7 October 2009

Dear Partners,

Peace!

It has been a most extraordinary and blessed nine days – a week full of tears, exhaustion and frustration, matched with smiles, moments of heroism and answered prayers. Indeed, Ondoy has brought out the best in everyone! As we went around, we were witness to many silent but heroic initiatives from simple people who went out of their way to really be their brothers’ keeper, and Gawad Kalinga is proud to just be one of the organizations that was able to do our share to help our countrymen in need.

To date, Operation Walang Iwanan has been able to raise, repack and distribute close to 200,000 food packs to 9 cities in Manila and 3 provinces covering 30 barangays. Our Headquarters in RFM welcomed over 6,000 volunteers, not counting the many others who were in the field, helping in actual distribution.

This is only possible by the grace of God and the committed support of partners like you who have given generously to make sure that these affected families get much needed food packs. We cannot thank you enough, so allow me instead to share with you this actual experience that has fueled our conviction to continue the mission:

Last September 29, five poor children came to the headquarters carrying plastic bags full of their clothes and a new pair of slippers. They were all wearing an old pair, and told the team that they had decided to give their new pair to the victims who needed it more.

I am convinced in my heart that the generosity of the five was the turning point of Operation Walang Iwanan, and the floodgates of resources were just opened for the victims of Ondoy.

It is still a long road ahead, but we move with confidence knowing that we have partners like you who will not leave the poor behind. Thank you for your trust, and we look forward to seeing all of you in the GK Expo on Saturday, October 10, 2009.

Walang Iwanan!

Sincerely Yours,

Luis Oquinena

Executive Director

Gawad Kalinga

Today we face a new day - a day full of challenges but also a day filled with hope. As we gear up our relief operations to reach more, I would like to personally thank all our volunteers for their committed and inspiring work. I encourage all of us to be tireless in really going beyond self to help the thousands of families that are now wet, cold and hungry.

Operation Walang Iwanan will brave the storms, both Ondoy and Pepeng.  We will continue to sort, repack and distribute relief goods.  In a couple of minutes, I ,together with a team of GK volunteers will go to Brgy. Nangka in Marikina to start a possible evacuation process for the residents.

For our donors and partners, big and small, thank you so much. You have allowed us to help so many families that are badly in need, and we thank you in their behalf.

This is the time for us to be united - we have to raise the Filipino spirit and the only way to do that is to leave no one behind.

We will attempt in the next few days, with God’s grace and your help, to raise half a million food packs. There are many silent and noble initiatives from many groups, but the need is just so massive. Government and private sector groups are doing a great and heroic job - this disaster is bringing out the best from everyone. We can create a turning point, a defining moment - to bring hope to hundreds of thousands of victims by our presence, and through the distribution of much needed food and supplies to families that need it the most.

I have seen nursing mothers, women who just gave birth, young and old lining up just to get our food packs, wading the flood waters and walking for one or two hours just to get the relief. So we must not let up, we must scale up our operations. By the grace of God, we were able to distribute 177,000 plus food packs. Our medical missions have given medical attention to the victims, and we will continue with even greater intensity. So we appeal to everyone to really raise the bar of generosity and lift our country from this tragedy.

Hopefully, by next week, we can already start our clean up and rehabilitation phase. I ask everyone here and abroad to pray unceasingly, but also translate our faith into good works. Let us encourage everyone to find the good in the Filipino.

Mabuhay and pagpalain tayo ng Diyos.

Walang Iwanan!

Luis Oquinena

Our prayers go out to all of our GK heroes and GK residents, especially those who were also victims of the recent devastation brought about by Typhoon Ondoy. Despite the sad news that we see and hear all around us, we are overwhelmed by the many stories of heroism. GK volunteers continue to give of their time, even if their own families are also in need. GK communities have served as refugee centers for other communities that do not have the benefit and protection of a sturdy home. And our GK residents have helped one another pull through one of the most challenging disasters in their life.

These stories inspire us and fuel our conviction that this tragedy can become another opportunity to show our solidarity and true people power on the ground.

In response to the massive disaster wrought by Typhoon Ondoy in Metro Manila and other nearby provinces, Gawad Kalinga is launching Operation GK Walang Iwanan, a campaign for relief, clean up and rehabilitation work in affected areas, especially the poorest communities. GK Villages will serve as command centers to serve neighboring areas in need.

The initial list that we have identified are as follows :
1. GK Camacho, Marikina (Bodoy 0917-888-8276)
2. GK Tatalon, Quezon City (Bobby 0918-906-9075)
3. GK Brookside, Quezon City (Rabbi 0906-462-7232)
4. GK Sitio Ruby, Quezon City (Benjie 0906-286-4447)
5. GK Sitio Pajo, Quezon City (Mar 0919-208-8784)
6. GK Selecta, Cainta (Dolphy 0928-604-4632)
7. GK Caliuag, Pasig City (Ryan 0922-859-6453)
8. GK Pinagsama, Taguig City (Raul 0919-229-1416)
9. GK PBA, Pateros City (Cesar 0905-235-7929)

I am appealing to all of you to help us bring concrete hope to these flood victims and their families by:

1. Donating any ready-to-eat food (boiled eggs, sandwiches, cooked rice, sardines, etc), food packs (canned goods, rice, instant mami, noodles, bread) and bottled water. Clothes, blankets and sleeping mats are also urgently needed. Relief goods that need repacking may be brought to Operation GK Walang Iwanan Headquarters at RFM Gym along Pioneer St., Mandaluyong City. Contact person is Raul Dizon 0917-888-8109.

You may also give packed relief goods directly to any of the command centers near you.

2. Donating cash. This will allow us to buy urgently needed food packs, goods and medicines that each community needs. The website should provide you with all the information that you need.

Most importantly, I would like each and every GK volunteer to serve in our headquarters for repacking of relief goods, or in a command center near you to help in the clean up and rehabilitation work for the flood victims. Aside from material needs, the families need our love and presence. This is our way of showing them that we are here, and we will not leave them behind.

The two week campaign will lead up to a simple but meaningful thanksgiving celebration during the GK Expo on October 10, 2009. This will be the biggest gathering of Filipino heroes who truly care for our country and our fellowmen.

We hope that you can join us as we rebuild and restore hope. Let us celebrate the Filipino spirit of bayanihan and rise above this tragedy the GK Way!

Walang Iwanan! Mabuhay ka Bayani!

Luis O.

This is the first time i am going to do a blog I am not even sure what a “blog” means in the dictionary or what is the format of a blog. I have decided to share GK from my perspective through my executive blog. There is so much to share about my recently concluded trip to Sulu, so forgive me if I write in tranches…

Last April 12, together with 200 GK volunteers, we boarded BRP Benguet from Zamboanga to Panglima Estino, Sulu. Yes the famous land of the Tausugs! Famous for the violence and kidnappings; the people of Sulu shouldn’t be defined by these. It is incumbent upon all of us to make sure that this does not happen because after all, the Philippines is always lumped with what comes out of Mindanao, and Mindanao is always judged with what comes out of Sulu. The global community has their eyes fixed on Sulu. Sulu certainly plays a crucial role in ensuring global peace. Poverty and peace are two inter-locking issues. Gawad Kalinga decided to attack poverty by building holistic, integrated and sustainable communities with the hope that by restoring dignity and empowering the poor, PEACE is a CONSEQUENCE.

At 7 knots, one could barely feel the speed of the ship but I can sense the anticipation of everyone! Personally, I kept on praying and reflecting what “ONLY FOR THE BRAVE” really means. After I uttered this phrase last year during the closing of the Bayani Challenge in Bukidnon, I knew in my heart that there’s more to this phrase than being just a nice and “sexy” theme.

ONLY FOR THE BRAVE: “Pilipino ang Lahi Ko”

Going to Sulu to some was being RECLKLESS but for me it was being RELEVANT to the life of our country, our countrymen, to my community and the Church. In 1986, Filipinos braved the streets of EDSA to face the tanks and armed soldiers; it was this bravery that inspired a nation to embrace a peaceful change. I believe, this is the very spirit that has inspired and emboldened the GK volunteers to go and build houses in Sulu. To my mind and heart, this is my generation’s EDSA 1, it is not without fear that I went, but it is with HOPE in God and FAITH in the Filipino that have kept my fears at bay. I ask, how RELEVANT am I as a Filipino in the journey of my people? My response: A CITIZEN’S ACT is what is needed. An act to honor God’s will for me to be a citizen of the Philippines; PRESENCE of a few brave souls is what sometimes is needed to shift the whole ballgame. GK is the GAME CHANGER. So now, I enjoin every Filipino by birth or not, to help build mighty currents of HOPE that can transform fear and desperation into courage and passion through Gawad Kalinga! Let us be RELENTLESS in pursuing our dreams for our motherland: No Filipino should be a squatter in his own country! No Filipino should ever go hungry! Let us unite to place our Philippines into a nobler place in a global community of nations!

luis

Dear Gawad Kalinga Volunteer,
STAY THE COURSE!
People may ask you, what is your stand in the current situation? Proudly say, GK IS MY STAND.
You are the hope bearer! You are the backbone of our work of nation building! Your sacrifice brings concrete and permanent change in the lives of the poor. Filipinos here and abroad are finding their relevance in the life of our nation through the work of GK. Together, we are strengthening the pillar of our nation – our PEOPLE. Unfortunately, majority of them are poor. Hence, our benchmark for genuine reform is the transformation of slums into beautiful, productive communities where the Filipino lives with dignity and pride.

As a GK volunteer, you are championing the vision of building a better Philippines as your personal mission. You are helping transform a community; you are raising a new breed of servant leaders! And with many others, you are helping build a nationwide network of empowered GK communities that are already bringing about positive changes in our nation!
Nation building is a process. There are many ways to build a nation. Everyone can be a nation builder. We respect those who demonstrate their hopes and dreams for our country in their own unique way. We are in solidarity with those who denounce corruption because it is wrong and anti poor.
But we encourage our fellow Filipinos to share in the GK way! “Una sa serbisyo, huli sa benepisyo.” This is what we have learned from the poor. Let us continue to bring out what is good and noble in one another. Let us make the poor un-poor. This is how our nation will rise.

We have all compromised our values. We are all part of the problem of corruption. And the poverty in our country is the result of that. Hearts have been corrupted by the lures of comfort and success, often at the expense of others, especially the poor. Many have focused on personal interest, often forgetting the collective.
Our response is simple: WE WALK OUR TALK!
Concretely, to be our brother’s keeper:
NO FILIPINO SHOULD BE A SQUATTER IN HIS OWN HOMELAND.
NO FILIPINO SHOULD GO TO SLEEP HUNGRY. EVERY FILIPINO DESERVES A HOME IN A COMMUNITY.
As GK workers, let us intensify our efforts because it is the poor who are forgotten when our nation is in crisis. Fueled by our love for God and country, we will build 2,000 new GK communities for 2008. Collectively, we can make this happen. What we have achieved so far has required great courage and sacrifice from everyone and more will be asked from us as we pursue our destiny as a people.
Let us keep the Faith! Hold the Flag up High! STAY THE COURSE GK Volunteer!

Walang Iwanan!
Luis Oquinena