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Being Exposed to Gawad Kalinga moved each one of us.
We do hope that with this website, we will be
able to impart with you every lesson, laughter and
realizations that our group got along the way.
Magis!
...
Patchwork
of Faiths
How
does [Gawad Kalinga] affect the way you look at your life and your
faith?
Compiled
and edited by Lionel Lopez-Dee
Faith – such small word trying to encapsulate such a
powerful personal conviction in a belief, which for many would mean
a lifetime to fully understand, grasp then accept unto their lives.
Faith is a powerful word with a more powerful meaning. Faith in a
God however is another story. For many, faith stems from the
awareness of their purpose here on earth and until the latter is
discovered, the former somewhat seems an abstract concept. For some
on the other hand, faith somewhat feels natural.
“I
have yet to learn my purpose here on earth,” Kaye
explains. “I don’t exactly know why
I’m living or what I’m living for. I’m still at the point of
existing and not living. I have too many questions left unanswered
and the list of questions is still getting longer. I have yet to
know and learn, especially with my faith, which is more or less,
just a term. I do believe in a higher power, which I might call god,
but I have doubts about the God that Christianity represents.
However, what I can say about it is that faith alone, whether in
God, in others, or in one’s self, is enough to keep a person
living and hoping for something better. With faith, a person has a
chance of living and not just existing because he believes in
something, whatever that something is. ”
I’m
not religious, not a staunch follower of Christian tradition, but I
do consider myself spiritual. I see God in everything, everywhere
and in everyone. Cliché as this might sound, it’s true
nonetheless. I’m one, part of the many in my generation who seem
to experience God more outside the premises of the Church. My faith
stems from the providence I am blessed with. Despite sinister
nights, my moon remains my guide – the one silver light that
banishes the blinding and deceitful haze. There is a God.
“I know God has planned a life for us: a life definitely worth
living for,”
Mike says. “However,
some people deny this fact and relentlessly ask questions whether or
not a God really exists. This is why the members of the Couples for
Christ community tirelessly strive to make God’s presence felt
through their respected Gawad Kalinga (GK) project that works to
serve our neighbors. God is working with them.”
“Looking
at GK and the astounding transformation it has lead just within five
years since its establishment, really gives me a feeling of hope
amidst despair, especially bearing in mind the situation of the
underprivileged here in the Philippines.”
Ed cites. “Gawad
Kalinga, which aims to address such a problem, prevailed against the
odds and the belittling that is usually expected of such projects.
Inspired by a vision of a new Philippines, GK is driven not only to
provide the basic needs of the underprivileged sector but also to
empower them with knowledge and hope towards changing their lives
completely. With that, this organization paints a pretty picture
that is becoming more and more real.”
“They say that most people think but do not act. Despite knowing
the problem, many just sit and stare.”
Kym says. “However
at these same times, others find inspiration to take action. This is
what I see in Gawad Kalinga.”
He adds how through this project people of all classes and nations
unite. “It
would be a surprise if one can only witness who the workers are in
the house building sites. These are the people commonly clad in
business suits, working for large companies. And when they work,
they don’t give 50% or 99% they give it their 110% because they
believe that the poor they help are people. They believe that these
poor are not lower than them but their equals.”
Indeed GK shatters institutionalized social barriers that hinder
people from reaching out to those in need.
“Because
of Gawad Kalinga, people of various social standings and religions
are building communities more than just houses together,”
Ed shares. “GK’s
achievements are a reflection of the sharing among different classes
in society, and the partnership involving all sectors of society –
bridging the gaps that divide us as a people. With this again,
differences can be set aside and can be made to work together to do
something great and inspiring.”
“The
visits to the Gawad Kalinga building sites showed me that there
could be purpose in a person’s life if he would only open his
heart to that purpose,”
Kaye shares. “While
some people search for purpose in life but tend to hesitate because
they fear what they might find out, some bravely face the unknown.
The purpose of GK is to help the poor get back their dignity, which
is what the poor primarily needs because they are deprived of it.
However, unlike other organizations, GK helps the poor not by giving
alms, but by building them houses, which the residents themselves
will build with volunteers. GK is not charity and that is what
struck me most about it. GK has demonstrated to me that life has a
purpose and it is usually geared towards helping others, especially
those who are in need of it the most, particularly the poor.”
GK is not one that spoon feeds, but a catalyst that empowers action
among its recipients.
“I
always see poor people in the streets and depressed areas in their
usual hopeless state but when I got the chance to take a closer look
through Gawad Kalinga, I realized why these people aren’t given a
chance to progress,”
Mike points. “My
perception about the poor changed one visit after another as I
worked with them and shared what I am willing to offer. I believe
that the transformation they are passionately aiming at will forever
change the image of our country, one united in bringing the hope our
less-fortunate neighbors have been hoping for into life.”
“Meeting
the people – both volunteers and house recipients present in the
Gawad Kalinga project challenged me.”
Kym says. “Being
one of the former for a day made me ask myself if I can be committed
in helping the poor in my state now as a student and as a member of
a socially oriented Atenean organization. Gradually, the answer
surfaces and for the moment, I think that the answer is leaning
towards yes. In my own way, despite the struggle to commit as a
student volunteer I nevertheless teach kids in the hope that somehow
these lessons they can acquire can be beneficial to them in the
future. I hope that through this, I am making a difference.”
It
isn’t my first time to participate in a Gawad Kalinga project. A
few years back I helped dig a septic tank. It was difficult
especially while whipped by the scorching sun, but in the company of
smiling volunteers and grateful soon-to-be homeowners all working
together, I felt myself revitalized. It was an experience to be part
of a group geared towards a worthy goal. Just the same, it isn’t
Mike’s first time to participate in this project and throughout
his experiences, his perceptions have changed. “I
believe in GK’s vision, one of which is to transform what we call
“slums” into a livable place where people in the community could
grow together as better people. Likewise, we, the volunteers are
also becoming better people – one with God.”
It’s a
different experience for Char, who rarely participates in Church
organizations. “My
experience in Gawad Kalinga made me no longer indifferent. It led me
to ask the same question that GK has been musing about – if the
Philippines has a lot of resources, how can it be that we are a
third world country? GK made me realize my responsibility over the
poor. I even remember Tony Meloto saying that we should treat these
people as our brothers and sisters and love them through service and
not almsgiving. “Kung may kamag-anak ka humihingi ng tulong, hindi
mo naman bibigyan ng limos diba?” he told us. GK emphasizes on
what we can do for others, not really the money we can offer.”
“GK
taught me two important lessons.”
Kaye recalls. “One
is that of purpose – each person on earth has a certain mission
which with sufficient courage to accept what mission it is, has an
option whether or not to fulfill it. The other is that of faith, not
necessarily in God, but in the capacity of people to do and create
realities when they really set their minds to it. I still have a lot
to learn and discover. Maybe someday I’d find answers to my
questions. I just need to keep my faith in it.”
“Basically
in my life, I learned that with high hopes and a real vision of a
certain goal, hard work just follows and everything will be moving
towards the better.”
Ed expresses. “Just
like spreading fire, we could ignite others should we choose to pass
these lessons learned to them. With regards to my faith, GK helped
me to understand it as a precursor for everything that I do, without
which nothing is done completely. I believe that everything
originates from faith. Hope and vision are non-existent without God
at the center. Hard work comes to no avail without faith at
forefront. As long as I have faith, I believe I can do anything
within the bounds of God’s will. GK also made me realize that
faith alone is not enough. We must take action in order for our
goals to materialize.”
Our
experience in Gawad Kalinga has not only been memorable but more
importantly moving. In more ways than one, GK made us realize that
there is still hope in our stark world. There remains the faltering
ambition to change. With faith residing in our hearts, we hope to
become, like Tony Meloto catalysts, who could someday starting with
ourselves birth change and empowerment to people.
Once
upon a time, someone once said that though we are the size of ants
to the world, as long as we keep the faith, we can move mountains
– we can change this giant world. Hope lives.
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