CFC Volunteers in Gawad Kalinga Must Choose Loyalties?

Gawad Kalinga (GK) Sector Heads met with Luis Oquinena, the GK Executive Director, early November to discuss recent discussions between Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation (GKCDFI) and Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation (CFC GMFI).

My Sector GK Head couldn't make it and he asked me to come in his behalf. We were both active members of CFC and volunteers of GK. (Well, all volunteers of GK at the leadership levels were CFC members.) I didn't expect I'd get another shock in my life that night, similar to the successive impact of Typhoons Ondoy, Peping, Ramil and Santi.

Flashback 

Gawad Kalinga used to be one of the seven pillars of Couples for Christ. All members of the CFC International Council used to hold seven of the twelve seats of the Board of Trustees of GK.

That changed in April 2009 when the CFC IC declared that it was letting go of GK. From then on, CFC IC occupied two of the twelve seats of the GK Board. GK began to stand as a distinct entity, independent of CFC.

Two years prior to this, the CFC top leadership was grossly divided on the issue of GK. Frank Padilla, then the CFC Director wanted GK to separate. He later lost in the nomination and election processes. That crack however was so deep it later led to the creation of another "CFC" consisting of leaders and members who sided with Frank Padilla in the heated debate.

In CFC IC's April 2009 declaration, they however gave instructions to CFC members to continue working in GK sites. It also gave assurances that these volunteers remain members of CFC and were covered pastorally through their respective households.

GK volunteers typically follow a line of authority emanating from the GK International Headquarters, although the volunteers got their designations from CFC leadership hierarchy. The same is true in other ministries of CFC.

For us working on the ground, all those developments so far didn't affect operations. To us everything meant nothing else but a change in top leadership with no change in management structure. Meaning, for as long as I continue to be accountable to the same people, what do I care? Tuloy ang serbisyo!

Back to the Future

During the early November meeting with Luis Oquinena, I discovered that there were talks between CFC and GK regarding who directs the activities in existing GK Sites. I wondered, "but hasn't CFC let go of GK already?"

Furthermore, I was shocked to learn that the CFC IC has coined a new term "CFC-Managed GK sites" in an October 12, 2009 that I never saw prior to that meeting.

Moreover, CFC Volunteers who work in GK are now supposed to follow the line of authority within CFC, not of GK. GK strongly disagrees. It says, since it is GK's commitment to the donors in line, it will work only with volunteers who follow the line of authority within GK. Meaning, any volunteer who disengages with GK to follow the CFC line of authority will be replaced. That gives a possible scenario of one site having two project directors, one following CFC, the other following GK.

That picture's not good.

I consulted with CFC Elders in my sector who works in GK. Their stand is to maintain the status quo until CFC and GK elders get their acts together.

Do you now see why it feels like having to deal with typhoons Ondoy, Peping, Ramil and Santi one after the other?

Lord, make us equal to the challenge.

P.S. I got a copy of this email from our Sector GK Head

From: Rose1dac@aol.com
Subject: Walang Iwanan
Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 11:20 AM

2 November 2009

To my dear GK co-servants,

Many have expressed confusion, disappointment, and frustration about the recent memos and changes with GK, ANCOP and CFC.

As someone who has been a longtime and faithful CFC member and as someone who has worked with many of you in Gawad Kalinga and planted many seeds through my service in GK ANCOP USA, I would like to share with you my reflections, in the hopes that like me, title or no title, official or unofficial, CFC or non-CFC, you will continue with even greater passion with your service in and advocacy of Gawad Kalinga.

Now, more than ever, we are called to live up to our battlecry, "Walang iwanan!"


GK’s Growing Pains and CFC’s Formation as a Community
Having the privilege of currently being in the CFC household of Melo and Nini Villaroman, being in the core team of GKonomics working closely with Tony Meloto, and talking with some of the key leaders, I know that both CFC and GK are driven by deep faith and passion, and both are driven by the same Spirit.

There may be leadership differences at this time that may seem irreconcilable, but I firmly believe that in time, we will understand God's perfect plan for both GK and CFC. In the meantime, I take comfort in my belief that these are all part of GK's growing pains and CFC's formation as a community. As St. Paul explained, there are many gifts but the same Spirit, and no one can say that one's gift is better than the other.

I must admit that I cannot profess to understand the current situation nor do I see the wisdom in some of the actions of some of our CFC and GK leaders at this time, but I do know one thing which is what keeps me committed to Gawad Kalinga as a CFC member: Despite all its weaknesses and shortcomings, GK is building God's Kingdom on earth, That is the bottomline.

Despite CFC's letting go of GK governance, GK's work has always been consistent with CFC's vision of families in the Holy Spirit renewing the face of the earth. Despite the failures of leaders and workers, GK is doing good work. Despite very limited resources and manpower, GK is transforming hearts and communities. Despite countless obstacles and naysayers, GK is giving hope to our countrymen and the rest of the world. Despite centuries-old debilitating mindsets, GK is allowing our young people to dream of a better future. Despite endless criticisms, GK is bringing God's love to so many.

GK IS GOD'S WORK and as such, He will sustain the work. We are His mere instruments and we, leaders and workers alike, will come and go. The current GK-CFC-ANCOP transition crisis will someday come to pass. For as long as there are people in GK who are focused on the Lord, the work will continue no matter what. Since I personally know many such GK people (both CFC and non-CFC), I am quite confident that the work will continue beyond my lifetime.


Continuing Support for GK

Our current GK leaders, who have been criticized and deemed unworthy by some, are the ones whom God has placed in charge at this time. They may have their own failures and shortcomings (who doesn't), but I have no doubt about their integrity and their love for God.

Whatever weaknesses they may have (just like everyone else), we trust that the Lord will continue to mold and equip them and that He is building up new leaders to help and take the place of our current leaders in His perfect time. In the meantime, we will do what we can to help them in the mission. We will all work together and focus on the task at hand.

Nobody is blameless in the current situation but I would rather focus on what needs to be done than point fingers. I would rather work on what I could contribute instead of focusing on the weaknesses of GK and CFC and faults of the leaders. I will not choose between CFC and GK because both are equally important to me. The challenge for us now is to “walk our talk” as Christian brothers and sisters, and truly internalize what "Walang Iwanan!" means.

As for ANCOP USA, it is no longer the ANCOP I used to know, but I wish them well in their new undertaking. The current transition will have its casualties but I hope and pray that many of us will see beyond the initial disappointments and instead, (1) keep our focus on the mission and vision of GK which have not changed, and (2) for those of us in CFC, remain faithful to our CFC covenant. For me, I will continue to attend my CFC household. I will continue to do my GK service. I will do both with great passion, much joy and peace, knowing that both are the Lord's handiwork and blessing.

Bottomline: Sharing God’s Love

Let me end by sharing with you about one of my idols, Ate Jenny Ronquillo, a fellow CFC and GK servant who was just called by the Lord last month after a 3-month bout with cancer which spread so fast. Jenny and her husband Eddie are CFC members in Las Pinas and in the last 4 years, they have been serving as the GK caretakers in GK Sunshineville. Jenny in particular managed the livelihood program of the village, making picture frames and later, the famous silver bags and home accessories. Jenny went to the site almost daily, worked closely with the GK residents (whom she called her “Angels”), trained and guided them, and in the process, she managed to help provide livelihood and income to more than 50 families, helping them send their children to school, pay for their electric and water bills, and put food on their table. She did all these quietly, without any compensation, recognition, nor fanfare.

Beyond the income and livelihood, Jenny provided something even greater to the residents – God’s love – when she became their friend, sister, and mentor. In her deathbed, her GK Sunshineville Angels wept and prayed with her family. For those of us who saw her in action (the many GK Sunshineville partners and volunteers which include GKonomics, Maraming Bayani Foundation, young managers from HSBC, Alaska, SGV, Shell, Bates, Aboitiz, etc.), Ate Jenny showed us what it means to simply love like Jesus.

Ate Jenny’s death just reminds me of just how blessed we are to have GK as our way of living out our faith and sharing God’s love with as many people as possible. Walang iwanan!

In the end, this is all that matters, how we have shared God’s love with others.

Godbless!

- Rose