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We Wish You Well

Now can't you do the same for us?


Friends, if you remember a few weeks back in the Pulp Bits entry, I wondered what the Easter Group was up to, since it appeared they were escalating attacks on GK. I figured it was because they had a competing product and needed to bash GK to raise the profile of theirs. Good business sense? Yes, I'd have to admit, but is it Christian conduct? You be the judge.

Personally, I've always felt that the best way for a product/company to succeed is to let its quality speak for itself. Positive word of mouth after all, is one of the most prized aspects of a good promotional campaign.

So I guess it comes as no suprise when I saw this:

Let me just take you back to the hints that made me feel that something was up.

Lets start with Perry Diaz's "Quo Vadis, Gawad Kalinga" article written in September of last year, which Nonong Contreras felt compelled to respond to. Mr. Contreras does the usual song and dance ("veering away", financial accountability, partnering with pharmas who promote contraceptives, etc.) and then hints at his own future partnership:

WE ONLY HAVE OUR BEST WISHES FOR CFC/GK AND MR. DIAZ IF THEY PURSUE THEIR MISSION WITHOUT CFC. THE ALL INCLUSIVENESS OF GK SHOULD NOT COME AT THE EXPENSE OF PROUDLY UNFURLING ITS CHRISTIAN BANNER AND CALLING IT CFC, THE WAY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HAS BEEN VERY OPEN IN PROCLAIMING ITSELF AS A CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION.

Read complete response HERE.

On Frank Padilla's own Multiply site, a March 31, 2008 article talks about the future partnership:

"Also off site, the RV will benefit 374 families, mostly CFC-FFL members, that will be relocated in 24-square meter lots subdivided from a total area 15,505 square meters. A partnership with Habitat for Humanity is being worked out for the site."

Then, back in May 12, 2008, Nonong released his own article entitled "Where Really Is The Rub", which I guess is his idea of a witty response to Conrado De Quiros, he once again brings up Habitat:

"The rub lies in GK veering away from the life and mission of CFC by overprotecting its benefactors and donors to the extent that CFC members were told to avoid "unfurling its Christian banner in public" (quote from Mr.Esposo in a past column) while Habitat for Humanity proudly proclaims that it is a Christian organization."

Finally, we have the emails from the Salvador Macias and Mario Pareno ghostwritten entities forwarded by the Easter Group, which not only attacks GK, but manages to once again spew unsubstantiated claims. The thinly veiled July 9, 2008 Macias rejoinder to Meloto's I Want To Be A Good Catholic given at Ateneo and covered HERE, and a long delayed response to a dredged-up-from-the-past article by Michael Tan. This was what rang the alarm bells for me. I figure the fabled Mr. Badong Macias had to dig that up because they needed something to base a GK attack on.

There are several points of interest on those Macias commentaries by the way (and those from the haplessly uninformed Mario Pareno) , one of which is the insistence that the IC distributed the supposedly internal GK-3 paper. I don't know why they keep perpetuating the lie, when this email says it all (note the date):

Subject: gk
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2007 02:47:33 EDT

Because of its real frank nature, Bro. Frank Padilla (the eternal Pacifist and one who would not want to put down a brother) has withheld the all-out circulation of this, his 3rd paper on CFC and GK. We however believe that this paper should really be out especially so That our brethren will know the real score re: why there is tension bet. CFC and GK.

Some GK leaders' propaganda is that CFC leaders are just sourgraping Because of GK success. That CFC leaders are just displaying the typical Filipino crab mentality. That CFC leaders are simply envious of GK fame and Tony Meloto's awards. We believe in bringing out the truth. Unless the truth is out, our CFC members will always be misinformed and confused. So here it is. Frank's 3rd, no holds barred paper --- for the information of brothers and sisters in the community.

Please use your discernment on whether you wish to pass this to others in the community. Note that the date Bro. Frank made it is April 8, Easter Sunday. After two weeks of prayers and discernment on my part, I have decided to share this paper with you. May the truth set us free! May God and His Mother protect CFC!
Let us keep on praying for our beloved community.

Sis. Ding Contreras

But I digress (we'll get more into that later).


Anyway, I don't know if Habitat for Humanity know what they are getting themselves into. I need not mention that GK and Habitat has been peacefully co-existing all these years, until the Easter Group saw it fit to create drama between the two. The object of either group is to improve the lot of those less privileged, and put a roof over Pedro's head while giving him a chance and a vision to accomplish more, not just for himself but for his progeny. I have absolutely nothing against Habitat. None of us should. Before GK came into being, I've always respected what they've done, and still do. I wish the FFL (and their WWP program) well in their partnership with Habitat, may they house many, many poor Filipinos and give them hope and a chance at a good life.

There is however one thing that we all should be made aware of now, because everything up to this point has led to a specific conclusion, and it is this:

We need to finally realize that the conflict between Frank Padilla and Tony Meloto, between the Easter Group and the IC, the supposed veering away, or partnering with pharmas, all those points brought up by Frank Padilla as the reasons for his departure from CFC - ALL OF IT, were fabrications designed to hide the real devil's fruit that made him do it. PRIDE.

Wow, how can I say that, you may ask?

Easy, we've come full circle.

I'll ignore the fact that they are still thanking the anti-life proponent Cynthia Villar for their offices at Star Mall. I mean, they've never acknowledged it or at least tried to explain the hypocrisy blatantly displayed there, so I don't expect to hear any now.

Lets just concentrate on the here and now. Habitat and the FFL are now partners. That's a fact they've established well on their own. Right?

Well, considering all you have accused GK of, how do you now develop a partnership with an organization that works arm in arm with...

Pfizer
http://www.habitat.org/jcwp/2000/sponsors.html

And I quote:

“This joining together of workers within a company to do something outside enhances the sense of teamwork and makes for better relationships while at work.” – Doug Warner, Pfizer, Inc.

Habitat also deals with the Mormons, which if you remember the Easter Group raised a big deal about with GK:

Latter-day Saints joined many other community groups in a project to build two homes for local families. The article describes more about how Habitat for Humanity works.
http://www.mormonstoday.com/000514/D1LDS&Habitat01.shtml

Let me reiterate, this is not an attack on Habitat, I believe they have the right as a CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION to partner with whomever God steers them to to achieve their means. I am merely pointing out a hypocrisy in the Easter Group's actions and in their ability to do exactly the opposite of what they say, and how this has wreaked havoc on the lives of innocent CFC members.


I guess that says it all. Shall we consider the case closed?

(Thanks to Divinos for the links and the heads up.)

Hear Their Plea

I just wanted to draw your attention to these comments.

GK Beneficiary ng Remarville has left a new comment on your post "So It's True":

Ang kinatatakot ko lang po paano kapag sa amin nangyari yun! ano ang gagawin namin? Saan kami pupunta? May tutulong ba sa amin? natatakot talaga kami kay Jun Junia kasi isang sabi lang nya HOA officials ay sumusunod sila kahit alam nilang mali na!

Alam nyo po sobrang SAYA namin ng maging beneficiary kami sa Remarville NOON kasi sa wakas may sariling bahay na kami, ngunit ang SAYA na naramdaman namin NOON ngayon ay nababalutan na ng LUNGKOT AT TAKOT NA BAKA BUKAS AY WALA NA ANG BAHAY NA IBINIGAY SA AMIN NG PANGINOON

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "So It's True":

Bilang isa sa mga GK beneficiary, nais ko pong ipaabot ang liham na ito kay Tito Jun J. at sa lahat ng bumubuo ng Kapit bahayan ng GK Remarville. Lubos po ang aking paniniwala sa kabutihang loob na taglay nyo, minsan na po tayong naging isang pamilya sa bubong CFC, at maaring nag iba man tayo ng landas na tinahak ngunit hindi ang maiaalis kabutihang loob na naitanim sa puso nyo.

Isa lamang po ako sa maraming bilang ng mahihirap na naghangad na magkaroon ng sariling tahanan. Kaya’t naging lubos ang aking kasiyahan ng malaman kong ako at ang aking pamilya ay mapapagkalooban ng tahanan sa GK Remarville. Sa totoo lamang po ay napaluha ako ng marinig ko ang balita. Naisip ko agad ang mga anak ko. “Sa wakas mabibigyan ko na rin sila ng maayos na tirahan at tahanang matatawag kong amin”. Lingid pos a inyong kaalaman ay nangungupahan lang po ako sa kasalukuyan. Sa hirap po ng buhay makailang beses na rin kaming lumipat ng tahanan, para lamang makahanap ng murang marerentahan. Bagamat may trabaho po ako at ang aking asawa ay di pa rin ito sapat para matugunan ang lahat ng pangangailangan namin sa araw-araw. Bilang isang ina gusto ko pong ibigay ang lahat ng makakabuti sa anak ko, masakit pong isipin na hindi ko man lang matugunan ang ilang pangangailangan nila dahil na rin po sa kakapusan. Makakatulong po sana talaga ng malaki kung ang perang binabayad namin sa upa ay mailaan na lamang po para sa mga anak ko. Ngunit sa kasawiang palad maaring manatiling pangarap na lamang ang PANGARAP kong ito. Dahil isa po ako sa mga nakatanggap ng DELISTING notice mula pos a inyo. Maaring may mga desisyon po kayong di ko lubos na nauunawaan. Hindi ko rin naman pong hahayaan ang aking sarili na humantong sa galit. Tingna nyo na lang po ako bilang isang tao, bilang isang Pilipino, bilang isang mahirap. Isang kababayang nangangailangan.

Hindi man po tayo personal na magkakilala, pero alam ko pareho tayo ng pananaw pagdating sa ating mga pamilya. Hindi po sana maging kalabisan sa inyo kung hihilingin kong maipagkaloob po sa akin sampu ng aking pamilya ang isang bahay sa remarville. Hindi ko man po kayo mabayaran dito sa lupa alam ko pong may nakalaan na biyaya ang May Kapal. Gayun pa man po taos puso akong magpapasalamat sa inyo. Pinapaubaya ko na po sa inyo ang katuparan ng mga pangarap ko…

Salamat po,
GK Benificiary

GK Beneficiary has left a new comment on your post "So It's True":

Bilang GK Benificiary ng Remarville ako po ay nagmamakaawa kay Tito Jun. J. at sa GK Int’l Restoration Village Homeowners Association, na sana kami ay mapagbigyan na matupad aming pangarap na magkaroon ng sariling bahay. Kami po ay mahirap lamang, di naming kayang bumili ng lupa at bahay. Ang kinikita naming mag-asawa ay di pa minsan sapat sa gastusin sa araw-araw: pagkain, gamit ng mga bata sa eskwela, tubig, kuryente at renta sa bahay.

Nung naging GK Benificiary kami, tuwang-tuwa kami aking pamilya. dahil malaki ang maitutulong nito, Nagpapasalamat kami sa Maykapal , sa mga Sponsors na ginamit ng Diyos upang tulungan kaming mahihirap. At alam kong, di lamang bahay ang binigay ng ating Panginoon kundi isang tahanan. At pananalig na madama at lubusang makilala, kung paano maging mabuti at tunay na kristyano.

Alam ko sa dito sa Remarville mayroong CFC at FFL. Pero nanalig ako na magiging maayos ang lahat dahil iisa lamang ating Panginoong Maykapal.

Bilang CFC Benificiary kami ay umaattend ng Homeowners Meeting. Sa mga meeting, nababanggit ni Tito Jun J. na wala sya pinapanigan CFC o FFL, ang panawagan lamang nya ay makaisa ang mga members ng Homeowners lalo na sa pagbayad ng amortization sa lupa.

Hanggang sa dumating yung araw July 20 – GK Build para sa CFC Home Office ng 3 Beneficiaries. Kami bilang CFC members na gustong tumulong, GK at ibang pang members ng West C, pati ilang kapatid sa GK ay nagpunta upang tumulong sa pag gawa ng bahay. Ngunit di natuloy ito dahil nagbarikada ang Homeowners at ilang FFL members.

Makalipas ang dalawang linggo, nakatanggap kami mga CFC Benificiaries ng delisting notice ang mga CFC Benificiaries. Ang Tanong Namin Bakit, ano ang nagawa naming mali.

Mali ba yung TUMULONG PARA SA MGA KAPATID NATING CFC Beneficiaries.

CFC-GK Beneficiary

Mike Santos gives us an update:

mike santos has left a new comment on your post "A Call To Arms Pt 2":

in light of the recent event --remarville delisting and eviction--

My dad sent a SMS to Jun Junia and requested a dialogue that reads

... There is far greater joyful reason to UNITE, than to DIVIDE.. let's meet and resolve issues Re: remarville, gk magsaysay and other concern...

let's pray for this to happen!!!

Friends, this Remarville issue is far from over. I know we've committed to prayers and gatherings on their behalf, please help me keep this issue at the forefront. If only half of the things I'm hearing about the International Village beneficiaries and their plight are truly happening, it is still a major WRONG that must be put RIGHT.

Let us pray for God to touch the souls of the men at the root of this travesty, and allow them to care once again for their less fortunate brethren, without prejudice to what community they choose to belong to.

The Bill to Beat

Two bills on population control and reproductive health are making headlines in the news, I just thought I should post the text of the bills (apparently pretty hard to find) for us to review. There are many different opinions being thrown around in cyberspace, I'd welcome yours as well. I will also post the files in the Archived Documents section.

The first is the "Reproductive Health,Responsible Parenthood and Population Development Act of 2007" or HB16 (it appears as HB00016 or HB00017 in different websites), authored by Rep. Edcel Lagman. He delves into it in the Inquirer HERE, with a dissenting opinion HERE.

Click HERE to download the text of the bill.

The second is authored by lady solon Janette Garin entitled "Reproductive Health Care Act" or HB812 (HB00812), which "...establishes the Reproductive Health Care Program that recognizes women's rights and gender equality and ensures universal access to reproductive health information, education and services. Comprehensive health care includes measures that promote safe motherhood, care for persons with HIV/AIDS and other STIs, infertility treatment, and male involvement in reproductive health."

Click HERE to download the text of the bill.

THIS version is more readable (and text searchable), but I'm not sure if it's the updated one, since it was last edited in August 2007, I found it as a .doc HERE.

I'm posting these in case any of you wanted to do any more research into this. Here are examples of different opinions on the matter:

First, the CBCP is already waging an active campaign against the bills, which have already won a spot on the Anti-Family Watch List of the ALFI.

However,

The Warrior Lawyer gives his take, and opines against the church's continued opposition to these bills, saying, "...there is none so blind as those who refuse to see."



Have a good weekend my friends.

So It's True

Apparently the Easter Group really is trying to distance themselves from Remarville. They don't even list it in their "Restoration" villages list on their site.

I have heard (and seen a comment about it) that all CFC members have now been unceremoniously delisted. It is no surprise that this has caused an incredible amount of stress to the beneficiaries who have looked forward to their home there. IF they truly are denying involvement in Remarville, they're going to have a tough time denying it, considering they themselves sent out an email from a certain Mario Pareno basically admitting that FFL members had "taken over" over the site (found near the end of this entry). I also don't know how they're going to explain the "RESTORATION" plastered on the entrance arch. I guess we'll have to be prepared for whatever spin they attempt. If any of you have any more information or documents regarding this, I'd welcome it. You know where to reach me.

So after making a complete mess of things, they now want to deny and walk away from everything. How nice.

* * *

A recent comment brought up a very very important item. We as a community firmly believe in the power of prayer. I apologize that I have been so focused on bringing forth the facts about the recent events that have not even made a personal plea for it. I am asking now for all us to make it a point to PRAY for a resolution to these issues. Let us all pray for the favorable conclusion of our fight for our name; let us pray for God to soften the heart of Jun Junia and allow our brethren their homes. Most importantly, lets us all pray TOGETHER.

If any of you can arrange group prayers in your respective chapels, please do so. If we can arrange an even bigger group, please, do your best. It's high time to raise our problems and pain to the Almighty and trust Him to make things right. I hope that we can all try and make this a priority this Sunday, and the subsequent Sundays, and if you can do it everyday, all the better. In fact, if you need me to post your announcements for prayer meetings, I'd be more than happy to do so.

Have a blessed weekend bloggers.