PerryScope
By Perry Diaz
President Aquino distributes relief goods to evacuees at the Cagayan de Oro City Central School during his visit to Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, and Dumaguete cities.
Two events are happening in the Philippines right now. One is the Christmas season and the other is the typhoon season. The first celebrates our faith in Jesus and the second brings out the spirit of “bayanihan” in us. And combining the two is a powerful force that could overcome any adversity that comes our way. And Typhoon Sendong did come and challenge the people’s strong faith and indomitable spirit of “bayanihan.”
The horrendous devastation caused by Typhoon Sendong in 13 provinces in Northern Mindanao and Eastern Visayas has so far caused more than a thousand deaths, displaced almost 400,000 people, damaged nearly P2 million in agriculture, and damaged tens of millions in property.
While government agencies are working on the affected areas, the global Filipinos are collecting relief goods as well as cash contributions to be sent to the devastated areas. That is “bayanihan” in action.
Gawad Kalinga
“Bayanihan in action” reminds me of another event in Mindanao where Christians and Muslims worked together to build a peaceful community in 2006.
On August 3, 2006, I co-hosted an event in Sacramento, California, which featured the late Mayor Abubakar “Totoy” Paglas of Datu Paglas, Maguindanao, and Dylan Wilk of Gawad Kalinga. Dylan and Mayor Paglas came to Sacramento to give the Filipino-American community an update on the progress of Gawad Kalinga, a project to build homes for the poorest of the poor in the Philippines.
Coming from different cultures – Dylan, an Englishman, and Mayor Paglas, a Muslim Filipino – their message resonated with the same theme: rebuilding the Philippines through “bayanihan.”
Heroes
In my article, “A Tale of Three Heroes” (August 11, 2006), I wrote: “Mayor Paglas spoke of the time when Gawad Kalinga volunteers approached him about building a village for the poor people in Datu Paglas, a predominantly Muslim town in Maguindanao. The people of Datu Paglas — named after the grandfather of Mayor Paglas — were apprehensive of their offer to build homes for the refugees displaced in the war-ravaged province. They were suspicious that the motive of the Gawad Kalinga volunteers — who were members of the ‘Couples for Christ,’ a Catholic evangelical group — was to convert them into Christianity. It is important to note that the Muslim people of Maguindanao have been fighting the Christian invaders since they arrived in the 16th century. Although the Spaniards eventually subjugated the Sultanate of Maguindanao in the 19th century, the people were never conquered nor converted.
“But it took a man of vision to realize that Gawad Kalinga is the way to bring the warring Muslims and Christians together. Mayor Paglas told the audience, ‘We are all Filipinos; we have the same God but whom we happen to worship differently.’ How true. As he spoke those words, I looked at him and I told myself, ‘He looks like an Ilocano, Tagalog, Visayan or any other Filipino. We are brothers indeed.’
“Today, Datu Paglas has a Gawad Kalinga village of 750 homes where Muslims and Christians are working together and caring for one another. It is ‘bayanihan’ in action. It is Gawad Kalinga — which means, ‘giving care’ — at work.
“Mayor Paglas said that there has not been a single case of conflict between the Muslims and Christians since the Gawad Kalinga village was built. Today, what happened in Datu Paglas was replicated in other towns like Buluan, SK Pendatun, Upi, Kidapawan, Tacurong, Tugaig, and Barira. Barira was once a hotbed of rebellion. It was the site of Camp Abubakar, the headquarters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which had been fighting the central government for more than 20 years. During the government’s campaign against MILF, Camp Abubakar was leveled to the ground forcing the populace to take refuge in neighboring towns like Datu Paglas. Thanks to Gawad Kalinga and Mayor Paglas, Barira is once again a peaceful community where Muslims and Christians have healed the wounds of war and began working together in the true spirit of ‘bayanihan.’
“In 1994, 20-year old Dylan Wilk took a loan of 2,500 British pounds and founded a company, GamePlay, which sells computer games via direct mail. By 1999, Dylan became the ninth richest man under 30 in England. With US$40 million in cash and a silver BMW M3, the 25-year old entrepreneur should be the happiest man on earth. Why not? But he was looking for more than just material wealth. Something was lacking in his life. And he found it in Gawad Kalinga. He sold his BMW and used the proceeds to build 80 homes in a GK village aptly named ‘BMW Village.’ Today, Dylan devotes his time as GK’s roving international volunteer to share his experiences and inspire people of all cultures about the miracle that is happening in the Philippines.
“A gifted speaker, Dylan described his love for the Philippines in the most superlative terms. He only sees the best qualities in Filipinos. He said that the Filipinos are like gold. But 400 years of being ‘kicked around’ by colonial masters, Filipinos, he said, have gathered dust and mud, and lost the glint in them. Today, the dust and mud are being washed away and the Filipinos are beginning to shine again — like the gold that they have always been.”
“Jesus Jar”
The third hero we honored at the event was Charlie Demar, an 11-year old Caucasian boy, who has never been in the Philippines and who didn’t have any association with Filipinos until he met Tess Poling, a Gawad Kalinga advocate. Inspired by Tess, Charlie undertook a mission to raise money to build a GK house. For three months starting in May 2006, he held garage sales, collected and sold cans and bottles, and asked his friends for small donations. He put his collections in a glass bottle he calls Fran’s “Jesus Jar.” Fran Cain started the “Jesus Jar” when she quit smoking in November 2005 after she found out that she had a terminal lung cancer. Fran passed away in May 2006.
Charlie proudly presented Fran’s “Jesus Jar” containing $1,040.25 in small bills and coins, enough to build one more house in “GK Sacramento Village” in Payatas, Quezon City. “GK Sacramento Village” is a community of 50 homes being built with funds raised by a group of Filipino-Americans from Sacramento. Charlie joins a growing number of “batang bayani” (young heroes) around the world that is raising money for the poor. After his presentation, he promised to start collecting for a second house. When Charlie left the restaurant after the event, I saw him holding his “Jesus Jar” with a few dollar bills and coins in it. I knew then that another GK house would soon be built.
Faith and “bayanihan”
It’s amazing how faith and “bayanihan” could work wonders – nay, miracles! Whether it’s helping in a calamity or rebuilding a community, nothing is impossible if people would put their faith in their hearts to help others. There is a hero in each one of us. It’s just a matter of bringing it out.
Indeed, the tale of the late Mayor Totoy Paglas, Dylan Wilk, and Charlie Demar is a testament to the human spirit of goodness… and “bayanihan.”
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“The world suffers a lot. Not because of the violence of bad people, but because of the silence of good people!” – Napoleon
Bring tears to my eyes and a nagging question; if other people from other countries who never been in the Philippines have the courage, the guts, the determination, the desire, and the love emanating from their good hearts worked hard day and night to ask for donations to build a small house for the poorest of the poor in the poverty stricken country, why can’t Pinoys do the same thing? The only thing needed for the Pinas to shine is for its citizens to love it and be proud of it and to lose that colonial mentality that only foreign goods are good for them.
Perry,
Thank you for a heart-warming piece. Timely reminder especially during this season of giving and caring.
Merry Christmans and keep up the good work.
kudos again to Mr. Perry Diaz whom i thought has forgotten the downtrodden of faith in the Pilipinos. I thought you will not recognize that the true spirit of bayanihan will be best exemplified
when the human spirit is down through disaster, tribulations, and even death but this is where
our spirit will regain its identity with the real Spirit (the Holy Spkirit) inbedded in our spirit that
once more the victory over death is achieved and conquered.
The attributes of your example and that of Dylan, Ex- Mayor Datu Paglas, Charlie Demar, Tess Poling, Fran Cain who coin “Jesus Jar” are brilliant testimony and true confession of faith coupled with the so called “Bayanihan Spirit” which is the big plus in the qualities and attributes given by non other than the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when the first cross of Jesus Christ’ was planted in the shore of Limasawa way back in 157l by devine providence we are now the first and only Christian country in Asia….what can you say? If God is with us who can be against us? Jesus loves you all and so do i, bart
Hi Perry,
Jose “Boy” Montelibano, whose articles you feature on a fairly regular basis, is an important figure in Gawad Kalinga. He is to Tony Meloto what Jose Almonte was to FVR – one whose inputs were appreciated before the other acted, and whose views always elevate the discussion to a higher level. I am so happy to know you have some connection with the work of Gawad Kalinga.
There is no shortage of caring hearts among Filipinos overseas, whether or not tragedies like CDO and Iligan happen. And because you new patriots discuss the Philippine situation all the time, before long the unfinished revolution begun by early Filipinos in Europe – Rizal, Mariano Ponce, del Pilar etc – might just resume in the US and other parts of the globe where Pinoys in the diaspora stay or work.
Initiators and moderators of the worldwide dialogue among Filipinos hold the latter in unity and tension. Soon the tides of sentiments heard from all parts of the world might turn into an avalanche of expectations and demands that our local decision makers could no longer ignore. We may not know it but the second phase of that unfinished revolution to transform society into something that sustains national and not mere individual progress might have already begun abroad.
Let us try building mutual goodwill all the time, not just during calamities, and work for a change of mindsets, not just persons, among ourselves the Filipinos.
-Raoul
The calamities of nature that devastated our country , typhoons and earthquakes were all crippling maladies that raised havoc against our economic recovery. It is a sad story. The devastation brought by the typhoon Sendong has compounded the miseries of the people in Mindanao. We ask if there will be deliverance from these crippling maladies. So many poor people died. I pray that the people of Mindanao are strong to face the reality in life. In times like this all that we can say is – pray. Calamities are part of this world. And it’s just us humans who can’t accept that sad truth. Filipinos in America must help. We must simply learn the true meaning of Bayanihan (working together), the embodiment of what a true Filipino like you and I should be. The words “Bayanihan” and “Katipunan” have inspired and spirited our people in forging the Philippines into a great nation. However, now as our countrymen is facing the enormity of problems, particularly in the deliverance from economic injustice, poverty, political upheaval, looming constitutional crisis,and calamities, let it be known that achieving and restoring democracy is not enough. We must also have economic freedom; we must have economic power, political accountability, and justice for our countrymen. Whenever this is not achieved, I hope and pray it will not be “ adios ” for Filipinos. GMA and R Corona must face due process and when achieved would be a good sign of new Philippines. More Power to Pinoy!
With “Faith and Bayanihan” the country can move on and help victims of natural calamities to recover from their suffering.This time we have to set aside politics and keep moving on .!Thanks Perry for reporting how the concept work..its amazing!
Perry thanks for your article of ” Faith and Bayanihan ” Yes in did a very incredible feeling of “mag ka Pilipino and Mag ka isa” and set aside all political problems when disaster strikes. I also congratulate also P Noy and his siblings to join and help their brother to distribute donations to children in need in Gagayan De Oro and Iligan City. P Noy keep up the good work and have the light shinning bright for good accountability and governance. We appreciate your bravery and all out efforts to keep the corrupt government officials detained to face due process. We pray for more Power to you and also for the DOJ Secretary Miss Leila De Lima.