Payatas Trece and the Gawad Kalinga experience 1. Introduction

Couples for Christ (CFC) is a Catholic Community that started in the Philippines in 1981. It originally had 16 couples but grew to approximately 1.4 million active members in 108 countries. Its initial aim was spiritual renewal, but has evolved to social renewal, a natural response to the call of Christian responsibility. This gave birth to Gawad Kalinga (GK, which literally means to give care), CFC’s community development program for the poor. Gawad Kalinga GK is non-sectarian, multi-sectoral, non-partisan and non-discriminatory. It is a program that begins with “stewardship and moves towards community empowerment.” It starts with the appointment of a caretaker team – a group of volunteers committed to visit a community to educate and train, but more importantly to build relationships with the residents. They give values formation and skills training to help the community become independent and sustainable. By doing this, the program targets the root cause of poverty, which is “not simply the absence of money but an absence of shared values, sense of community and higher purpose.” The GK program has several components; each component actually a sub-program that targets specific needs of a community, making the approach comprehensive and wholistic. To target shelter and site upgrading in communities, GK offers TATAG which literally means, “to establish.” TATAG is a housing program wherein durable and colourful homes are built for the poor, as well as other physical structures such as pathwalks, drainage systems, water and toilet facilities, a school, a livelihood center, a multi-purpose hall and a clinic. Sometimes, other structures such as basketball courts and libraries are also constructed once basic infrastructure needs are set up. But this housing program has a value-added quality. The very act of building homes and common facilities is done by making beneficiaries pay for the expenses through “sweat equity.” This means that each beneficiary, aside from building his own house, helps build his neighbor’s house side by side with the GK volunteers. To answer the education needs of the community, GK also offers several programs to educate young people. One is SIBOL, which literally means “to grow.” It provides value-based education for pre-school children, aged three to six years. GK also offers SAGIP (to save), which has support programs for streetchildren whose ages range from seven to thirteen. Another program focused on education is SIGA (to light; also means toughie). It provides scholarships to those with the mental aptitude to pursue higher education. It also offers a strong youth rehabilitation program where juvenile delinquents are provided various activities and counselling sessions to help them live productive lives without committing them to rehabilitation institutions, then later on, reintegrate them into their communities.

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In answer to the health care needs of the communities it serves, GK offers LUSOG, meaning “healthy” in Filipino. Through this program, each family’s health in a GK community is carefully monitored by a volunteer team of doctors and paramedical practitioners. It introduces and builds clinics in communities. GK also addresses the livelihood needs of the communities it serves through GAWAD KABUHAYAN (to give livelihood). Through this effort, livelihood and skills training are conducted, and start-up capital and materials for microfinance and micro-enterprise are also provided. It assists in marketing communities’ products. It also aims to raise food self-sufficiency levels by teaching technology for backyard farming, urban agriculture and poultry-raising. GK empowers communities by organizing each of them into a KAPITBAHAYAN Neighborhood Association. The community, through the organization, is given the responsibility to decide and agree to a set of guidelines as well as plan and work for continuous development in its area. Payatas Trese Payatas Trese used to be a slum community of Payatas Area B in Quezon City, Philippines. It is about four hectares in size and its population is 260 households. Most of the people who live there are very poor, and work as drivers, construction workers, painters, household helpers, washerwomen, etc. Couples for Christ began their work in Payatas Trese in 1995. According to the residents, it started when an RVM nun who used to conduct regular bible study sessions in the area introduced CFC to the residents. It conducted the Christian Life Program (CLP) in Payatas Trese, which was initially attended by seven couples. Membership to the Couples for Christ has grown. According to one resident, almost 65 percent of the residents are now members of the CFC. In 2001 Payatas Trece was chosen as a GK site mainly because of the considerable number of CFC members. In May 2001, the Kapitbahayan (the association of would-be GK resident-beneficiaries) was organized. The following month, SIBOL was launched. Then in August, The first house was constructed for a member of Handmaids of the Lord in August. Other GK programs, namely SAGIP, SIGA and LUSOG were put up in early 2002. GK’s programs in Payatas Trece are still on-going; It has also gained the support of other organizations, such as the Ateneo, which became its first partner university. Ateneo pledged to finance and construct 60 houses, thus Payatas 13 was renamed the GK Blue Eagle Village. GK aims to build 208 houses, as of October 2005, 177 houses have already been built. The next pages focus on how the Gawad Kalinga program has affected the residents of Payatas Trece, from the perspective of six residents who have committed themselves into ensuring that the program succeeds.

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2.Payatas Trece and the GK Experience 2.1 Transcript of Interview 1 About the group/community How did your group/community start? Who started it? How? This community, as you see it now, started when Sister Oxy conducted Bible study sessions with us. It came to a point when more and more people were joining and CFC and elders wanted to enter the community. CFC (Couples for Christ) has been with the community since 1995. We were the first batch of CFCs here. Since then, the community has grown. What were your activities when you were starting? We attended thirteen weeks of the Christian Life Program, which is focused on teaching. This is how our community started… We had seminars relating to community development. We give all our support to our neighbors There are also teachings about Christian life. How did you make your community stronger? What were the strategies you used? Development started here up to Area A and B, even in Silangan (East). Gawad Kalinga started through the padugo (which means “to bleed” for the cause. It is means devoting one’s own time and resources to initiate work within the community without expecting outside funding or support). Actually, the system wasn’t called GK then. It was called padugo. It started with twelve houses. Our elders who are members of the Couples for Christ Catholic Group outside of their community who helped us gave a small amount of money so that we can share this with the others here in building or improving their houses. Until now, they are still here. They give their support for the completion of (houses)… They gave a large amount of support. The number has increased. Almost all households in this area are CFC members. The community was strengthened through our dealings with each other. So maybe the others see that there’s nothing wrong with what we do. In the first place, before, you would see drinking and gambling sessions in the streets. If you get drunk, you pick a fight with someone. Now that the area is developed through the community, through what they teach us, there is a big change. You can no longer see any commotion. Prayer. Also, we explain what we are doing. Now, we help each other build houses in the community. We help each other with the tasks. We help each other increase our faith, better our relationship with other people, our associations with big people, how to achieve justice in the country.

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Describe your community as it is today. What were the changes that took place since you started it? What were the changes that took place? You said there were a lot of drinking sessions? Now… we were able to change that system. Also, group prayer was introduced. Before, you never prayed with each other? No. We didn’t mind each other. We did not concern ourselves with what our neighbors did. For example, if you were my neighbor and you had a fight, it was your business. Fight if you want to. Now, if there are any arguments, the leader is consulted. The community will try to solve the situation unless of course it is a big problem and we do not have the capacity to solve it. Then the barangay, i.e. the local government unit, will take over. But if it is only a small thing, we the leaders will just solve it. Sir, how do you describe your community before the project started? Can you describe the people’s way of living? What were the main sources of income? When CFC just started, people here lived each day at a time (subsistence living). Although you worked hard, sometimes you could not even eat. Life was difficult. Most people here worked as painters and were involved in construction services. Also, some were back-riders (those who accompany truck drivers) like me. Those were the common occupations of people here. You really would see that the houses then were different from houses today. Before, the houses were shanties made up of flimsy materials crudely put together. People would have been frightened to visit us. Even the roofs were a hodgepodge of used galvanized roofing materials. Our walls were made of scraps of plywood. Maybe if you touched a match to it, it would only take one second till… it would immediately catch fire. But now, you see the appearance of the surroundings. This place has been really blessed for us. It is also because of those from Ateneo (the Jesuit university) that this community had been organized. They’ve given us much help and support. Consider also that the roads outside the community had many potholes before. Only the tire-tracks were flat. And then population here increased. Maybe the city government took pity on us. Now the road has been paved from Litex to here, maybe to cater to the transport needs of each person. In 1993, ERAP’s (former Philippine President Joseph Ejercito Estrada) housing project was put up. People in Manila were moved there. There was relocation. That area is very vast. As I have been relating, we’re improving our quality of life because now we have homes. Also, we do not go back to our old ways. Things have indeed changed: the interaction of people, how we accept visitors, how we introduce ourselves. We have become more open.

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Research Questions What commitments to dignity and justice have you made as a Christian community, i.e. inspired by your Christian faith? As a member, what are the concrete activities that you do? As a community? Do you have activities? Yes, our community is a strong one because we now have a school, a clinic, and the program Sibol (GK’s tutoring and skills development program for pre-school children). It is mostly we who run these, who are part of the community. I am the one assigned at the clinic today. In fact there is an activity this moment at the clinic. I should’ve gone there if it weren’t for this interview. Everything that a person can learn can be found here. There are also volunteers here. We study, we attend trainings. We get invited. If there are doctors that come here and serve, the volunteers assist them. Are there a lot of you who serve? Yes, during weekends. I have a job, but Saturday and Sundays, I am free. However, it is my wife who works for the community during weekdays. My wife and I are both active. Here there are many couples that actively serve. We have our own assignments. Raquel’s assignment, for example, is for Tatag (GK’s housing program). She is in charge of the construction of the houses, the distribution of the materials and all that is needed. We have our own assignments. Someone is also in charge of Sibol so we have our own assignments. We also have a pastoral program. Someone also is assigned for that. Are these commitments occasions for an encounter with God? In what way? Do you see God in all the time you spend in promoting dignity and justice in your community? Yes, I see God. Because we won’t be able to act if He’s not here. He guides us with our actions. We cannot go on without Him. That’s why my wife tells me, “I’m so tired but when I am able to help someone, it’s like my tiredness disappears.” No matter how much our sacrifices are, no matter what our services are, we are repaid by joy especially if there are people who help us. They are there to support us. We help one another. It lightens the load if we help each other. Sir, how do you feel God’s presence with what you do? Through cooperation. Through being open to other people. We show each other goodness. Of course sometimes, I also think…for example, even during the night someone wakes us up, “Can we have some medicine?” So we, as leaders, go to the clinic and

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give them the medicine that they need. There is sacrifice and we don’t expect anything in return. Our joy lies in being able to serve the Lord. What signs of the Spirit have appeared in that life of commitment, which you consider especially important? In attitudes, community dynamics, lifestyles, implication of persons… Sir, what do you think are the important signs of the spirit that you see in your commitment to service? For me, I wish for nothing except that what I give is able to help. It is enough that I be able to serve. It is enough that my wife and I are able to serve in a good way. By continuing what you do, what are the signs of the Spirit or evidence that the Spirit is present? Do you see this with the attitudes of the people? How is it…if you do something, are you aware of the presence of the Spirit? When can you say this? For me, I can say that the Lord is there because each step that I make I do because of Him. If he is not there, your actions are sluggish. That’s why it’s necessary to be energetic because you know that you are being taught and guided with everything. So sir, is it right to say that what is important is the movement of that Spirit, aside from the fact that you are able to help? Because that’s already a big thing. It’s a big thing that someone wakes you up at midnight, but it is more important that you see that the Spirit is moving you? Yes. What aspects of your faith have become clearer, outstanding, strengthened? In the way to view Jesus’ life or to interpret God’s face, or to welcome people, or to see God’s presence in non-Christians… Sir, what aspect of your faith has been shed light on, has emerged or has been strengthened by what you do? Each week, we have prayer meetings, usually every Saturday. Also, the things that my leader and I talk about are being relayed to the members. In a week, there’s always a prayer meeting. You mean sir that emerged from your activities? So in your activities, there is an aspect of your faith involved? This is manifested through your prayer meetings? You also have your sharing? Yes. Sir, how did your understanding of the life of Jesus, His face, how did these change throughout your helping other people?

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With what we see with the people now, even if they are not Christians, even in our housing project, we do not think of getting anything in return. What’s important is that you are helping the person, no matter what religion you are part of. Before, did you use to help only Catholics? No. It was like this even before. This is our view, even though a person is not part of our group, as long as we see that he is in need of help. When you started to do your activities here, how did your views change? Before you joined Couples for Christ and after, how did your views of other people change? There is a big change because when we joined CFC, it is through this that we got to know God. Before, there were a lot of gamblers in the area, I was one of them. And then I started to know God, my image really changed. I no longer appreciated what I was doing before. We began to have many activities that help other people. So the time spent for our previous past-times are now spent helping other people. So your life was really changed, your lifestyle. A lot has changed. In earlier times, you would have seen that I was very, very big. Your appearance also was transformed? Also with vices, people smoked, sometimes gambled. People fought with their wives because they were usually drunk. When I joined Couples for Christ, we let go of all these vices because we thought that our community will not grow if we continue with our old ways. So why don’t we do this? It is in fact for ourselves. But you see it also in them, in the people who support us. There are the people who have changed tremendously, which amazes me. In our community, before all these developments, you needed a bodyguard to get in. Now even if you walk around, nobody will harm you. When you say Payatas, people will automatically think it is very chaotic here. But in our community, with the Lord’s mercy, things have changed. The people’s actions have changed. That’s why I am very thankful to the elders who have given us support. I think that these are blessings for us and we are to share these with other people. When carrying out your commitment, what major difficulties have you experienced? But sir, are your tasks difficult? Are there times that you also get tired? Of course! We also get tired. That’s only natural. Think about this, you’re tired. You’ve worked the whole day. And when you sleep, sometimes someone knocks at your door and comes in. Also, we have to visit other couples also. What are your problems? Can we help?

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There, we see to it that we understand his needs. Of course I do not want to report this immediately to those in higher positions. They might say, “Why, can’t you even handle that?” So now, as long as I can do something about it, I do it. And then if we really can’t, then we ask the help of other members. It’s really difficult. Because in the first place, sometimes, we need to go to seminars outside. Of course I am quite shy when it comes to my leaders. So what we do... If we are in prayer meetings, we get contributions from the core members. We pitch in so that we can save money. By the time that we need funds, the money is ready. Not like when you act just as the situation comes. Then you cannot use anything. This is what we do. From the vantage point of your faith and commitment to justice in favor of the poorest, what do you ask today of the Church you are part of? What do you think should be changed or strengthened? How would you like your commitment to justice and life to be? From the vantage point of your faith and your commitment to justice, your activities now especially those for the poor, what do you ask from the Church of which you are a part? From your parish? What do you think can be changed or strengthened with regard to the Church? I only ask that they always pray for us and give us strength. Strength of body and spirit. So that our mind will only be on Him. I hope they will not fall short on its teachings. What do you think are the concrete steps to do this? Support dignity. Sir, what do you think should be changed with the Church or should be strengthened? Maybe the renovation of the church so that it will become bigger. So that we can fit. Because many people are forced to hear Mass from the outside. That should be renovated. Maybe even to make it more beautiful. Also, so that people can understand more the teachings of the Church. Does this help you in your activities? Yes. Our leaders were the ones who started the church. Solicitation also is needed so that the fund will increase. And from the same standpoint, what do you ask of the society in which you live? What do you ask also of those who live in rich countries of the world? Sir, from the vantage point of a Christian who works in the community, what can you ask from the society? What do you wish for them to know?

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For me, I want to let the government know that they should see how our community runs so that they may be impressed and so that they will also see what is lacking here. There is still a lot to be done. So sir, those from other rich countries, what can they do? Perhaps what I can ask from those who have already helped us is to continue helping us for a long period of time so that things can be improved. So that there’s something for the people to make a profit of. Livelihood. That’s all. In our place, there are mothers who do not have anything to do. Sir, these answers that we got from you will be sent to Spain. There were many countries that were asked so that they will be given an idea how they will respond. So these are all our questions. Yes. Don’t tire of coming here. We are always here when you visit. If I’m not at home, I’m just making my rounds in the area. Sometimes, if there is a problem, they also add to my problems. But I just tell them, “Let’s just pray. Let’s pray. God might help us.” Just like that. That’s why I am also pleasant even though they come at an unholy hour. I do not get angry as long as they ask properly. Sometimes I even joke with them, “Let’s drink.” But that’s only a joke. I am happy that we are able to get to know each other. With our dealings, we are able to get to know each other, things fall into place. 2.2 Transcript of Interview 2 About the group/community How did your group start? Who started it? How? This religious community called Couples for Christ started here in 1995. This was led by a nun, the RVM sister Sr. Oxy. At first, she came here to conduct values formation in the area, all these in relation to faith. She saw that the population was increasing and she initiated this for those people who had forgotten about their faith. It is by chance that she talked to Bro. Tony Meloto then. He was one of the leaders of Couples for Christ. He and other leaders held an orientation here. They conducted two orientations and then they introduced the Christian Life Program (CLP). So, it was in 1995 that Couples for Christ entered the community. My husband and I were among their first harvests. Mr. Tony is also from here? No, he lives outside the community. It was also they who started the Gawad Kalinga which is the community’s service now. Gawad Kalinga and Couples for Christ are related. They are linked. Every year, more and more people join the organization. But not all who join stay. Some go on and some disappear. Each person has his free will. Wherever you adapt yourself, wherever you are happy with your faith, stick to it. So when they harvest members for Couples for Christ, maybe it won’t even be a year until some members falter and disappear.

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But GK itself, the building of the houses, when did this start? GK was not yet called GK before. Then, it was called ANCOP. It is an acronym but I forget the meaning. This started 2001. The donors before were our leaders in Couples for Christ who may have had extra blessings. Maybe they thought that they should build us nice houses. The first batch to be built was composed of twelve houses. The first one was erected in August and then this was followed by another one in November and two others in December until all twelve were finished within 2001 to 2002. The donors were our brothers and sisters who do not reside here, those who are well off in life. Is that what they call padugo? Yes, that’s what we call padugo. Those we call elders, our leaders, cluster heads and unit heads who have extra blessings, started this. When they got good feedback, they thought about building the community through Bayanihan (cooperation). So after twelve houses, SIBOL was organized. SIBOL is a program of GK for kids in the kindergarten, nursery and preparatory levels. There is also a program for elementary students called SAGIP. And then SIGA is for the Out of School Youth. Are these tutorials? Yes. Almost all are tutorials but there are also skills-training for those with talent and abilities. So that’s the program. I think GK has been running for only two years. It has existed for two years but since 2001, we’ve already had programs here. Maybe, they had the idea of penetrating the area because they realized that it is easier for them to introduce other programs here because people have already been molded and are members of CFC. So these are the values that we wish to impart to them: cooperation, whatever should be done to be a true Christian. It starts in the home, at work, wherever. With spouses. It all goes from there. That’s what they thought of. GK in Quezon City actually started in Payatas. What are the other tasks or activities? There were trainings and seminars in management, especially in managing or handling people. They taught us, through Ateneo, in November 2003, especially when we were fixing the legal status of our land, when it was about to be awarded to us. Now, it is okay. We now have a subdivision plan. A final census has been conducted here. This was when Ateneo entered. This was when they gave an effort to develop the community. This was when the trainings, livelihood projects, and community development started. They put up a health center, GK center, Sibol, and then they conducted tutorials in our school here. What do you mean when you say management training? Management training. Because now, that is what GK really wants. When the program started, those who ran it were the outsiders. Nobody from here was in

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charge. They thought then that because most of us have been members of CFC for a long time, that means, we already know what is right. “You know right from wrong,” they might have thought“ so it’s time that it is you who will lead the community.” But they did not give the authority to us completely. We needed to be trained first. The program managers here were they themselves, those who were from Filinvest (village outside Payatas). Now, things have been devolved to us. We, the unit heads of CFC, we already manage the programs here. We have programs like Sibol, Sagip, Siga, and housing program which we call Tatag. At first, we didn’t know exactly how to run the program. We were afraid. We thought that the rich ones handled the projects previously because they had money to spare for the projects which we would have to pay later. Then we were taught that you don’t have to use personal money for the project. Only the knowledge to run your program is needed. What are the functions, who are the people that you can involve in the program you are handling? So our trainings were mainly to teach us how to handle people, how you can mobilize them, how you can convince them to be involved in this kind of activity. It is only in December that the trainings will be finished. It is still on-going. This is why you go to Ateneo every weekend? Yes. The couple Tess and Adel Briones gives the seminar. I think they are from Ateneo. How were you able to strengthen your community? What strategies did you use? How have you strengthened your community? What were the strategies that were used toward its strengthening? For leaders, you have management trainings. But you yourselves, what are the strategies that you use in order to strengthen the community? What we apply are the teachings that we learn from CFC. How you would be able to control your emotions even if you were really angry, even if people were being difficult. How will you convince this person? How will you please him? We apply the teachings in this manner. Because we have been with CFC for ten years, our elders trust that we can handle these situations already. We also conduct values formation for the people. Here, we try to mold them with the dos and don’ts. They begin to realize that the values they have grown up with, are not exactly in accordance with the standards of being a good Christian. That is also one way for us to convince people to be active in the community. Big developments began to take place. Although if we look at the percentage, we would see that we have not yet acquired the commitment of everybody. Maybe about 65 percent have joined us. It’s not yet that many. The others have also their own motives. They act as though they’re involved, but if you’ve given them what they want, for example if they’ve been housed, they immediately disappear. So this is when we use the strategy of talking to them to remind them of what we have discussed during the values formation. We remind them of the responsibilities that come with being a beneficiary of this development. What are your responsibilities to other people? We have signed MOAs (memoranda of agreement) in our values formation between each beneficiary and GK. Because others tend to forget. They still go about doing what they had been doing when their houses were still not built. Another thing, we also take them in the

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CLP. But they are not forced to go if they do not want to. Of course there are religious differences here. Some are from Dating Daan, some are Born-Again or are Jehovah’s witnesses. Only a few are from Iglesia ni Kristo but there are also Moslems. Gawad Kalinga is really for everybody. But if you know that certain persons are Catholics or Christians, then maybe they can be invited immediately. We begin with the housing project, and then with the family. How can we tap your family so that the development and beautification of the community will steadily push through? Because if there’s only the housing project and the beneficiary and his family are not saved from the values that they have grown up with which they thought to be correct, it will be difficult to organize the community. So this is the strategy that we have used. Tita Raquel, are these values formation programs only for the members of Couples for Christ? The values formation is given by leaders who are not from here. It is also related to the CFC community. It is not exclusive to the couples because those that we were able to house were not all member couples. Some are not yet members; others cannot be members because they really do not want to. But they also attend values formation so that they can also be educated about what GK is and what a beneficiary of GK has to do. The values formation is not exclusive to CFC just as the housing program is not exclusive to CFC members. If someone needs a house, he will be given one no matter what religion he belongs to. This is also a strategy, isn’t it, that all are included? You do not leave someone out. Yes. Please describe your neighborhood today. How is it different from your community when you first started? Please describe your way of life. What are the common sources of income? How would you describe your surroundings? How do you picture your community now? What changes happened since when you first started? Before, during weekends, you would see that people were very happy here. You would see things going on along the street. There were those who sang videoke. There were those who drank. Then in the afternoon there would be quarrels. And then you’d see that in a house, there would be people gambling. There were also a lot of children running around especially if there were no classes. And then later you’d see them fighting with each other. When there were visitors here, there’d be nice cars parked outside, and then when the driver left, he’d find scratches drawn across his vehicle. It was like this before. That’s why when someone would learn that you were going to Payatas Trece, they’d be scared and say, “Oh no! You’re going to Payatas Trece? Don’t use nice cars, it’s dangerous there. There’ll be lines scratched in them or your tires will be punched flat.” This is how our community was because people were bored and did nothing.

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So when GK entered, we had new activities. GK has many activities in store every weekend. So when this became a GK area, Sibol, Sagip and Siga started and each one had an activity. The kids became busy, you’d see, not because of play. Yes they also play but their time has become useful. They play but at the same time they also learn because someone from Singles for Christ facilitates their playtime. Parents are taught values and we also teach the children these same values. Before, the kids hung out here and had clique wars. Now they are all part of the same group because all of them are part of the program Siga. So what happens is that they become busy with the activities. Also when a child has a talent in acting, singing or dancing, this is developed. It is here that the children’s time, which was previously wasted doing nothing, is spent. This is through the initiative of those from Ateneo. Sometimes Ateneans come and say, “Who among you are fond of this activity? Come with me.” Or, “We will have a training in Ateneo this Saturday and Sunday.” They think of all things. This is why kids become busy. Now when it comes to the parents, we see to it that every year, we have CLP twice. So every Saturday and Sunday, instead of seeing people drinking -- there are still some who do, you can’t remove that, but now only a few people drink and they usually do during special occasions-- now you see that they bring with them the Bible, songbooks and a guitar because they have household prayer meetings. This usually happens during weekends because this is when all of them do not have work. This is the only time that the members have complete attendance. Sometimes you would hear people who meet along the street saying, “Brother, where will your household prayer meeting be?” or “Why are you rushing?” And then the person answers, “Because I need to recruit the two couples I’m targeting for the CLP.” So it’s very nice to see that it’s very different here already. Sometimes our leaders who are from Filinvest have meetings here that last up to 11:00 or 12:00 in the evening. They are very safe. Some residents will even watch their cars for them. This is very different from the earlier times when they would come here and nearly cry in despair because their cars would be scratched. We, the members of Couples for Christ, were embarrassed because of this. Now they are very safe. Some students even come here for their school’s immersion programs. This shows how our community can already be trusted. Even foreign students and students from Ateneo come and spend Fridays and Saturdays here. They usually go home on Sundays. Now they have something to share to others. This means that it is very safe now here because Couples for Christ and GK have penetrated the area. People are being molded and so you see a big transformation in us compared to who we were before. Research Questions What commitments to dignity and justice have you made as a Christian community, i.e. inspired by our Christian faith? Dignity? With dignity, for example… the housing project. In earlier days, when someone came here we were embarrassed. Should we stay outside? Should we stay at the basketball court or should we stay in the chapel? Our house was not nice. It was not presentable. It was embarrassing. Now, when somebody comes here, we say, “Come in.” Although sometimes, like now, it is very disorderly because I haven’t had time to fix it. But we’re proud, “Come in, our house is finally beautiful. It is presentable compared to how it was before.” So now, we have dignity and we can

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say that our house was not built for free. We can say that we also have a part in it. Our part here is through what we call bayanihan. The house of our neighbor would not be built without my help because I also lent a hand. What happens is that I’ll be able to say, “Neighbor, don’t fight with me. Don’t you know that I am one of those who helped build your house?” They will also think,” Let’s not be angry at him because when our house was being built, he was one of the people who mixed cement, piled hollow blocks, painted and hammered.” So there, that’s one thing I can say about dignity. Another thing I can say is that although the house is free, the land is not. We will have to pay for this. Not everything is free. We also have a part in this. We are also proud that we will have to pay for the land. About equality, what we can say about this is that we are not squatters. When other people say, “Wow, your place is very nice,” we add, “Yes. Aside from that, that is already ours. When we are able to pay we will hold the title to that. Although it is only small, we can say that this is already ours.” So there, we already have dignity. In earlier days, when you enter the house you see the living room, the bedroom and kitchen in one space. Now, we have a real bedroom. We have a separate kitchen and living room. We have a presentable bathroom. It has also been tiled. So we can say that the people here acquire a sense of dignity because we already have homes. It starts in the home. How do you promote, as part of a Christian community, your experience of equality, or having dignity? How do you uphold this in your activities? I know one way is through taking care of the houses that you build. Another way also is the fact that you are paying. What else? In your activities in the community? Actually, regarding equality, some partners and sponsors come here and build with us. “What? The rich come here to mix cement?” They are the partners, they are the ones who donate so that the houses can be built and then they also want to have a part in the actual building of the house, that they also sweat for it. So people here wouldn’t want to just watch them and do nothing. Are these commitments occasions for an encounter with God? In what way? My service here is full-time. I have an allowance because I am the materials custodian here. Of course, I have a responsibility. That’s why they give an allowance. But this allowance is not that big. My service here is really for twenty-four hours. Everytime people say, “Hey Raquel,” …sometimes even if I am already asleep someone says, “Tomorrow should be our preparation, this has just come up. We are to expect a visitor, meet the Mabuhay team (that’s our entertainment team)…” Sometimes, I think to myself, this is what you call service. Because if I say, “It’s very tiresome, this should not be at this time.” and then I stop it, you will see that if you stop doing your part, the following day, when the visitors arrive, things will not turn-out well. Now, even if it is afternoon and you’re already tired, and your services are needed in the evening, you will give it. What we always think is that besides, all these are for the Lord. Because once a person really needs something, he approaches me, “Raquel will a house be built for us too?” And then I see that they’re really hard up. “Okay, I’ll try, I’ll recommend that a house be built on your lot. There won’t be much of a problem as long as there is an available lot.” Now if you are able to build them a house, they show gratitude through participating in the activities. But if you put off helping this

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family, where will they be now? They probably will still not show concern for the community. The family will probably not join CFC. Helping them build their houses is one way to assimilate them to the community. Usually when we know that they are Catholic, we invite them immediately. And when they reason that they are not yet married, we encourage them to join the CLP because we also sponsor mass weddings for ten couples or more who have not yet received the Church’s blessing on their union. So it is then that they join CLP and then we discover that they have leadership capacities. And then you realize that if this couple were not given a house, they would not be members of CFC. Now they are handling four to five couples that listen to them. This means that when you help other people they help other people also, this can be considered as your indulgence to the Lord. At first, I did not care about what happened to this family. I was telling myself, “I don’t care about you as long as my house is finished. I’m tired, I get lazy, and I’ve served the community enough. I’m tired.” But now, I see that this couple is very active and they have the ability to be leaders. People listen to them. Even those who acted terribly before, those who were boisterous, they have corrected their ways. This is what I call chain reaction. If it stops with you… If you have something to offer, you must share it until it bears good fruit. Do not complain in your service because you are able to help a lot of people and many are able to get closer to God. If you complain and you think of the difficulties you experience and then you stop doing whatever you are doing, it will be such a waste. Many people are waiting to be discovered, to be given a chance to be involved in the community, to be shown the way towards Him. And eventually they will realize that it is not true that if you are suffering now, you will forever be suffering. It is possible that if you start to act, you will acquire a dignity for yourself. You will also be able to help. That there are people on your side to help you help others. This becomes your indulgence to the Lord. So in those miracles, in each one’s transformation, in the chain reactions that you mentioned, it is in these that you see the face of the Lord? Is it here that you encounter God? Yes. In our Sagip program for example, which is for kids 7 to 13 years old, someone donates school supplies. And then one child comes and says that he does not have this item because his parents can’t buy him one because they have not enough money. So I will give him what he needs. You will see in his face that he’s really happy. Sometimes when I have some candy, I say to them, “If anyone goes to Mass on Sunday, if I see you in attendance, come to my house and I will give you candy.” Come Saturday, they are already excited. So when they go to Mass, they will see that it’s also nice to go to Mass. If you help the children, I think you get bigger points compared to when you help the adults. And then I teach them, “I will give you candy as long as you hear Mass.” And then what the child does is that he will go to Mass regularly because candy is delicious. He does not know that the point is not that he be given candy but that he is able to get closer to God. So it is here that I see the face of the Lord. We help children in our being program managers in Sagip. When we help the children, it is as if we are already helping Him.

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What signs of the Spirit have appeared in that life of commitment, which you consider especially important? Attitudes, community dynamics, lifestyles, implication of persons… Like what I’ve said, if you are a member of GK, you put people in values formation. In homes, you will see the movement of the whole family. In earlier days, this particular family used to be a rowdy bunch. This family fought with each other always. The mother was a nag. The father was a drunkard. But now, you will see that the father works hard for the family because he was inspired by his pretty house. If the house is nice, the food should be good also. You will begin to think of acquiring nice things for the house. The mother, because the house is nice, will think that instead of nagging, instead of playing tong-it (card game), she will put up curtains and clean the house. The kids on the other hand, will be taught values and how they can help their parents. So there, you see the movement of the spirit. It starts in the home. It revolves from the kids to the parents especially if they are recruited to join CFC. The whole family will bond together. Their minds will be opened and it will dawn on them that their previous lifestyle was wrong. They will decide to change this while there’s still time and while the kids are still young. When they get older, we will also include them in the youth group. This also has a big effect on the family. If the relationships within the family are harmonious, among neighbors, this spills out into the whole community. The movement of the spirit starts at home, within the neighborhood and all over the community. This goes around after. What aspects of your faith have become clear, outstanding, strengthened? In the way to view Jesus’ life, or to interpret God’s face, or to welcome people, or to see God’s presence in non-Christians… At first, I thought it is enough that I know the Lord, that I go to church when I have time. Now that I am a member of CFC, I understand that it is not just that. It is also necessary that you give time for Him. That’s why we have what we call the covenant. We have what we call a 15-minute prayer time. I realized that each one’s responsibility is not just to move all day, wake up, sleep, eat - as long as you know that there is a God, you know that you go to Mass and that you do good things. This is not the only way to be connected with him. Secondly, in earlier times, we decided to be content with what is given to us. As the old saying goes, “The action should come from the person, the mercy from God.” Before, you tended to ask for blessings and complain when nothing came. How can these prayers be granted if you do not work for them? We learned that you should pray but at the same time, you should also move. Because the old thinking that miracles just come from heaven is not true. Now you have to work and pray that what you are working for will be granted, that your goals will be achieved. In earlier times, you pray hard and then the Lord does not seem to listen your prayers. But what were you praying for? To win the lottery? Is this the right thing to pray for? If you want to have money, it shouldn’t be through betting on the lottery. You should work. I was always praying to win while playing tong-it but I never won. Before, we thought it was important to pray for everything. We didn’t know that prayers are granted depending on what you pray for. What you pray for will not be given to you if it is not meant for you. What if you really win in the lottery? You might say you won because you have prayed for it. Then, you’d be

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teaching your companions how to gamble. So we were educated that it is not important that you pray all the time. It depends on your prayer and also on your actions. Now if this is not given to you, maybe it is not time. Life is long. Maybe after ten years, five years, two years from now, it will be granted. Before, we were really impatient. Why do we stay this way? Always wanting? We work, don’t we? We are very hardworking but we still lack so many things. But we discovered this thinking is wrong. You actually have money but you just don’t know where to put it. When you are part of the community, you are also taught how to respond in a good way. For example, you have money but you bet at the lottery because you want to increase this amount. You are taught that this is wrong and that if you want to make this money grow, you should invest in a business. Think of part-time work for which to use the money so it can generate more money. Also, before, we didn’t care what happened in the community. I had a job before, I went to the office every day. And then I’d say, “I’m tired.” Sundays are only the time left for my family. It is also my rest day. We will go gallivanting, I will visit my mother. When I get there, there would be happenings, happy gatherings, singing sessions with the videoke. You are not aware that your Sundays can be set for Him. Mondays to Fridays are spent at work, Sundays should be for Him. This is called service. Some may say that Mondays to Fridays can also be called service. But for whom? Your family? Did you integrate Him here? Did you do any service for Him Monday to Saturday? Sunday should be a day you give full-time service to the Lord. You should recruit people for CLP. There are trainings and seminars so that your knowledge of how you can serve the community will be increased. This is different from your job. Your train of thought is different. We thought that a person only lives to work, eat, attend Mass and when you want to gallivant, then gallivant. We learned that it should not be that way. As long as there is time, give it to Him. As much as possible, it should be 50-50. Fifty for yourself and fifty for Him. Although it is not directly for Him, if you help the community, it is as if you are helping Him. When carrying out your commitment, what major difficulties have you experienced? At first, it was really difficult. Of course, we learned to adjust. Sometimes we have work on Saturdays and Sundays. I have to do my laundry. I’m not even able to clean the house from Monday to Saturday. Dust accumulates. The whole afternoon isn’t even enough for me to clean up and then I’m supposed to extend my service? Sometimes I say to my husband, “You go, you attend because I won’t attend. I’ll stay here at home.” But then I feel that this is wrong. This is when what they call time management should come in. From Monday to Saturday, you go out at 8:00 am, you work until 5:00 pm. You arrive at 7:00. You’ll cook, even then you can make sure that your household chores do not pile up ‘til Sunday. You can also delegate to your kids. They’re old enough. They should do their own laundry. You can also start doing your laundry at 7:00 pm and then finish at 10:00. Before you go to work in the morning you can hang these up to dry. When you come home in the afternoon they should already be dry. Then the laundry won’t pile up. This is what I teach others also. The problem is that they see Saturday and Sunday as laundry day. But Saturday and Sunday should be days of service to God. You should compress all of your activities for the family from Monday to Friday.

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However, sometimes, I also lose my way. Like, if there is a special occasion here at home, for example if it’s somebody’s birthday, I’ll say, “Today is my day-off. Nobody texts me, nobody calls. You will not find me today because I will cook, there will be visitors. But this only happens sometimes.” And sometimes, this is needed. Sometimes, you need to refresh your mind. Or else you’ll go mad. So at times when you get tired and you feel like you don’t want to go on, what motivates you to go on in your service? I’m afraid that if I get tired, what if the Lord also gets tired of me? “You’re tired? Then I’m more tired than you are,” He might say. “You serve me, yes, but I serve much, much more of you and yet I do not get tired. What if I get tired and decide to decrease the number of persons in this world and you will be one of them?” Then you’ll die unprepared. You are prohibited to complain when you serve. There’s a way for everything. If you really want it badly, there is a way. If you don’t there are many alibis, because you do not want it. Even if you know there’s a way, you won’t do it. But if you really want something, you will craft a way so that you can make time for it. From the vantage point of your faith and commitment to justice in favour of the poorest, what do you ask today of the Church you are part of? What do you think should be changed or strengthened? How would you like your commitment to justice and life to be? Isn’t the Church also the people? It is the community. Well, if this is in relation to the parish…sometimes misinformation occurs. They see CFC as a sect but they’re wrong. For example, the parish has a choir but In CFC, we also have what we call a music ministry. We have a rotation system. There is a fixed schedule for the commentators at Mass, also for those who are assigned to clean the chapel before Sunday. They think these are different things. They do not realize that those who move within the Church are those also from Couples for Christ. There is a priest here who opposes CFC. They say that since CFC came here, the Church is being pushed outside the picture. But we say that this is not the case. How can they say that when we do not have our own priest? We believe the same things. The difference is that CFC has many activities that sometimes overlap with the activities of the Church. Because we are members of CFC, we join the CFC activities. Sometimes, the activities of the Church are really set-aside but I think these can be integrated. This can be done through proper dialogue. Because sometimes, those who lead in the parish alienate themselves, which is wrong. CFC’s activities are different from the activities of the parish but these should be combined. For example, if there is a retreat sponsored by the parish and then there is a different retreat that CFC is organizing, it is possible that those who will attend the CFC retreat will also attend the retreat of the parish as long as there are no conflicting schedules. Sometimes, CFC is prioritized more than the Church because in the parish, you can attend as an individual. In CFC, however, you need to go as a couple. So what is more enjoyable, that which only you attend or that which you and your partner will attend? Of course you prioritize the retreat which you can attend with your partner. But the teachings in both retreats are the same. If there is no overlap in schedule, we can attend both. But sometimes, there are conflicts. Maybe, the parish and the leaders of CFC should talk so that activities will not overlap. I think that is the key: communication. Sometimes we only care about our own affairs. Maybe this is why there is envy.

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And from the same standpoint, what do you ask of the society in which you live? What do you ask also of those who live in the rich countries of the world? The thing that we wish the government would do is to also adopt what CFC-GK does. This way, it will be easier to implement development projects. With CFC-GK, what happens is that when a budget is given for ten houses, these ten houses really get built. With the government, however, what happens is that when the budget is for ten houses, only five are built. Where are the other five houses? “We got caught short on the budget.” Why did this happen? Because the fund gets passed around and everyone has his own intention. Usually only 50 percent of the fund actually is spent on the project. Now if the government adopts GK’s style, if the money is meant for this, it will be spent for this. There will be no corruption, how wonderful would that be. With regard to other countries, the same thing should happen. The whole world will be really happy and there will be global transformation. Transformation will not happen only in the community. There is no politics involved in CFC. When people work, they are motivated by service not so that they be recognized or thanked or gain votes for the next election. At GK, when you serve, it is not just for other people but for God. In fact, there are partners who wish to remain anonymous. What they give are excess blessings that they receive from God. It is infuriating that with the government, it is obvious that their intention is to be recognized. I really hope they adopt GK’s principle. That service is really not meant for you to be praised, or gain points for the next election. No politics. Now if the people really like what you do, they will say, “Oh what he does is very good. This is what we like.” Not “Hey, he did this, he did that, if it weren’t for him, that school will not have been built.” What you didn’t know is that this person just used the community’s money. They just named the project after him. You know, before I was just a homebody, especially when I was a full-time mother. It is only in 2000 that I worked in an office, when the children were old enough. Then, I did not care about politics. And then when I extended my services to GK, I saw how the government was. Sometimes, I scold myself for even thinking of the government… Many people even notice that I have lost weight. They point out that when they see me along the way, I seem to be always frowning. And then I say, “Was I frowning?” Because sometimes I don’t notice it but when I think of something that infuriates me, the feeling reflects on my face. Sometimes I laugh at myself for bothering myself with these things. If you think about it, who cares that they do those things? As long as I am content here. But this is really service. You take on problems that you should not be concerned about because you want them to realize that what they are doing is wrong, that there is a better way of doing things. You can also pass up pointing things out. These won’t affect you anyway. But you see the vision. And you know that it is very difficult to reach that vision if this is how they are doing it. And this is for everyone, for the future, for their grandchildren and their grandchildren. You’ve already seen the vision, and if you can do something to stop the wrong that they are doing, then do it. If they listen to you, thank them. If not, it is their problem. As long as you know deep inside that you did everything you could do. What’s important is that you have told them how things should be done. Now if they

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do not want to believe, it is they who are on the losing side, not me. So my conscience is not bothered. Sometimes I get irked when in the middle of washing the dishes or sweeping the floor, my mind wanders. I am affiliated with the housing program here. The association talks about the lot to be built upon. I also visit the area. But it is with the beneficiaries that problems arise. Those who had previous rights of the lot area usurp the land. They’ll say, “Stop the construction.” But I really fight for the beneficiary. Sometimes my husband would ask, “Why do you fight for them?” “So that they can get what is theirs,” I answer. “But they will get that if the government acts. Just wait for it to act,” my husband tells me. If I can do it today and am able to talk to those who are claiming the rights to the land and say to them that the lot is not really theirs, that their rights no longer exist, then I will do it so that the person will already benefit from the land. Why do I have to wait? What if it is only after two years that the government acts and I can do this in a span of only two weeks? Then I do it. “That’s why your problems increase,” he would say. My point is that if you can do something, then do it now. Do not expect others to do it for you. If you see that there is a way to please the person, If you see that there is actually a way to please him, then do it now so that he can get what is for him and he can enjoy it now not after some more time. This is what’s irksome. Sometimes, you sweep the floor, you still think of something. For example, how do I talk to this person? It is still service on your mind. Sometimes they tell me I am this way because I am being paid. “Nope” I say “Wrong. My pay is just a small amount.” Sometimes, in the dawn you are already sleeping and you still think of how to buy the mixer for cement. There are those who will donate for seven houses. Now, they want to see our credibility, they want to see how fast we work. If you take it slow, a sponsor might lose interest. It will be such a waste if the construction will not push through. Now I am thinking of ways to get a greater number of neighbors who are willing to help. I will visit them one by one. Six a.m. I already do my rounds and then at 8:00 I will have gotten people to commit. Maybe within one week, the house will be finished and the sponsors will say, “We see that you are fast workers, this is the funding for the next houses.” This, this is what I call 24-hour service. That is why I was saying. I really have this big responsibility. Actually, I was only a volunteer. I just butted in. It was, I think, a blessing in disguise. This is the story: I was working and then there was an economic crisis, people started to get laid off. I was one of them. If you think about it, I should be angry with God. “Of all the people to be laid off you chose me. My work was doing okay. You sided with those who had been working longer. Those who worked more than five years. If you worked five years or below, you would be fired.” I am used to being busy, so when I saw that GK had much paperwork, I volunteered to take care of it. “Okay, I will be the one to record the bayanihan.” Until someone asked, “Who will be the one to coordinate with the City Hall?” I said, “I’ll do it.” And then they saw that someone was working, even if she was a woman. I wasn’t doing anything so I could give it time. And then someone who was in charge of the housing (he was not from here, he was an outsider) said, “Maybe you can be in charge of the materials, with the ins and outs. But you will have a responsibility so maybe we should give you an allowance because you will give this focus and so that when money is needed, you can shell out some amount.” So I am in charge of the ins and outs of the materials. When the materials are delivered, I record them in. When materials are given out, I issue them.

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I also allot and give out the materials needed to build each house. I should see to it that this is not given out in excess because then the next house will lack materials. These were my only tasks then. Now it even increased. Now, it is with me that people coordinate. When someone comes for an interview, they talk to me so that I can refer them to other people. And then, when some visitors arrive for an exposure to the life of the community, I will bring them to other people. Now we have already formed committees. At first we did not have committees. We did not have a president. They said I should be president. I said, I couldn’t do it. It gets very frantic, I wouldn’t know what to do. I just did things by myself. Now there are committees so it’s easier to delegate. If it’s related to payment, I give it to this person. If it’s about health, he’s in charge. It will be up to the person as long as you give him the details. He will be the one to act. So there are many who work. This then is my responsibility here and also in the City Hall. I was briefed about who our beneficiaries are. I’ve even memorized our subdivision plan. You can even ask me to draw it. When someone comes to me, “Raquel, what’s my area and block number?” ” Where do you live?” “Over there” “Oh that’s Block 2 lot 3” I already have memorized this because I have been working with it for two years now. “Can you draw so we know the jurisdiction of the kapitbahayan or neighborhood association?” they’d ask. How can I not memorize this when I handle his everyday? Everyday I coordinate with people. Sometimes, I am even the directory. “Is there somebody here with this surname?” “Yes, she lives behind the house of this and that…” Even the doctors who come here for medial missions, they look for people and they ask me. Even the color of the houses, I am able to tell. So what happens is that people come here first; that’s why I have situated my house up front. Before, I stayed at the back. Back when there was still no subdivision plan. But my kids complain because a lot of people come here to look for me and I’m usually at the site. I tell the children to tell the visitors that I am at the building site, if they see me, then good. If not, then sorry. Sometimes my cellphone is also busy. 2.3 Transcript of Interview 3 About the group/community How did your group/community started? Who started it? How? My family and I arrived here in Payatas Trece in 1994. When we arrived here, there were already a few members of CFC. Couples for Christ developed this place. In 1994 the Christian Life program started. Now every year we conduct CLP and invite couples to attend. Eventually, many people joined. It was in 2001 that Gawad Kalinga started here. What were your activities when you were starting? At first, we had a homeowners’ association which was called Sandig. It stood for Samahan ng mga Nagkakaisang Damdamin, Isip at Gawa (literally means Association of a United Sentiment, Mind, and Action). Its vision was that people here be able to acquire the land where they had built their homes. This has already happened.

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When GK had not started yet, our activities with CFC were mostly spiritual. How did you make your community stronger? What were the strategies you used? Through unity. There is a saying that without unity, nothing ever happens, right? There is also a saying that a broomstick will not be able to sweep if it is composed of only one stick. Now if you combine many sticks, even if these were thin sticks, they will be able to sweep dirt off. Are you talking about the group Sandig? Yes. Before Couples for Christ arrived here, we already had formed Sandig. Every time a meeting was called, there was always a program to be discussed, in cooperation with the foundations who wanted to help the area. Groups came here to conduct values formation and people attended. How were you able to join Couples for Christ? Are you an active member? Actually, we were invited to join CFC and since then, we have grown spiritually. As you know, when your spiritual life grows, the more you get active with your tasks. So CFC has really been part of your life. Yes. We prioritize it. The projects that we handle are those of GK but GK is also under CFC. It was CFC who initiated GK. Describe your community as it is today. What were the changes that took place since you started it? We established Kapitbahayan where we have a president and other officials. It has become bigger. What are the significant things that happened to your group since the project started? In earlier times, our roads here were very muddy. It wasn’t easy to enter our area. At this hour, you’d see people at the streets setting up tables to drink and gamble. Now you see these no longer. Maybe there are still some but you can only count these with the fingers of your hand. It was like this before the project started. Now it is very orderly. In the beginning, there was no unity. Before GK, the trash was strewn beside the road. Now you will notice that although there is still some litter, we began a six o’clock habit. The mothers sweep the surroundings at six in the morning. At first, people needed to be oriented. This would go on for months. You would set up meetings to remind them. But now they do this voluntarily.

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Sir, how do you describe your community before the project started? Can you describe the people’s way of living? What were the main sources of income? Most people here were carpenters and were involved with construction. They were not regular wage earners. For example, they got hired by a construction firm, after the contract, they’d go jobless for a few months. Then they waited to be hired again. Some of the mothers had jobs, some had no jobs. It is like this. Life was routinary. How do you describe your community now? Now, we have been giving values formation about how people can change their lives. They are also taught some micro-financing. Now, they have been able to avail of loans. Some people here have been able to borrow money and put up small businesses. They sell fishballs and other food products. You could see nothing like this before. But most people here are still carpenters? Yes. But now their wives help them. Research Questions What commitments to dignity and justice have you made as a Christian community, i.e. inspired by your Christian faith? First, so that justice prevails here, we enact rules especially for the youth. Sometimes we see young people around who gamble or drink. I myself warn them that if they will not stop what they are doing, I personally will bring them to jail. Because if there were no adults to explain to them or give them advice, they would continue with these. That’s why this is what I do. Also, when there are problems, especially with the housing project, I get called by Sister Raquel, “Brother, come here; let’s talk to this person.” And then I explain to the people who seem a bit hard of understanding. Again, if some neighbors also have problems, that is what I do. So you also troubleshoot? What are your other activities here? I am a street leader here. At the same time, I am also the program manager for Tatag (the house-building). Now, most of my time is spent with my family and my work. But on weekends. Are you always on-call? If they call me because of a problem. But now I no longer involve myself with GK especially if operations are going smoothly. I leave this to Sister Raquel. Are these commitments occasions for an encounter with God? In what way

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Do you see God in all the time you spend in promoting dignity and justice in your Community? Of course. It is said in the Bible that the Lord can be seen in your brethren. When you go somewhere and your work is accepted, it can only mean that the Lord is present, right? Here, there are still some who do not accept what we do. But they are the minority. You are lucky if you find two. More people accept us. Also, why do we say that we see the Lord in all of this? At first, people did not want to participate in GK’s activities. But before long, they saw that what we do is for the Lord, not for ourselves. What do we get from our work here? We do not get paid. We are not given any allowance. Sometimes we even give our time at the expense of our jobs. So we can really say that the Lord is present with what we do. What we do also largely affected those whom we helped. Some people did not believe in us and sometimes they even flaunted their vices as if saying that this was who they were. Later on, through our continuous explanations about the will of God for Trece, they were transformed. Sometimes when somebody drinks on the streets, I ask them not to drink there. I’m not saying they should never drink but I think they can do this inside their houses. Later on, most of them quit drinking altogether. So you really see the Lord moving because we realize that we cannot do these things if the Lord doesn’t help us. What signs of the Spirit have appeared in that life of commitment, which you consider especially important? : attitudes, community dynamics, lifestyles, implication of persons… Actually, at first, we had no belief in ourselves. Now, our faith in ourselves has been strengthened. The Lord is really present in us. Prior to this, our usual thinking was that we do not care what happens to you. Why would we care about you if we got nothing in return? Now, every time someone has a problem, this thinking no longer occupies our minds. Help is given automatically. We no longer have second thoughts. We do not even think whether what we plan to do would be good or bad for us. We just know that the Lord wants us to help our brethren. We know that what we do is God’s work. We are only part of His work. We are instruments. So we really believe that he will never forsake us. What aspects of your faith have become clearer, outstanding, strengthened?: In the way to view Jesus’ life or to interpret God’s face, or to welcome people, or to see God’s presence in non-Christians… How did your understanding of Jesus change with everything that you do? How do you see the face of Jesus in your work, in your dealings with other people? How do you see the presence of the Lord in other people? How did this change? There was really a big change. At first, we really wondered if we can do these things. This was always the question: Will we be able to change the situation? After some time, with His help and through perseverance, I felt that the Lord has come upon me and my family. So I share this with the people. For instance, when someone is in

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need, it is as if someone tells me to give him money, even if it were only a small amount. I do not even worry if he pays me or not. It’s enough for me to be able to help. It is difficult to relate to you but many come to me when they are in tight situations. The Lord says that you should love your brethren more than yourself. So even if they do not pay me back, I will be repaid though the goodness of the Lord. For example, other people will also share what they have with me. So this is an automatic reaction from you already? Not 100% but I’m already there. Sometimes, you just get out of your comfort zone. You do even the things you are not supposed to do just for other people. What signs of the Spirit have appeared in that life of commitment, which you consider especially important? : attitudes, community dynamics, lifestyles, implication of persons… The first sign of the Spirit is what I have witnessed in my family. Things got better in my family. It really starts in the family because it is really difficult to preach outside if your family is messed up. And then business improved. It is like you feel very carefree and buoyant. This is because we do not think about ourselves that much. We always pray that if it is possible, although we ourselves are not fully content with our status in life, that others’ condition will improve and that we will be able to help them more. Your family changed, you changed, your community was also changed? Yes. Sometimes, I am astonished because my wife and I seem to be like prophets. We say things and they often come true. That’s why sometimes we are afraid to speak because whatever we say often happens. Do you see this as a gift? Sometimes, we even have gifts of healing. If someone is really sick, we pray over him. Sometimes they get well. But it’s not 100%. We are not consistent because we are also engaged in our work. But this is already felt? Yes because every time someone comes for us for help and we answer him, we feel that something really happens. Change occurs. When carrying out your commitment, what major difficulties have you experienced? Sir, you are always sought here. You are always on call. Were there times that you experienced difficulties in your commitment to the community?

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Yes, actually I have huge sacrifices here. I was once a mechanic. Now, I shouldn’t be hiring a mechanic because I know how to do the job. Because I accepted the role here at Gawad Kalinga, I had to hire and pay for a mechanic. That’s a big thing. There are also times when they will tell me we have to go to this event. Instead of me being at work, I will give priority to the community because this is more important. For example, we had a seminar about how to deal with other people. I had another appointment then with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. I gave up my appointment at the Malacañang palace. We went instead to Ateneo for the training because I knew that this community is important. From the vantage point of your faith and commitment to justice in favor of the poorest, what do you ask today of the Church you are part of? What do you think should be changed or strengthened? How would you like your commitment to justice and life to be? There are a lot of organizations here. The parishioners get confused. They do not know which activities to go to. We already have a pastoral program. So if it is possible, although there are also benefits to be had from these organizations, it might be possible that they accept only one foundation so that our time will not be divided. There were times when the church needed parishioners but other organizations called them and they became less active in the church. The attention of the people gets divided. So what do you think should be changed or improved? Actually, the church here is very stable. If you notice, every Sunday, most of the church-goers are the men in the community. You hardly see that anywhere else. I am really proud to say that as soon as Couples for Christ came, more and more of the fathers came to Church. The church here is strong. As I was telling you, there is an overflow of church-goers because every Sunday, the foundations give gift checks to those who go to Mass. This is also what we want to change. Sometimes, in his homilies, the priest says, “Why is it that you only come here if they give out gift cheques? Why is it that if I invite you nobody comes?” This is what I want to be changed. For the Catholic Church, what I can say is that they shouldn’t meddle with politics. This only confuses people. Isn’t it that the Church should only be concerned with aspects of faith? Then why are there bishops or cardinals who interfere with political issues? Maybe high church officials shouldn’t poke their noses into these. They must focus on preaching the Word of God so as not to sow confusion. What does the Church really do? Business? Politics? So that it will be clear to the people that the work of the Church is focused on the spiritual needs of the people. And from the same standpoint, what do you ask of the society in which you live? What do you ask also of those who live in rich countries of the world? Society includes the government, the local government units.

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With regard to our faith, we ask nothing more. Maybe from the society, that they help us. The government should give their 100% support especially here because the construction of the roads is ongoing. The problem is that the government’s tasks are not continuously done. The government does not work consistently. They only work on some days. That road project for example, it has been almost a month since anybody has worked there. I just wish that once the government starts a project, it finishes the project. There should be no breaks. The government usually just puts up a face. We all know what they do. What do you ask of richer countries? Actually, the Gawad Kalinga fund does not only come from the Philippines. Much of it really comes from other countries. We have countrymen there who have good lives and they extend their help here. They give to a lot to the foundations here. Maybe what I’ll ask of richer countries is that they help not just the Philippines but other countries that are also poor. We think that we are only the ones who are poor but there are other countries which are actually poorer. 2.4 Transcript of Interview 4 About the group/community How did your group/community started? Who started it? How? Our group started upon the entry of CFC (Couples for Christ) into the community. I was already a resident here. How old are you already sir? What do you think? I’m twenty-nine. We have been living here for almost twelve years now. At first…when somebody joins it’s like… “Hmm. Weird. We talk about God? Oh no…” People are usually hesitant to join groups like these because they do not want to be made fun of. Who invited you to join? Someone from this community invited me. Until now, the couple is still with CFC. This happened in 2003. So you’re still new in the group? You started 2003. Are you still active? Yes, in fact I am a teacher/facilitator of RP-NFP. That’s Responsible Parenthood and Natural Family Planning. In the community itself, even before I handled RP-NFP, I was with the Mabuhay Team and I still am. This team handles the events. I am in charge of the technical side of the things. I set-up the sound system for example. But if it is not in my capacity to do the job, I pass this to other teammates. How did you make your community stronger? What were the strategies you used?

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It was actually difficult…I guess I just try to be very convincing. I just sell what I do to them. I just go on. Of course it’s very difficult to promote family planning. They put a period to what you say (they do not listen to you.) The former DOH Secretary, Bro. Tony Meloto of CFC and I went to Cebu twice and also spent three days in Palawan to teach family planning. We teach the Billings Ovulation Method or the Mucus Method. I am from South Cotabato. I know a lot of dialects. I know how to speak Ilocano, Waray, Cebuano and Illonggo. Sometimes when I am in a jeepney (small public conveyance) and I hear someone speaking Ilocano, I will chat with this person until I am able to introduce the method. “You know, we teach responsible parenthood and natural family planning. Instead of using artificial birth control, maybe you might want to try this? If you want to have a girl, you can have a girl. Or if you want to have a baby boy, you can do something so that a boy will be born.” It’s as if I’m advertising it. I spread the method through word of mouth. Describe your community as it is today. What were the changes that took place since you started it? Ah. When I first joined, it is as if no one was moving. I began to wonder why Elie who was new here was granted a house earlier than we were given one. So this triggered my involvement. I decided to join the organization. It is usually like this. Those who were inactive turn active. But this is okay. Motives change through time. I am a household leader and I see new members coming in. I teach them what I also have learned from Couples for Christ. This is also to encourage them to do the same thing someday. It gets quite difficult because I handle members who are older than I am. It is harder to talk to older people because their minds are usually made up about some things. And you even teach them family planning? Now that is very difficult. When I teach them family planning, they act as if they know more things than I do. “What do you care?” they might be thinking. “You’re a liar. You teach family planning yet you have so many children?” they’d say. Then I tell them without being disrespectful, “How about you? How old are you? Did you know this already? No, you didn’t. You’ve grown old but you still do not know about this. I myself have just learned about this so I am applying it today.” We would also like to know how your community looked like before GK started. It was ugly. Ugly? Can you describe the daily flow of life here? Before GK, people here always played tong-it (a gambling game using cards) or bingo. This is the typical pastime of squatter communities. Now, there’s a different term for the word squatter: “informal settlers”. This gives more class to the word. It’s

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a better term. When people had nothing to do, especially on Saturdays and Sundays, they usually sang videoke. When GK entered the picture, all these disappeared. Before when my wife was angry at me, she would go out and play tong-it. And then I’d ask her, “Have the kids eaten?” I did not like this. I got hurt when this happened. I got hypertension because I took responsibility for her faults to maintain our good relationship. But this changed because we chose to stay with CFC. We have absorbed their teachings. This area was once a dumping ground for dead bodies. Now occurrences like these have been lessened. A taxi driver was held up before, coming up the zigzag road. He was gagged and left inside the trunk. It was noontime and he was knocking like crazy. You see the kind of things that happened here? Now this has changed because the people believe that they can be changed. What was the people’s usual source of income? People were mostly involved with construction work. Many were drivers. Some worked as household helpers. Others washed clothes for other people. Me, I am a technician. And after the project? We divided the area into two kapitbahayan (neighborhood associations). There are now two kapitbahayan presidents. This was done to ensure program continuity. GK777 is expected to run up to seven years. It has already been three years since its inception but we know it won’t be discontinued. If ever funds run out, maybe we will encourage the people to implement the padugo (literally “bleeding” or “giving blood”) “Hey, your house is finished but our neighbor’s house is not yet done. Maybe we can help him. Let’s share our resources through bayanihan (mutual assistance).” Sometimes robbery occurs here. Then, everybody gets involved. You are involved, I am involved. When this happens, we seek advice from the president. We ask ourselves what action can be done to stop the occurrence of theft. Research Questions What commitments to dignity and justice have you made as a Christian community, i.e. inspired by your Christian faith? As a member, what are the concrete activities that you do? As a community? Do you have activities? The lifting of the people’s quality of life. This is done through giving out information. I tell them, “Brother, let’s do this because other people might think that we are low-lifes. Let’s do this so people will look up to us and so we may look up to ourselves. Let’s do the right thing. Let’s not be stuck with the old ways.”

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Also, through values formation and trainings. For example, I am being trained in Ateneo about management and people handling. I was part of the caretaker team that took the seminar. When we are done with that, we will share what we learn to the people here. You should not be selfish because your talents can benefit many people. Share these, do not keep these to yourself. Then it would be like a person’s buried treasure. Are these commitments occasions for an encounter with God? In what way? Do you see God in all the time you spend in promoting dignity and justice in your community? In what way? Yes. For example, I know a person who is obviously evil. By caring and relating to him, I become a way so that he is able to change. I am aware that this is what God wishes me to do. Also, I see God in other people. I believe that it is possible to see Christ in other people. Then why not help them? It is like this. I see God in other people and vice versa. What signs of the Spirit have appeared in that life of commitment, which you consider especially important?: attitudes, community dynamics, lifestyles, implication of persons… When I see a face that...One time I boarded a vehicle. I saw a child who was extremely skinny. I think his age did not match the way he looked. He was older than I thought. In him I saw the Spirit which pushes me to continue serving, to continue helping. The Holy Spirit always inspires me to… the Spirit touches me through physical means but this really has a tremendous effect on me. He is like that. It is in this way that the Spirit touches me. The Spirit usually touches me through children, through my own children especially. Sometimes I scold them but later I regret it. So this is the Spirit’s way to make you move, to inspire you? Yes. But I am only human. Sometimes when I hear bad things about me, I feel like quitting. But then I say, “Do not scare me.” Will I surrender to my enemy? I will go on. Because there are actually two kinds of Spirit. There is an angel at my side and there is also a demon on the other side. And the good spirit, do you see that in your community? In the ways of the community? Yes, when we consult with one another. Do you see Him here? Yes, but not yet completely. But He is here. He does not leave. Maybe people need to be followed-up. There is also a need to pray for people who do not see the changes in their communities.

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What aspects of your faith have become clearer, outstanding, strengthened?: In the way to view Jesus’ life or to interpret God’s face, or to welcome people, or to see God’s presence in non-Christians… My relationship with my wife was strengthened. This is also true with my family. The way we relate to other people. Through communication, everything improves. So it begins with the family and then it spills over to the community? Sir, what changed with the way to see Jesus? How about with the way you deal with people? The way you see God through other pe