The National Terrorist

July 31, 2008

“Pag binisita niyo ang community, don’t condemn. Isipin niyo, ‘paano ko kaya sila matutulungan?’” the fat coordinator  from Gawad Kalinga told our Economics 151 class last Wednesday. It was a very humid day and we arrived at Onyx St. San Andres after a 40-minute jeep ride. Once seated, we were given a talk on what Gawad Kalinga is and what it does. I actually appreciated their goals, which smack so much of common sense: unity, not agitation; help the poor by giving them not only decent housing but also education, employment, health services, and a sense of community (among others); and provide spiritual guidance for the community. Gawad Kalinga used to be the social arm of the Couples For Christ here in the Philippines until recently because of a schism regarding one very crucial point.

 

After the hour-long talk and a warning to keep our bags near our chest and our cellphones out of sight, we were given a short tour around the compound. It was lunch time so a lot of people were on their doorsteps cooking food along the dirty canal, as most living spaces were too cramped and windowless. There were at least three groups of swarthy men in their 20s and 40s hanging out in nooks just talking and laughing. It seems to be a flourishing community, but not in the positive sense, since the most noticable thing during our tour was the number of children in the compound. Most of the children I saw were not older than five years and almost each house has a young child playing near it. Some women had babies to their breasts as well. (more…)