GAWAD KALINGA...A POTENT TOOL FOR PHILIPPINE UNITY AND NATIONHOOD...

People talk/write about our current economic, social/political crisis and quite frankly, most often, that is all we do. We just talk and talk…write and write… complain/gripe about the problems plaguing our country but many of us just either have not, cannot and will not do enough to address/resolve the issues confronting our people. Indeed, there are many clarion calls from different sectors to unite as one nation and help in alleviating the deplorable economic plight of our impoverished countrymen. I, for one , have always invoked the distinct possibility of somehow transforming a fragmented, disillusioned and seemingly desperate Filipino people into a united, inspired and hope-filled Filipino Nation with our Christian faith as the solid foundation for such possibility. Indeed, I still believe that the Filipino, in general, is a God-fearing, morally upright, peace-loving, generous/hospitable, industrious/hard-working, honest and trustworthy people and yet ironically, for one reason or another, its beloved country of birth has degenerated into quite the opposite, becoming one of the poorest, most corrupt societies in the process. I dare to say again, that it is simply because, among others, our religious/political leaders with the influence, authority and the resources to make a pivotal difference in our country, just do not put into practice what they supposedly believe.

For a while, I thought that maybe, this essence of Filipino Nationhood was a rather futile, quixotic quest. But not anymore. By the grace and favor of God, there is one group/movement which has been issuing similar calls for unity/the essence of Filipino Nationhood and doing probably much more in accomplishing the same more effectively than any government, religious or private sector ever thought or imagined possible… one particular group which truly stands out and virtually, in a class all by itself! GAWAD-KALINGA (GK)!

In the recent GK Global Summit held June 11-13, 2009 at the prestigious Marriot Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts, the slogans…Less for self…More for others…Enough for all…and the latest one, WALANG IWANAN (No One Left Behind), reverberated throughout the summit which was well attended by no less than Vice-Pres. De Castro, Sen. Pangilinan, Sen Zubiri and local governors/mayors as well as by more than 600 delegates wordlwide. The GK Movement which aspires and envisions the transformation of the Philippines from an inpoverished Third World country to a progressive First World one by 2024, truly exemplifies a profound biblical Christian exhortation 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." After all, isn’t it 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.

True stories of how GAWAD-KALINGA fostered peaceful co-existence between the ever-warring Moslems and Christians in MIndanao as well as restored the sense of dignity/self-worth of the poorest of the poor of our country befitting a child of God. By providing them not only with decent shelter, livelihood, a healthy environment but most importantly, a spiritual value formation based on basic Christian principles of love, trust/accountability, family and strong sense of community, such expressions of solidarity evoked and continues to evoke not only a sense of genuine compassion for the poor but also a profound sense of 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 and Gawad Kalinga (GK) is definitely in the forefront of it all…Di ba?

*Atty. Ramoncito Poblete Ocampo, "Bro. Mon" is a licensed lawyer in CA and an elder-disciple/preacher of the EL Shaddai DWXI-PPFI, a Catholic Charismatic Movement. He is a GK Advocate and also President of Bangon! Bagong Pilipinas (BBP) USA, an overseas-based advocacy for the moral, economic and social transformation of the Philippines and its people. For comments, please e-mail ocampolawusa@yahoo.com. or log on www.globalhello.com/bbp.

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