Your VOICES.

By Thelma Macas, Contributing Writer - Texas, USA

(I am going to share with you my personal experience in being counted to support Gawad Kalinga.)

a pilgrimage of HOPE …a response to HEROISM…a pledge of HONOR

Last Saturday, the 24th of March,Filipino-Houstonians flocked to the AMC Theater in Dunnvale St. (very near the famous Galleria-Houston). When we arrived in the theater, we were met by the very sweet smile of Sister Virgie Villamayor (the Tita of Nora Aunor whose husband Bro. Jun Villamayor now serves as CFC fulltime worker in the state of Texas). We were given VIP treatment as we were ushered in Theater number 8 by one of the Gawad Kalinga volunteers. Thank God he was ready with a flashlight for I was wearing my 70’s clogs to match my favorite green blouse (only because it was bought from one of the boutiques in Limketkai Mall courtesy of my sister Mercy Melendez).

Sister Marissa who heads the CFC-Youth of North Houston jokingly asked me if I was ready with my Kleenex. I readily blurted, “Sis may dala akong tuwalya.” Little did I know that I would cry like a river on the first part of the Trilogy which was the story of Jocelyn a housewife from Liloan, Leyte whose daughter died in one of the mudslides some years back.  Maricel Soriano, the ‘Diamond Star’ gave justice to her role as the typical Filipina caring mother, who was shocked and in denial of her daughter’s loss.

The second story was a comic relief of sorts, it was entitled “Ang Kapatid Kong si Elvis” top billed by Carmi Martin and Michael V. It was hilarious. Just when I thought I would no longer wipe my now aching, dried up eyes; came the third story of Rudy Abad whose background setting was the 911 attack, I have seen the Gawad Kalinga mini film on how the husband, a Filipino millionaire in Long Island New York dedicated one Gawad Kalinga Village in honor of his wife who perished in the Twin Towers, and I thought I wouldn’t shed any more tears; but I did. Ricky Davao directed the said episode, and I can really say he is one of the top young directors to watch in Philippine Cinema.

One of the thrills I had that day also, was to know that Princess Punzalan, a Gawad Kalinga volunteer/advocate and sponsor, was there to co-host in the preliminary program they prepared before the film was shown. Sister Marissa joked again na “Kunwari padaw kami as if we didn’t care na nandyan si Princess.” Lahi diay deri sa states medyo maulaw ta ug doul sa artista kay mawala daw ang atong “glamour”. Enough with suppression of emotions “ganiha ra ko nagemote“. I managed to pose with her with my friend Alma Pisco (she teaches Social studies in Aldine District).

We hurried home; we used the Super Highway, beltway 8 for I was excited to cook “sitikin”, Sinugba, Tinola and Kinilaw. Danny a Filipino angler in Galveston, gave us a red snapper which weighed about 10 pounds. So we ended the day with a Fish Fest not bad but for a very nostalgic day in a Filipino’s life in America. Mind you, it was also a day full of hope in that together we can make a difference in our much neglected kababayan’s in the slums!

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Gawad Kalinga’s vision for the Philippines is a slum-free, squatter-free nation through a simple strategy of providing land for the landless, homes for the homeless, food for the hungry and as a result providing dignity and peace for every Filipino. (Visit their site at www.gawadkalinga.org)

CDOKAY supports such noble missions. Soon, CDOKAY will launch “A.O.K.” (Acts of Kindness) section to feature the likes of Gawad Kalinga and other local charitable institutions. This way, CDOKAY will seek to empower its visitors to extend help where it is most needed.

We have started when contributor Thelma said, “Just tell me what kind of help you need and I would be most willing to collaborate with you.”

“A.O.K.”…Let’s do this together.