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

Good morning to the Filipinos in the Philippines, and good evening to our friends abroad.

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