10 Reasons Why CFC's Letting Go of GK is Good For Everybody

Couples for Christ (CFC) lets go of Gawad Kalinga (GK) as a ministry? GK goes its own way independently of CFC?

Believe it or not, this is gooood!


It is good for CFC. It is good for GK. It is good for the poor. It is good for the country! It is good for the world!

This is a GK meeting in UP NCPAG about building homes and lives for the poor. Everyone in the room is a CFC member. Now, when people from other communities, faiths or persuasions do meetings like this in various parts of the country and the world, is it good? or gooooood?

Here are ten reasons why it is so...

Couples for Christ International Council Explains "Letting Go" of Gawad Kalinga

At the wake of its April 30 "Letting Go" memo regarding Gawad Kalinga (GK), the Couples for Christ (CFC) International Council sent Brother Joe Yamamoto, a member of the Council, to speak to the leaders of the CFC West B sector last Thursday, May 14, 2009 at the Saint Paul the Apostle Parish along Timog Avenue, Quezon City.

Joe Yamamoto explains to CFC West B Sector leaders the decision of the CFC International Council to let go of GK as a CFC ministry. This took place at the Saint Paul the Apostle Parish on May 14, 2009.

Brother Joe emphasized the evangelistic and missionary thrust of CFC as the foundation of the decision to let GK run its own course independently of CFC.

He said that, as GK matured, it evolved into a primarily nation-building program that sought to partner with as many partners as possible, Catholic or otherwise. While there was nothing wrong with nation-building per se, GK somehow relegated into the background the evangelistic and missionary tasks of CFC. This was out of GK's concern that the CFC character would discourage people from other faiths or persuasions from actively participating in the work for nation-building.

Couples for Christ Gives Gawad Kalinga Own Identity

It's official and this is in the news* now: Couples for Christ (CFC) gives Gawad Kalinga (GK) its own corporate identity and allows GK to run its course independently of CFC. This has been done in the spirit of love and good will among everyone concerned, with the welfare of the poor--the apple of Christ's eyes--as the primary consideration.

(I am writing this news piece as my contribution to the efforts of the International Council to disseminate the information in the proper context. This development is GOOD NEWS for everyone to start with. Kindly see the footnote* to validate where I'm coming from when I said that. -- Marvin, your cool Catholic brother.)

CFC is a private and international association of Catholic laity that is recognized by the Vatican. GK has been a ministry of CFC when it grew into a national, and now a worldwide, phenomenon with the goal of building nations and stimulate prosperity for the poor.

Do You Live a Lifestyle of Caring?

How does a lifestyle of caring look like? Why should we care about such a lifestyle?

The online Mirriam-Webster Dictionary defines "lifestyle" as...

the typical way of life of an individual, group, or culture

What's a typical cool Catholic lifestyle? Is it a lifestyle of caring? What do you see around you?

Youth members of Ligaya ng Panginoon participate in painting the houses of the Ligaya-Escopa 3 GK Village in Quezon City

One of the speakers in a Gawad Kalinga* meeting two weeks ago had the gull of saying, "GK is not 'just' a service. It is a lifestyle." There was a notable silence after that statement. As if the struggles of the volunteers in implementing the programs on the ground weren't enough, the speaker actually had the gull to tell the volunteers to make a lifestyle out of it.

All that these guys really wanted was to be good Catholics!