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GAWAD KALINGA - WORLD CLASS
Just like many Filipino-Americans, I have talked/written about our current social/political crisis and quite frankly, that is what most have done in the past. But many of us just either do not, cannot , have not and will not do enough to address/resolve the issues confronting our own people. While the Filipino, in general, is a God-fearing, morally upright, peace-loving, generous/hospitable, industrious/hard-working, honest and trustworthy people, ironically, it has degenerated into quite the opposite, becoming one of the poorest, most corrupt, most selfish, non-charitable societies in the process.
Indeed, there is an inherent lack of pride in being a Filipino since we are now touted as one of the most corrupt nations, most violent, most immoral in the world today. For a while, I thought that maybe, this essence of honor and pride in being a Filipino can never be restored in the near future. But not anymore. By the grace and favor of God, there is one group/movement which I have grown to admire and be privileged to become an advocate of, which has increasingly been a cause of honor for the Filipino people as a whole. In fact, I just learned that it is one of the potential recipients of a sizeable grant from the Conrad Hilton Foundation as it has proven itself, time and again, to be effective in its humanitarian work. Unlike many other charitable organizations, it is doing probably much more in alleviating the hunger/poverty of our people more effectively than any government, religious or private programs ever conceived… one particular advocacy which truly stands out and virtually, in a class all by itself! GAWAD-KALINGA!
Its slogan…"Less for self…More for others…Enough for all"… truly exemplifies and should remind relatively affluent Filipinos of profound biblical Christian truths as written in Ist Timothy 6:17…"Tell those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be proud and not to rely on so uncertain thing as wealth. Let them trust in God who provides us richly with all things for our use. Charge them to do good, to be rich in good works and generously sharing what they have."
It is a fact that we brought nothing into this world and we cannot take our millions, vast landholdings, expensive toys or adornments into the other world. The good that we can do to the least of our countrymen, we do it unto our Lord and God Jesus and the good that we neglected to do and could have reasonably done, will be held against us for sure. Over the years, GAWAD-KALINGA has restored the sense of dignity/self-worth of the poorest of the poor of our country befitting a child of God, providing them not only with decent shelter, livelihood, education and a health-conscious environment. What may account for its phenomenal success is that each recipient goes through a spiritual value formation based on basic Christian principles of love, trust/accountability, family and strong sense of community. The dramatic transformation in the lives of GK beneficiaries, evokes not only tears of joy and outbursts of compassion but also a profound sense of accomplishment of a mission/purpose which essentially puts our so-called Christian faith/love into actual practice. After all, Ist John 3:17-18 asks…How can God’s love survive in a man’s heart who has enough of the world’s goods and yet closes his heart to his brother when he sees him in need? Little children, let us love in deed and truth and not merely talk about it."
Indeed, talk is cheap, it’s now time for action and involvement. This is the main reason why I decided to forsake my comfort zone in the USA and run for the Philippine Senate in May 2010. I firmly believe more than ever that public service is a rather unique field of endeavor where one can do the most amount of good to the most number of people at the least possible time. When people ask me what is my plan of action or platform of government should I be elected as a senator in May 2010, I simply say that together with Bro. Eddie Villanueva as President, we are committed to enact and/or support laws/policies which will implement GK housing projects (at least 1 Million) nationwide before our respective terms of office are over. Indeed, I was just informed that had the subsidy given to address the artificially-induced shortage of rice sometime ago was instead given to GK, it would have been enough to build 400,000 homes. As such, why re-invent the wheel when Gawad-Kalinga has been proven to be very effective in alleviating the poverty, hunger as well as restoring the sense of self-worth and dignity/honor of our beloved people …Di ba?
Atty. Ramoncito "Monching" Ocampo, "Bro. Ramon", is a licensed lawyer by profession, an elder-disciple preacher of the El Shaddai DWXI-PPFI Catholic Charismatic community by vocation and a GK Advocate. He is also President of Bangon! Bagong Pilipinas (BBP), an advocacy for the moral, economic and political transformation of the Philippines. For comments, e-mail monching4senate@ymail.com.