by Therese Dehesa

Shanties or makeshift houses made of plywood, scrap metal, and cardboard boxes have been replaced with colorful houses that give GK Esperanza residents protection, safety and hope

“Nung unang pagpasok ko, 2009, naguusap kami, sabi nung iba, mahirap pa daw sila. Sabi ko, sa akin, nung inaward sa akin yung  bahay, hindi na ako mahirap kasi sabi ko, binigyan ka na nga ng bahay, binalik pa yung dangal mo. Kasi yung isip mo, ilalagay mo na mahirap ka, hanggang mamatay ka, diyan ka sa hirap pa din.” (“When I first joined the community in 2009, I was talking to the other residents. They said that they are still poor. Personally, I no longer consider myself poor because I was given a house and my dignity was restored. If you think you are poor, you will be poor until you die.”)

In October 4, 2003, Gawad Kalinga (GK) launched a campaign to restore dignity among the poor through productive communities and sustainable livelihood opportunities. Since then, the global movement has transformed 2,000 slums into peaceful communities and empowered the residents through values formation and leadership development. As the global movement reaches the ten-year mark, a Community Impact Assessment Study (CIAS) was conducted to gain deeper understanding of how the Kapitbahayan or KB (GK residents) all over the country look at themselves, their families, and their lives today. More importantly, the responses now have an impact on the organization’s efforts to build peaceful communities, live out a culture of caring and sharing, and make sure that no one is left behind.

No Longer Poor; No Longer Hungry

Paraisong Pambata is a special activity of the GK Child and Youth Development program which intends to provide a venue for the kids to express themselves through arts while sharing with them the values of love of God, family and country

In a meeting with Project Director Renato Sambrano and KB President Jay Miraflores of GK Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat, one of the communities that participated in the CIAS, former Ateneo de Manila President and GK Board Member Fr. Ben Nebres, SJ shared that out of 27,728 respondents from different parts of the Philippines, 9,588 or 35% no longer consider themselves poor and 7,321 out of the 9,588 or 76% no longer have to go hungry. On a larger scale, 16,068 of the 27,728 or 58% of the total respondents no longer have to go hungry. More than showing that over half of the KB have enough food for them and their families, these results are remarkable as they mean that 1 out of 3 KB do not consider themselves poor anymore.

Changes and Challenges

In the second part of the CIAS, the respondents were asked to name the most important change in their lives since they became a part of GK. The top five responses were: sariling bahay; bagong buhay – masaya, maginhawa, may pag-asa, sakto lang; maayos na tirahan – comfortable, bago, maganda; personal transformation – natututong makisama, magbigayan and family (their own home; new life – happy, comfortable, with hope, having enough; decent home – comfortable, new, beautiful; personal transformation – learning how to get along and to share with others and family).

A photo of this year's moving up ceremony at the GK Esperanza Sibol school. Sibol is a community-based pre-school program that envisions each child to be imbued with positive Filipino values and to be academically prepared for formal schooling

The respondents were also asked to identify the indicator that the family is no longer poor. The five most common answers included not being hungry, having permanent work, receiving steady income, being able to send their children to school, and being able to provide basic needs and wants.

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The 27,728 KB that took the survey also specified the biggest hindrance that keeps them from journeying out of poverty. Their most frequent responses were work, income, attitude (vices and the lack of effort to find work), quarrels and arguments with family or other members of the community and health problems.

Fr. Ben cited an example that came from the GK Esperanza community that showed how illness can prevent a family from having a better life. “May nagsabi na may nagkasakit sa pamilya. Kinailangang ibenta yung tricycle so nawalan na sila ng hanapbuhay.” (“Someone wrote that sickness in the family forced them to sell their tricycle, which was their source of income.”)  In light of this, the former Ateneo de Manila President stated that GK is currently working on how every KB can be a Philhealth member and how to build active health centers in every area.

Community and Culture Highlights

Reviewing the CIAS also helped the team behind the study to enumerate the top 10 indicators of community and culture. The first is “inaalagaan ng nanay ang pamilya” (“mother takes care of the family”), followed by “mas malapit na kami sa Diyos” (“we are closer to God”), and “idinidiin namin ang halaga ng pag-aaral” (“we emphasize the value of education”). Fr. Ben commented, “Natutuwa ako kasi ibig sabihin,  pinagiisipan ang kinabukasan, pinapahalagahan ang pagaaral kasi nung unang focus group discussion hindi masyadong lumalabas yun pero lumabas dito.” (“I am happy because this means that they are thinking about the future and valuing education. In the first focus group discussion, this wasn’t a common answer but now, it is.”)

The fourth, fifth and sixth common community and culture indicators are “minamahal ko ang aking bayan”, “naghahanap ako ng mga paraan para mapaunlad ang buhay ng aking pamilya” and, “nagsusumikap ang tatay para buhayin ang pamilya.”  (“I love my country”, “I find ways to improve the life of my family” and “the father works hard to provide for the family.”)

Fr. Ben expressed his joy upon sharing the indicator that placed seventh in the list:  “tinuturo namin ang halaga ng disiplina at pagsisikap sa mga anak sa pamamagitan ng magandang ehemplo namin” or “we teach the value of discipline and hard work to our children through our good example.”

“Para sa akin, napakahalaga nitong value kasi gumawa kami mga five years ago ng survey sa Marikina, mga 1,000 families at 1,000 sa Bulacan. Itong mga pamilya, mahihirap pero nagaaral ang mga anak nila, maganda ang grado ng mga anak nila at tiningnan namin kung ano ba talaga ang mga katangian ng mga pamilyang ito. Number one, yung disiplina. Disiplinado sila. Hindi lamang disiplinado sa mga anak nila. Disiplinado ang pamilya.” (“For me, this is a very important value because five years ago, we conducted a survey for 1,000 families each in Marikina and Bulacan. These families are poor but their children are studying and they do well academically. We studied the traits that the families have and we learned that the parents disciplined their children and themselves.”)

“Noong simula ng GK, nahihiya silang humarap sa mga bisita. Ang pagtingin nila ay hindi maganda ang pagtingin ng ibang tao sa kanila… tanda na mas okay na sila ay pag sinasabi nilang iba na ang pagtingin ng tao sa akin. OK na silang makihalubilo sa kahit na sinong bisita.” (“When they first became a part of GK, they were too shy to receive guests. They think that people do not think highly of them… when they say that people now perceive them differently, it is a sign that they are doing better. They are OK with socializing with any guest.”)

To illustrate his point, Fr. Ben shared the story of the parents that let their children about to take exams eat what little food that they had at home so that they can perform better. He also shared even if the home had limited space, the parents allotted an area exclusive for studying so that the children can concentrate. He related that the parents even avoided watching television so as not to distract the children from their schoolwork.

The next two values in a list of ten of the most common indicators were: “naniniwala ako na ang tagumpay ay nakukuha sa pagsisikap at hindi sa swerte” and “kaya kong makihalubilo sa iba't ibang klaseng tao.” (“I believe that success is achieved through hard work and not luck” and “I can socialize with different types of people”)

Fr. Ben said that the ninth value shows that the KB have higher self-esteem and confidence. “Noong simula ng GK, nahihiya silang humarap sa mga bisita. Ang pagtingin nila ay hindi maganda ang pagtingin ng ibang tao sa kanila… tanda na mas okay na sila ay pag sinasabi nilang iba na ang pagtingin ng tao sa akin. OK na silang makihalubilo sa kahit na sinong bisita.” (“When they first became a part of GK, they were too shy to receive guests. They think that people do not think highly of them… when they say that people now perceive them differently, it is a sign that they are doing better. They are OK with socializing with any guest.”)

From a pool of 27,728 respondents, the tenth most common community and culture indicator was “ipinapakita ko ang pagmamahal ko sa aking bayan” or “I show my love for my country.”

Renewing “Esperanza”

As GK Esperanza residents regain their dignity, they also become more able to handle responsibility. In an oath-taking ceremony earlier this year, they vow to take care of their families and the community

“Dati usually kasi, daily, laman sila ng police blotter. Ngayon, nawawala sa daily routine ng buhay nila na may nagaaway, may saksakan, may basagulero, merong kahit anong illegal, drugs o ganun. Ngayon, ni isang blotter, wala ka nang makikita.”  (“Before, the residents were in trouble with the police on a daily basis. Now, fighting, cutting someone, causing riots and anything else that is illegal, such as drugs, are no longer part of their daily routine. You will not even find a single complaint against the residents.”)

To shed more light on the meaning and significance of the CIAS findings, Fr. Ben invited GK Esperanza Project Director Renato Sambrano and KB President Jay Miraflores to share the story of their community. Although its name means hope in Spanish, GK Esperanza once earned a reputation as a dangerous place. Jay recalled that many residents were known for beating people up, doing illegal drugs and committing many other crimes. “Meron diyan, umakyat lang ng ligaw, paglabas, patay. At saka pag gabi na, yung mga tricycle driver dati, hindi pumapasok diyan kasi natatakot sila.” (“Once, someone was killed for visiting a girl at her home. At night, tricycle drivers would refuse to drop off passengers inside the community because they were scared.”) 

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The community that began as a relocation site for the squatters living along the local highway is now a completely different place. “Dati usually kasi, daily, laman sila ng police blotter. Ngayon, nawawala sa daily routine ng buhay nila na may nagaaway, may saksakan, may basagulero, merong kahit anong illegal, drugs o ganun. Ngayon, ni isang blotter, wala ka nang makikita.”  (“Before, the residents were in trouble with the police on a daily basis. Now, fighting, cutting someone, causing riots and anything else that is illegal, such as drugs, are no longer part of their daily routine. You will not even find a single complaint against the residents.”)

 “Yung some other GK beneficiaries, natrain na sa paggawa ng bahay… everytime na may mga construction na, sila na yung tinatawag. Kasi yung tao, parang nabalik din yung trust sa kanila. Yung dignidad nila bilang tao nabalik ng GK kaya yung tiwala ng community sa buong Esperanza, nabalik din sa kanila.” (“Some of the GK beneficiaries were trained to build homes… every time there is a construction, they are called to work. People trusted them again. GK restored their dignity so the trust in GK Esperanza was also restored.”)

Jay explained that the change is dramatic even for those that already had a steady source of livelihood before they became a part of GK. “Meron doon, malaki ang kita kasi drayber ng tractor ang mister. Ang gawa ng mister, walang pocus sa pamilya. Ang ginagawa pagkatapos ng trabaho, inom, sugal, barkada, ganun. Ngayon kasi, bawal na ang inom at sugal kaya ang kita napupunta sa bahay. Tapos ngayon, ang improvement nila, may tricycle na sila at may alagang baka na ngayon. Tapos yung pocus, sa pagaaral ng mga anak, nasusustentuhan yung pagaaral ng mga anak.” (“There was a couple that earned a lot because the husband drove a tractor. However, he had no time for his family. After work, he would drink, gamble and spend time with his friends. Now, drinking and gambling are prohibited, so the earnings go to the household expenses. They now have a tricycle and a cow. His focus is now set on paying for his children’s schooling.”)

According to Jay, relationships with friends and neighbors were also improved through weekly bayanihan activities. “Tuluy-tuloy yung bayanihan namin. Nagbubunot ng damo, naglilinis, gumagawa ng kanal. Kaya yung bonding, weekly nandyan… yung bonding talaga sa isa’t isa kasi yun naman ang importante.” (“Our bayanihan effort is on-going. We pull out weeds, clean and fix the sewers so the opportunity to bond weekly is there. The bonding should be there as it is the most important thing.”) To emphasize the value of caring for and sharing with each other, he has even implemented a program that requires each family to donate P100 and a kilo of rice to families mourning the loss of a loved one.

The genuine sympathy and concern for other families has helped create a tight-knit community where resources are pooled together to benefit more people. A notable example would be how the funds raised from their newly-organized annual festival were used for chairs and a sound system, both used during community meetings. 

Since everything is the result of teamwork and cooperation, they feel a collective sense of pride in GK Esperanza. “Every time na magvisit ka, hindi ka mahihiyang bisitahin. Kasi pagpunta mo everytime, maayos na. Dati nung hindi pa Gawad Kalinga, malalapad yung area pero ni isang bulaklak, wala.  Ngayon pag umikot ka, required talaga yung landscape,” says Jay. (“Every time that a guest comes to visit, he will not feel awkward about it because the surroundings are now OK. Before it became a GK community, the expanse was wide enough but there wasn’t a single flower in sight. Now, when you walk around, you will see that landscaping has become a must.”) He added that every December, they recognize the hard work through awards given out for the most beautiful village, the cleanest one and more.

Jay also shared his personal experience as one of the CIAS respondents who no longer consider themselves poor. “Nung unang pagpasok ko, 2009, naguusap kami, sabi nung iba, mahirap pa daw sila. Sabi ko, sa akin, nung inaward sa akin yung  bahay, hindi na ako mahirap kasi sabi ko, binigyan ka na nga ng bahay, binalik pa yung dangal mo. Kasi yung isip mo, ilalagay mo na mahirap ka, hanggang mamatay ka, diyan ka sa hirap pa din.” (“When I first joined the community in 2009, I was talking to the other residents. They said that they are still poor. Personally, I no longer consider myself poor because I was given a house and my dignity was restored. If you think you are poor, you will be poor until you die.”)

Renato said that the members of the community received another unexpected blessing: the gift of earning someone’s trust. “Yung some other GK beneficiaries, natrain na sa paggawa ng bahay… everytime na may mga construction na, sila na yung tinatawag. Kasi yung tao, parang nabalik din yung trust sa kanila. Yung dignidad nila bilang tao nabalik ng GK kaya yung tiwala ng community sa buong Esperanza, nabalik din sa kanila.” (“Some of the GK beneficiaries were trained to build homes… every time there is a construction, they are called to work. People trusted them again. GK restored their dignity so the trust in GK Esperanza was also restored.”)

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