tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43359861963608742762024-02-07T14:38:55.153+08:00Kaibigan MinistryUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335986196360874276.post-23116771527536989632017-04-11T19:47:00.000+08:002017-04-12T12:12:12.980+08:00Kaibigan Ministry Reaches Out to Aging Street Dwellers <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYKHJbmbP2_jp42PyY_beBTjZ4oE38xosyCutxsTXyF13272ru-2VaLH-YUlijxgnD1i8GGjcwi9GiHhu_eJyi4Byq4Cc0-XnFP2mcFmq1-VxSnBrLF2XedA0xKQIcJOUWhje4g9maZPD/s1600/kaibigan1+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYKHJbmbP2_jp42PyY_beBTjZ4oE38xosyCutxsTXyF13272ru-2VaLH-YUlijxgnD1i8GGjcwi9GiHhu_eJyi4Byq4Cc0-XnFP2mcFmq1-VxSnBrLF2XedA0xKQIcJOUWhje4g9maZPD/s640/kaibigan1+%25283%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Gray-haired street dwellers listen as a Kaibigan Ministry worker shares a message from the Bible.</i></td></tr>
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Aling Idad (not her real name) tucks a wisp of gray hair behind her ear and clutches a bag closer to her body. It contains everything she owns -- a few clothes and a foldable umbrella. She gazes into the distance and remembers her childhood home on the shore of a small island, so different from Roxas Boulevard where she lives today with all its honking, smoke-spewing cars and buses.<br />
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Aling Idad is living her final days on the streets of Baclaran, Paranaque City, having drifted away from her family. She and dozens of other homeless senior citizens are a common sight outside the nearby Catholic shrine.<br />
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Angel Diel, worker of the Kaibigan Ministry which reaches out to street dwellers, says dozens of homeless elderly street dwellers choose to live on the streets of Baclaran where <i>"malakas ang diskarte"</i> or where it is easy to find ways to avoid going hungry. Baclaran is both a shopping mecca and home to the prominent Redemptorist Church. Throngs of shoppers and devotees can be expected to share a coin or two. <br />
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Several graying street dwellers from this area have been brought to the Kaibigan Center in Pasay for medical treatment and one elderly woman has been brought to the Kaibigan resettlement village in Nueva Ecija where she can live the rest of her life in a peaceful rural setting. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335986196360874276.post-33160014816036661592015-09-19T15:55:00.001+08:002015-09-19T23:15:55.608+08:00KMI, KMMC Hold Retreat <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzrGbI_BSFigdNHjYZZjYQsnhU22zV7a0BTz5YhoPscQIKmJovMpVo6KRN44H2uSKMVhmtFIlZqNABpEUcHnFRQ7AHzWo3rH9CCvK2HK_UEnNSxeZvMVUSIz340PtlGF13u1gjYkj4ckh/s1600/CCT_9003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzrGbI_BSFigdNHjYZZjYQsnhU22zV7a0BTz5YhoPscQIKmJovMpVo6KRN44H2uSKMVhmtFIlZqNABpEUcHnFRQ7AHzWo3rH9CCvK2HK_UEnNSxeZvMVUSIz340PtlGF13u1gjYkj4ckh/s640/CCT_9003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Members of the Kaibigang Maaasahan Multi-purpose Cooperative (KMMC) and staff of the Kaibigan Ministry Inc. (KMI) had a blessed time of worshiping, praying together, and sharing testimonies and life stories during a recent retreat. A majority of the cooperative members are transformed former street dwellers. <br />
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The retreat, which had the theme <i>Out of Darkness</i> based on Colossians 11:20, was held at the Pranjetto Hills Resort in Tanay, Rizal on August 31 - September 2, 2015. It was the first event of its kind for the two ministries.<br />
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Both the KMMC and KMI are organizations of the Center for Community (CCT) Group of Ministries. KMI ministers to street dwellers through such programs as feeding, spiritual development, skills training, and job placement. KMMC is the first cooperative in the Philippines whose members are current and former street dwellers. It is also joined by CCT construction workers and by staff of the CCT Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center. KMMC is engaged in income-generating projects such as construction, farming, printing, janitorial work, general housekeeping and messenger services. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiYfpcWCrbzxB7gC8UPcfK6xY18d_AcMi3RPijQtle59hwn-OGTifH1fBeTT-QDBq3QCxvvH70bRF26nA2DzLqeWhBxUdxa6VJmV_WYIwF7yTF8znjZFur-8ncEhdKhr02a5T0r_WwTT2/s1600/CCT_8622+%2528FILEminimizer%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmiYfpcWCrbzxB7gC8UPcfK6xY18d_AcMi3RPijQtle59hwn-OGTifH1fBeTT-QDBq3QCxvvH70bRF26nA2DzLqeWhBxUdxa6VJmV_WYIwF7yTF8znjZFur-8ncEhdKhr02a5T0r_WwTT2/s320/CCT_8622+%2528FILEminimizer%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Attendees kneel in prayer during</i><br />
<i>the retreat's first evening. </i> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-IC6NsecNo6R-4yGxg__OPDwh3KSe51Y5xKv-jGlkNv6GbLURmxzfXwGOGc3BuM61oVSaYFOkdUCfCcOuByZdhTi19Hdgh84eT35i1jB7bl1LtcMPe-RRtZSKdT43AdfCBOoN9zS_IllE/s320/CCT_9118+%2528FILEminimizer%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></i></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A former street dweller worships the Lord.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1jpSU63kMRluGNR_wLcZHJMVMqh815jW4jWyFoms5R5XVLv_UBi66I1e6EBbtLwrTxwqI9Qj3QH2H5a5CdHnNl2IHZg-RF_esidbFr62qf-yNaXGyHSfyvx_p49tkdfrtdGLuXJpQKSM/s1600/CCT_8830_08+%2528FILEminimizer%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1jpSU63kMRluGNR_wLcZHJMVMqh815jW4jWyFoms5R5XVLv_UBi66I1e6EBbtLwrTxwqI9Qj3QH2H5a5CdHnNl2IHZg-RF_esidbFr62qf-yNaXGyHSfyvx_p49tkdfrtdGLuXJpQKSM/s320/CCT_8830_08+%2528FILEminimizer%2529.jpg" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pastor Doy Castillo of Bread from Heaven Christian<br />Fellowship speaks on stepping out of darkness.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihGiK9Pyx9ZQxtpiPbl61Db8-OOaVZ1hD3j5NUUyaOaLKfZiUpUEK-75iIl0oS2Gp5PZIclcSzef-SNW-r_tsrqppmFCNd_fcaDSiTOMBSiQIgq1Sr4vqwfYoFDaQhW_z8tsRrEXOlFwz/s1600/CCT_9129_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihGiK9Pyx9ZQxtpiPbl61Db8-OOaVZ1hD3j5NUUyaOaLKfZiUpUEK-75iIl0oS2Gp5PZIclcSzef-SNW-r_tsrqppmFCNd_fcaDSiTOMBSiQIgq1Sr4vqwfYoFDaQhW_z8tsRrEXOlFwz/s320/CCT_9129_06.jpg" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Christian businessman Dick Ang speaks on staying<br />in the light after one has stepped out of the darkness. </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Bnn2wXPbhS8dZjWFTzWgZ-qPvVH_8fEryvLNjP-V06TGOBsTTmDIlUdXyExlPZScwo4jCAp-dt3APXcvSLuwQy5Hh_-VQapI_AxUcwEvKSDVuW7aHyD0zC5G3z2bbU-wRGaWIL_7ihSY/s1600/CCT_9127_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Bnn2wXPbhS8dZjWFTzWgZ-qPvVH_8fEryvLNjP-V06TGOBsTTmDIlUdXyExlPZScwo4jCAp-dt3APXcvSLuwQy5Hh_-VQapI_AxUcwEvKSDVuW7aHyD0zC5G3z2bbU-wRGaWIL_7ihSY/s320/CCT_9127_07.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Ruth Callanta, president and founder of CCT, </i><br />
<i>acknowledges retreat staff and speakers. Earlier, she<br /> spoke on God's plan for humanity.</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KwtkHCJCYhsJ1cyY1E8kRz_Y-Ij1_ibVUu0Nn-OdBj64oQ4xbfLrrQW4SNC-3vLlSPuscKfazOjGyoyiQKOE3lPa1mCrJDGd6eo5G81xitxN-0okApxx3cELKg9MNSh4_giratpJcGnT/s1600/CCT_8720+%2528FILEminimizer%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KwtkHCJCYhsJ1cyY1E8kRz_Y-Ij1_ibVUu0Nn-OdBj64oQ4xbfLrrQW4SNC-3vLlSPuscKfazOjGyoyiQKOE3lPa1mCrJDGd6eo5G81xitxN-0okApxx3cELKg9MNSh4_giratpJcGnT/s320/CCT_8720+%2528FILEminimizer%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Here and next two photos: breakout sessions for<br /> small group sharing.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04MUZzyj5AxwyVhFb3uYWnDqVI9MehxaAA4qjUud2kW7QaGfLXY28NZdC4c25d5EuXY0sPAEhEvErSKiHqhedndbqOmcNSfI0jIIThup1gNuZiB54KDTqKcDj2AVfTx3iXT5MI0owmU9e/s1600/CCT_9107+%2528FILEminimizer%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04MUZzyj5AxwyVhFb3uYWnDqVI9MehxaAA4qjUud2kW7QaGfLXY28NZdC4c25d5EuXY0sPAEhEvErSKiHqhedndbqOmcNSfI0jIIThup1gNuZiB54KDTqKcDj2AVfTx3iXT5MI0owmU9e/s320/CCT_9107+%2528FILEminimizer%2529.JPG" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Here and in next photo: former street dwellers<br />share testimonies of how the Lord transformed their lives.</i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxHvsVDsIqE5ciHoOMqKitAyAj-iAnVGFvcglAXrovc-cdk71ehAq_6xWdkIyYnhNG3axF6WtKhI7kmOXh0xXQsVu9Y0yGPTX0BGvn3S5_1GXpsfuq65CbxRxeEW2hFiDM4ZCwJePbPKi/s1600/CCT_9109+%2528FILEminimizer%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxHvsVDsIqE5ciHoOMqKitAyAj-iAnVGFvcglAXrovc-cdk71ehAq_6xWdkIyYnhNG3axF6WtKhI7kmOXh0xXQsVu9Y0yGPTX0BGvn3S5_1GXpsfuq65CbxRxeEW2hFiDM4ZCwJePbPKi/s320/CCT_9109+%2528FILEminimizer%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKa917Fo7fGIzEwivcQNdARcb15iOivKP2zhrvhOS4WQm5o63hWI1Aks7Li3fygJlnCfOeNiZKz5v0kOMY6tVZ8Ob01eJSxBhnn1LpEZxajsTT9tO2-ry1Z4f3KoP_y3xIwi-lJKWogQOt/s1600/CCT_8807+%2528FILEminimizer%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKa917Fo7fGIzEwivcQNdARcb15iOivKP2zhrvhOS4WQm5o63hWI1Aks7Li3fygJlnCfOeNiZKz5v0kOMY6tVZ8Ob01eJSxBhnn1LpEZxajsTT9tO2-ry1Z4f3KoP_y3xIwi-lJKWogQOt/s320/CCT_8807+%2528FILEminimizer%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mealtime!</i></td></tr>
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<i>Photos: Jerome Estarez</i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335986196360874276.post-11658364346739006692015-01-06T14:21:00.000+08:002015-01-08T12:21:55.723+08:00Kaibigan Village Lots Distributed<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Corazon Triumpo claps her hands with joy after a housing lot she and her husband specifically prayed for<br />is assigned to her.</i><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">Six families who used to be street dwellers
in Manila can now start to build their own homes after being assigned housing
lots at the Kaibigan Village 6 in Cabanatuan City. The families are beneficiaries of the
Kaibigan Ministry of the Center for Community Transformation (CCT) Group of
Ministries. (<i>Kaibigan </i>is the Filipino word for friend. At CCT it is also used to refer to street dwellers.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The families were each allotted 500 square
meters of land on which to build their homes and raise vegetables and poultry
or other animals for food. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The distribution of the lots was done
during a thanksgiving celebration on December 30, 2014 of members of the Kaibigang Maaasahan
Multi-purpose Cooperative (KMMC), the first cooperative in the Philippines
composed largely of former or current street dwellers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Former street dwellers qualified to receive
a lot are legally married couples who have been KMMC members for at least five
years and who were not subject to any disciplinary action during that period. Workers
of the KMMC construction services unit will help the couples build their homes.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Ruth Callanta, CCT president and founder, said
that the Kaibigan Ministry is the answer to a long-held deep and personal desire to reach out to street dwellers, and the answer to prayer during
a visit to a prayer facility in South Korea in 2001. She said the Biblical
basis for the ministry is Prophet Ezekiel’s vision in which a valley of dry
bones came together, developed flesh and skin, began breathing and stood up as
a living army. “The way I understand this vision is that street dwellers will
be provided with food and livelihood, will be taught the Word of God, will come
to know the Living God, and will have new life.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">She also recounted how the Kaibigan
Ministry officially started with a feeding program for street dwellers in
November 2005, then moved on to disciple men and provide them with jobs which
began with their building of a fence around a piece of property in
Tagaytay. She said that as skills of the men in painting,
plumbing, and carpentry grew, they also worked on
construction projects in Magdalena, Laguna, and built two buildings at the
Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Mrs. Callanta explained that the piece of
land that will soon be a residential village for former street dwellers is just one of nine
non-contiguous lots donated to the Kaibigan Ministry, beginning with a
one-hectare piece of land referred to now as KV (Kaibigan Village) 1. “The Lord
showed me that this could be the new home of street dwellers.” She said that Kaibigan Villages 1 to 5 and 8
and 9 are to be used for the common raising of cash crops or livestock, while
Kaibigan Villages 6 and 7 will be for housing. A portion of
the properties will also be used as memorial plots. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ruth Callanta, CCT president and founder, recounts the<br />history of the Kaibigan Ministry. </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dennis and Grace listen intently as qualifications for home<br />ownership at the Kaibigan Village are explained.<br />They hope to be among the next group of couples to receive<br />a housing lot. </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Arlene Diel reads names of Kaibigans eligible to receive a housing lot.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Zaldy Lugay, head of the Kaibigang Maaasahan <br />Multi-purpose Cooperative Construction Services, <br />displays a vicinity map of Kaibigan Village 6<br /> subdivided into housing lots measuring <br />1000 square meters. The<br />village will eventually be home to 46 families each<br />assigned 500 square meters on which to build their<br />homes and raise livestock and vegetables.</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Edwin Agcopra, with his son by his side, draws the<br />number of the lot where he can soon build a home for<br />his family, then watches as Zaldy Lugay marks the<br />spot on a vicinity map. Edwin, a transformed<br />former street dweller, is proof that the vicious cycles of<br />poverty, crime, and homelessness can be broken<br />by the power of God. </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>KMMC and KMI management, staff, and <br />beneficiaries,and Ruth Callanta (below)<br />pray that the residents of<br />Kaibigan Village 6 will be a <br />blessing to their</i><i> surrounding </i><i>community <br />and will bring glory to God.</i><i><br /></i></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335986196360874276.post-90377440706681226242014-12-05T19:16:00.000+08:002014-12-16T13:26:27.486+08:00Former Street Dweller Hopes to Minister to Prisoners<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Willy Ada (center) takes part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Also in photo are Geoff Osborne</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> of the Wholistic Transformation Resource Center, Nestor Siddayao of KMMC, </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Goldy Valdellon of CCT's savings program, and pupils of the Visions of Hope Christian School.</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><i>Willy shares his testimony.</i><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16.2288017272949px;">Photo: Roselyne Ko & <br />Therese Keirulf of WTRC</i></span></td></tr>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Note: A former street dweller transformed by the grace of God had the honor of sharing his testimony and taking part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony during the recent dedication and opening of the Payatas Community Center in Quezon City. Here is his story:</span></i><br />
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Ako po si Brother Willy Ada, 43 years old, binata, at lingkod
ng Diyos sa CCT – KMMC.<br />
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<i>I am Brother Willy Ada, 43, single, a servant of the Lord at CCT-KMMC (Center for Community Transformation-Kaibigang Maaasahan Multi-purpose Cooperative.) </i></div>
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Bago po ako napunta sa KMMC, sa kalye lamang ako madalas
manigilan. Ito na ang itinuring kong
tahanan. Wala akong permanenteng trabaho
noon, kaya madalas akong nakatambay lamang noon. <br />
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<i>Before I joined KMMC I lived on the street. It was my home. I did not have a permanent job and spent my days just bumming around.</i></div>
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Sa ganitong kalagayan, mayroon palang laging nakatingin sa
akin mula sa kaitaasan. Ang mahabaging
Dios na minsan rin ay bumaba sa lupa. <br />
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<i>But someone was watching over me -- a compassionate God who one day long ago came down from heaven to the world. </i><br />
<br />
Minsan
isang araw, dinala Niya ako sa isang feeding sa lugar ng Kalaw sa Manila. Doon
ko nakilala ang lingkod ng Diyos sa CCT na ang pangalan ay Angel. Naglakas loob akong magtanong kung may
maitutulong ba sila sa pangangailangan ko sa trabaho. Noong araw na iyon ay wala pang tugon ngunit pagkaraan ng isang linggo, ipinagkaloob
ng Diyos ang panalangin ko. Inilagay ako
ng Diyos sa Tagaytay upang paglingkuran ko siya.<br />
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<span lang="NL"></span>
<i>He led me one day to Kalaw St. in Manila where a feeding session was going on. I got to know Angel, who worked with the Center for Community Transformation. I gathered the courage to ask if he would be able to find a job. In a week I received the answer to my prayer. I was given a job in Tagaytay where I could serve Him. </i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16.2288017272949px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">SIPAG 2 and KMMC construction workers sing: "Parang kailan lang, ang mga pangarap ko'y<br /> kay hirap abutin. Dahil sa inyo napunta ako aking dapat marating. Nais ko kayong<br />pasalamatan kahit man lang sa awitin."<br />Photo: Roselyne Ko & Therese Keirulf of WTRC</span></i></td></tr>
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<span lang="NL">Napakalaki ng
naging kaibahan ng buhay ko sa kalye noon, kumpara sa buhay ko sa CCT KMMC
ngayon. Masasabi ko na naging
maayos ang buhay ko ngayon. Una ay
hindi na ako pinagkukulang Diyos sa aking pangangailangan. Mas lalong naging masigasig ako sa pagsunod sa
Panginoon sa pamamagitan ng pag-aaral ng Kanyang mga Salita at pagsasabuhay
nito. Natutuo akong magpakumbaba at </span>pagpasakop sa mga namamahala.</div>
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<i>My life today is vastly different from my life on the street. God provides all that I need. I've become more obedient to God as I study His Word and live it out. I've learned to submit to authorities. </i><br />
<br />
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<span lang="NL">Nakikita ko sa
aking sarili pagdating ng panahon, loobin ng Diyos ay magpatuloy ako sa paghayo </span>upang ipatotoo ang Magandang Balita ng pagliligtas ni Jesu-Kristo sa mga tao. Lalo na sa mga piitan, hanggang sa mga kalye
na pinaninigilan ng mga halos itinakwil na ng lipunan. Mangyari nawa! Sa Diyos ang papuri!<br />
<br />
<i>I see myself still serving the Lord in the future, sharing the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ in jails and on the street which is home to outcasts of society. To God be the glory! </i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335986196360874276.post-28745281838313202302014-09-16T15:47:00.002+08:002014-09-16T16:17:01.077+08:00 Misheil Oga's Reunion Story <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hndKToK2rc7t8G3jnfRtmf5L1_7R7sRTSZrqhIkPCzJW440zERLi3k5uuqtwLOhrRMyhZn5Gdru_PzpBClNaivR5IRrfcikyXqxc2zSfKozJ_DqkA7zQLCYT06DrCjGyAb5nmFEhThK4/s1600/kaibigan4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hndKToK2rc7t8G3jnfRtmf5L1_7R7sRTSZrqhIkPCzJW440zERLi3k5uuqtwLOhrRMyhZn5Gdru_PzpBClNaivR5IRrfcikyXqxc2zSfKozJ_DqkA7zQLCYT06DrCjGyAb5nmFEhThK4/s1600/kaibigan4.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><i>Misheil Oga (in gray shirt): reunited with her parents after 13 years of separation. </i><br />
<div>
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Hi! My name is Misheil. Thirteen years ago I left my home in the Bicol region, hoping to make a better life for myself in Manila. I was just 16 then. Like many other young <i>probinsiyanas</i> with little education, I found a job as a maid. My employer, however, was abusive. I couldn't stand the abuse so I ran away. Because I had nowhere else to go, I ended up living on the street. <br />
<br />
I met Billy Oga on the street and soon we began living together. To be able to buy food, we scrounged through trash for recyclables that we then sold to junk shops. We worked hard and I can say with my head high that we never stole anything to feed ourselves or our children.<br />
<br />
About five years ago we met workers of the Kaibigan Ministry. They told us about Jesus and His love for the poor. They also helped us acquire a bicycle with a side car through a rent-to-own agreement. The pedicab made work so much easier because Billy and I didn't have to carry sacks of recyclables anymore, we didn't have to walk, and the children could ride along with us as well. <br />
<br />
All those years on the street I never ever thought I would get to wear a wedding dress and get married in a formal ceremony, but Billy and I were among several couples married in a lovely wedding ceremony -- not just anywhere but in Tagaytay!<br />
<br />
A little while after that we were brought to the Kaibigan Village in Nueva Ecija where other families who also used to live on the street were starting new lives. It was good to be back in a rural setting. Since Billy had grown up doing farm work in his own province, it was easy adjusting to farm life again. But soon I began growing homesick and I yearned to be back in my own province. We knew other street people had been reunited with their families in the Kaibigan Ministry's Balik-probinsiya program and we asked if we could also be blessed this way. <br />
<br />
Earlier this year, thank God, I got to go home, along with Billy and our three children. My parents thought they would never see me again. We had a tearful reunion...and I was home to stay. <br />
<br />
Billy and I thank God that the Kaibigan Ministry didn't just provide us with bus tickets, but two of the staff, Kuya Angel and Pastor Jun, actually accompanied us home. We were also given a little money to use to start a small business. (We have decided to raise and fatten hogs.) We continue to trust in God. We know that He loves us and will always do. <br />
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yLW6B_GpYFnJ-WX_Us8xOPZrkfCxmgT0PW1wD8HT-5azvNYN0rUdrQALg8mcRJjMUwJffpRc02Rc6xrfLE9xc8zFHrhoCXTkMu1mCq_WzdvzA-Kkv-uhRIXx5qQlZEEjHxwMgiax7NhY/s1600/kaibigan1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yLW6B_GpYFnJ-WX_Us8xOPZrkfCxmgT0PW1wD8HT-5azvNYN0rUdrQALg8mcRJjMUwJffpRc02Rc6xrfLE9xc8zFHrhoCXTkMu1mCq_WzdvzA-Kkv-uhRIXx5qQlZEEjHxwMgiax7NhY/s1600/kaibigan1.jpg" height="221" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Misheil with husband, Billy, and children at the<br />bus station, excited to be going home. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-JJm6rTre-8q6jVVhPtSDDg2CSCtMU5W3jmUThgMSdbAE2DFzcsgLE70xQi2cWb-REM-rny-PdDkoWPwVqWnzFKIasQOb-rSBPZ1rfFHJzw-OkcrPJwcvgurD0VyJFmqGRQPT5LkKPWH/s1600/kaibigan2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-JJm6rTre-8q6jVVhPtSDDg2CSCtMU5W3jmUThgMSdbAE2DFzcsgLE70xQi2cWb-REM-rny-PdDkoWPwVqWnzFKIasQOb-rSBPZ1rfFHJzw-OkcrPJwcvgurD0VyJFmqGRQPT5LkKPWH/s1600/kaibigan2.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home at last!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyHKIZWbh2X9JevLQSznYKQ-MNS2qDxOI4gh5dWxU79fI8xIS9c6AyD4_E8T8aeqaHqN4CjF82MGxzh9bCKTqTM3cW0nA3bJoKNzXonvfaMeFYqPDAu4XblqTMmOniRuep9Sjt9xlcsJJ/s1600/kaibigan3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><i><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyHKIZWbh2X9JevLQSznYKQ-MNS2qDxOI4gh5dWxU79fI8xIS9c6AyD4_E8T8aeqaHqN4CjF82MGxzh9bCKTqTM3cW0nA3bJoKNzXonvfaMeFYqPDAu4XblqTMmOniRuep9Sjt9xlcsJJ/s1600/kaibigan3.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Oga family with</i><br />
<i>Kaibigan Ministry worker, Angel Diel (seated)...</i></td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZWIy6LWC7CtrireGti0tSati8AxYTAa642FqKrU2kptIuUnikKI_aTTyrzyyTnxV-oJpywbb0kUMsVB2pZ3fc7LYnc6e5SZBcgO8tAlb6J6bbbUdlUpIYzsyu0eadFrwgUh-eBSm9WEk/s1600/kaibigan5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZWIy6LWC7CtrireGti0tSati8AxYTAa642FqKrU2kptIuUnikKI_aTTyrzyyTnxV-oJpywbb0kUMsVB2pZ3fc7LYnc6e5SZBcgO8tAlb6J6bbbUdlUpIYzsyu0eadFrwgUh-eBSm9WEk/s1600/kaibigan5.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>...and with Misheil's family and Pastor Jun Tolentino. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335986196360874276.post-66054522953263826822014-05-13T14:01:00.000+08:002015-01-06T15:30:03.609+08:00Kaibigan Ministry Holds Lupang Pangako Groundbreaking Ceremony <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1nWuxFoITtoe1CuXFPVgiTSQl3izk4OTcEub8p-XCj6CkrLAY98XJXUqdQoqNsyUzxQ2sSP_giVcov0lFHOuUxgNA4VjkqssKact1w7DqeZ45Vwbb4S4lI1B1CY4sZh-UpFgCz_2bUau/s1600/Kalikid+groundbreakiing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1nWuxFoITtoe1CuXFPVgiTSQl3izk4OTcEub8p-XCj6CkrLAY98XJXUqdQoqNsyUzxQ2sSP_giVcov0lFHOuUxgNA4VjkqssKact1w7DqeZ45Vwbb4S4lI1B1CY4sZh-UpFgCz_2bUau/s1600/Kalikid+groundbreakiing.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ceremonially breaking the ground (left to right): Pastor Reinard Manahan, special projects</i><br />
<i> manager at the Wholistic Transformation Resource Center; multi-awarded Filipino scientist Dr. </i><br />
<i>Bonifacio Comandante Jr </i><i>; former Allied Banker Mr. Leonso Pe, husband of Kaibigan Ministry Inc. </i><br />
<i>(KMI) trustee Julie Pe; </i><i>Zaldy Lugay, head of Kaibigang Maaasahan </i><i>Multipurpose</i><br />
<i> Cooperative Construction Services; </i><i>Angel Diel of KMI; Ariston Balala, general manager of </i><br />
<i>Kawanggawa </i><i>Primary Multi-purpose Cooperative and</i><br />
<i> Rachel Baguilat </i><i> of CCT's Business </i><i>Development Services unit</i><i>.</i> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbc7QhyphenhyphenkgCD9FXI74iBePpjeRLodu_v5XRofsIUJS97gMyFfgltPU4003Bs2pcWRu26POFmvYnaQRt1AKfg9LIFVfGA4-biOudiw8xlaSJqlTIy9UzRzJB_CIaWtvT-t8nWL4IFhSssaE/s1600/TimeCapsule.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbc7QhyphenhyphenkgCD9FXI74iBePpjeRLodu_v5XRofsIUJS97gMyFfgltPU4003Bs2pcWRu26POFmvYnaQRt1AKfg9LIFVfGA4-biOudiw8xlaSJqlTIy9UzRzJB_CIaWtvT-t8nWL4IFhSssaE/s1600/TimeCapsule.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rosemarie Abaya of the Cabanatuan City agriculture and livelihood management office, representing<br />Cabanatuan Mayor Jay Vergara, lowers into the ground a time capsule containing a Bible,<br />a copy of the vision and mission of the Kaibigan Ministry, a copy of the ground breaking ceremony program, <br />and a blueprint of the site development plan. Looking on is KMI president Ruth Callanta. </i></td></tr>
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Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija – A groundbreaking ceremony for
the Lupang Pangako project of the Center for Community Transformation (CCT)
Kaibigan Ministry Inc. (KMI) was held here on May 10, 2014. The housing development project benefits transformed
former street dwellers being served by KMI. </div>
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KMI President Ruth Callanta said Lupang Pangako is the
beginning of the fulfillment of the vision in Isaiah 65:21 and 24: “They will
build houses and live there. They will plant vineyards and eat fruit from them.
Before they call, I will answer. While they're still speaking, I will hear.” <br />
<br /></div>
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Pioneer beneficiaries of the project are five couples who
used to live on the streets of Manila, who expressed interest in doing
agricultural work, and who have lived in one of the Kaibigan villages in Cabanatuan for more than a year. <i>"Matagal-tagal din po namin pinangarap ang magkaroon ng sariling bahay,"</i> said Edwin Agcopra who was a street dweller from his youth. <i>"Maraming salamat sa Panginoon!" </i> (I thank the Lord for this! Owning a house we can call our own is a long-held dream.) </div>
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The project site is Kaibigan Village 7 in Kalikid,
Cabanatuan City where the five couples and their children will be allocated 1,000
square meter lots per family for housing and livelihood. They will pay for the lot on easy terms and will be assisted in building their houses by the Kaibigang Maaasahan Multipurpose Cooperative construction services. </div>
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“Someday this place will be filled with green trees, and
people who live here will themselves eat the fruit of trees they planted,” Ruth
Callanta said. “Most importantly, they will have a good relationship with God
and with one another.” </div>
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She reminded the beneficiaries and guests gathered for the
event that businesses will eventually rise on the site and will be sources of
income provided by God. “But the
question is, will we be faithful to God for the long-term? Are we willing to work with our hands to
bring this vision to fulfillment?” she
asked. </div>
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KMI ministers to street dwellers initially through evangelistic
Bible studies and a feeding program held on the streets. Follow up programs to help transition them back to mainstream society include skills training, education, job placement and enterprise development intertwined with discipleship and spiritual
development. </div>
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Mrs. Callanta explained that the Kaibigan Ministry now owns a
total of 23 non-contiguous hectares of land in Cabanatuan City, beginning with
a one hectare piece of land donated several years earlier. All these will eventually be developed into projects and structures for the benefit of former street dwellers, she said. </div>
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Pastor Seymour Meman, CCT spiritual development worker for
the provinces of Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan said in his dedication message: “All
the earth belongs to God. This community will be a God-fearing community. People
in the surrounding areas will see the difference in the lives of the members of
this community.” </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335986196360874276.post-89876200458290537982013-10-22T17:46:00.002+08:002013-11-02T18:22:31.932+08:00Kaibigans Share Stories at TEE Opening Night <div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJgIlw_0M7A6cF4FZ5itGuwd80lMSC6oNM5zKEbJw56cfqs8LSpT3fdBXQuQsBFMF0Gw9SGt1_7-gmWNYIF3n2RbjQuEkQgPcPNl1LoMpFTw0SarlQczG8VUHXEW7jn43-fzGqUJO-qK4/s1600/IMG_9311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJgIlw_0M7A6cF4FZ5itGuwd80lMSC6oNM5zKEbJw56cfqs8LSpT3fdBXQuQsBFMF0Gw9SGt1_7-gmWNYIF3n2RbjQuEkQgPcPNl1LoMpFTw0SarlQczG8VUHXEW7jn43-fzGqUJO-qK4/s640/IMG_9311.JPG" width="426" /></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Frankie Libre, former street dweller, tells of the changes in his</i><br />
<i>life resulting from having come to know the Lord Jesus Christ. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIO5NN-UH_TDCsR0yDUkCTgg-n9KSh_8wwtAXq_KovShMRHtd0lmPgT0h1ih6P-CIhGKP4zKLJybwFA6Xfx4nnL4dc_rvGPA9rhaepqKRY9sWCXi00A3KDXsRsJdEjjpQws0TBQAgZ1nFb/s1600/Nida.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIO5NN-UH_TDCsR0yDUkCTgg-n9KSh_8wwtAXq_KovShMRHtd0lmPgT0h1ih6P-CIhGKP4zKLJybwFA6Xfx4nnL4dc_rvGPA9rhaepqKRY9sWCXi00A3KDXsRsJdEjjpQws0TBQAgZ1nFb/s640/Nida.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Former street dweller Nida Charcos (left) shares her testimony, with Angelito Gabriel, executive officer of CCT Inc., </i><br />
<i>serving as translator. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Frankie Libre and Nida Charcos, former
street dwellers, shared the stories of their changed lives during opening night
of the third Transformative Economic Empowerment (TEE), an international training
session for micro finance workers. The
TEE attendees are from Peru, India, Moldova, Zambia, Kenya, Sri Lanka Thailand, Uganda, and
the US. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Frankie told of life on the street, his
having to steal to survive, his being
involved with drugs, and of coming to know the Lord Jesus Christ through the
Kaibigan Ministry (KM) of the Center for Community Transformation (CCT). Frankie is now a worker with the KM
himself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Nida, who was homeless and lived on the
streets with her daughters for three months, spoke of God’s goodness to her by
providing her with a steady job as one of the service staff at the CCT support
office. She said she will soon be a
homeowner because her application for housing assistance was approved by
Pag-Ibig, the government’s home development fund. (Read her full story
here: </span><a href="http://cctkaibigan.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-nida-charcos-story.html">http://cctkaibigan.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-nida-charcos-story.html</a>). </div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The Kaibigan Ministry has ministered to
street dwellers since 2005. The work,
which began with street side Bible studies and feeding sessions, has grown into
several programs and services that
include evangelism, discipleship, and counselling, skills training and job placement, family
reunification, children’s education, resettlement, access to social services,
and membership in a cooperative composed mainly of former street dwellers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">TEE is a joint activity of CCT and the
Ka-Partner network, a consortium of US-based organizations ministering to the
poor. The founding members of the
network are endPoverty, Five Talents, Hope International, and Peer
Servants. The training session allows
the sharing of CCT’s best practices and stories, benefitting the poor of other
nations. The theme of this gathering, held during the third week of October 2013, was leadership and
vision, and spiritual integration in micro finance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335986196360874276.post-64618846928190617592013-04-08T18:58:00.002+08:002013-04-11T14:31:04.835+08:00The Nida Charcos Story <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1zCEW_03HRWwY2MJ1CzFFcOlgcFlEAAeR5G7xuHPFBhqXYqAe5T_5FHA6-21ebZ2mrRcRr3NmItSXZaB4LTWDyYx6Pgcr6mAif74mwSP_zTqwXeIgUc55ZvJLVyZaTi1G4crs0Nv3GVq/s1600/Nidafam8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1zCEW_03HRWwY2MJ1CzFFcOlgcFlEAAeR5G7xuHPFBhqXYqAe5T_5FHA6-21ebZ2mrRcRr3NmItSXZaB4LTWDyYx6Pgcr6mAif74mwSP_zTqwXeIgUc55ZvJLVyZaTi1G4crs0Nv3GVq/s640/Nidafam8.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Nida Charcos shares a light moment with her mother. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Nida was just 12 when she left her home in a faraway village
of Bohol without explaining why. She
eventually found her way to Manila where, for the next 15 years, she worked at a series of low-paying jobs: dishwasher at roadside eateries, housemaid,
sari-sari store helper. <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Mistake.</b> She heard the Gospel and gave her life to God during a church Bible study when she was 17, but at 21, Nida made the mistake of marrying a man who
turned out to be an abusive alcoholic and a womanizer. Three
children were born to them before his other woman had him shot dead after he refused to leave Nida for her. “Honestly, I felt relieved with his passing,” Nida admits. “Life with him was pure misery.”
The lowest point in her life came when
her mother-in-law threw her and her daughters out of a house she had helped pay
for. There was nowhere to go but the
streets. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Survival.</b> Nida
and her daughters spent three months on busy streets near Rizal Park in Manila. To survive, she sold small items that pedestrians stop to buy, like
cigarettes, candy, and crackers. “Despite everything, the Lord was watching out for us
because I never had to succumb to crime to feed my children, the way other street dwellers do,” she says.<br />
<br />
She
met staff of CCT’s Kaibigan Ministry in 2005 when she attended one of their
feeding and Bible study sessions. This
was a turning point. A few months later
she was among the first group of street dwellers invited by KM to stay at its halfway house. There, Nida renewed her relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and started attending discipleship sessions. Later on she was offered work as service staff at CCT’s support office on Taft Avenue, Manila, and she gladly accepted. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Regaining Contact.</b> One of the Kaibigan Ministry’s many programs involves
reuniting street dwellers with their families.
Kaibigan staff and Nida’s co-workers encouraged her to write home. (Her family back in Bohol had long ago given her up for dead.) She wrote home, jotting down as recipient’s address a village name she remembered from more
than two decades ago. Surprisingly, the
letter found its way to her sisters without much trouble and in much shorter
time than everyone expected. Soon the
family was catching up by cell phone calls and text messages: both her parents were still alive; all her
sisters had completed high school, one of them lived in Pampanga, close to
Manila.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>A Secret Revealed.</b>
Finally, in February 2013, 24 years after she had last seen her parents and
sisters, Nida got on a plane to Bohol for a much-dreamed of week-long reunion. One
quiet evening, she finally told her mother why she had left home: two male members of their extended family had
been making sexual advances. Knowing what could possibly happen, and knowing no
one would believe her, Nida said she chose to slip away and cause the least
trouble for everyone. Mother and
daughter spent several minutes sobbing on each other’s shoulders. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back in Manila, Nida expresses thanks for the way her life
has turned out: she has a steady job, her children are in school and not on the
street, she has a new husband and son, she has found a caring family among CCT staff. “God is good,” she says, with tears forming in her eyes. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitElRQDDLerDm3u3S1_12ESxZQHsP5va3q-OdYJYsrWC4Zjx662ggYPQe05Kfg7o5L38pX8HTeBXXPHewR8KDKj4k8mF6kr3WOiAmkrt6dMmN50-aSxvs1tKQ494BWa-he27sclPCIGFlK/s1600/nidafam3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitElRQDDLerDm3u3S1_12ESxZQHsP5va3q-OdYJYsrWC4Zjx662ggYPQe05Kfg7o5L38pX8HTeBXXPHewR8KDKj4k8mF6kr3WOiAmkrt6dMmN50-aSxvs1tKQ494BWa-he27sclPCIGFlK/s640/nidafam3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Nida, with her husband and son, reunited with her parents after 24 years of separation. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqb0TWD1Ae1wkJS9tqXx8cLuv4pJ-kxfa7R-788mHPHoQEY9NoYwRaRD8nnfbhFqZVeyULRx4DAT24YPfIkTwaIkBHdV75piux7coa95s-OdcZI0NXp-IUc2NLmcGLq-MRAal40AlsSXL-/s1600/nidafam21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqb0TWD1Ae1wkJS9tqXx8cLuv4pJ-kxfa7R-788mHPHoQEY9NoYwRaRD8nnfbhFqZVeyULRx4DAT24YPfIkTwaIkBHdV75piux7coa95s-OdcZI0NXp-IUc2NLmcGLq-MRAal40AlsSXL-/s640/nidafam21.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tearful farewell.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObXS_9zGvAeLv2zzNAvTCAl-GJo2jc-2sJNZlUyd9ePixn06kfstLMM9_1rL5TfcOk-qWcRFt90I2DC_VkR_LrvEAMi1sv0Vuk9q4jJ5O44g50UraBSsJALTOmZIYNEdsUhpyQObpRx6v/s1600/nidafam27.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObXS_9zGvAeLv2zzNAvTCAl-GJo2jc-2sJNZlUyd9ePixn06kfstLMM9_1rL5TfcOk-qWcRFt90I2DC_VkR_LrvEAMi1sv0Vuk9q4jJ5O44g50UraBSsJALTOmZIYNEdsUhpyQObpRx6v/s400/nidafam27.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Nida and her sister were not yet in their teens when Nida ran</i><br />
<i>away from home. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWewuNhZ6K84jT7Pcq55SJ93SqygABdwCzfdXq8RiRjo_FYquoSmJ3JJ1vfsOtnwHcRD9UTgre2NcTsdkF0JbQLHB6P3IQZXSbMibHyFTBJVSULhSd5jqVtr6yd2AWQJMYVfgskTOblVo/s1600/nidafam22.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWewuNhZ6K84jT7Pcq55SJ93SqygABdwCzfdXq8RiRjo_FYquoSmJ3JJ1vfsOtnwHcRD9UTgre2NcTsdkF0JbQLHB6P3IQZXSbMibHyFTBJVSULhSd5jqVtr6yd2AWQJMYVfgskTOblVo/s400/nidafam22.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><i>James hugs his grandmother goodbye at the end of a</i><br />
<i>week-long visit.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gKgSuNunMXp1w4m8PMOCkxbBe1gRlh-lwTafRLy5eCVzc_8tSHt1csJIr59qrw4ppozecLoO4CMQ3GMqWqTGB1hfSicSTXMMtCxcbdfjAwWEx8d4vBF6rHqW3HFeyBHlnBZv0peQtkCA/s1600/nidafam15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gKgSuNunMXp1w4m8PMOCkxbBe1gRlh-lwTafRLy5eCVzc_8tSHt1csJIr59qrw4ppozecLoO4CMQ3GMqWqTGB1hfSicSTXMMtCxcbdfjAwWEx8d4vBF6rHqW3HFeyBHlnBZv0peQtkCA/s400/nidafam15.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Nida shares a last meal with cousins before</i><br />
<i>she returns to Manila with her husband and son. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5JOBmaDTxScMgJtkCcrMlaupguhE1dTfc2nelEMF0s_JptsDp8kz52cQcs8B07P8y34fAP3cxKcxKnk-YggNffmYiMGva00Y8sTHFb5efm-4sNzsVMIlxL7rEm5x0Zy-zwmFislXANx9/s1600/nidafam5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5JOBmaDTxScMgJtkCcrMlaupguhE1dTfc2nelEMF0s_JptsDp8kz52cQcs8B07P8y34fAP3cxKcxKnk-YggNffmYiMGva00Y8sTHFb5efm-4sNzsVMIlxL7rEm5x0Zy-zwmFislXANx9/s400/nidafam5.JPG" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><i> James Charcos, born in the age of </i><br />
<i>handheld electronic </i><br />
<i>games, </i><i>feels the grooves in a rough,</i><br />
<i>homemade sungka board in his mother's </i><br />
<i>home province.</i><i> </i><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335986196360874276.post-72006276337192394452013-02-14T19:22:00.001+08:002013-03-04T14:34:24.312+08:00 Arsenio Children Won't Be 3rd Generation Street Dwellers<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5UPpmdHeHctU38XFRzugKYAFqrY4sTCr6-IYnZ3FBxGVjeiJtFjuZO3ZKGuAphv34Ec_gquydP_rJn-e1AOEqcaAxqQcRyhOeyk2_JJvbASoGCtlog_8x8rL3gsvZpadQoXse-TaZVrr/s1600/DSC00604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5UPpmdHeHctU38XFRzugKYAFqrY4sTCr6-IYnZ3FBxGVjeiJtFjuZO3ZKGuAphv34Ec_gquydP_rJn-e1AOEqcaAxqQcRyhOeyk2_JJvbASoGCtlog_8x8rL3gsvZpadQoXse-TaZVrr/s400/DSC00604.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Joshua Arsenio, 10 months, will never know<br />what it is like to live on the street. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Joshua Arsenio could have spent many of his growing up years on the street like his father. He could have grown old and died of tuberculosis on the street like his maternal grandfather or could have turned out an armed robber like his uncles. His older sisters Shannawene and Shanamae could have become druggies like their aunts. Instead, these children are growing up safe on a rice farm, far away from the dirt, noise, pollution, drugs, and crime of Metro Manila's streets. <br />
<br />
Aldrin had a stormy childhood. Unwanted as a baby, his biological mother left him in the care of an older friend, Mommy Virgie, whenever she went off with a man, and came back for him whenever it was convenient. When Aldrin was about eight, his mother finally settled down on the island of Mindoro, bringing Aldrin to live with her and her new partner.<br />
<br />
Restless even as a young boy, Aldrin got on a boat to Manila when he was about 11 and found his way back to Mommy Virgie. Although his mother's friend treated him like one of her own children, she could also be harsh and was once reported by neighbors to the Bantay Bata for hitting Aldrin on the hands with a hammer. Thus Aldrin spent some of his growing years with various foundations that cared for abused children, intermittently running away from them to return to Mommy Virgie's house, or spending nights in parked jeepneys or sleeping on the street. <br />
<br />
During one of those nights he met Sonnyboy who influenced him negatively -- taught him how to do drugs --but also did him some good. Sonnyboy introduced Aldrin to a community of street dwellers at a place called Sarimanok, near Manila Bay. The Sarimanok community was being regularly ministered to by the Kaibigan Ministry of the Center for Community Transformation. <br />
<br />
Aldrin was 17 and Rose Ann was 15 when they eloped and began living together at Sarimanok. Kaibigan Ministry workers reached out to them, introducing them to Jesus, helping them grow both emotionally and in their relationship with God, patiently drawing them back when, on occasion, they went back to their old ways. <br />
<br />
The two were among the first few Kaibigan Ministry 'regulars' to show interest in and qualify for resettlement at the Kaibigan Village in Nueva Ecija. Having spent some years living in an agricultural setting back in Mindoro, Aldrin immediately took to farm life. Today, at 22, he oversees the work on a five-hectare rice field. "All-around <i>po ako dito. Nagtatanim po ako, nag-</i>ooperate <i>ng</i> tractor, <i>nag-papatubig.</i><br />
<br />
Aldrin's eyes shine brightly when he talks of the house he and his family live in. "<i>Ako po ang nag-ayos niyan," </i>he says pointing to walls covered with sawali (woven bamboo). <i>"Bumili pa po ako ng kurtina!"</i><br />
<br />
He and Rose Ann are married now and are thankful that their children have absolutely no memories of living on the street. <br />
<br />
<i>"Napakahirap po sa kalsada. Lagi kang puyat, pagod, huhulihin ka pa ng pulis. Lalong mahirap kapag umuulan. Sobra-sobra ang pasasalamat namin na hindi na lalaki sa kalsada ang mga anak namin," </i>Aldrin says. <i> </i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44Gaqqu-9yU9TvjQkYqOvRh36ewOkRsqjaicOs_NetIJeMxYkwqUAM7TeYH_CP7maIHgFwfmNHPYExpicXu8qtDjTcjPHBXn-JenyDuvORA1nEsIZTP27Q399aQZFAaIj1UyfQqj3kOiR/s1600/DSC00605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44Gaqqu-9yU9TvjQkYqOvRh36ewOkRsqjaicOs_NetIJeMxYkwqUAM7TeYH_CP7maIHgFwfmNHPYExpicXu8qtDjTcjPHBXn-JenyDuvORA1nEsIZTP27Q399aQZFAaIj1UyfQqj3kOiR/s320/DSC00605.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Shannawene, three, with her parents.<br />She was a baby when her parents left<br />the streets of Pasay and has no memories of<br />street life. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFGoMIOfHUtaEoNkV21Y3wwZvey90Rbum15wCYoBKCzXqAUjz4EsIpLqwZxra-LjVQou3_cICMBgpbOnHrT7ZTyGHjgEbhvGUkPGSsOdQmymg_iBuhfXEJ0jZgM0CW4Kz7zU8SWljZMkN/s1600/DSC00608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYFGoMIOfHUtaEoNkV21Y3wwZvey90Rbum15wCYoBKCzXqAUjz4EsIpLqwZxra-LjVQou3_cICMBgpbOnHrT7ZTyGHjgEbhvGUkPGSsOdQmymg_iBuhfXEJ0jZgM0CW4Kz7zU8SWljZMkN/s400/DSC00608.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Arsenios use a solar lamp to light their home<br /> which is still off-grid. The lamp (shown at<br /> lower right) is also a cell phone charger,<br /> a real blessing to neighbors -- <br />having their cell phones charged here saves<br />them a trip to a charging station. </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZ5vTAjzXX-01zw6rviY9tCRT_WfgiCVzoHF76X38WQfaQYvzw0wVN-ZkMkvK2y_8Wr_K3bPq22CTBtZixT7ptH-gBOuLr-7VJlDnfhS6YWf10Mszi7LtHaEcRkEr6W3md_cow8W3LOU3/s1600/DSC00621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZ5vTAjzXX-01zw6rviY9tCRT_WfgiCVzoHF76X38WQfaQYvzw0wVN-ZkMkvK2y_8Wr_K3bPq22CTBtZixT7ptH-gBOuLr-7VJlDnfhS6YWf10Mszi7LtHaEcRkEr6W3md_cow8W3LOU3/s400/DSC00621.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Aldrin, here clearing away banana stalks on<br />the edge of a rice farm can literally claim the promise<br />in Isaiah 65:21b - </i><br />
and they shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them.<i> </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335986196360874276.post-4925046631853435302012-06-28T13:15:00.001+08:002012-08-02T18:05:36.228+08:00Edwin Catana's Story<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlPCaUSlY3unhoG30_GUN-ZU96bRsL8wXipmgf_d5IXZwu6obHJDA2UHcWdBFaf15QqmavjbaYGfadCtiCQbodRGaIxSvzaiUhlj6W8dB7S9W32w3oR6WUd-vIXzB-mJ7XdyK0ls0HHCS/s1600/DSC02790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlPCaUSlY3unhoG30_GUN-ZU96bRsL8wXipmgf_d5IXZwu6obHJDA2UHcWdBFaf15QqmavjbaYGfadCtiCQbodRGaIxSvzaiUhlj6W8dB7S9W32w3oR6WUd-vIXzB-mJ7XdyK0ls0HHCS/s640/DSC02790.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Edwin Catana gets ready to give a wall at the Visions of Hope Christian School in Laguna</i><br />
<i> at smooth cement </i><span style="background-color: white;"><i>finish.</i> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Covered with Tattoos</b>.
“Getting these was extremely painful,” Edwin Catana says, pulling up his sleeves to
reveal arms fully covered with tattooed-on symbols. “But there was almost
nothing else left to do in prison,” he explains with a shrug. In fact about 75% percent of his body is covered
with images ranging from the romantic to the religious to the grotesque -- permanent reminders of a turbulent past. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Edwin’s past could have been vastly different though. He
could have left for the United States to live with an adoptive family when he
was 13. He had been a ward at a
Christian orphanage in Quezon City and his adoption papers were nearing
completion. That’s when he confessed to the orphanage management that he was not actually an orphan as he claimed a few years earlier. The truth was that he had run away from home to escape being abused
by an alcoholic father. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A visit to Edwin’s home dashed all hopes of his ever being
given up for adoption. “<i>Kaya kong palamunin ang sarili kong anak!”</i>
(“I’m capable of feeding my own son!”) his
father bellowed. Since the man was just as abusive as ever, and because Edwin
would just be an added burden to his mother, a laundrywoman, he chose to drift
from one boys’ home to another, until he
became too old to be accepted at these institutions. After that he became involved with drugs, women, and crime. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Imprisonment</b>. He
was caught carrying a gun on the way to a planned hold-up one day, and was
thrown into prison for illegal possession of a firearm. Released on parole four
years later, he joined a community of
homeless people living on an abandoned piece of land called Sarimanok near the
Manila Bay waterfront development area. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These homeless people were being ministered to by the
Kaibigan Ministry of the Center for Community Transformation (CCT) through
feeding and Bible study sessions. During one of those Bible studies, Edwin
renewed his relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ whom he had first
encountered back at the Christian orphanage that was his refuge as an abused
child. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few months later, along with several other men from
Sarimanok, Edwin was recruited to do construction work at the Tagaytay Retreat
and Training Center, also managed by CCT. The spiritual development program observed at
the Tagaytay construction site – including morning and evening devotions,
Saturday corporate worship along with the retreat center staff, and Sunday
worship services – helped him grow in
his relationship with God. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2oWZLX0Nu6hsiJoMbA_yEb3Db4ABXEyg4DXcsXGcHmIY8Df_4fOq-emmLXEJvwbMb1m8Sd9EveOWtIB1IbOSLH8vQVPUriXilhs9eszxzK1-FyWqDGuFXeD46fbcEP7yJxNiuJ4oyj4v/s1600/mass+wedding+-+0754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2oWZLX0Nu6hsiJoMbA_yEb3Db4ABXEyg4DXcsXGcHmIY8Df_4fOq-emmLXEJvwbMb1m8Sd9EveOWtIB1IbOSLH8vQVPUriXilhs9eszxzK1-FyWqDGuFXeD46fbcEP7yJxNiuJ4oyj4v/s400/mass+wedding+-+0754.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Catana on their wedding day.</i></td></tr>
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He learned construction skills on-the-job as well, and recently
earned certification of competence as a mason from the Technical Education and
Skills Development Authority. </div>
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<b>Responsible Father. </b>Today
Edwin still reports regularly to his parole officer who has noted the definite
change in his behaviour. </div>
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Back in his wild days, Edwin fathered three children who are now in
their teens. He had no role whatsoever in their upbringing. In a mass wedding of former street dwellers organized by the
Kaibigan Ministry in November 2011, he married the mother of his youngest
child, a two-year old girl. He prays he will be a good husband and father, and hopes his daughter will never have reason to run away from home and follow his once-errant footsteps. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335986196360874276.post-10724646732498013622012-05-22T11:49:00.001+08:002013-09-10T10:10:05.192+08:00Freddie Venzon: A Changed Man<span style="font-family: inherit;">Freddie Venzon’s father died when he was
just 12. His mother tried to support him and his sister with odd jobs such as car
washing, and Freddie often helped her. Then just two years after her husband passed away, Mrs. Venzon died too. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Friends
brought Freddie</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> home to live with them for a few weeks at a time, but because he
was just another mouth to feed in those homes – which were just as poor as the
family he came from -- Freddie felt unwelcome and took to the streets. Meanwhile,
his sister had gone to live with an aunt and they soon lost touch.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From Tondo where he spent his early years, Freddie
drifted to the tourist areas of Luneta and Intramuros in Manila, to the heavily
populated Pasay City with its many dark alleys and sleazy night spots, to the busy
Cubao shopping center in Quezon City. At
night he would fall asleep on sidewalks unmindful of the feet just inches away,
hurrying home from malls, schools, and offices. Having grown accustomed to the
noise of honking horns, loud music
blaring from jeepneys, and the revving
of motorcycles, he slept soundly with nothing but a piece of cardboard between
his body and the cold pavement.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Freddie Venzon paints a classroom at the Visions of Hope Christian School<br /> in Puypuy, Bay, Laguna.</i></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Like many other street dwellers he fell into crime, mainly for sustenance reasons. He learned how to snatch earrings right from the ears of passengers on
jeepneys stalled in traffic. He would stand behind a target, reach out with
both hands and with one swift motion would grab the earrings. If the earrings were
screwed on too tight the victim would have to rush to a doctor's clinic to have her
bleeding earlobes sewn. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Years passed and Freddie joined a community
of homeless persons living on Sarimanok, a neglected piece of land along Roxas
Boulevard in Manila. Because he was addicted to drugs, an older woman who was
like a mother to many of the street dwellers committed him to a drug
rehabilitation center for several months of treatment. However, the most significant happening in his
life occurred during a feeding and Bible study session led by the Kaibigan
Ministry of the Center for Community Transformation (CCT). He heard the Gospel
for the first time. After attending
several more Bible studies Freddie responded to an invitation to turn his life
over to Jesus Christ. (<i>Kaibigan</i> is the Filipino word for
friend. At CCT, <i>kaibigan</i> also refers to a street dweller.) </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Changes and blessings he never imagined
possible began coming his way. Freddie was among several Kaibigans invited to
help construct a small building on the grounds of the Rose of Sharon House of
Friendship in Puypuy, Laguna. Here he began to learn to use his hands to earn an honest living and also began to grow in his relationship with the Lord. (Morning
devotions, discipleship classes, and weekend worship services are part of the routine of the Kaibigan Ministry.) Next, he helped build classrooms and dormitory buildings at the
Training and Development Institute in Magdalena, Laguna. Because the campus was
finished on time and because of significant savings on labor costs, he
was among 35 Kaibigans rewarded with an all-expenses-paid, three-day trip to
Boracay. Freddie says,<i> “Hindi po ako
makapaniwalang yung isang lugar na nakikita ko lang sa picture ay mapupuntahan
ko! At nakasakay din ako sa eroplano!”</i> (“I can’t believe I got to visit a place I only used to see in pictures! And I even got to ride an airplane!”)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Equally rewarding work followed when he helped
build dormitory buildings at the Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Recently, Freddie earned certification of
competence in painting from the Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority under the SIPAG project run by CCT in cooperation with the Department of
Trade and Industry. (For more information on the SIPAG project please click <a href="http://cctsikhay.blogspot.com/2011/04/sipag-workers-receive-tesda.html"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>
and <a href="http://cctsikhay.blogspot.com/2011/03/sipag-masons-pass-tesda-exam-all-39.html"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>).
</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even more exciting is what happened around
Christmastime 2011. He returned to Tondo and found someone who knew his
sister’s whereabouts. A short time later, the siblings were reunited. </span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today
at 42, Freddie cares about the dozens of
homeless people still living at Sarimanok and prays they will respond to
Christ’s call the way he did. Kaibigan workers still regularly hold feeding
sessions and Bible studies there; Freddie hopes to be able to minister to the
Kaibigans there himself someday. <i> “Kung
tapos na po ang mga construction project ng CCT, gusto ko sanang makatulong sa
feeding program ng Kaibigan Ministry. Kahit ako
lang po yung tagabuhat ng pagkain,.” </i>he says. (“When all the CCT construction
projects are over, I would like to help with the Kaibigan feeding ministry. I won’t mind having to carry the food.”) </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If the
Lord indeed leads Freddie back to Sarimanok soon, his changed life will
certainly be a blessing and an inspiration.
</span>
<br />
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>For more information on the ministry of the Center for Communication Group of Ministries, please visit its website at cct.org.ph/new/. </b></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335986196360874276.post-77096361144600161022011-12-12T17:46:00.000+08:002013-04-04T15:17:55.181+08:0021 Kaibigan Couples Tie the Knot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Mc1TG023kM3HQqFt17en36Fgl48_Nc8EPBhKqlcA23gZEXPk-ApbsBTNV0bRd104Uh2ZhiQ76S12vA9nal9CdsJgSdluD41FlrPKwahJBludC9Fm4yrgKz_-JrJS1M8nf0zr8q6Coc7h/s1600/kisslawn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Mc1TG023kM3HQqFt17en36Fgl48_Nc8EPBhKqlcA23gZEXPk-ApbsBTNV0bRd104Uh2ZhiQ76S12vA9nal9CdsJgSdluD41FlrPKwahJBludC9Fm4yrgKz_-JrJS1M8nf0zr8q6Coc7h/s640/kisslawn.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Walt Davis</span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The mass wedding on November 18, 2011 was a dream come true in more ways than one for 21 Kaibigan couples. The sky was clear and bright over the new CCT Retreat Center in Tagaytay which served as a fitting venue for the day’s romantic celebration. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(</span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Kaibigan</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> is the Filipino word for friend. At the Center for Community Transformation, the word is also used to refer to current or former street dwellers.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">More than a few tears were shed as the brides, in their Filipiniana attire, walked down the aisle while being serenaded with <i>Ikaw </i>and as they pledged their love and loyalty to one another in front of God and their many <i>ninongs</i> and <i>ninangs</i> .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Officiating minister Pastor Saludo charged the couples to love and stay faithful to each other. Visitors from all over the world (USA, South Africa, Kenya, Australia, the Netherlands, Bangladesh, among others) who were in the country for a series of meetings witnessed this wonderful commitment of lives and marriages to the Lord.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The couples range in age from their mid 20s to early 50s and have been living together for an average of five years. They are being ministered to by CCT's Kaibigan Ministry which reaches out to Metro Manila's street dwellers through programs that include feeding, evangelism, discipleship and reintegration into mainstream society. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Noted makeup artist Madge Landrito and her amazing team, Jason Magbanua (celebrity videographer), and Dino Lara (internationally awarded wedding photographer) donated their time and services as a way of sharing their blessings. What a wonderful gift for the couples!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The couples shared a sumptuous dinner buffet with the people closest and dearest to their hearts. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Music, laughter, dancing, and a lot of love filled the rest of the evening then the couples left for a nearby hotel for their honeymoon.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Some of the buildings at the retreat center were built by many of these Kaibigans themselves. Read the heartwarming
story of one changed life here: <a href="http://cctsikhay.blogspot.com/2012/04/weve-been-blessed-say-former-street.html">http://cctsikhay.blogspot.com/2012/04/weve-been-blessed-say-former-street.html</a></span></div>
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For Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center rates and booking information, please contact Eva Lope, CCT partners development officer / CCT servant at evaranlope@yahoo.com.ph, evamlope@gmail.com,
09192933157, 09232497605, 806-6912, and 234-1301. For more information on CCT'
programs and target beneficiaries, please visit www.cct.org.ph/new/.</div>
</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335986196360874276.post-65175584143716817952011-06-14T10:32:00.000+08:002011-06-21T16:22:07.025+08:00John Rollon's TestimonyJohn Rollon lived on the streets of Manila for 25 years before coming to have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. In this video he shares how God has transformed his life. Today he is one of the staff at the Kaibigan Center in Pasay. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/fG4XIcS8hEM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335986196360874276.post-24970071570021489572011-04-28T10:52:00.000+08:002014-03-25T12:02:05.942+08:00Kaibigan Villages Receive Portable Solar Home Lighting Systems<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaiJLG4c-CHDQDTJy8xMit6lwALQwUsa23_1GVNIR48OufV9Ah2GsOWkK72bS0nJEpqhkfAHoQ6q8K_ohgFMvCcZ8jG2lsehFgiG4ibpM2L-UkASRGvSC9o7bsxd0gEhhEuZI6pQkfFgj/s1600/kaibiganvillage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaiJLG4c-CHDQDTJy8xMit6lwALQwUsa23_1GVNIR48OufV9Ah2GsOWkK72bS0nJEpqhkfAHoQ6q8K_ohgFMvCcZ8jG2lsehFgiG4ibpM2L-UkASRGvSC9o7bsxd0gEhhEuZI6pQkfFgj/s640/kaibiganvillage.jpg" height="587" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CCT President Ruth Callanta receives a solar powered lantern from Philippe Saubier (center)<br />
and Jim Ayala of the Solar Energy Foundation. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The Kaibigan Villages in Kalikid, Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija received portable solar home lighting systems during the first community stop of <i>Ride for Light 2011</i>, a 6,600-kilometer motorcycle adventure ride across the entire Philippine archipelago.<br />
<br />
Philippe Saubier, Ibba Rasul Bernardo, and Antonio Villanueva of the Solar Energy Foundation brought a donation of 20 portable solar home lighting systems, some of which now light up the homes of former street dwellers who have been resettled in five Kaibigan villages in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija.<br />
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The three riders kicked off their adventure at the Rizal Park in Manila early April 16 and arrived at the Kaibigan Village 1 by mid morning, followed by their backup team. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_IxI8QcBrYXeM0X3nsODfaN1pFU0_jmIu9d-HzIe1Vsw3-E8GI_7iv9wx8bC6KPyvZFLJRN6Bvddh_vDDk62hB80avGdJepCEwTeGl59WgoEuXVu4hoGlxwiDE9IO2SLqkdVmLMltFbm/s1600/IMG_4951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_IxI8QcBrYXeM0X3nsODfaN1pFU0_jmIu9d-HzIe1Vsw3-E8GI_7iv9wx8bC6KPyvZFLJRN6Bvddh_vDDk62hB80avGdJepCEwTeGl59WgoEuXVu4hoGlxwiDE9IO2SLqkdVmLMltFbm/s640/IMG_4951.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ride for Light 2011 riders on powerful BMW motorcycles arrive at Kaibigan Village 1.</td></tr>
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CCT President Ruth Callanta and the Kaibigan Ministry staff from Manila were in Nueva Ecija to meet the team. A brief program was held, followed by lunch. Attending the program aside from the SEF riders were Jim Ayala, chairman of SEF-Philippines, his wife, SEF staff, Kalikid barangay officials, and Kaibigan villagers.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXf6cA9_jIBdWbzHW55aZEOEuJznSaITyol1ciTGrrEOfXCV7ivxli-Czftw-tCpMhvHUqaayKee98dhBI_8vL59-oo-KrHrx6_-LafRfVbG6V_ES7lkbSwbeNLGsEAPZ8FK4b3Q3G2kUB/s1600/IMG_4979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXf6cA9_jIBdWbzHW55aZEOEuJznSaITyol1ciTGrrEOfXCV7ivxli-Czftw-tCpMhvHUqaayKee98dhBI_8vL59-oo-KrHrx6_-LafRfVbG6V_ES7lkbSwbeNLGsEAPZ8FK4b3Q3G2kUB/s400/IMG_4979.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim Ayala is greeted by Kalikid barangay officials.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqK5kG0kB6o4RG705uMciRtHA2uRjFDHIFHHI8vrIkgk57UQ_nHFMEkfhk9XyrdKazKI8aytdzWveqtVU6zWRTzvu6w5SlnrKk0i8kXNTpBOB-yobHSx-YSiCEWPYx6dvnLTNE4z-UBCSm/s1600/IMG_5002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqK5kG0kB6o4RG705uMciRtHA2uRjFDHIFHHI8vrIkgk57UQ_nHFMEkfhk9XyrdKazKI8aytdzWveqtVU6zWRTzvu6w5SlnrKk0i8kXNTpBOB-yobHSx-YSiCEWPYx6dvnLTNE4z-UBCSm/s400/IMG_5002.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruth Callanta and guests sing, <i>"How Great Thou Art". </i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3I_lhkJrInSazkH0vyGo3UxLDWhPSO6XHdicA_41JmpaEHlcqbqbGk3FbEAXcI9WoECs-0B2K97MSD9aA5kp4fDAGazqLUldLY8Qwm6yWgbti1kS5u8bD2gyMqDLNC9cf7im1lRVXXYd/s1600/IMG_5004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3I_lhkJrInSazkH0vyGo3UxLDWhPSO6XHdicA_41JmpaEHlcqbqbGk3FbEAXcI9WoECs-0B2K97MSD9aA5kp4fDAGazqLUldLY8Qwm6yWgbti1kS5u8bD2gyMqDLNC9cf7im1lRVXXYd/s400/IMG_5004.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naida Ilao gives the welcome remarks. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEFAH8lj9__d_7QRYHVXnzrzRl-Y8ZFsunAv9NoBL11dxf0AUVa-OrsFnBaqDkEShssToqK9DpPOoL95P3K0JQSldTeLbjXEZ0Rv1qgvpTzkt3v7H5Q9gDNMUlx2xlRt_iDL2fPdmjj2I/s1600/IMG_5012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEFAH8lj9__d_7QRYHVXnzrzRl-Y8ZFsunAv9NoBL11dxf0AUVa-OrsFnBaqDkEShssToqK9DpPOoL95P3K0JQSldTeLbjXEZ0Rv1qgvpTzkt3v7H5Q9gDNMUlx2xlRt_iDL2fPdmjj2I/s400/IMG_5012.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruth Callanta shares how she met Jim Ayala and learned of his advocacy<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
for the use of solar energy. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr align="justify"><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPSspiTfhEfOC0_Pj4h3FJ4-CPghXwaUWRrtb-hLN8Lt5hgb8B5jpYm2Ac7lUhh7mZqsx6fdX4rq1jclCETKH41xm0zA79oC6xgqJhJanyuu9qeQapBMVRPMbBigd4L7NA7P3AaGeXYWY/s1600/IMG_5016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPSspiTfhEfOC0_Pj4h3FJ4-CPghXwaUWRrtb-hLN8Lt5hgb8B5jpYm2Ac7lUhh7mZqsx6fdX4rq1jclCETKH41xm0zA79oC6xgqJhJanyuu9qeQapBMVRPMbBigd4L7NA7P3AaGeXYWY/s400/IMG_5016.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visions of Hope Foundation and Kaibigan Ministry staff sing, <i>"He Lives!"</i> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_cWXB1SBlVG8u5yuOA27OfzBjHfYBVQLPOQYJTaHrXSkxNBOaXfj1-UuED4YLPXBdJ-c9mu-lk8MtPV2qILGQEwN65VfKhlExw-csMaczHMr0q49w4rjEHxJIz210kKZKDUVhblyqFtu/s1600/IMG_5020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_cWXB1SBlVG8u5yuOA27OfzBjHfYBVQLPOQYJTaHrXSkxNBOaXfj1-UuED4YLPXBdJ-c9mu-lk8MtPV2qILGQEwN65VfKhlExw-csMaczHMr0q49w4rjEHxJIz210kKZKDUVhblyqFtu/s400/IMG_5020.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOD8igf7V3LN4jysZL87j54n2jW_Wi6HjRQvbLfehbuR3r8HNukxk5rbIpuCAwUcdNlMdByXLAgbCTbsvf3Kwe-ebjjypqRuAgEC15ZnGoM4AnBiHqtOIlP6-sT0W7lIThSv_updNiNt63/s1600/jimtestimony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOD8igf7V3LN4jysZL87j54n2jW_Wi6HjRQvbLfehbuR3r8HNukxk5rbIpuCAwUcdNlMdByXLAgbCTbsvf3Kwe-ebjjypqRuAgEC15ZnGoM4AnBiHqtOIlP6-sT0W7lIThSv_updNiNt63/s400/jimtestimony.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim Ayala speaks earnestly about using solar power to<br />
light up villages currently excluded<br />
from the electricity grid. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMExBx-DPFqfif6CQ0C8ofNib0fF7N983daT-FTWwRA6pVBQRHt1ab9RBPrCEb2vOMVN3z_t_KjrPX93wDLJyfFR31UxQezxM3g6x425-PCIhHNcH7JI5QPPreM17zZhkVaGA2qscm1V9/s1600/IMG_5036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMExBx-DPFqfif6CQ0C8ofNib0fF7N983daT-FTWwRA6pVBQRHt1ab9RBPrCEb2vOMVN3z_t_KjrPX93wDLJyfFR31UxQezxM3g6x425-PCIhHNcH7JI5QPPreM17zZhkVaGA2qscm1V9/s400/IMG_5036.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frenchman Philippe Saubier, Ride For Light head rider,<br />
demonstrates how to use a solar lamp to light a home...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtD-gq_FBPoTz1vf02D9Ie4CYGn-vMh6RbHjSaCZ-5mYpdcU_AMf8vsebw449XNKba_YpK6Eyv9Cc1ztwsaex3ADce36rODq_Ko_Dd9thqX8fAudMUXZyoU2CZe6GO-NCjOFKuUFAr716e/s1600/IMG_5039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtD-gq_FBPoTz1vf02D9Ie4CYGn-vMh6RbHjSaCZ-5mYpdcU_AMf8vsebw449XNKba_YpK6Eyv9Cc1ztwsaex3ADce36rODq_Ko_Dd9thqX8fAudMUXZyoU2CZe6GO-NCjOFKuUFAr716e/s320/IMG_5039.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.... as a flashlight....</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLg2FKoLx99ooOibQJtQRTKfvLumDu1SgRExuqlNHNwOCFiWb_GADak7rY-gp0shouBQPHNAkCkA7ASxONWr6rn3ymUoqBNwzKYVJYpPGFZXBXNVYzgcpLrC3fu39KpW86CoJZYo2Kf5Bw/s1600/IMG_5047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLg2FKoLx99ooOibQJtQRTKfvLumDu1SgRExuqlNHNwOCFiWb_GADak7rY-gp0shouBQPHNAkCkA7ASxONWr6rn3ymUoqBNwzKYVJYpPGFZXBXNVYzgcpLrC3fu39KpW86CoJZYo2Kf5Bw/s320/IMG_5047.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... as a cell phone charger...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyv79wm-wUxuVWBibx7W6q2kp1NiHeLzA_PW8c-ztiQMN5lzgnn5T77CwVFNE55TZkbTr_fGzIz5prULV1BU89D90vCLIU1vQ7UbK4SC1haKgzjKodEl2iHoKG-v0hXEUBfkB-v_J7igcO/s1600/IMG_5044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyv79wm-wUxuVWBibx7W6q2kp1NiHeLzA_PW8c-ztiQMN5lzgnn5T77CwVFNE55TZkbTr_fGzIz5prULV1BU89D90vCLIU1vQ7UbK4SC1haKgzjKodEl2iHoKG-v0hXEUBfkB-v_J7igcO/s320/IMG_5044.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and how to recharge a solar lamp using a solar panel. </td></tr>
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The lanterns double as flashlights and cell phone chargers. They are recharged using solar panels. Jim explains that about 20 million Filipinos live in areas without electricity. Lighting up their homes with solar lamps will allow productive activity for business and studying after sunset.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmldLHtN3-j6r7mDNh3jCdMtIxOQ2y1Yin1GpEvgYYtNgCN8vJA0SaIl3dGhssWW5rQ6K1ucLChgq3_yW-6e_w6xWzK4d2En-s6AqRdiXD6BmFOXh1IwN_GALHe8fujd90798UXC_b_I6/s1600/ruthpray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmldLHtN3-j6r7mDNh3jCdMtIxOQ2y1Yin1GpEvgYYtNgCN8vJA0SaIl3dGhssWW5rQ6K1ucLChgq3_yW-6e_w6xWzK4d2En-s6AqRdiXD6BmFOXh1IwN_GALHe8fujd90798UXC_b_I6/s400/ruthpray.jpg" height="400" width="383" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruth Callanta prays for the 'Light Riders'. </td></tr>
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The 'Light Riders' will travel to 39 other communities in Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao to raise funds and awareness for the foundation’s advocacy of electrifying remote villages with solar energy.They will also visit the B’laan community assisted by CCT in Malungon, Sarangani province in Mindanao as part of their19-day tour.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335986196360874276.post-3022472174297761022011-02-11T11:07:00.000+08:002011-06-14T10:27:47.228+08:00Welcome!<h3 class="post-title entry-title"><a href="http://cctmagdalena.blogspot.com/2010/11/welcome.html"><br />
</a> </h3><div class="post-header"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Dear Ministry Partner,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Welcome to CCT's online reporting system.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">This blog is dedicated to keeping you up-to-date on how God is moving in the Kaibigan Ministry of the Center for Community Transformation. This blog will be regularly updated with photos, videos and written reports.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">We hope you enjoy this new reporting format and that it satisfies your reporting needs. Please feel free to contact us if have any questions or requests.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Thank very much for your support of CCT.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Warm regards,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">The CCT team</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0