by Tito Cajulis
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Hon. Brigida-Zenaida H. Pawid
Chairperson, NCIP
D
uring the turnover of 40 new GK houses to Subanon families in Baliguian, Zamboanga Del Norte, keynote speaker Hon. Brigida-Zenaida H. Pawid (Chairperson of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples) hinted on unpleasant circumstances during her first visit to nearby Brgy. Canatuan. TVI Resource Development Phils., Inc. started conducting mining activities in Brgy. Canatuan a number of years ago. Now, seeing the new Subanon community assisted by GK and TVI, she lauded the way the community preserved their traditions and ceremonies despite the glaringly different design of the houses.
>> Click here to read more about the project in TVI's website
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“Ang bahay ay hindi ang konkretong struktura. Ang bahay ay tunay na bahay kung ang mga taong nakatira ay may kalinga sa isa’t isa bilang isang komunidad.” (The house is not the concrete structure. The house is a real house only if people living in it care for each other as a community.)
She continued with this message: The journey of the Subanon people with TVI, at the onset of the mining operations, was at the very least, “complicated”. Today, we are thankful – as expressed thru the traditional thanksgiving prayers you recited and the feast we will share later on – for this new beginning in your journey. It has been a long journey for the Subanon people. This new journey will be even longer. Only you, Subanons, will decide if you will continue to journey separately or together as a community. All of us gathered here: GK, the LGU represented by the Mayor, TVI and NCIP – are all here for you. Why else would we be all here? We will be with you on this new journey. (paraphrased)
>> Read more in "GK Reaches Subanons!"
Luis Oquinena, Executive Director of Gawad Kalinga, had these to say:
-GK is a process. Poverty is not unique to indigenous peoples. It affects all of us. There will be challenges and obstacles to be faced in our struggle to rise up from poverty and become one nation. When confusion and frustration start to set in, look at the children – the faces of the children. They are the future and everything we are doing now is for them.
-Unity is elusive. Again, let’s look at the children. If we can look at each of them as our own children, then there will be no reason not to be in solidarity with our neighbours. After all, we are all just looking after the collective future of our children.
GK is known for the beautiful, colorful houses it helps build with disadvantaged communities through generous partners worldwide. But at the end of the day, it is who we become as we build together as a people that define us as a nation.
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Gawad Kalinga is not a charity, rather, it's an organization that aims to end poverty by building sustainable communities. This would not be possible without the partners who have journeyed with us in changing the lives of others. Like TVIRD, you too can help the poorest of the poor and partner with us in building sustainable and holistic GK communities! For more information, visit this link or email info@gk1world.com.