Ideal communities

What images of our urban poor communities still linger in your minds?

Ms. Tess Fernandez of Lihok Filipina gave Japanese students from Toyo University the following list of issues faced by men and women in many of our communities: Various faces of poverty, no security of land tenure, homeless, jobless, too many people within very congested areas, problems of health, nutrition, out-of-school youth, no water or problematic water supply, lack of facilities such as toilets and drainage, dirty, smelly surroundings, and so on.

In an earlier tour around Cebu City, the Japanese students were quiet when they returned to the bus after going through the Taboan market. They were also relieved that they came back safely, without any security incident. They were told that there could be many snatchers in the area so they had to be careful about their bags, jewelries and so on. We hope the government officials will prioritize as well the security in all communities for the sake of the residents and visitors from elsewhere.

Then, they visited a Gawad Kalinga community in Talamban. They realized that communities of the poor do not have to retain their traditional images of being swarmed with deprivations and problems. With everyone’s cooperation and partnership, the poor can have their homes, colorful ones even. Most importantly, the poor can realize their dreams.

Apart from having new houses, the students observed the alternative community development model offered by GK and their partners provided them better lives, better environment, better present and future. The GK agenda continues to inspire the hopeless to be hopeful, the homeless to become homeowners, those with more blessings to share with those deprived. With everyone helping everyone else, a better world is definitely possible.

Before leaving the GK community, the students remembered the first question asked them during the start of the lecture. “What can you do for the world, for the poor?” One student mentioned later on that he may come back as a volunteer to help build homes for the homeless of Cebu in the near future. Others, for sure, have started to think seriously about how they can respond to that very important question.

Then, the Japanese students visited Barangay Luz. There they saw how the people themselves exerted their own collective efforts to organize and to use their united people power to rebuild their community. Wow, change is really possible, said the students. They themselves saw how Bgy. Luz stands out as a shining example of how the urban poor can help themselves.

When people are organized, communities get transformed. Waste management can turn around, trash gets converted into treasures, garbage into gold. The residents themselves realize they are crucial partners for maintaining cleanliness, security, for realizing dreams, across sectors.

Their empowerment in the community is also contagious. Businesses want to partner and assist those who assist themselves. So do NGOs as well as other sectors. Empowered communities inspire and serve as models for other communities struggling to improve and to transform their communities and their residents.

No longer are transformed, empowered communities depressed or eye-sores. Instead, like Bgy Luz and the GK villages, they attract visitors, partners, and their communities have become popular destinations for tourists, specialists, environmentalists, among others.

The Toyo University students have learned that people’s participation, collective partnerships as well are crucial to effective governance and sustainable development. Not yet a week in Cebu City and already, their diaries are full of insights and discoveries about our people, our culture, our struggles and challenges and our collective initiatives.

Not only the Japanese students but our own UP students as well are also appreciative of the various successful alternatives for our poor people in poor communities. Every problem has a solution and with unity and sincere partnership, positive change is possible. Hope will forever be alive and dreams for better lives and better communities can come true.

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