Ferddie's World: GK Ruby turns 2!

It seemed only like yesterday when I first set foot on Sitio Ruby in East Fairview, Quezon City. My first encounters with the residents concerned profiling activities in order to determine the socio-economic status of the people we were to serve through Gawad Kalinga. My CFC chapter was assigned to what is now known as Phase 1.

Our Chapter Head at that time, Bro. Raul Redoblado asked me during one of our all leaders’ meeting if I was willing to be the Christian Life Program (CLP) Team Head for Sitio Ruby. It was certainly a very challenging task. It was going to be the first CLP of our chapter in a place with quite a notorious history of crime and violence. But I knew it was the Lord calling me. So I decided to rise to the call.

The rest of course is history.

Two years have quickly passed and Sitio Ruby is but a shade of its dark past. God’s mighty presence and faithful love transformed and continues to transform the lives of our brothers and sisters in this community. I remember the very first chapter build we had in Sitio Ruby. As Kids for Christ (KFC) Chapter Coordinator, I wanted to involve the kids in building the first houses in Phase 1. When Bro. Raul heard of my plan, he set the chapter build to be on the same day we had planned to go to Sitio Ruby. With only a handful of adult volunteers from the chapter and a rag tag army of little kids, we did what we could to help in the construction work (Special mention is OMB officemate Miles Luanzon who regularly volunteers her time and effort to help in anyway she can for GK). That meant shoveling sand and gravel, transporting them to the construction site from the open area, painting, etc. At first, we couldn’t see the spirit of ‘bayanihan’ (community spirit), but I believe God used those KFC kids to touch the hearts of the people. It started with the local kids who wanted to help too. This must have rubbed off on some of the adults who later assisted us. Isn’t that a miracle?

Even the priests from our local parish have observed the various changes in Sitio Ruby. Residents recall the small number of mass goers in the community chapel. Nowadays, a multitude of locals overflow to the streets because their numbers could not be accommodated in the said chapel - another one of God’s miracles. For me, one of the most dramatic changes in Sitio Ruby is the good will and new found camaraderie among residents. Years before, people literally lived beside each other divided only by thin walls but rarely, really knew each other. Now, especially among CFC graduates, there is a clear bond among brothers and sisters. Conflicts have been substantially reduced and reconciliation a lot faster.

Our very first Unit Assembly in 2005

Financial Stewardship Talk with Sis. Liway Chato [former BIR Commissioner] (2005)

Marriage Enrichment Retreat 1 at the Immaculat Retreat House (2005)

Tintin Bersola Babao, her husband Julius and friends help construct a GK house (2005)

Other chapters - some even from other CFC clusters have come in to give a helping hand to Sitio Ruby. Many well meaning benefactors from here and abroad have joined us in Sitio Ruby. Some of them I have personally met. The Monteagudo family who reside in California, have substantially contributed to the construction of no less than 45 houses in Phase 1. They are part of what is now called Remyville in Sitio Ruby in memory of the Monteagudos’ matriarch, Remy. It was also through GK Ruby that I met Tintin Bersola-Babao (a popular TV personality) and her friends when they contributed time and funds to construct a home for a large but poor family in Sitio Ruby. To date, in Phase 1 alone, no less than 66 houses have already been built with another three currently under construction. Several houses have also been built in the other phases of Sitio Ruby through Gawad Kalinga.

Sitio Ruby residents and SAGIP kids gearing up to join the

GK 1MB rally at the Quezon Memorial Circle (2006)

There is a Kapitbahayan (KB) – neighborhood association in place. KB Membership Training for the second batch in Phase 1 is scheduled to start by Oct. 15. For some time now, we have already been ‘exporting” GK Ruby experiences to other places like GK Botocan - Area 4,5,6 & Libis.

Many residents continue to join Couples for Christ through the CLP. By God’s grace, Sitio Ruby participants of our ongoing CLP will be members of the 4th batch of Sitio Ruby residents to graduate and join our chapter since that first one I handled in 2005. One of GK’s soft programs – SAGIP, a counterpart of KFC has also been entrusted to me by our present Chapter Head, Bro. Gerry Santos since July of last year. So far, this has worked well with my concurrent KFC service and unit responsibilities as all my unit members live in Sitio Ruby. Many instances I felt true love and service in the faces and efforts of my new found brothers and sisters in Sitio Ruby. Many times they have inspired me, made my responsibilities bearable and much more enjoyable!

The 2nd Anniversary festivities last Sept. 9, 2006 was started by a parade and followed by the celebration of the Holy Mass

GK Ruby's Drum and Bugle Corps

Residents came out despite the scorching heat to watch and support their respective GK Ruby Phase performers

We invited our brothers and sisters from GK Botocan (North B5)

to taste and see God's goodness in GK Ruby

GK Ruby kids present their artististic talents

Looking back, I am glad I responded positively to God’s call to serve Him through Sitio Ruby. Sure there were sacrifices and trials and oppressions that at times made me feel really down and burnt out. But God was always there to support me through thick and thin. He was always there for me; I wouldn’t want to let him down.

The challenge therefore for me and the people of GK Ruby is to sustain the fire of God’s love in the community AND to pass it on to others. As in many earlier GK sites, the beneficiaries have now become the benefactors.