachery and hypocrisy; the war against “Bahala Na” fatalism, “Pwede na” mediocrity and “Pasensiya Na” excuses; the war against excessive politics and an obsession over intrigues; the war against bureaucratic red tape in government and a culture of privilege among oligarchs, the war against a lack of competitiveness and inertia to change in the face of an increasingly competitive global market; and the war against environmental degradation and climate change â€” indeed, this is an all-out war we need to wage against all forms of evil in the country and across multiple fronts — not only in government but in civil society, at work and at home, not only against the evil in others but more so, the evil within ourselves.

Velasco muses, “These were the same issues before the Shepherd was slaughtered; before He died a poor man’s death. Before the cross became a religious icon, it was, in His time, a punishment for slaves and rebels. ‘Take up your cross,’ spoken before Jesus died on the cross and before it took on a religious meaning, in the ears of Jesus’ listeners, meant ‘commit yourself to those principles and actions which will bring you to the cross.’ For Jesus, taking up the cross meant committing Himself to liberating His people, especially the poor over the authorities, tradition and laws, and the corrupt state of His time”.

Even after 110 years of independence, our country remains in disunity, not only from a culture of regionalism imbibed over more than 400 years of western colonization, but what is more insidious is the deep division between the forces of good against evil. Yet history also shows how Filipinos have galvanized themselves as one nation in times of adversity to put up a valiant fight against common enemies, such as the revolt of the first 8 provinces against Spain, and the whole country against the Japanese occupation; our victory against the tyranny of a despot in 1986 and the immorality of a drunkard in 2001. This must be the inspiration for Jesus Christ to call upon all Filipinos to fight the final battle against all enemies of the common good so we may enjoy true and lasting freedom.

“Thus for the followers of Jesus, ‘take up your cross,’ means to stretch out one’s arm and to ‘take up the flag,’ and to commit oneself in word and deed to protest the cheating and lying, to put a stop to the extrajudicial killings of activists, journalists, and members of pro-poor movements, to bring justice to the victims and their families”, adds Velasco.

To dramatize this declaration of war and remind ourselves of the need to remain vigilant at all times, Joey Velasco seems to recapture a dramatic moment in our nation’s history when Andres Bonifacio, founder of the “Kataas-taasang, Kagalang-kagalang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan” led the Filipino revolutionaries to tear up the Spanish cedula in the Cry of Balintawak. Our nation may not be at war in the traditional definition of armed conflict, but it can be argued that we are engaged in a war no less daunting or real because the outcome of this war will dictate whether we can win the true freedom we cherish from all human oppression on earth â€” material and spiritual. Velasco is hopeful his latest painting can motivate each province, city, town, municipality and barangay; each diocese and each parish; each factory and each office; each school and each family to follow Jesus Christ and invert the Philippine flag to display and keep the red band on top until such time that we achieve our common mission of defeating all forces of evil and oppression. Then and only then can we achieve real victory for prosperity and peace. Then and only then can we deserve to fly the Philippine flag with the blue atop the red.

There is no doubt in Velasco’s heart this is a war we can win because it is our destiny â€” but only if we fight this war together as one people — in the name of God and Country — to transform what has been a “nation run like hell by Filipinos” to a “nation run like heaven by Filipinos”. We will win this war because we will follow our one true and only leader, Jesus Christ, so that filled by God the Holy Spirit, we may all renew the face of our nation, and ultimately fulfill our God-given mission; help renew the face of the earth.

Velasco says, “Jesus calls to each and every Filipino today, “Come, take up your flag, and follow me usque ad staturam Christi.” (until we reach the stature of Christ).”

Engineering a Better World

2008-08-06T02:46:00.000-07:00

Kate McDonell, GK Volunteer..

How do explain what it is like to spend three weeks in the Philippines working with Engineers Without Borders? I certainly can’t explain it in a couple of paragraphs but it is definitely an overwhelming and life changing experience.

The first twenty two years of my life I have lived as an only child. I used to joke that I had adopted siblings (my close friends) because I didn’t have any real siblings. But then I went to the Philippines and lived with a family, now my family. I now have three younger sisters (Lerma, Lan Lan, Carla) and a younger brother (Christian) in addition to a massive extended family. More often than not during the day my cousin dropped her baby, Jacinta, off with my mum (Leni) when she went to work. I met my Dad once, who worked for Manila Water as a driver, but he was at work all the time. So this was now my family and we lived in a house that volunteers had built the year before and was of the same design as the houses I was building.

Eight of us lived in this house, 14m2, made of hollow concrete blocks with concrete, of unknown mix quantities, filling the holes, rebar for the columns and a tin roof. We lived simply and happily but without much privacy. In the first couple of days, used to being an only child, the lack of privacy and lack of acknowledgement of one’s personal possessions frustrated me. I couldn’t go to the toilet without being asked where I was going. I would check my bag to look for my sunglasses and find that not only were my sunglasses not in my bag, neither were my hat or my camera. My things weren’t stolen. My siblings had them. From their perspective they weren’t ‘my’ things; they were ‘our’ things and so could be taken and returned as they chose. The rule applied to all of their possessions also, of which there were not many.

It was somewhere between learning all the words to ‘I will survive’ by osmosis, being comfortable with singing karaoke sober and learning to enjoy cold dipper showers that I knew my life had changed for ever.

I learnt so many life lessons from being there, particularly from my family. I think the most important one was about my responsibility to do something about poverty. You can watch the television and see people in poverty but then you can turn it off and it somehow goes away. But I can’t do that anymore because my family lives in poverty. My little sister, Lerma, can’t go to college because our family can’t afford to send her. This is not someone else’s responsibility. It is my responsibility now. They are my family and I have to do something.

Being part of their community, learning about their stories, just being there to listen meant so much to them. I think it was equally hard for the community to understand why we, as westerners, would bother to come. They didn’t think that we owed them anything. I tried to explain my reason for going. I was born in a lucky country. Everyone deserves a chance no matter where you are born. It took them a long time to understand and in the end our families changed too.

Our families changed because we were there not for ourselves but for them. They needed to know that somewhere far off people they didn’t know who didn’t “owe” them anything were thinking of them. That they hadn’t been forgotten by the world. That people didn’t turn of the TV and pretend that their struggle went away. They needed to know that they were valued and loved. Even now it is hard for me to grasp how we, who where there for such a short time, helped fulfill this need.

My family told me about how they felt about living in the slums. They said they felt hopeless and that the world had forgotten them. The fact that we, as westerners traveled all the way around the world to be with them, and continue to think about them was a powerful source of hope and human dignity. Merely by being there was a more important gift to the community than we could ever give through building houses.

As one volunteer said “you cannot buy the happiness of the families that live in these houses. If you want to help others, you also need to sacrifice. Our sacrifice was monetary and timely, but our gain was much greater than anything we sacrificed.”

As engineers, I believe we should not always think of the fastest, cheapest, most economical way to do things, but to think of the interest of PEOPLE first, because ultimately, we should be servants of people and communities; not money and time.

Still, to this day, it really makes me rethink all my priorities when I remember how my family, who has always lived in poverty, is happier now that they have ever been.

Hope Every College/University be like this ONE!!!

2008-07-12T01:02:00.000-07:00

just to update you of what Saint Michael's College of Iligan is doing:

1. The Administrative Council in its last meeting has realigned all its Research, Instruction, Policy and Extension (RIPE) towards integration to GK. No less than S. Ma. Yolanda C. Reyes, RVM herself presided the realignments and ensured that every department and / or colleges including the basic education departments will be integrated to Gawad Kalinga. First engagement will be the ALAY NI IGNACIA: PanGKabuhayan Project, in partnership with Barangay Tambacan and GK Rainbow Village with the College of Business and Technology taking the lead in tapping its students in conducting Feasibility Studies for the Productivity program set to be launched by the end of the month.

2. In the same meeting, the Council also agreed that the Mother Ignacia Center for Social Responsibility will also realign its existing operational structure that will fit to the institutional thrust of integrating with Gawad Kalinga. GK is now the institutional template for : institutional volunteerism, total community development, social transformation and nation - building. From Alay Ni Ignacia to Alay Ignacia: Gawad Kalinga, from Ignacian Volunteers to Gawad Kalinga Isang Milyon Bayani, and from Banwag Iligan Leadership Development to Gawad Kalinga Builders Institute.

Also up for realignment are the various College Extension Programs under U ROCK MICHAELITES:

College of Business and Technology - Kalinga Michaelite (GK La Farge Productivity Program) to Bizrock!

College of Education - Rock Educators ( RockEd) making the successful Mangrove Project in Barangay Dalipuga and Santa Felomina as the enviro - productivity program of Gawad Kalinga La Farge MPTV apart from operating the SIBOL Schools using the SMC Curriculum and the CYD Programs.

College of Nursing - Kids Rock will be integrated to Gawad Kalusugan

College of Arts and Sciences - Tambayayong Kabataan will now be Rock Kabataan that will look after the CYD and Kapitbahayan Programs of GK

College of Criminology - Rock D' Road to Rock Kapayapaan that will train GK Communities on law and order and various skills enhancement related to crime prevention and control.

College of Engineering and Information Technology - the overwhelmingly successful Rock IT! will just shift its free IT Literacy Training Program / TESDA Certificate Training Course to GK communities.

College of Hotel and Restaurant Management - the newest College of SMC, has yet to launch its own U ROCK program but for sure, it will be focusing on the Mabuhay Program of Gawad Kalinga.

The Graduate School - all research papers and / or dissertations will be on Gawad Kalinga

The Basic Education Department (BED) - set to be launched is the BED Rock! it is aimed to mobilize all basic education students for Gawad Kalinga Isang Milyong Bayani.

3. Gawad Kalinga was also officially presented to the following institutional events:

a. Higher Education Parents - Teachers Assembly held at the Main Campus Auditorium given by yours truly. GK HED Coordinator Jamil Asum, a Muslim, was also formally introduced to the assembly much to the delight of the Muslim parents present.

b. Basic Education General Assembly exclusively for Gawad Kalinga Orientation at the SMC BED St Joseph Gymnasium with significant number of parents present Orientation given by GK BED Coordinator John Michael Bentoy

4. Gawad Kalinga is also now part of the SMC Leadership Training Program (Ignacian Formation, GK Formation, Basi Leadership Formation and Basic Governance Skills Formation) this coming July 11 - 13, 2008 that will develop Michaaelite student leaders taking a dynamic role in nation - building. Giving the session is the GK Builders Institute Training Team of SMC.

5. The SMC Alumni Association has also agreed to take part in the integration to Gawad Kalinga. Under wraps are various programs for the 94th Foundation Day Celebrations and the 2008 Grand Michaelite Homecoming this coming December for GK.

6. Sister Yolly has already convened the Iligan City GK Board of Consultors. Present in the meeting at the SMC Hotel's Coffee Walk were Mayor Lawrence Cruz, City Councilor Voltaire Rovira, City Planning and Development Officer Architect Gil Balondo, City Housing and Resettlement Officer Rey Roque, Tito Caloy Subang, Tito Jun Yape, Tito Nonoy Haim, SMC Vice President for Administration Dr. Romero Hermosilla, DPA and yours truly. Social Preparations for the GK Designers Challenge Iligan has been scheduled and Strategic Planning to follow. Sister Yolly committed P 100,000 to seed fund the GK Designer Villages Project.

7. Sister Yolly also organized a GK Orientation for the various women religious communities in the City of Iligan yesterday July 5, 2008.

8. The Gawad Kalinga Office is now open in the SMC Community Relations Office. It is with the Mother Ignacia Center for Social Responsibility. In the office are two GK workers: John Michael Bentoy (GK BED) and Jamil Asum (GK HED). Sister Yolly also took GK Volunteer Denlister Tabuda as a GK Scholar and is now enjoying free education privilege with the College of Hotel and Restaurant Management ON THE SPOT during the first BOARD OF CONSULTORS meeting.

"Walang Michaelite ang makakuha ng diploma na may TATAK logo ng SMC, PAASCU at ng GK pag hindi ma completo ang four hours a month volunteer policy!" - Sister Yolly to the NSTP CWTS Summer 2008 Class

Bawat Michaelite, Lakas Ng Pagbabago!

BAYANIHAN. BUILDING A NATION.

2008-06-12T03:02:00.000-07:00

Bayan is the vision

Bayani is the response

Bayanihan is the movement of new Filipino heroes

At the root of poverty in the Phils., and many other poor countries similar to it, is the broken spirit of its people and the broken relationships among them.

Many of the poor squatting in Manila and other urban areas, have a history of brokenness and woundedness -- from the provinces where they come from.

Victims of calamities, conflict, social injustice.

The first step to development in both urban areas and in the countryside is healing this brokenness among the poor… and among other sectors of society around them.

We have to bridge the great divide among our people : social, economic, political, religious, cultural.

Bayanihan : Movement of Filipino Heroes

It is intrinsically a very Filipino value

Dating as far back as the building of rice terraces.

It is achieving a common goal through cooperation and helping one another.

It is also a very Christian quality

Exemplified in Acts 4 : 32-35.

“The community of believers was one heart and one mind. They share the resources with one another. There was no needy person among them.”

It means - strive for every Filipino to cross the finish line

It should be our concern that we all rise together.

The Filipinos are an intelligent and talented people but most have been pursuing the path of individual gain and achievement without a conscious effort to work for the common good.

We are driven by ambition, self-interest, pride and the need to provide for our children beyond their need.

As a result, we have turned a blind eye to many others who have a greater need.

Without bayanihan, we endanger our future and the future of our children

In a country that will not provide opportunities for most to thrive we will produce more criminals who will be a constant threat to our own well-being.

Even for those who succeed here or abroad

Individual achievements will not remove the stigma of being looked upon as second class by the world as long as this country is perceived as third world.

We have to get our act together. Otherwise, we will all sink together.

Rich and poor alike, we will be victims of our own making.

Bayanihan is working with the best that each has to offer

Let us stop bashing our country.

Let us stop lashing out at each other, bashing each other, bringing other people down.

Let us not judge others. Even Jesus Christ saw something good in the tax collector, the adulteress woman and the Samaritan.

We should not drive out the wicked

Instead we should drive out the wickedness in people

We can only do this not by being blind to the things that are wrong around us but instead by shining a light to the good that resides in all of us.

Just like a piece of gold -- if you throw it around and kick it around on the ground for 400 years, it will not look like gold anymore; it just looks like a piece of dirt.

This is what happened to a lot of Filipinos. After being kicked around for 400 years they no longer see the gold in themselves, or in one another. They only see the mud. Our challenge is to help every Filipino see that the gold is still there. It is still possible to bring the good out in every Filipino.

We do this by taking the path of bayanihan
A convergence of different sectors working on each others strengths

Allowing the gold in each one of us to shine through

Moving as a United People : GK1MB (1 Milyong Bayani)

We have to have a common vision. It is to re-build this country.

One community at a time, one town after another through a multi-sectoral effort.

A. Transcending religious differences

Let us put our faith into practice, by learning to love this country and work together as one people. Catholics, Christians, Iglesia ni Cristo, Muslims – together building peaceful GK communities. BLD, Philippine Evangelicals, Yahweh’s Love, Cursillo, the Mother Butlers Club, 7-Day Adventist and Muslims are now starting to build their own GK communities. This is more concrete and effective than promoting peace talks. Because when you talk peace, oftentimes you have to discuss the conflict.

B. We have to rise above partisan politics

By working with all politicians regardless of political affiliation. Let us welcome all who will partner with us – all who are willing to follow our standards of integrity and excellence. This is a higher cause, a greater vision - that is inclusive in nature.

C. Going beyond corporate social responsibility

Following the GK spirit of partnering with the community, corporations maintain a committed presence and build real relationships with the beneficiary. This goes beyond the donor-donee relationship. It is real human relationships. By forging real partnerships with the community, they mobilize their personnel to get involved becoming an advocacy of nation-building, as individuals and as a corporation.

D. Creating a global movement for Filipinos to re-connect with the motherland

Now Filipinos abroad can build first-world villages in the town or province where they come from. From exiles they are now partners in sustainable development for their people and their land. They have become catalysts to reverse the image of their motherland.

Now is an exciting time for all of us.

Let us see beyond our differences and instead see the rich tapestry we shall create.

Let us all start a new culture of patriotism. Let us lead a new lifestyle of nation-building.

Let us create a new identity as a Filipino people and take our place in this growing bayanihan chain that will heal and bind our broken nation

Let no one be left behind this time.

Let us share the privilege to be a hero to each and every Filipino with GK1MB.

We are witness to the re-birth of the Filipino people, of the Filipino nation ---

The Filipino rising from poverty, corruption and indolence.

The Filipino finally claiming his birthright – a people of integrity and excellence

The Filipinos finally rising together as a proud people

BAYANI. A CALL TO LIVE AS HEROES.

2008-06-04T06:52:00.000-07:00

Bayan is the vision

Bayani is the response

Our objective is to build a country of heroes

Christians following the path of Jesus, Muslims following the path of their religion.

Each person living out a life of integrity, of selflessness

When people talk about heroes, they refer to dead heroes.

Today we talk about living heroes. Our goal is Bawat Pilipino Bayani!

A hero gives his all for his country -- to get his country out of poverty.

To restore the dignity, not only of the poor, but of Filipinos all over the world.

And to build a legacy for our children and future generations - a legacy of a peaceful and prosperous nation.

II. Key Traits of Heroes

Passion

What is a life without passion? It is a life of nothingness, of emptiness, of boredom.

Lives are meant to be led driven by passion - to the point that you feel you are ALIVE.

A potent passion that is faith driven. Faith in our God and faith in ourselves as a people.

Faith in our strong Filipino and family values.

There is the kind of passion that brings about change – the passion driven by anger and hatred - cultivating a culture of conflict and violence.

The GK brand of passion is a passion fueled by love - for God, for country, for our children. This kind of passion builds a culture of peace, a culture of cooperation – it is where we get the bayanihan spirit that is inherently and instinctively Filipino.

For Christians, it is following the passion of Christ who took the path of sacrifice.

The path of padugo - just as Jesus was willing to die.

We should be willing to die to self so that others can simply live.

We have always believed that our happiness is dependent on others making us happy. Now happiness for us is making others happy.

Change Begins With Me

Our aim is to build a cadre of heroes. But heroism has to begin with ourselves.

It starts with integrity. Integrity is our holiness.

Living our lives in accordance with our faith, in accordance with the way our creator designed us and living our life according to the purpose he defined.

There have been heroes who have been unable to build lasting change

because there is no integrity.

A bayani does not look for change in the government, in society.

A bayani knows that change begins with himself.

We have lived generations where our values have been corrupted and compromised. It’s not about who is to blame… because everyone is accountable.

We all have failed our country.

It is not about money. The solution is not in money.

It is not about getting funds to fix the problem.

The solution lies in the transformation of our hearts.

Bring out the heroism in others

Everyone created different from the other, all part of God’s mysterious design

Our goal is to bring out God’s beautiful in each and every Filipino whoever he may be

--- wherever he may be.

That’s why we see the potential in the poor

That’s why we call the men to be heroes

Because poverty has been most devastating to the men

We turn the beneficiaries to become benefactors

That’s why we do not judge anyone, rich or poor, whichever party you come from

Everyone is wounded, everyone is broken, no one is spared of sin

But everyone is transformed by this work

An environment that empowers everyone to be a hero

Nothing less than great for your country

You have been great in your jobs, in sports, in your music, aybe as a leader or a friend

We have been heroes for our family -- a hero as a father, a brother, a husband

Heroes even for the companies we work for, people we work with

But it is time to raise the level of your greatness. Raise the level of nobility.

Your country calls for it. Your Lord has set the way for it.

It is time to be great for the poor. It is time to be great for your country.

Greatness calls us to love the poor,

To love the majority of our countrymen who are now poor.

But being great is not only in giving your money, your time or your talent.

Being great is bringing out the greatness in others.

This is the greatest challenge… to love this country

And to influence our family, our friends to love this country…

For your country and your countrymen.

And for those who leave this country, not only to succeed and prosper

But to see the beauty of the motherland wherever you are.

VI. Conclusion

Now it is once again time to start a new journey. A more exciting one. A passionate one. A journey of our faith in action.

We are called to be the beacon to those who have lost hope, to those who are leaving in pain, to those who have had to compromise, to those who have stopped believing that there is a God amidst one crisis after another, to those who have stopped dreaming in order to just survive.

It is time to start to rise as heroes. Today we start the process of bringing out the greatness and heroism in ourselves and in each other.

This is the new brand of heroism :

Less for self, more for others... so that there will be enough for all.

BAYAN. FOR LOVE OF GOD AND COUNTRY

2008-05-31T22:08:00.000-07:00

This is a journey we take as a people, as Filipinos and as Christians

We are in a process of evolution

The first world took centuries to be where they are at

New York also had gangs --- the immigrants of Europe

They progressed through mission, industry then culture

We are too harsh on ourselves, too critical

Judging ourselves based on the standards of an old culture

The Philippines is still in its infancy

GK is our starting point

Each of us in our own personal journey

GK drives us to the next phase of our journey

As we all strive towards one common goal

Driven by a common need

Inspired by a common vision

Let us take this exciting journey together.

II. Bayan. For Love of God and Country.

Strong love of God. Strong faith in God.

Love of country - an essential expression of Love of God

It is his design that we were born Filipino. He made us stewards of this country.

(Genesis) To have dominion over the rest of creation. To be our brother’s keeper.

The Philippines is 80% Catholic

But we are a divided nation

Divided - the rich and the poor, one religious group against another, in politics

Where has all our religion gone?

We have been listening to sermons for 400 years

We have paid lip service to God’s teachings

We have religion but we no longer have faith in God as a people –

We no longer have a sense of country

We no longer have a belief system as a people of God.

We have forgotten what God said to his people, the Israelites

“Love God and your nation”

Love God above all and love your brethren… the poor.

III. This is God’s Plan for His People

GK as a Ministry

As a ministry GK embodies the life and mission of CFC

To build the church of the poor. To grow families of the Holy Spirit.

To renew the face of the earth.

But what we need to remember is that the ministry exists to do the mission of God.

To follow the mission of Jesus.

And it was the mission of Jesus to love the poor, to be in solidarity with the poor.

Jesus was born poor. He died poor.

GK as a Mission

GK is Faith in Action. GK is authentic evangelization.

GK is faith development - transforming a whole nation

Community after community, town after town, province after province.

This is Christ’s mission -- bring glad tidings to the poor.

1. A mission to build communities… just like the first Christian community.

We are building communities patterned after the early Christians where no one was in need -- because people consciously decide to have less for themselves so that there may be more for others to have enough for all.

2. A mission to disciple a whole nation

Generations ahead have destroyed our life, our country, our generation

We have succeeded to raise a country of beggars

NOW we have a chance to change the nation… to disciple a whole nation

Now we have Gawad Kalinga and Gawad Kalinga is a purging fire

It is a radical concept

GK tells us to serve in order to lead (servant leadership)

GK tells us we give of ourselves until we bleed (padugo)

GK tells us to see the hero in everyone (bawat Pilipino bayani)

So that all together we rise as a strong nation

GK as a Movement

Everyone empowered to be part of a potent force of change

The first step is to build strength locally.

Master the template here in the Philippines to present a global model.

Uniting a divided nation. Healing a divided nation. Rising as ONE people.

Kalinga Luzon : LGU, corporate partners, government partners
Kalinga Pilipinas : Uniting congress for the poor
GK1MB 1 Milyong Bayani : Mobilizing different sectors
Different religious groups, Muslims and Christians, brothers and sisters

And now, GK is a movement that has crossed over oceans

Bringing home the Filipinos abroad who have seen the hope in the Philippines

And who have found the hope within themselves to be heroes for their country

A testament of the potential to becoming a global model

Papua New Guinea
Indonesia
Cambodia
India (Goa)
Eventually in Africa and South America

IV. The GK Path :The Passion of Christ

Burn with a passion… of Jesus. A passion of love, not anger.

Nowadays, people have the mission to change this country but their own passion is fueled by anger and hatred, building a culture of conflict, a culture of violence. It just somehow succeeds in not just changing but destroying the environment for all of us.

Take the path of peace, of solidarity, of bayanihan

Where there is division and conflict we will unite and bring peace

We’ll heal a broken nation. We’ll heal a broken world.

V. Conclusion

Let us start a new generation of heroes…

Heroes who will LIVE for their country

Let us build a culture of patriotism

Let us start a lifestyle of nation building

Let us heed God’s call to be stewards of his creation, to be shepherds of his flock, to shepherd an entire nation

This is a start of an exciting journey

GK is a beacon, and they will come towards the light

Need for continuing commitment – keep the passion burning

Take everyone with us

Sharing

(Call in sharers of varying experiences)

How does love of God and country manifest in your life, in the impt areas of your life?

How has your journey as being part of a people been?

How has the mission taken you closer to God’s plan for your country?

Japanese Development Students Find Fellowship in Gawad Kalinga

2008-05-28T04:10:00.000-07:00

Japanese students Yoko Sakaguchi and Nana Ota's year of study at Ateneo University brought them face to face with many facets of the Philippines, including the poverty they had studied from abroad in Japan through their Development Studies university major. And it also brought them face-to-face and hand-in-hand with charming children, loving families, and changing lives of GK communities, something that was to have a lasting impact.

Yoko and Nana found their way to Gawad Kalinga through the recommendation of the Ateneo de Manila University's Office of International Students, and to the occasional consternation of their professors, found the allure of GK communities a powerful draw even outside of officially scheduled visits.

Coming from Japan, the girls had already heard the worst cautions. Nana described her thoughts before arriving in the Philippines, saying, "For me, not a safe country here, a poor country – it's always bad news on TV. All my friends asked me if it's ok to go there, if it's safe. They told me to be careful always."

But visits to the community of GK Pinagsama, Taguig, showed the girls a different side of the Philippines' poor. The girls found a community eager to provide care and love.

"I went there and started building the houses," Nana describes. "When I went there, everyone's smiling, and dancing. They're still happy." Not only happy, the villagers also welcomed the pair with open arms and homes.

"They treat us like their own children," Yoko says, "Always welcoming."

Nana agrees, smiling, "They're always asking if we're going to stay the night. We often stay the night with them."

Sometimes present to build, the girls would also visit often simply to spend time with the families. On one occasion, a two-day old baby allowed them the chance to give the mother a gift to preserve memories.

"Her name was Angel. So we took pictures, then the next time we went back next week I gave a picture to the mother. She was like 'Oh thank you so much'" Nana says,
The pair's experiences of Gawad Kalinga led them to change their plans of returning to Japan in favor of volunteering for the GK Bayani Challenge, in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

Scheduled to fly back in time to start university, Yoko and Nana instead postponed their flights, going to build houses for the poor rather than attending their university classes on time.

"I heard the Bayani Challenge is one of the biggest events in GK, so I thought I couldn't miss it!" Yoko laughs.

Being students of development, the girls have valued their time involved with the people affected most by development strategies. Both plan to share their experiences with their friends studying development upon returning to Japan.

And as citizens of one of Asia's richest nations, the girls are eager to play a part in helping their neighbors progress.

"In Asia there are so many developing countries," Nana says, "I'm Japanese, and we are part of Asia, so I think we should help."

For the community of GK Pinagsama and for the girls themselves, their presence in GK has been one of friendship and encouragement.

"It was very hard to say goodbye," Nana says. "They want us to come back, and we want to."

The Philippines has also become something much more than place of potential danger. Now, their developing neighbor is a place of friendship, love, and richly enjoyable experiences for the two students.

"I like everything here, because everything is really different." Yoko says, "Every day we discover something new and different. It's really exciting."

HELP NEEDED! VOLUNTEERS or CONTRIBUTORS for SATURDAY 24th MAY

2008-05-28T04:04:00.000-07:00

Volunteers on the ground are making a difference, but the situation remains precarious for many in Brookside.

A barrier of sandbags has been put in place, but the pressure of daily rain has put pressure on this levy. The levy has held, the creek has risen so much as to flow over the top, once again letting floodwater into the village.

GK Brookside residents remain under a lot of stress. They have been traumatized such already that even smaller rises in the water levels can trigger panic. People are crying, asking "For how long will this happen?"

The situation will remain dangerous for the residents until GK workers and nearby property-owners (also affected) are able to move the Quezon City government to take urgent action in addressing key issues with the creek.

In the meantime, volunteers have been present for the whole week, helping the village residents address the ongoing flooding, as well as working to improve the situation. Ateneo was providing overall coordination in Brookside yesterday, CFC Family Ministries the day before, and CFC North B the day before that. The residents and volunteers are also managing an early warning system to help the village cope with the daily rains and flooding.

URGENT NEED for SATURDAY 24TH MAY: 3,000 more SACKS for SAND BAGS, and volunteers on the ground to help raise the levy against the creek.

EUSTAQUIO ABAY

2008-05-22T21:04:00.000-07:00

Neurosurgeon Eustaquio Abay is a founding investor in Kansas Spine Hospital and often is at the forefront to fight for the rights of physician-owned hospitals.

He says he's all about quality service and choice, which is why he invested in the North Webb Road specialty hospital in the first place.

But there's a spiritual side to the doctor as well.

Abay, a Philippines native who also is known as "Tex" to his friends -- his chief of surgery started the nickname in 1977 as an easier version of Abay's first name -- said he finds his true happiness in helping people in need.

That's why a significant portion of his time and money is spent helping impoverished communities in the Philippines, where he is the U.S. director for Gawad Kalusugan, a public health program -- under the nonprofit ANCOP umbrella -- that empowers villagers through education and prevention.

What is your role in that program?

"My role is to help coordinate the health care program. Rather than doing medical missions, which are short-lived, we're... establishing a social medical program in these villages, trying to mobilize local resources to provide a year-round presence in the community."

What is the extent of your involvement?

"I go there as often as I can, to help structure the program. My main role here is to raise funds. We cannot afford to put a doctor per village. We work with whatever we have available. In the Philippines, we assign local health care personnel to a local village."

What is behind your devotion to helping poor Filipinos?

"We cannot ignore our neighbors. We talk about the American dream... you want to make it big, to get the most of your careers, the biggest house, the biggest car, the most luxury for you and you family.

"When you come from a country like ours and have seen the poverty, you find the personal things really do not provide the deep fulfillment one is usually in search of. True happiness one gets from giving oneself to others."

What sets Kansas Spine apart from other hospitals?

"We owe it to the community. I keep telling my employees that they're here because of the patients and they should not forget it. That's why the orientation of our practice is service, service, service. To me, medicine is a vocation, not just a profession. Sometimes I liken it to priesthood. Priests cater to the soul; we cater to the body."

You put your money where your mouth is...

"Medicine to me is spiritual; it's a calling to serve people. I was oriented that way by my parents, and that's why I (went into) medicine. I could have bought a new car several years back when my car broke down. I was about to, but since I got involved with Gawad Kalinga, I ended up buying a second-hand car, and the difference I donated to help build a village.

" (The program) provides me with a way to help others, but, more than anything else, it's an opportunity to find the true meaning of happiness."

A SPIRITUALITY OF PRESENCE

2008-05-19T02:36:00.000-07:00

(Solemnity of Our Lord's Ascension, 2008)

It is always a treat to read the speeches of Tony Meloto. Tony is the 2006 Ramon Magasaysay awardee for Community Leadership. The Ramon Magsaysay Award is Asia's equivalent to the Nobel Prize. He was given the award mainly for being the father and icon of Gawad Kalinga. Just when so many of us are cynical of our government and therfore are bent on leaving the country, Tony has always championed the cause of staying on and doing what we can to eradicate the poverty and ills of our land.

In his commencement address to the graduates of Far Eastern University last April 4, 2008, Tony spoke of a recent World Bank report which estimated that 14.8% of college educated Filipinos leave the country every year. About 9.3% of locally trained physicians depart annually. He has no ill feelings though for such 'migratory behavior' of Filipinos. 'Being Filipino is not about staying or leaving.' It is about having a deep affection for our country and its people. Tony knew all too well that many leave the country if only to make their loved ones left behind survive. But he also noted that there are those who stay behind and yet 'perpetuate injustice', 'exploit the poor', 'bash and blame and cause division'. Such kinds of behavior cannot but discourage many of our people and strengthen their resolve to leave. What Tony is driving at is this - What kind of presence are we in the country? He calls it the 'Power of Presence'. I want to call it a Spirituality of Presence!

What kind of presence do we bring to our communties? Whay kind of force are we in our families? Are we a force of unity? Or are we a force of division? Do we inspire others to greatness or are we the cause of their discouragement? What kind of presence do we bring if we are present at all to one another?

It is the prolific spiritual writer Henri Nouwen who said that when we honestly look into our lives and ask ourselves who are the people who mean the most to us, we cannot but realize that they are those, who instead of giving us advice, 'touch our wounds with a warm and gentle hand.' They are those who can be silent with us in a moment of grief and confusion and those who can accept us for who we are no matter how weak and fragile we have become. In other words, they mean so much to us just by their quiet presence alone. That kind of silent presence already speaks volumes to us of their solidarity and affection for us.

We know very well that the one thing children want from their parents more than all the material things that can be lavished on them is to see their parents taking the time to be with them, a presence that speaks so much of their love and concern for their children.

St Teresa of Avila, a master in prayer, teaches us that 'Prayer is being present to the One you love.' When we love, we will always find ways and the time to be close to the beloved. What St Teresa is also saying is that when we come before Him whom we love, we need not say much because our presence alone is an act of love that speaks so much to His heart!

If there is one Biblical basis for the Spirituality of Presence it is in the Gospel of the Feast of the Ascension where Christ told his disciples 'I am with you till the end of the ages.' I will be Present to you till the end of time, indeed for all eternity!

It is this Presence of God that I saw very much at work in the Gawad Kalinga sites here in Bukidnon during its Bayani Challenge from April 21 - 25, 2008. Let it be said that the moving force behind the success of Gawad Kalinga is the organization Couples for Christ(CFC). Gawad Kalinga is the social arm of CFC. It is through the unobtrusive hard work, selfless dedication and generosity of the members of CFC that Gawad Kalinga has become the contaminating global force and movement it now is.

It was a great blessing for me to have been given the good fortune of visiting the five sites in Bukdnon chosen for the Bayani Challenge, the five sites being Natid-asan(Malaybalay), Maramag, Dangcagan, Kitaotao and Wao. The Bayani Challenge only meant that from April 21 - 25,volunteers from all over the globe are to build houses simultaneously in those five sites. This Bayani Challenge left in me three powerful images brought about through the inspiring endeavor that is Gawad Kalinga.

The first very powerful image I saw was that in Darusalam, Wao. Wao is identified as a Moslem area but Gawad Kalinga was able to reach out to them as it started to build houses for the poor among them. Both Christians and Moslems were able to work together in building this Gawad Kalinga village dedicated to the Moslems. Thus when the Bayani Challenge had its culminating program in that area last April 26, the bishop of Malaybalay, Msgr. Honesto Pacana, was able to speak to them openly about how we Christians think of them as traitors and how they, the Moslems, think of us as land grabbers and oppressors. He was able to say that because the religious and cultural barriers have been torn down. In fact, it was in the program where we saw a Moslem openly praying to Allah for God's blessings on Christians. This merited a Christian response as a leader also prayed openly for God's blessings on our Moslem brothers and sisters. Gawad Kalinga is not just about building houses for the poor therefore. In what we witnessed in Wao, Gawad Kalinga has become a vehicle for ecumenism, building bridges of peace to our brothers and sisters of other faiths. When I saw the bishop of Bukidnon, the religious of the diocese, Christians and Moslems all worshipping together and so united in that program what dawned on me is that such a gathering is the 'dream' , goal and vision of the Church - that we will all be united one day in that place where we shall see face to face the One and the Same God we have been worshipping in this life!

The second powerful image I have of the Bayani Challenge is that of the volunteers. They come from all walks of life and not a few have brilliant credentials. These are accomplished people who leave their work or business for a day, a week or even relinquish all that to dedicate their lives full time to Gawad Kalinga. Volunteers also come from all over the globe - Japan, Australia, USA, France, Singapore, to mention a few. I remember this French volunteer who not only helped in building a house but was also tasked to distribute those popsicles we call 'icedrop' to the thirsty builders in Kitaotao. This image calls to mind a Gospel passage I have always loved. Jesus said, 'The Kingdom of heaven has suffered violence and the violent take it by storm.' Those volunteers who have come so far away to help our less fortunate Filipinos have done a great violence to their lives and themselves. The violence of laying aside their careers even if it be for a while. The violence of humbling themselves by dirtying their hands. The violence of reaching out to those of other faiths. The paradox of peace is that we have to do violence to ourselves to possess it. When we love, we have to learn to die to ourselves if we are to possess the beloved! These volunteers who have dome so much violence to themselves with teh resolve to eliminate the violence of poverty are for me the really brilliant people in this life. Brilliance for me is not cerebral. The really brilliant people are those who practice in the concrete their love for God!

The third powerful image I have is that of the mettle and spirituality of the officials of the CFC. Many of us must have read that article in one of our dailies about a letter from the Vatican's Pontifical Council for the Laity to CFC President Jose Tale admonishing CFC to 'counterbalance the overemphasis on social work.' Apparently this is due to the tremendous social workload brought about by Gawad Kalinga. I have met with leaders of Gawad Kalinga in Bukidnon and those of the national level. When I asked them their response to that letter of the Vatican, they are one in saying that we will obey the Church! They will submit to what the Church prescribes for them. For me, that obedience to holy Mother the Church is the presence of God working in Gawad Kalinga. God is there in their obedience. God is there in Gawad Kalinga!

Tambayani... tambayan ng mga Bayani

2008-05-19T02:05:00.000-07:00

...just last weekend, the GK CYD team with the SIGAs in pagatpatan had a groundbreaking & build for the the Tambayani Center, a partnership with La Salle & give to Asia foundation. the center hopes to give out of school SIGA youth an opportunity to have alternative learning integrated with IT. the sponsorship package includes the computer facilities, a year long support for the center that also includes internet connectivity. a facilitator, to be called kuya by the learners was trained all the way from Manila, specifically from La Salle to give the learners what it takes to succeed as an individual.
the program hopes not only to make them pass the accreditation & equivalency exam to be given by DEpEd but also the technical know how about computers that would be a great advantage on their part when they be moving into the regular education if they pass the exam.

A Sultan's Dream for Wao Part 2

2008-05-18T05:17:00.001-07:00

Christians, but different

With such a history of conflict, one of the biggest surprises for the residents was when help came in the form of Christians, previously only associated by many Muslim residents with the migration, dispossession, and decades of conflict.

Now, these Christians have come to write a new history, to build homes for the Muslim would-be residents of GK Darussalam.

He continues, "They're very thankful to Gawad Kalinga that - even though they're Christians - they have come here to help the Muslim community."

As a leader of many, he has seen just how invaluable such direct action has been in opening the minds of poor and uneducated families to a reality where Muslim and Christian can coexist peacefully.

"For Muslim families here in Wao, maybe the best thing to do is introduce them to GK." He says, "That's why we selected the poor and uneducated Muslims to become GK beneficiaries, so that they will learn GK and accept GK, and learn that the intentions of Gawad Kalinga are good."

"Before, in Wao, it was Muslims and Christians fighting. Now with Christians coming in to help the Muslims, it's a way of educating the closed Muslims that there is a solution: Even though they're Christians they're still helping the Muslim community."

"For the most uneducated Muslims, GK is a way to educate the community - not only the houses but also the education programs. GK opens the minds of the closed minded Muslims."

A Faith Community

The Sultan notes that for many Muslims who join rebel groups, they seek in the first place to preserve a strong sense of their Islamic faith and culture.

"They start joining a rebel group mainly to follow and protect the faith of Islam," he describes. "In Islam we have five pillars of Islam, so they follow that. They joined a rebel group not mainly to fight against people but to protect their faith. Our plan for our people is to help them embrace the faith of Islam more fully."

And in an example of exceptional interfaith cooperation, the work of Gawad Kalinga has in turn become a foundational factor in turning lives around. Though most GK workers are Catholic Christians, the work in Muslim Wao has not been one of forcing their faith on others, or providing help conditional upon conversion to Christianity.

In the face of such, unexpected common ground has been found.

Through the work of GK, including programs such as education and values formation, the community is being strengthened even though their practice of faith is different from most of the GK workers.

"The Muslim community considers Gawad Kalinga as a third level for living life." Saripada notes, continuing "Because on the first level is God, Allah, Almighty God; the second level is the religion of Islam and their people; and the third level is Gawad Kalinga."

"Those are the things that are helping our people live and work as a Muslims" he says.

A Legacy of Peace

For Sultan Saripada and many of his Muslim constituents, their prayers are for peace in Wao, a restoration of their livelihood, and a restored relationship with their land. Moreover, they desire that their land be known not for conflict, but for peace, community, and achievement.

"We want for people to say that, even though they're Muslim and Christian, they can work together," Saripada notes, "We're praying for peace and unity in Wao."

In addition to working for peace, Saripada is working to strengthen the faith of his people. Along with improving access to regular Filipino education, the Muslim community is praying and striving for greater madras (Islamic) education, wishing to retain a strong faith and culture in future generations.

For the Sultan, working with and accepting Gawad Kalinga into the community of Wao is also a legacy he can leave to the future generations. Where decades past have been marked by conflict and violence, he sees a brighter future ahead.

"GK is a legacy for me, because it brings love and peace back to the community."

And as we sit inside a nearly-complete Gawad Kalinga house, volunteers from all around the Philippines work alongside Wao locals, striving through bayanihan to raise up homes for impoverished families. Alternating Muslim prayers and Christian praise songs ring forth from the PA system, an unlikely combination of sounds floating through the picturesque construction site.

"We're thankful for the 130 houses." Sultan Saripada says, "This work shows that Christian and Muslim can work together, stay together and live together with no war, and no troubles."

"GK is the only solution to the problem - to help Muslim and Christian unite," he says.

A Sultan's Dream for Wao PArt 1

2008-05-18T05:15:00.000-07:00

By Jonathan Rickard, peace correspondent, GK News Bureau

Wao, in Lanao Del Sur, Philippines, is a place of natural beauty and abundance. But, wracked by decades of conflict, it has also been a source of great competition for this wealth. As in many parts of Mindanao and the greater Philippines much land has ended up in the hands of the few, with many others dispossessed and cast into landless poverty.

Restoring Dignity

Now, 130 of the municipality's poorest Muslim families are to become residents of the GK Darussalam village, built by volunteers of Gawad Kalinga.

Gawad Kalinga's work in Wao was begun with the welcome of Sultan Acraman Saripada, who saw the difference made in other parts of Muslim Mindanao.

Initially contacted by GK Executive Director Luis Oquinena, former MILF commander Sultan Saripada travelled to see GK areas in Mindanao and Manila in order to find out just how GK might benefit his own poor Muslim folk in Wao.

As a result, Wao became a destination for many volunteers in GK's Bayani Challenge and Highway of Peace events. People came from all around the Philippines and even overseas, simply to build houses for those in desperate need.

For Sultan Saripada, Gawad Kalinga is different.

"The difference between GK and many other groups that have wanted to help here is that with GK everyone is equal," the sultan says. "It doesn't matter what your religion is, whether you're poor or rich."

"You build the houses together, you work together," he describes.

And for Saripada's Muslim people, the Filipino values embodied in Gawad Kalinga had a strong effect.

"The Muslim community embraced Gawad Kalinga through the bayanihan way of working," says Sultan Saripada.

Land for the Landless

For most poor families, the biggest struggles remain economic, impacting on every area of life. Many labor in other people's fields.

"They're farmers and the income is not enough to sustain their everyday life," Saripada describes.

With the forced government sponsored migration policies of the 1950s and onward, many former landowners have become dispossessed tenant workers and agricultural laborers, working on larger lands belonging to other both Christian and Muslim families.

And over the decades, violence between Christian and Muslim has wracked the land.

"They're very sad, because before their parents were ones who were prominent families in Wao. In the conflict, land was taken from many Muslims, and now former landowners are working as tenant workers."

For others, forced to the mountains, where even after planting crops transport to market areas remains a key issue, their hold on land remains tenuous.

"Some of these are asking even now for titles to their land in the mountains." The Sultan notes, "Even though they've owned the land for a long time they don't have legal titles."

Death gives way to life in Wao

2008-05-17T23:16:00.000-07:00

by Marjorie Duterte, peace correspondent, GK News Bureau

Seeing the hope in Tomas "Tam" Carumba's eyes while walking around GK Darussalam village, one would not think that he had lost a close cousin, killed by a Maranao during a Muslim-Christian conflict between their families. To stop further bloodshed, the warring factions had negotiated for "blood money" as a peace offering."This blood money was given, but was used to build a GK house for our Muslim brothers," Carumba related.From the blood money to appease the death of his cousin, the Carumba family chose to build instead 10 GK homes for the Muslim community,to start the GK Maranao village, also in Wao. "Yung mga Muslim brothers have been so deprived, most of their lands have been sold to Christians but when they saw the sincerity of Christians, (it) encouraged them to also work for peace," Carumba affirmed."Tito Tam", a member of Couples for Christ and the GK Provincial Board was one of the pioneers that started Gawad Kalinga in Wao, Lanao del Sur. Two years ago, their local officials, the Muslim community, Church workers, the Wao Development corporation and the Bishop of Malaybalay came together to embrace Gawad Kalinga as a peace initiative. They wantedto build houses for Muslim rebel returnees who have no homes. The Muslims participated in the build and despite the lack of budget, the work was done through bayanihan (cooperation). This gave birth to GK Darussalam and GK Maranao villages, a haven for Muslims and Christians in the former war zone area."Malaki ang contribution sa peace initiative ng presence ng GK dito. Nakita nila ang samahan dito kahit hindi mo imbatihin, tumatawag, lahat ng tao gustong makisali sa GK," Carumba said. (GK's presence here has made a big contribution to the peace initiative. They (Muslims) see the brotherhood here and even if you don't invite them, they call, everyone wants to join GK.)A native of Wao, Lanao del Sur, Carumba recounted how his kababayans used to be paranoid and suspicious and how most residents here have been fully armed. Today, "wala na po yung takot, wala na po yung alinlangan. Nandito na po ang trust." (The fear is gone, the doubts are gone. The trust is here)."Ang strength po ng Wao ay unity, nakita po nila ang GK and they are so proud to be part of it," he added. (The strength of Wao is unity, they see GK and are so proud to be part of it.)"Very peaceful yung place,kasi nabigyan na lahat ng opportunity, nabalik na ang dignity," he added. (The place is very peaceful because the people have been given opportunity, dignity has been restored.) The former victim of conflict has now become a good friend. "You are very much welcome into the houses of our Muslim brothers," he said.Peace has been planted and is growing in the rich and fertile Mindanao land.

welcome to my world....

2008-05-09T04:04:00.000-07:00

by having this blog site... i hope to be able to impart to you all the very life that i have, my thoughts, my views, my emotions and most especially the things that i do that i believe is most necessary than anything else in the world...