A Community Rising Together Out of Poverty |
[Date Created: January 17, 2014]
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As Seen Through the Eyes of Rowena S. Delgado, GK Advocate & Volunteer from Melbourne Australia
I have always wanted to be involved in an immersion program of Gawad Kalinga. I have been a volunteer for GK since 2005 and have engaged my students in UP Mindanao to participate in GK Build programs in Davao City. But, I never got the chance to live in the homes of GK residents, something that I was greatly compelled to experience, and not just know about. A scholarship for a doctorate research degree at the University of Melbourne Australia in 2009 gave me the opportunity to travel back to the Philippines in 2011 to undertake a case study on housing the poor in eco-tourist destinations. It was my pleasure to be endorsed to GK Pona Village in Libmanan, as a takeoff point in studying the communities in Camarines Sur, a province which is now regarded as the top tourist destination in the country.
The Caretaker Team with Residents
Community-building and child/youth development.
At first encounter, I was amused at the warm gentle atmosphere, not just between me and the residents, but among the residents themselves. I believe it was not just something that is observed on an outsider’s point of view, as I had opportunities to interact with those who had to temporarily leave the community to work elsewhere, and yet found themselves going back to Libmanan primarily neighbours. According to Brother Jim, a pioneering GK caretaker, the more common outcome on residents is that they slowly got rid of the walang pakialam (nonchalance) attitude to pagdadamayan (empathy) and pagtanggap (hospitality). Further, the introduction of programs that cater to children provided venues for young people to be involved, be it in cleanliness drives, ecologoical awareness, and cultural performances. As a result, the children become exposed to a new way of thinking, and a greater capacity to dream and achieve more in life; thus, in time, there will most likely be a new generation of people with a greater interest to succeed in all aspects of life.
Quality education for the children of GK Pona, Libmanan
Food sufficiency and infrastructure.
One of the negative behaviors that couldn’t go unnoticed among people in poor regions is mag-unahan, the attitude of “wanting to get ahead of others or else there will be nothing left for me.” This mindset is now being modified by the bayanihan (cooperation) spirit which provided a system of mutual help in terms of food and resource distribution. In Libmanan for instance, even the recent construction of additional space for service areas in each house were also systematically done by groupings, not by individual families. In the same manner the caretakers made sure that there is sufficient land to accommodate not just the housing units, but also farming lots. The Bayan-Anihan program, which encourages every family to grow their own food, also implements a proper recording of harvest from their 10 square-meter plot, to determine the consistency of food production per family such that no one will be left behind. As most people say, you will never die of hunger in the Philippines, as long as you have the diligence to till the land and grow your own food.
Environment.
Caring for the environment in Libmanan is being addressed in terms of garbage segregation and recycling. It is also one of the few communities that produce and promote organic fertilizers. A clean and orderly surrounding becomes a norm in gauging their environmental sensitivity. If people are desperately poor, they tend to use their environment unsustainably. Naturally, further destruction exacerbates poverty. This is the reason why GK focuses on promoting and implementing social justice as it is the only way to conserve the environment.
Productivity.
Blessed with natural resources and creative talent, some of the women are involved in the production of native décor, jewelry, bags, baskets and accessories. The introduction of citronella (a kind of lemongrass) to process soap, shampoo, detergent, and other cleaning products is seen as another opportunity for more residents to be involved.
Women products lovingly creeated by the residents of GK Pona
Tourism.
One of the 7-point vision of GK is to become tourist spots of the country. Interestingly, GK Libmanan is one of the most visited GK community that has catered to several tourists from around the world. Visitors come to the community, not just to experience how it is to live among the poor in the country, but also to discover a peaceful evolution of people that are being removed out of poverty into a life of hope and dignity, to the effect that their personal live themselves have been positively affected. Traits such as pakikibagay (assimilation), pakikisalamuha (association), pagtanggap (hospitality) – are among the more significant factors that tourists come back for. These are unique socio-cultural characteristics that essentially become the tourist attraction. Cecile Deomano, project director with husband Agoy, asserts that even if other oople do not recognize the efforts of the Caretakers, it is already enough to see other people’s lives helped in so many ways, particularly when they bring with them a renewed outlook in life, a lot different from what they had, before they came to Libmanan. The influx of tourists thus prompted the construction of the GK Bed and Breakfast that is intended to house more volunteers, researchers, and visitors alike.
My immersion at GK Libmanan has indeed affected me in so many ways than one. I am more than grateful for the experience, and I look forward to sharing with them as much as I can. Truly, in order to be meaningfully immersed in a GK community, one has to be relieved first of whatever preconceived notions or principles he or she may have. The approach is to bring about the perspective of a people’s values and beliefs from the ground, and not to fall into the mistake of measuring concepts according to standards used elsewhere. As Meloto himself asserted in an interview (which was honourably granted to me before I left the village) – “If you want to know the principles behind the success of GK, get down on the ground, and discover yourself.”