Expats Revisit Philippine Nation Rebuilding
By Sarie Guanzon-Laserna, M.D., FACOG
Vice-Chair Filipino United Network
SPSA-Gawad Kalinga Project Coordinator
There is nothing more noble and more meaningful than for Filipino expatriates like us to assist in Philippine nation rebuilding. There is likewise nothing more fulfilling and gratifying than to see our beloved native land, the Philippines, uplifted from a 3rd world country status to an emerging and developing nation, devoid of the pervasive government graft and corruption.
Today, the new millennium may bring to fruition this noble longing of Filipino expatriates. I say this because I know for a fact that the long term human investment in the international arena has finally reached maturity. The proverbial “brain drain” some 30-35 years ago is overtly and literally being transformed to “Brain GAIN & Brain Power”!
Yes, Filipino expatriates worldwide now have the intellectual dexterity and enhanced financial capability to be of profound assistance to the Philippines. With the collective and unified efforts of expatriates and the cooperation of our Philippine based rich patriots, we can overcome all odds to bring peace, progress and true Philippine freedom from the bondage of poverty, diseases, violence, war and corruption!
Currently, as a proactive “Servant Leader” for Philippine nation rebuilding (since the 1986 bloodless revolution), I am whole heartedly, intellectually, and objectively convinced that the Philippines today is quite fortunate to have a very reliable, honest and dependable vehicle for national reconstruction. I am speaking of, and endorsing, the Gawad Kalinga 777 project of Tony Meloto, in partnership with Couples for Christ.
Gawad Kalinga Project essentially addresses the most basic needs of the underserved. It builds homes for the poorest of the poor (as screened by Couples for Christ) based on “sweat equity” (no dole out).
Gawad Kalinga has a support system on education, religion, healthcare and livelihood projects integrated to the whole community programs. A village of 30 to 100 homes will always have a community center, group leaders and Couples for Christ management team. This HOLISTIC APPROACH IN HOME OWNERSHIP helps restore man’s dignity and self-esteem. It further empowers the family members to become educated, responsible, accountable, and productive citizens of the Philippines.
The Fil-Am Friendship GK Village consisting of 76 homes in Taguig, Rizal is a Fil-Am Expatriates GK Project in partnership with Mayor Sigfred Tinga of Taguig, Rizal and Makati Rotary represented by Mr. Bobby Rodrigo (past president, Rotary, Makati).
A 3-story Community Center will be built to house education, healthcare, miscellaneous livelihood and management programs. It will also have a basketball court and recreational park. Because of the larger area for the community center only 76 homes can be built in this village. The other 24 homes (already funded) will be in another site – perhaps to be included in the 1500 homes that still need to be built.
Taguig’s Public Health Hospital nearby will be modernized and upgraded. St. Luke’s Hospital donated adequate funds to accomplish this goal. The Society of Philippine Surgeons in America (SPSA) and other medical alumni associations in America may use this facility as one of their fellowship training sites (post-graduate). Overflow of donations from other Filipino groups will be used to help fund the 1,500 extra homes that Mayor Tinga will build to eradicate the mushrooming “slum areas” in Taguig. The Health Clinic of this community will have a physician sponsored by participating Philippine Medical Association through the Gawad Kalusugan program for the first two (2) years.
Background History on GK Home Cost
Initially, (2005-2007), for the first 100 homes Fil-Am benefactors who donated $1,000 will be matched by Philippine based Foundation Grants from Taguig, Rizal (c/o Mayor Tinga) with $800 to complete one GK home in cooperation with Makati Rotary Foundation (c/o Bobby Rodrigo). Actual cost of GK home in 2007 was $1,800.
This year (2008), because of increase in the cost of building materials, transportation and the lowered dollar exchange rate ($1.00 = P40.00 vs $1.50 before) the actual cost to build a GK Home is now pegged at $2,300 - about 30% increase from $1,800.
Today, despite this tremendous rise in building GK homes ($2,300) we will continue to do fundraising for this Worthy CAUSE through the Filipino United Network (FUN), a national organization chaired by Dr. Philip S. Chua and co-chaired by this writer. FUN’s primordial mission is specifically geared towards Philippine Nation Rebuilding.
Though the Filipino United Network (USA and worldwide), we can pool our resources for the continued upliftment and empowerment of the underserved Filipinos, for the success of this labor of love for God, country and fellowmen!