CTK Greenmeadows Gawad Kalinga Project Celebrates 9th Foundation Day
Fr. Steve Zabala led the CTK delegation, consisting of BEC Coordinator Eileen de Leon, Acropolis liturgical and BEC coordinator Maan del Rosario, Media Ministry co-head Bing del Rosario, and Catechetical Ministry co-head Alma Yeh, in visiting the CTK Greenmeadows Gawad Kalinga village in San Diego Street, off Zabarte Avenue, Barangay Kaligayahan, Novaliches during their Foundation Day last November 30 on the 9th anniversary of the village founding in 2009. Also with the party were Benjie and Wins Mirasol, Stewardship Committee head couple and original project in-charge for the GK project.
And as in years past, Christ the King Parish Greenmeadows again demonstrated its continuing support for the GK village flagship project it underwrote and jointly sponsored with Couples for Christ-Gawad Kalinga for the 50 former resident families of Libis Sitio 1, the area under the Santolan-Katipunan overpass and the first of several Libis sitios to be removed forcefully. Unlike most other GK villages, this CTK Greenmeadows GK village was donated not by one corporation but by several hundred parishioners, parishioner families, CTK chapters of mandated organizations and renewal movements.
The 50-unit village is spread out over 3,000 sq.m. Benjie Mirasol was the project manager for the site search and housing construction in 2008-2009 under then-parish priest Monsignor Dan Sta. Maria. Libis Sitio 1 was already nearing forced evacuation and the 50 families, including CTK staffers Noel Miro (Sacristan Mayor), Dodong Cabintoy (driver-gardener), and Rey Llagas (parking area maintenance) had nowhere to go. As with other GK sites, beneficiary families had to undergo training and orientation on community building as well as values formation initiated by Couples for Christ before they could get custody of the houses. In turn, the CTK donor-sponsors committed to spot livelihood opportunities so that the beneficiaries and their children could become valuable assets to their new parish. Since 2009, Benjie and Wins, in tandem with the Couples for Christ North team, had also been taking care of the spiritual needs of the villagers and ensuring that the Couples for Christ-GK ideals and value systems are internalized by the relocated families. From being marginalized, the project beneficiaries have become productive community members with transformed attitudes, life outlook, and spirituality through the formation programs of the Couples for Christ-CTK Chapter. But even after eight years, the village elders continue to regularly consult their ‘godparents’ on many different matters – financial, conflict resolution, moral concerns, employment issues, village leadership questions, etc.
The CTK delegation met with the village leadership team, consisting of president Tony Gallardo (who had been president since 2009), Juliet Mendoza (treasurer), Fred Figueras (Peace and Order in- charge), Emiliana ‘Baby’ Paz (Environment and Safety in-charge), and Marietta ‘Neneng’ Torres (Visitors’ Welcoming Committee in-charge) to discuss village history, early problems and solutions, faith-centered initiatives by CFC and CTK, village management, and community relations for the first hour. A very dynamic exchange ensued. Bing del Rosario had insisted previously that the CTK GM GK village was the first real example of BEC ever organized by the CTK parish, hence it merited a serious look by BEC officers Eileen de Leon, Maan del Rosario and the other BEC coordinators, as well as by Fr. Steve.
After the huddle in the air-conditioned Meralco Sibol school building, the Foundation Day cum Christmas Party program began, emceed by Bing del Rosario who interspersed games with the prepared musical performances. Game prizes were given away by the team of Wins Mirasol, Eileen de Leon, Maan del Rosario and Alma Yeh. Fr. Steve gave a message midway into the program and then unscriptedly launched into a Sampaguita song medley that had the senior citizens swaying and on their feet. This merited loud applause at the end of the number. At 12 noon, the village lunch followed.
