Today is a big day for Gawad Kalinga! It marks the end of the first of three 7 year phases. During this first phase (called GK777), our goal was to raise 700,000 homes and start–up 7,000 communities in 7 years; to "un-squat” the poorest of the poor, heal their woundedness, regain their trust, build their confidence, make them think and act as a community and to share the joy of a country rising from poverty.

The second set of 7 years (from 2011 to 2017) is the Stewardship phase called Social Artistry: strengthening governance; developing community-based programs for health, education, environment, and productivity; building a village culture that honors Filipino values and heritage. The goal is to empower the powerless for self- governance, self- reliance, and self- sufficiency.

The final 7 years from 2018 to 2024 is envisioned as a time of Social Progress. This phase seeks to achieve scale and sustainability by developing the grassroots economy and expanding the reach and influence of GK to 5 million families with support from key sectors of society in the Philippines and partners abroad. We will make the Filipino poor “unpoor” by unleashing his potential for productivity and hard work in the right environment.

Both of these next phases are combined under the name GK 2024, as we envision our goals to be accomplished by the year 2024.

This 21-year journey of Gawad Kalinga represents one generation of Filipinos who will journey from poverty to prosperity, from neglect to respect, from shame to honor, from third-world to first-world, from second-class to first-class citizen of the world. The term first-world simply refers to greater opportunities, higher standards, and better quality of life available to more of its citizens.

With a development road map in the Philippines, GK seeks to create successful development templates that can be replicated in other developing countries, helping to create a world free from poverty.

Vic and I have been celebrating all week. First, on the local level, we had a strategic planning meeting with the mayor of Villasis on Monday. We reported on the status of our own local GK village (Namnama), and sought to coordinate partnerships with the local businesses and balikbayans (folks who are from the area and have moved abroad…like my parents and all those Fil-AMs, Fil-Canadian, etc.). We have begun to build the first 3 houses and hope to have 30 by the time we leave here. We have been mentored by the caretaker team for the village, Arny and Mary. There are another 7 couples who will the “model couples” for the village. Some will be beneficiaries as well.

This October 7th, the folks of Villasis held a mass of thanksgiving. “We survived typhoon Pepeng” was displayed on a huge banner in the open air auditorium where the mass was held. Last year on Oct 7th the entire province of Pangasinan was deluged with rain by typhoon Pepeng for over 12 hours, which set off a series of catastrophic events. In order to relieve pressure on the dams, they had to be opened. The massive flood that ensued reached many rooves and turned everyone’s lives upside down. Eventually, after the waters subsided, the city began to rebuild. Except for the watermark above people’s doors, it’s hard to see signs of the devastation. 25 children from our village sang the GK theme song for the audience of about 500 people. Many of these families were made homeless from Pepeng and are hopeful for a home through GK.

There have also been celebrations at individual villages (which there are 2000 communities all over the Republic of the Philippines (RP))

On Friday the 8th we made our way to Manila for the GK EXPO. It is 3 days of looking back on the struggles and joys of the last 7 years and laying out what is in progress as well as dreaming with the Spirit of what the future may open.

Vic and I have had internal struggles with our own wealth while trying to serve. At home in Virginia Beach, we had 6 jobs between us, full and part-time, (not to mention the job of being parents to our 2 boys) all to maintain what we had (a house, 2 cars, food…) I thought we lived consciously. I had a garden for 4+ months of the year, hung my clothes, didn’t use A/C or heat except for extreme weather changes. We had no TV, and very few perks.

"Poor" in the Philippines means that you can't eat, always looking for your next meal. "Poor" and the "poorest of the poor" are not far from each other. It all depends on how often you eat.
Middle class is considered as those that work. But pay is minimal. There are those professionals that have good job; they are considered “rich” making about $200+ a month

Vic and I have been told we are “millionaire.” We are from the Elite Class. Very strange to me cause I was pinching my dollars at home and here I still try to pinch my pesos. I was told by a balikbayan relative from California, “you need to go out and spread your American dollars around!”

To make a long story short, here is the point: Yesterday, Oct 8th attended an exclusive invitation only BALL. There were only about 400 people invited and another 200 that wanted to get in. I can write more on that later, but we had dinner with Actresses, big Corporate executives, Governors and the Vice president of the RP. Vic and I went along for the ride and enjoyed the meal, feeling a bit guilty not participating in the Auctions, not "spreading our dollars around" much because I don’t know how to calculate BIG pesos that fast! P10,000 is about $220. But I see thousands and freak out!

Anyway, we are off today to the 10/10/10 celebration in Quezon Memorial Circle. There are expected to be over 100,000 people in the park. Some of the local villages around Quezon City will be walking to the venue. About 12,000 of them will divert traffic. We were invited to walk in solidarity with them. The call is to “be counted” participate, be a bayani (a hero!)

Vic is helping out in the CYD activities (child and youth development) I will be in the GKonomics ( the social enterprises arm of GK). This is the arm of GK that highlights products made in the GK villages, looking for fair trade means to market these items. I met some women weaving baskets in one of villages we were orienting in last month. They work hard! I suck at basket weaving. They were generous to me and said I was just needing practice. Then the “teacher weaver” said my basket looked like an "itlog"---an egg! She unraveled it and made me do it again.

Anyway, if you are curious, I think they are live streaming some videos of the workshops and parts of the EXPO at www.gk1world.com

Thank you for your continued prayers for our family, our village and our work with GK in the Philippines.

Salamat Po! (Thanks respectfully)