TIP Calls for Gawad Kalinga Empowerment by Aquilina V. Redo, MA (June, 2005)

TIP administrators urged the whole community to join in the Gawad Kalinga (GK) Empowerment as they led a seminar last June 20, 2006 at the TIP Arlegui Seminar Room, With VP HRD Engr. Ramon de Leon as the resource speaker.

Through the initiative of the various deans, heads and other administrators, TIP has adopted a GK site in Tatalon, Quezon City since summer. In the said seminar, they shared their heartwarming experiences with other deans, coordinators, faculty members, and student- representative from different colleges and personnel from the different offices.

Starting with a video showing of the Tatalon site and GK sites, the seminar presented how TIP participated in the GK project,showcasing the "pasa-pasa system" of the hollow blocks in the buiding of homes for the poor.

Ms. Melfi Caranto, OSA Head shared, " Kahit tumutulo yung aming pawis, ang sarap ng feeling dahil may naiiambag kang tulong".

A resource speaker from GK site then explained the Bayan Concept. He said that after his graduation, he wanted to go abroad, but when he got involved with GK, he remained in the country serving the poor Filipino communities.

Currently, he said that there are 50- 100 GK sites all over the country and there are 30 universities or colleges working with the GK, aiming for the vision of " Walang Pinoy Squatter sa Sariling Bayan".

Amazingly, when the whole world sees the transparency in GK building houses, it attracted donors and volunteers coming from different government agencies, senators, congressmen, mayors, and even the Vice President and the President; from local industries like Petron, Jollibee, SMART. PLDT; from universities like Ateneo de Manila, La Salle University, University of the Philippines, University of the East, Don Bosco Technical Institute, Mapua institute, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Manila; and from Canada, England, Austalia, U.S. and among others.

One of the recipients of GK is Brookside of Payatas, named Rambo, narrated his life before GK came to their lives, " Noong bata pa po ako, mga siyam na taong gulang ako noon, ang pinagkakakitaan ng aking ama ay pagbabasura na ipinambibili lamang ng shabu sa halip na pagkain naming mag-anak. At ang aking ina ay may sakit ng panahong iyon, napilitan akong mamulot ng mga basura upang mapagkakitaan din ay pilit kong inuunawa ang kalagayan ng aming buhay. Namumulot din kami ng pagkain sa mga basurahan, iluluto ang mga ito at nagsisilbing pagkain namin. Naranasan din namin na tuwing tag-ulan, tag-ulan din sa labas at maging sa loob ng aming bahay. Nasabi ko sa aking sarili habang ako'y umiiyak sa Panginoon, ' Panginoon bakit pinagkalooban mo kami ng ganitong buhay? Bakit ang ibang mga bata, natutulog nang mahimbing sa panahong ito, ngunit kami ay nagtitiis ng ganito? Kailan mo kami tutulungan? Dahil sa karanasan kong ito, kinamuhian ko ang aking ama,ngunit ang lahat ng ito ay napawi nang dumating ang GK sa amin."

His mother named Cora, likewise affirmed her son's narration and shared also how they brought her husband to the rehabilitation center, brought food picked up from garbage for him, and loved him despite his shortcomings. This eventually transformed her husband's heart that when he was released, they immediately joined the Couples for Christ. Now, her husband is already the vice president of their cooperative. This story indeed touched the audience's heart

A CFC member from West B of Tatalon site, Bro. Maning Alba, said "Nagpapasalamat kami sa TIP na may pagpapahayag na kabahagi ng GK. Naniniwala ako na ang bawat isa ay may likas na kabayanihan."

He added that before, one needs to die to become a hero, but today, one can already be a living hero.

Addressing to the students, he then challenged them, " Handa ba kayong bumaba upang makibahagi sa GK?" To which the students responded, " Kasali kami riyan! Kasali ako riyan!

For Bro. Lito, another sharer from Bagong Silang , the biggest barangay in Asia to become a relocation area, the Bayanihan Concept of GK is love, shaing, and concern, since GK means less for self, more for others.

He explained the concept of "padugo system" which means giving time, effort, talents, generosity with accountability. Thus, the call for GK is to foster " bayanihan" by working all together to upgrade not only our selves but for others.

He said, " We are called to be a light". He illustrated this with an anecdote of a matchbox with three pieces of matchsticks. The first is for the ears, the second for the toothpick, and the third for light purposes.

With this, he ended, " Let us stand with patriotism and witness the rebirth of the Filipino people".

With the same vision, Engr.de Leon also inspired the audience with words: " I also came from a poor family that is why I told my self I have to study hard to become a millionaire someday. With my own efforts, at the age of 25, I have everything, yet, I felt I have nothing. But when I joined the Couples for Christ, I found the joy of giving and the feeling of emptiness then disappeared."

VP for Academic Affairs, Dr. Maria Consuelo V. Flora, followed by the VP for Administration, Angelita S. Soliven, closed the program with an invitation for the whole TIP community to respond to the Gawad Kalinga's Empowerment call.