March 3, 2008

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