Two events are happening in the Philippines right now. One is the Christmas season and the other is the typhoon
season. The first celebrates our faith in Jesus and the second brings out the spirit of “bayanihan” in us. And
combining the two is a powerful force that could overcome any adversity that comes our way. And Typhoon
Sendong did come and challenge the people’s strong faith and indomitable spirit of “bayanihan.”
The horrendous devastation caused by Typhoon Sendong in 13 provinces in Northern Mindanao and Eastern
Visayas has so far caused more than a thousand deaths, displaced almost 400,000 people, damaged nearly P2 million
in agriculture, and damaged tens of millions in property.
While government agencies are working on the affected areas, the global Filipinos are collecting relief goods as well
as cash contributions to be sent to the devastated areas. That is “bayanihan” in action.
Gawad Kalinga
“Bayanihan in action” reminds me of another event in Mindanao where Christians and Muslims worked together to
build a peaceful community in 2006.
On August 3, 2006, I co-hosted an event in Sacramento, California, which featured the late Mayor
Abubakar “Totoy” Paglas of Datu Paglas, Maguindanao, and Dylan Wilk of Gawad Kalinga. Dylan and Mayor
Paglas came to Sacramento to give the Filipino-American community an update on the progress of Gawad Kalinga,
a project to build homes for the poorest of the poor in the Philippines.
Coming from different cultures – Dylan, an Englishman, and Mayor Paglas, a Muslim Filipino – their message
resonated with the same theme: rebuilding the Philippines through “bayanihan.”
Her oes
In my article, “A Tale of Three Heroes” (August 11, 2006), I wrote: “Mayor Paglas spoke of the time when Gawad
Kalinga volunteers approached him about building a village for the poor people in Datu Paglas, a predominantly
Muslim town in Maguindanao. The people of Datu Paglas — named after the grandfather of Mayor Paglas — were
apprehensive of their offer to build homes for the refugees displaced in the war-ravaged province. They were
suspicious that the motive of the Gawad Kalinga volunteers — who were members of the ‘Couples for Christ,’ a
Catholic evangelical group — was to convert them into Christianity. It is important to note that the Muslim people
of Maguindanao have been fighting the Christian invaders since they arrived in the 16th century. Although the
Spaniards eventually subjugated the Sultanate of Maguindanao in the 19th century, the people were never conquered
nor converted.
“But it took a man of vision to realize that Gawad Kalinga is the way to bring the warring Muslims and Christians
together. Mayor Paglas told the audience, ‘We are all Filipinos; we have the same God but whom we happen to
worship differently.’ How true. As he spoke those words, I looked at him and I told myself, ‘He looks like an
Ilocano, Tagalog, Visayan or any other Filipino. We are brothers indeed.’
“Today, Datu Paglas has a Gawad Kalinga village of 750 homes where Muslims and Christians are working together
and caring for one another. It is ‘bayanihan’ in action. It is Gawad Kalinga — which means, ‘giving care’ — at
work.
“Mayor Paglas said that there has not been a single case of conflict between the Muslims and Christians since the
Gawad Kalinga village was built. Today, what happened in Datu Paglas was replicated in other towns like Buluan,
SK Pendatun, Upi, Kidapawan, Tacurong, Tugaig, and Barira. Barira was once a hotbed of rebellion. It was the
site of Camp Abubakar, the headquarters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which had been fighting the
central government for more than 20 years. During the government’s campaign against MILF, Camp Abubakar was
leveled to the ground forcing the populace to take refuge in neighboring towns like Datu Paglas. Thanks to Gawad
Kalinga and Mayor Paglas, Barira is once again a peaceful community where Muslims and Christians have healed
the wounds of war and began working together in the true spirit of ‘bayanihan.’
“In 1994, 20-year old Dylan Wilk took a loan of 2,500 British pounds and founded a company, GamePlay, which
sells computer games via direct mail. By 1999, Dylan became the ninth richest man under 30 in England. With
US$40 million in cash and a silver BMW M3, the 25-year old entrepreneur should be the happiest man on earth.
Why not? But he was looking for more than just material wealth. Something was lacking in his life. And he
found it in Gawad Kalinga. He sold his BMW and used the proceeds to build 80 homes in a GK village aptly
named ‘BMW Village.’ Today, Dylan devotes his time as GK’s roving international volunteer to share his
experiences and inspire people of all cultures about the miracle that is happening in the Philippines.
“A gifted speaker, Dylan described his love for the Philippines in the most superlative terms. He only sees the best
qualities in Filipinos. He said that the Filipinos are like gold. But 400 years of being ‘kicked around’ by colonial
masters, Filipinos, he said, have gathered dust and mud, and lost the glint in them. Today, the dust and mud are
being washed away and the Filipinos are beginning to shine again — like the gold that they have always been.”
“J esus J ar ”
The third hero we honored at the event was Charlie Demar, an 11-year old Caucasian boy, who has never been
in the Philippines and who didn’t have any association with Filipinos until he met Tess Poling, a Gawad Kalinga
advocate. Inspired by Tess, Charlie undertook a mission to raise money to build a GK house. For three months
starting in May 2006, he held garage sales, collected and sold cans and bottles, and asked his friends for small
donations. He put his collections in a glass bottle he calls Fran’s “Jesus Jar.” Fran Cain started the “Jesus Jar” when
she quit smoking in November 2005 after she found out that she had a terminal lung cancer. Fran passed away in
May 2006.
Charlie proudly presented Fran’s “Jesus Jar” containing $1,040.25 in small bills and coins, enough to build one
more house in “GK Sacramento Village” in Payatas, Quezon City. “GK Sacramento Village” is a community
of 50 homes being built with funds raised by a group of Filipino-Americans from Sacramento. Charlie joins a
growing number of “batang bayani” (young heroes) around the world that is raising money for the poor. After his
presentation, he promised to start collecting for a second house. When Charlie left the restaurant after the event, I
saw him holding his “Jesus Jar” with a few dollar bills and coins in it. I knew then that another GK house would
soon be built.
Faith and “bayanihan”
It’s amazing how faith and “bayanihan” could work wonders – nay, miracles! Whether it’s helping in a calamity or
rebuilding a community, nothing is impossible if people would put their faith in their hearts to help others. There is
a hero in each one of us. It’s just a matter of bringing it out.
Indeed, the tale of the late Mayor Totoy Paglas, Dylan Wilk, and Charlie Demar is a testament to the human spirit of
goodness… and “bayanihan.”