CTK GreenMeadows Gawad Kalinga at Novaliches Celebrates 8th Anniversary
The Christ the King Greenmeadows Gawad Kalinga Village in San Diego Street, off Zabarte Avenue, Barangay Kaligayahan, Novaliches, Quezon City celebrated the 8th anniversary of its founding in 2009 with its usual Foundation Day festivities at the Zabarte Road compound last November 30. And as in previous years past, Christ the King Parish Greenmeadows demonstrated its continuing support for the GK village flagship project it underwrote and jointly sponsored with 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 forcefully evicted. Unlike most other GK villages, this CTK Greenmeadows GK village was do nated not by one corporation but by several hundred parishioners, parishioner families , CTK chapter s of mandated organizations and renewal movements.
Village sponsors and CTK PPC members Benjie and Wins Mirasol once again visited the 50-unit village, spread out over 3,000 sqm, together with regular GK Zabarte Foundation Day-Christmas party emcee Bing del Rosario. To recall, 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 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 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 of Benjie, Wins and Bing were met and entertained by the village leadership team, consisting of president Tony Gallardo (who had been president since 2009) and Juliet Mendoza (treasurer). Also at the event was Benjie’s fellow instructor at Ateneo’s School of Management (SOM), Pam da Silva, who had a team of five graduating students working at the village identifying livelihood opportunities as part of their graduation requirements.
The Foundation Day cum Christmas Party was emceed by Bing del Rosario who interspersed games with the prepared musical performances. Bing was assisted in some of the games by the SOM Ateneo students. Village president gave the closing remarks at 12 noon and the village lunch followed.
