Your Attention Please...

I'm putting this post on the Couples for Christ Wikipedia entry to rest for now...

Jed, please email me.

idotrcfc@gmail.com

Thank you, and I apologize about the distress caused.

Site Update

So it has been almost a month since this site went up (officially) on August 16, 2007. Here are our stats as of today:

You are looking at over 100,000 page loads in less than a month. That is another milestone. I hope this is an indicator of the number of people who are being exposed to the truth and being helped in making a crucial decision. Anybody here who is into web/internet related work will be able to appreciate those numbers. They are incredible.

Some people have asked me if I even have time to take care of my own business with all the time I spend researching and updating this blog. I must say, it does get hectic at times, but thank you for your prayers and well wishes. I believe in the power of prayer and yours are all very appreciated.

Some of you may have noticed that I've tried to take a backseat to the life stirring in the comments section. Some of the commentary obviously come from people well versed in CfC issues. I notice the names of people; Zeny Gimenez, Tony Gimenez, Jeanie Hizon, Caloy Yturzaeta, Mina Francisco, and Marivie Dalman among others who are not afraid to identify themselves and give their own valued thoughts and experiences to what is going on. Some questions asked are already being answered in the comments sections and they shouldn't be missed, which is why I constantly try and draw attention to them. What I am saying is, they have been a LOT of help to me lately. A big, big thank you to all who help clarify certain points for those who have asked questions. It is very appreciated. I'd like to request that you all keep doing what you are doing, and assist this blog in doing its job of helping our brothers and sisters discern.

Let us try and be constructive with our comments as the way forward is slowly being revealed to all of us. This crisis happened for a reason. I hope and wish that it will leave CfC a more focused, effective, and blessed organization.

Also you will notice that there is a new poll on the right side of the page. As some people have brought up, it may be that this site is fostering a sense of division among us. There are people who have expressed their frustration and those who have left comments in righteous anger. This blog was started to give voice and support to those who have kept quiet in an enlightened response to attacks. If you feel that its job is done and it should be put to rest, then I invite you all to vote in that poll and let me know.

As for me, I commit to doing what I've been doing. The whole truth. No soundbites, no snippets, and no partials. You will get the whole thing, whether it's audio, video, or print. You all deserve to know/see/hear these things in their entirety and make up YOUR OWN MIND about what they represent.




God bless.

In The News - Inquirer Express

The Inquirer Express reports:

Differences in beliefs caused Couples split

Excerpt:

"In an earlier interview, Nonong Contreras, one of the four members of the CfC interim committee and a former member of the Board of Elders of the International Council of the CfC Foundation for Family and Life, said they had not accused Gawad Kalinga of mishandling fund donations.

“Never did we say that there’s an anomaly. We only said there should be proper governance and accountability,” he said, adding: “When the money you are handling is not yours, there should be greater governance and accountability. The disbursements should jibe with the number of houses promised to partners.”

Contreras said he and his group had raised the issue of proper accountability because of instances when some Gawad Kalinga partners complained directly to their group about purported mismanagement of the donated funds."

Highlight mine.

When you raise an issue because of the "purported mismanagement of the donated funds", then you raise it because of an anomaly.

Can someone define double-talk for me? Hold on...I'll do it:

dou·ble-talk /ˈdʌbəlˌtɔk/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[duhb-uhl-tawk] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –noun

1.	speech using nonsense syllables along with words in a rapid patter.

2.	deliberately evasive or ambiguous language: When you try to get a straight answer, he gives you double-talk.

Was that clear enough?

Side Notes: Shaking The Tree Pt. 1

An Anonymous comment brought up a topic that will be covered in a future entry. An article in a multipart PCIJ special investigation that partially involves the CFC was quoted and I'm posting the link to the PCIJ article and a related PCIJ Blog entry here for all to read.

Arroyo's Legacy May Include More Mother's Put At Risk

Scene 2 - More Straws as the Plot Thickens

Feb 6, 2007 (note the dates, as they are important in the plot)

A certain Sandra Sotto wrote a letter to the editor of Philippine Daily Inquirer in reaction to a Gawad Kalinga article:

Meloto not founder of Gawad Kalinga

First posted 00:24:10 (Mla time) February 06, 2007

Inquirer

Gawad Kalinga is the social arm of the Couples for Christ.

IN THE Inquirer editorial of Jan. 31, titled “Solidarity,” Tony Meloto was referred to as the founder of Gawad Kalinga. This simply is untrue. Meloto is the executive director and not the founder of Gawad Kalinga.

Nowhere did the Inquirer mention the Couples for Christ in the editorial. It is unfair to the millions of members of the Couples for Christ, both in the Philippines and in the diaspora, that their hard work is credited to only one man and not to them. Gawad Kalinga is the fruit of their “bayanihan” [community collaboration] spirit, and all honor and glory belongs to God alone.

A correction is long overdue.

SANDRA SOTTO, New York City (via e-mail)

Some accounts say that this published email is actually a watered down version, and was edited by The Inquirer. One would wonder what the original actually says.

What is the significance of this letter? The sender.

Ms. Sotto is the sister of Gerry Padilla, wife of Frank Padilla.

The camel's back broke soon after...

Scene 1 "The Straws That Broke the Camel’s Back"

It was a time of joy, GK was making headway in showing the world how to help the poor, one house at a time. Tony Meloto, as the face of GK, was being internationally acclaimed. GK is one of the pillars of CFC (Couples For Christ), one that was fast becoming a phenomenon in the world of community and people empowerment. Award after award was being bestowed on the organization.

February 08, 2007.

An article in The Philippine Star by Boo Chanco comes out. In it, Chanco details Tony Meloto's work in GK and GK's successes.

This article elicits an email from a certain Lorenzo Cruz from San Francisco, CA:

Click on image to enlarge

One wonders who this Lorenzo Cruz might be. It is interesting to note that the email address was created on Feb 7, the day before this email was sent.

It is also interesting to note that Gerry Padilla had been heard in certain circles commenting disparagingly about Dylan Wilk and his "second-hand" BMW.


Tony Meloto's reply to Boo Chanco's understandably concerned email appears below:


Click on image to enlarge

Page 1



Page 2



Boo Chanco's follow-up article defended his first article and reiterated his support for Tony Meloto:

"And so, Mr. Cruz, I did not stop being a journalist when I wrote about Tony Meloto and Gawad Kalinga. As a journalist I am committed to report on what is new and as a Filipino, on what is good for our country. I saw both in Tony Meloto and Gawad Kalinga. I saw more than a social entrepreneur. I saw a successful social entrepreneur. That, I thought, was worthy of being written about. And if he gets compensated for doing good, so much the better. That’s a model career young people should aspire for.

Next: More Straws as the Plot Thickens.