Laban kay "Juan," Para kay Juan

We were in full battle gear, ready for the difficult mission ahead, but what we were not ready for was the assault on our hearts and spirits.

It was heart wrenching and inspiring, all at the same time.

It felt like we were entering a war zone as we reached ground zero in Isabela.  As we reached the first town, we saw a Shell gas station structure almost completely dislodged from the ground!  It was scary to think that something that big could be dislodged by the strength of the winds and we were all bracing ourselves for what we would find on-site.

As expected, the devastation was widespread, especially in Ilagan and Tumauini, the two priority sites that we initially listed.  According to our GK hero, Tito Elmer Cadiz, these were the two badly hit areas.  We saw long stretches of the highway, several kilometers long that had leaf-less trees and not a single electric post standing straight.  

But more than the physical destruction, it was the difficult ordeal that the families had to go through as "Juan" raged through their homes, and the pain of losing everything that really pained all of us.  Going through one GK community after another, we talked to the families and each one of them had a different story to tell.  Just one massive supertyphoon, but so many painful stories of real lives, real families, real parents and real children all fighting to survive and having to wake up the next day with practically nothing and the realization that it is back to square one, all over again for most of them.  

I was lucky to have my camera with me, and I took a video of a conversation that I had with a GK resident in our GK community in Tumauini, Isabela.  In this community of 100 homes, ALL the families lost the roofs of their homes.  But it really only becomes real to you when you see their face, their pain, but also their courage.

A GK resident shares his story

But I cannot imagine what it must be like to feel so helpless as you see the wind tearing down the roof that you are praying will keep your family safe.  I can't imagine what it must be like to see your small children taking refuge under the kitchen sink, while you watch out for perfect timing when you can run to safer ground while you see debris and metal flying everywhere.  And it is heartbreaking for me to even think about what it must be like to see your children soaking wet and trembling in the cold with nothing dry to wear.  And to have to sleep that night not knowing what tomorrow will bring.

And if going through all that was difficult, it is clear to me that it is even harder when they woke up the next day.  Typhoon "Juan" may have left, but they must now pick up the pieces.  

I shudder to think what could have happened to them if we had not relocated them from the dangerous areas they were living in and built these sturdy homes for them.  Even the big structures in Tumauini lost their roofs due to the strong winds that "Juan" brought.  Now the challenge is for us to help them get back on their feet and put a roof over their head, in the literal sense of the word! 

During the Expo, we launched Kalinga sa Bayan and we said that we would now share the GK way with everyone, and offer to help not just our GK communities but whole towns and cities.  And just a few days later, God shows us an opportunity to really put this into practice with Typhoon Juan!  This reminds me of that planning session in Clark way back in 2002 when we said we would build 1,000 homes that year.  It was an ambitious number for the small, rag tag team that only had less than 30 communities, but we ended up building close to 2,000 homes that year!  As we cross the threshold of our first seven years and step forward in faith to the next 7, I can see God's hand moving mightily once again and He is once again showing us the way.

With the help of Tito Elmer Cadiz and in coordination with Mayor Arnold of Tumauini, we have launched 

KALINGA SA BAYAN : 

LABAN KAY "JUAN," PARA KAY JUAN

This is Gawad Kalinga's campaign to to help the families severely affected by Typhoon Juan.

 

We started by distributing in the GK communities that we have established throughout Isabela, and our teams used that as a base to assess the nearby barangays where we could also distribute the much needed relief goods.  The latest update of what we've been able to distribute and where is available online via www.gk1world.com

And because of the generosity of our partners and friends who simply refuse to leave our countrymen behind, we have a wonderful opportunity to really help these families get back on their feet by helping provide roofs for the families that were affected by the storm.  

Even while we were there, many of them were beginning to pick up the pieces.  Some, like this boy Jordan, was so inspiring and his actions brought tears to my eyes.  He was barely eight years old, almost the same age as my young son, and I saw him fixing their family's roof.  I asked him, "Bakit ikaw ang nag-aayos ng bubong ninyo?" (Why are you the one fixing your roof?).  He pointed to his dad and said, "Kasi po naaksidente yung tatay ko nung bagyo. May malaking sugat po yung paa nya, kaya ako na muna ang gagawa nito." (My father hurt his foot during the storm, so I offered to do this myself."  

Some families were already picking up the damaged GI sheets and were putting that and other scraps to create makeshift roofs.  Others who were not able to collect enough scraps simply built temporary shelters beside their home just so they could have a roof over their heads.  It is good to see them taking control of their lives and not losing hope despite the overwhelming challenge they just faced.

But given their limited resources, this is the best that they can do by themselves.  And that's why the call of Gawad Kalinga is for us to be our brothers keepers - let's not leave them behind!  Our volunteers are already getting ready and mobilizing for a build next week.  With the help of everyone, we can make sure that these families have roofs over their heads, built sturdier so that it withstands bigger storms and we'll also be teaching families how to secure it better.  

The dream that we have is to be able to install roofs for all the 160 families in Tumauini and Ilagan.  I have no doubt that God will not fail those families and He will use us mightily to make their dreams come true. 

This was our last moment with the Kapitbahayan residents of GK Tumauini, and you would never be able to tell that these are the victims of typhoon Juan.  

Yes, those are bright smiles.  And it is pure grace.

Our presence brings them hope.  And although we cannot promise them material blessings (although they are sure to come), it is the fact that we are there for them and that we will simply never give up and leave them behind is the reason behind those bright smiles despite what they went through.  

In the end, it is the relationship that we have built through these years that matters.  And it is precisely because of this genuine friendship that we continue to do what we do.  Because no storm can be stronger than the bond that we have built.  No adversity can overcome the greatness and nobility of the Filipino spirit.  And although there is much that we will still go through together, nothing can break our faith in our great God who continues to provide and care for His people through the hands and hearts of so many people who genuinely care for the poor.

It is these hands and hearts that make the work of GK truly heroic, truly noble, and truly God's work.  I was not able to take their picture, but en route to Isabela, we passed by Nueva Vizcaya and found out that several Kapitbahayan members (GK residents) from Dupax del Norte were there since 7 AM and wanted to come with us to find out how they could help.  They had food packs with them and were mission ready, just like us - eager to help their fellow Kapitbahayan because they had been spared from the storm.  

"By their fruits, you shall know them," says the Bible.  And although the world may look at our homes or programs that truly make a difference in the lives of our poor countrymen, it is when they rise up and realize that they have been blessed and can be a blessing to others that is the true measure of our success. And I thank the Lord for showing us the beautiful fruits of His work done through the countless GK heroes throughout the world.  It is always a privilege to work in the Lord's vineyard with all of you.

Let's always be our brothers keepers.  Walang Iwanan!

A Celebration of a Life Well Lived : Eulogy for Lolo Dad

In behalf of Tita Connie and Steve, Tita Mia and Marge, Lolo Dad's wife Nancy and her family who are all in the States; Mike, Gen, Belle and Matthew who are in Australia; John John who is in New Zealand and Tata who’s flying somewhere in the world; Jonathan who’s sick and Tito Noel who couldn’t join us today, my mom, JR, Joaqs, Faye and Andre, my husband Manny and our kids Aaron and Calliya, Tito Jun, and my Dad and Lola Mom who are already in heaven; thank you for being here.  It means the world to us to know that we have dear friends and family who are there to pray with us in our time of grief.

When Lolo Daddy got sick, I called him almost everyday, and those conversations brought back so many wonderful memories of my time with him.  When Papa was killed, I lost so many memories (I was told it was because of the trauma) and I’m always struggling to put bits and pieces of stories together.  But it was almost as if my heart was being healed with every conversation with Lolo Dad, and it kept unlocking many beautiful memories that we shared together. 

I remember the set of pamalo that he had in his house.  As soon as you climbed up those big wooden stairs, there was a cabinet that held all sorts of whipping sticks.  He had the really thin, long one and it just kept getting bigger in size – there was one really big, fat one that he thankfully never used on me.  I don’t really recall ever being spanked by Lolo Dad, but I’m pretty sure he must have used it on Joaqs.  But that’s their story to tell.

I remember him trying his best to teach us how to speak Spanish.  We never got past the agua por favor and cubiertos, though.  So I think he shifted strategy and began to insist that I learn five new words everyday from the really old and big dictionary that we had in his house.   He would list down five words that I would have to use during that day.  And some of them were really big words.  I would always excogitate, I was in a quandary of how to use these big words without sounding like I was gasconading.  All I really wanted to do was simply show him that I was perspicacious.  You can just imagine the look on my classmates’ faces when I used the word antidisestablishmentarianism.  Which even today, I cannot fully explain to you, but I can use it in a sentence.  That made him happy, and he inculcated in me a great love for the written word.  It has allowed me to travel the world and go on great adventures, just by reading amazing books.

And oh how he loved music.  I grew up with music in my life because he was constantly on his grand piano.  I could always tell if he was happy or sad by the music that was playing from downstairs.  He always played with all his heart. When Lola Mommy was alive, he would bring us to the music room and ask Tata and I to sing Sound of Music for him and Lola Mom.  I could see that in my Dad, too – and I can’t think of the house in Daet without remembering all the favorite tunes that Lolo Dad or Pops or my Mom would play on the piano, or sing, when we lived there.  

In one of my many conversations with him on the phone, he asked me, “Kumakanta ka pa ba hija?”  I jokingly told him, “Sa banyo na lang po.”  He told me in a serious tone – kahit anong mangyari, wag kang tumigil kumanta.  Kasi yang boses mo ay regalo ng Diyos sayo at dapat maipamana mo yan sa mga anak mo.”  That’s why we really wanted to make sure that we had music during mass, and it’s all Tagalog songs because he always wanted to talk to me in Tagalog.  I don’t really sing much these days, but that conversation has rekindled my love affair with music, and he has once again given me reason for my soul to sing.  Aaron and Calliya love singing at home, and I realize that they have claimed their inheritance from their grandfather, and I have a responsibility to nurture that gift by allowing them to grow up with music in their life, just as I did.  I know that Lolo Dad lives on through our songs, so we will keep singing.

For those of you that remember our home in Daet, we have that really long driveway leading up to the house.  And although that carries the painful memory because that’s where Papa was gunned down, I now remember that it is also the scene of so many beautiful memories with Lolo Dad.  We used to walk down that driveway every night, praying the rosary and just telling stories.  I remember us talking about the hundreds of frogs  everywhere around our house, he would talk to me about anatomy because he said he wanted me to become a doctor, and he would talk about the beauty of God’s creation.  He also talked about his day, about the patients that would come to the clinic who didn’t have any money to pay him, or the people who came for help when he worked in the bank. 

I distinctly remember him telling me, “mas mabuti na ikaw ang tinatakbuhan, mas mabuti na ikaw ang hinihingan ng tulong kaysa naman ikaw ang nangangailangan.”  That is one of the most important lessons of my life, and I remind myself everyday that whatever blessings I receive aren’t meant just for me and my family. 

And it wasn’t just about the money – everything about him exuded kindness and generosity.  He was generous with his time, he was generous with his love, and he treated Tata, Marge and I as if we were princesses.  And for those of you who know me and my cousins, well… his was a hopeless proposition.  Because we’re really more of the warrior princess kind.  Nevertheless, he brought out the best in us because of the way that he loved.

When I was preparing to get married, Manny and I went to this beautiful church in Tandang Sora with a really long aisle because I thought that’s what I wanted.  But as I stood there by the door imagining that much-dreamt-about walk down the aisle, all I could think of was the painful fact that I would have to walk alone.  And the thought of walking down that aisle broke my heart because it reminded me of all the years that I had lived without Papa.  And the many more milestones in my life that I would not be able to share with him. 

Of course, I was so blessed to have these wonderful father figures in my life – Tito Frank Padilla, Tito Tony Meloto, Tito Jimmy Formoso, Tito Bobby Wong and others.  But I realized that for this one special day, it was only my Dad that I wanted to walk me down that aisle.  I tell everybody that I chose Caleruega because I can’t stand all the attention on the bride when she does the march and that’s also true.  But the truth is I wanted the shortest aisle possible because I didn’t want to be reminded that I no longer had Pops.

So imagine my great joy when Tito Jun and Tita Mia brought him and his wife Nancy to the Philippines to be in my wedding.  It was an answer to a prayer that I didn’t dare ask or hope for, but that was the best gift I had ever received.  Thank you, Tito Jun and Tita Mia.  If I had known he was coming, I probably would have chosen the Manila Cathedral.  Hmm. Not really.

As we were walking down that really short aisle, he told me “No one can replace your dad, but I’d like to try.  And although you have known great pain, I want you to experience great joy.  Don’t ever be afraid to love again.”  It is a lesson I will carry in my heart forever.  So although I am guarded and I choose carefully the people that I allow into my life – the people I love, I love with a passion.  This room is full of people that our family loves, and it means the world to us that you are here.  We thank the Lord everyday that He brought you into our lives.  Thank you.

When I travelled to the US, I would almost always come to see him, but time was always so short.  So he would always drive from Sayreville to wherever I was in NJ.  We would be giving him instructions via Mapquest, he would always get lost, he almost got into an accident one time, but he always made the effort to come and see me.  He always said, “You’ve already flown halfway around the world to see me, I can make that 2 hour drive.” 

And he did.  Every single time.  We would eat, make kwento.  I’d insist on paying the bill, but he never allowed me to.  And at the end of every trip, he would give me USD20.  I knew he didn't really have much, so I’d always politely refuse.  Sabi ko sa kanya, “Lolo, ilang taon nyo din kami pinalaki at inalagaan, hayaan mo naman na ako ang mag-alaga sa yo, ako naman ang manlibre sayo.” But he would reply, “Hija, ginawa naman namin yun na walang iniisip na kapalit.”

Now that I am a parent, I realize what great maturity is required to be able to say those words.  Because for all my pain and sacrifice for our kids, I do expect something from them!  Haha!  But Lolo Dad taught me what true love is – it is unconditional, it gives without counting the cost, and it never asks for anything in return.  Just like Jesus.  And no one knows this lesson better than me, because both my God and my own earthly father gave up their lives for me.  And although I know they don’t ask for anything in return, I can only hope and pray that my life gives honor to their sacrifice.

When he was sick, I called him up as soon as I heard.  Sabi ko I want to go there.  Sabi nya, wag na. He said, "I want you to remember me the way you always remember me – strong and healthy."  I want to thank Tito Bobby and Ninang Birang for helping me find this picture of him, I believe this is how he would have wanted us to remember him.  

Lolo Dad told me, "Tawagan mo na lang ako palagi."  So that’s what I did.  I called him up, almost everyday.  About two weeks ago, he could still talk.  He was already having difficulty breathing because of the lung fibrosis, so you could hear heavy breathing on the other line.  Then for a few seconds, he would stop breathing and I swear my heart stopped in those moments because I was never really sure if I had lost him, if he was still on the other end of the line. 

Lolo Dad was the first special person in my life to get sick – we never really expected the death of Lola Mom and Pops.  Preparing for a loved one’s passing brings into sharp focus what is most important in life.  I am always rushing for work and into meetings, but I found myself “wasting” time in long phone conversations with Lolo Dad.  I was on the phone with Tita Mia and Tita Connie, who were there to take care of him - it was painful but beautiful to see his two daughters by his side in his last days.  I thank them for being there for Lolo Dad when we couldn't, and I am grateful for the chance to rekindle my relationship with them.  

Lolo Dad kept asking me, “Masaya ka ba, hija.  Gusto ko lagi kang masaya” and it made me really think about what truly made me happy.  And to not be afraid to follow my heart because it is there that God resides.

And he would always tell me, “naghahanda na ako” and I realized life really is short and it’s up to God, and we must always be ready to go when He calls us.  So no unfinished business, no things left unsaid.  Because we may not always be blessed with the chance to prepare, and tomorrow may be too late.

As he got more and more sick, the calls became more of a monologue than a conversation.  It was difficult, but I did it because he asked me to.  Because I loved him, and because that was all that I could really do for him.  That was a blessed time to prepare for the inevitable, and I thank the Lord for giving us that time to really just tell him how much we loved him, how much he meant to us, and how he had made a difference in our lives. But the real gift was how he brought all of us back together in love. 

Tita Mia and Tita Connie saw each other again, after so many years.  It gave me a reason to be in touch with everyone, if only to give them updates of what was happening.  And it has brought us all together in a way that we have not done so in a long time – it is wonderful to see all of us in one room, even just for today.  Ours is an imperfect family, but I know that love conquers all things.  And family is family, no matter what.  I am sure that Lolo Manoling and Lola Nita, Lolo Dad and Lola Mom and Papa are smiling down from heaven, and I pray that this will be the beginning of the healing process for our family.  It is never too late.

I remember this one hilarious conversation with him when I was just giving him my regular updates of how everyone was doing.  And I said, “Lolo, I just talked to Marge.  Sabi nya, you can’t go yet because you have to wait for her to get married.”  And his reply was, “Sino si Marge?”  I said, “Lolo si MM po, dalaga na sya kaya Marge na sya ngayon.  Si Joaquin po ay si Wax na ngayon.”  He seemed genuinely upset and said wag kayong magpalit ng mga palayaw.  He even joked that Wax should just be called Wacko if he really insisted on changing his nickname Kuykuy.  I realized then that we would never age in his eyes – I would always be "Isabong", the little girl that he carried in his arms, who walked with him up and down that long driveway, the young lady that he walked down the aisle.

And I realized that he, too, was priceless and ageless in my eyes, and in my heart.  I will remember the kindness in his voice, the love in his eyes, and the beautiful lessons that he taught me by example.  He lived out one of my favorite quotes of all time : “You’ve got to dance like nobody’s watching.  Love like it’s never going to hurt.  Sing like there’s nobody listening.  And live like heaven on earth.”

So after this memorial, I promise you, Lolo Dad.  

I will dance in wild abandon, because there’s so much to celebrate and be grateful for.  I will love even when it hurts, and I won’t ever be afraid to love passionately, because it is what makes life worth living.  I will sing with all my heart, because your memory makes my soul break into song.  And I hope that I can help build heaven on earth in my own little way, because that’s what I learned from you and from Papa.  I truly hope I make you proud.

I will miss you, phone pal.  But I am grateful to have another direct line to heaven, in case Lola Mom and Papa are busy praying for the others.  I am a bit jealous that you’re all together now, but I do hope that the good that I try to do everyday earns me that coveted slot in heaven.  I look forward to the time when we can all be together again.  But in the meantime, allow me to savor the memories, share your story and celebrate a life well lived through this video.  Mahal na mahal kita, Lolo Dad.  At hinding hindi ka namin makakalimutan. 

Hanggang sa muli nating pagkikita.


In Memory of Lolo Dad

The Legacy of the Mighty Heart

I am his number one fan.

Late last night, as I was working with two volunteers to resolve some issues, I found him yet again.  

That servant heart that beats only for others, never for self.  That resilient heart that refuses to give up, and overcomes every challenge with joy.  That hopeful heart that sees only the good, and brings out what is good and noble in others.  It is that mighty heart of a GK volunteer, and I am just in awe as I realize one thing -

I am privileged to walk with heroes.

For it is this mighty heart that fuels the heroism of thousands of people I have met along the way in my ten year GK journey which started Bagong Silang where, true to its name, I was reborn.

Bagong Silang.  

New life.  New hope.  It was almost heartbreaking to share that message in a place like Bagong Silang, where almost a million families had been literally left behind.  We met families who lived like animals, and saw animals living better than their human owners because taking care of them meant some income. Apparently, human life gave very little return on investment.  I met young people just like me who had seen horror experienced violence and poverty to a degree that seemed unimaginable to me.  Everyday, Bagong Silang seemed like a ghost town to me -- filled with the walking dead because their heart was devoid of hope and it was the only thing you could see in their eyes.

It was in Bagong Silang that the mighty heart was born, fuelled by deep love for God and an overwhelming desire to follow in His footsteps by caring for the people that He loved the most -- the poor.  I first saw him in Tito Tony, Tito Dale and Tito Cesar.  I have distinct memories of them walking the streets of Bagong Silang, waking up the "dead" by sharing their dreams.  It was their dream that attracted young people like me, Maybs, Meng, Pao, Rich and Xavy (as well as the many others who came after us) to spend the best years of our life in Bagong Silang.  It changed our life forever.

That's me and the SIGA, ten years after!

Last Builders Night, we presented just a few of the thousands of young people we worked with in Bagong Silang.  Those former gang members are now professors, serving in the police force, and a good number are now married and are building their families.  

I brought my daughter to the office and her playmate was Anthony Adduru's (one of our original SIGA) daughter.  The legacy of the mighty heart continues in our children.

As the years went by, I saw that heart find its home in thousands of other GK volunteers and workers that I had the privilege of serving with.  I discovered him in the first set of Project Directors and youth volunteers when we launched GK in 2000 - people like Francis Balagtas, Tante Adalla and Judy Bentoy, who continue to serve with us to this day.  

That mighty heart lives in the people of Mindanao that I had the honor of serving alongside with.  Mindanao is home to heroes, and I will never forget the courage and commitment of the first GK workers and volunteers who braved unknown territory and just start the work of GK with zero resources, but 110% vision and heart.  Tito Zosing Pobre, that heroic doctor who gave up a sizable income to travel long and unsafe distances just to attend trainings.  Kuya Noel and Ate Deanna Grino, who continued to serve despite her struggle with cancer.  Our beloved Giget Paglas, who broke every rule in the book just to foster genuine friendship and helped jumpstart our work in ARMM.  Wow, the list will go on and on.  To all these unsung heroes, especially those who have gone ahead of us, your mighty heart will never be forgotten.

The world is now filled with people who carry this mighty heart too.  I see it in the passionate volunteers in the US, some of whom have never seen a GK village in their life but are anchored on the vision and are thus able to influence and inspire others to get involved!  I pray that God will one day allow you to come home and share the hope that you have helped us build on-ground.

Because of your inspiration, that mighty heart has now taken root among the young, and they will honor your legacy by bringing us to 2024.  

Just a few of the young GK leaders during Tam's wedding

I believe a new generation has come yet again.  And we are privileged to see them take their place alongside us as our co-servants in mission.  I took a road trip with some of them a week ago.  I could have taken the plane, but I felt it was important to spend some time with them, get to know them and understand the part of the vision that I am certain God is revealing through them too.  

Many years ago, Tito Tony had the courage to listen to the young and he continues to do that today.  I learn from the best, and that road trip taught me that God really does speak to these young hearts.  And that the mighty heart also lives inside them.  

Camille Meloto, you don't know it yet, but God will use you mightily and in your own way to make a difference.  Felice Caringal, there was a reason why you went to UVA and why you gave up Georgetown to stay fulltime - I look forward to seeing what God has in store for you.  Frank, Karl, Mike, Justine, Coach - you guys give me great hope for the future just by being you.  You are men destined for greatness in the Lord's service if you remain faithful.  Tom and Tam, I know God will use you powerfully to help us with our work in GK Canada.

And to the many other younger (because I'm still young!) leaders that inspire me -- Cheska Mempin, Maymay Balatayo, the Bentoy kids and countless others -- you are the key to 2024, and we are thrilled to see you take your place and write your names in history.

I can hardly believe that it has been ten years.  There have been many challenges.  There have been times when I thought we were at breaking point.  But in all these years, I never ever thought of giving up.  It didn't even cross my mind.  And that's simply because I belong to a family of mighty hearts in Gawad Kalinga.  Walang Iwanan!

And oh what a great joy to see this same heart in thousands of others today.  Thank you Lord for showing me everyday, through my co-servants, what it truly means to have a mighty heart just like You.

He will always go the extra mile quietly, without counting the cost.  No crowds will applaud his efforts, and very few if any will know his act of heroism, but he does it anyway.  Because He does it for no other reason than to follow God's will.

And after the deed is done, he will even thank you for being given the opportunity to serve.  For being given the chance to follow Jesus, all the way to the slums, all the way to the cross.

As a fulltime worker, I am humbled.  And challenged.  

Thank you for the inspiration.  Nothing beats the heart of a volunteer.

Change the world, one small act of kindness at a time.

Dear Friends,

I just came from Singapore after another historic GK Global Summit, and it was truly a privilege to be part of the service team.  Throughout the years, I've had these amazing opportunities to serve in big and small ways, but I just wanted to share with you this amazing letter that came to me last Saturday.

It is from one of the students that we met perhaps about 11 or 12 years ago, when as a Youth for Christ Mission volunteer, we were asked to conduct recollections in various schools in Metro Manila.  This letter is just an amazing affirmation to me that the work that we do for the Lord and for one another is never big or small.  We simply must be faithful in the little and big things, and be confident that the Lord is planting seeds of love and hope among the people that He sends our way.

So let us continue in this journey with faithfulness, knowing that the Lord Himself is watching, and is looking out for people who will simply say Yes to the call, and He begins to create miracles in and through us.

And if, like me and Corrine, you've been touched by someone and your life has changed because of the presence and love of the amazing people God has sent your way, then only one thing is left to do.

Pay it forward.  And change the world, one small act of kindness at a time.  It will make all the difference in someone's life.

Issa

Ate Issa?

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Between You and Corrine Elum

Corrine Elum June 26 at 6:39pm

Hi!

I am Corrine Elum, Mim Meloto's friend from high school. I saw you comment on one of her albums before and when I saw your name and picture, I really started to wonder if you were the Issa Cuevas I met many years back not only because of your name but also because you really look like a slimmer version of her.

When I was in grade 5 at Holy Spirit School in Cubao, we had a recollection or something similar to that. It was facilitated by a group of ates and kuyas from YFC. At some point during the activity, I broke down and cried, and one ate came to me, hugged me, talked to and comforted me until I was okay. Her name was Ate Issa Cuevas.

After the recollection, I asked Ate Issa to sign my autograph book. I still have it now. Ate Issa was a third year IS student then in Ateneo. Among her closest pals were Josette (an ate who was also there during the activity and who also left a dedication in my autograph book), Raf, Meg and Wowie.

If you are that Ate Issa, I assume that your friend Wowie is Wowie Meloto-Gonzales, Mim's sister. If you don't remember me, it's okay. After all, it's been over a decade since that happened. I would just like to let you know that you really touched the life of an eleven-year old girl that day and I never forgot about you all these years. If are not her and the connections to Mim (YFC and Wowie) are just mere coincidences, then I would just like to let you know that you have a really kind namesake who did a wonderful job at being my ate for a day.

May God bless you and your family.

Corrine

Issa Cuevas-Santos June 28 at 2:56pm

Dear Corrine,

Thank you so much for your message. Yes, I think I remember you from the YFC recollections, and I really want to thank you for taking the time to write to me. As a young person, it was a blessed time to be able to encounter younger kids and share God's love to them by just being an ate or kuya to you. Most of us never really think much of what we do, but receiving letters like yours continues to affirm me that it is these little loving acts of kindness that always make a difference. For some reason, God chooses us to be an instrument of love to another person, and we become vehicles for life changing moments.

Thank you for allowing me to be an ate to you that day, and I hope that you have just passed on the gift of presence and friendship to everyone that you've met and will meet along the way. Your letter came at such a wonderful time, and is a great affirmation that the work that we do for the Lord is never small in measure -- He will always find a way to create great things from our small acts of faithfulness.

You remain in my prayers, always!

Ate Issa

A Special Thank You to the Global Summit 2010 Team

Dear Service Team,

I was on the plane from Singapore to Manila with Tito Tony and Luis, and my heart is now overflowing with affirmation just hearing about how people truly found this Summit meaningful, truly excellent and global in every sense of the word.

I look back at our journey in the past months, and I am in awe of how God was at work through each one of you -- Because we all said yes to the call, we now find ourselves sharing in the joy and privilege of having created heaven on earth last weekend for our over 500 delegates.

I am sure all of us are exhausted, but I am also just as sure that you share my feeling that no amount of exhaustion can compare to the overwhelming sense of fulfillment that we all share knowing that we have planted the seeds of hope in our delegates and that seed will continue to bear fruit towards our vision of 2024.

And as I prayed to God today to just thank Him for everything, allow me to share with you the reading and a reflection for today.

"Animals have burrows and nests to where they can go home and find rest; but Christ had "nowhere to lay his head on." (Mt 8: 20)

Jesus denied Himself any comfort to concentrate on His work of saving us, showing us how to sacrifice for the good of others. Following Jesus means following His example, to cultivate a sense of spiritual poverty, denying some comforts as our sacrificial contribution to the continuing work of Jesus in restoring the balance of justice and harmony in this Kingdom of God. Even if the imbalance is not of our doing.

And what is our reward?

Have you ever wondered why it feels so good when you sacrifice and do things for others?

That is because Jesus has found in your heart a soft pillow to lay His head on."

Thank you for your love, commitment and selfless work, for all the sleepless nights, for the tears, for the moments when you chose to smile when it was so easy to get angry or frustrated, and for JUST BEING THERE, READY TO SERVE. It has been an honor and privilege to be the team leader for this year's Summit, and I truly could not have asked for a better team to serve with.

I said in my last note that the true measure of the success of the Summit is how we were able to love and serve one another and all the delegates. During our Thursday meeting, I shared with you that the Summit already was a success because of the unwavering commitment during the preparations. But today, as we close the Summit and look forward to what the Lord has in store for us next, allow me to say once again --

CONGRATULATIONS for a job well done! And because we have served the Lord with all our heart, the world has come to see how the work of GK truly glorifies God, not just because of the powerful messages of our speakers, but more so because of the quiet and loving service of the Global Summit 2010 service team. It has made all the difference.

I look forward to a lifetime of service with all of you, as we journey in mission following Jesus' footsteps, all the way to 2024.

WALANG IWANAN! :)

Issa :)

To the Wife of the Visionary

Dear Tita Lyn,

On your 60th birthday, allow us to give a long overdue tribute to the Wife of the Visionary, the woman who is the force behind Tony Meloto, and the wind beneath his wings.

This is for all the years that you've had to be, at one and the same time, the ever-patient companion, willing to share her husband with the world and yet always ready to welcome him with open arms every time he comes home tired, bruised and broken from the mission.  Thank you for being Tito Tony's silent cheerleader, his partner when the burdens seem too heavy to bear.

Here's to your being the immaculate housemaker, the business manager able to create a beautiful life for the family despite modest resources.  Somehow, with all those roles you're still the loving mother, the disciplinarian when necessary, the best friend and infallible source of wisdom.

This is a tribute to the composure and dignity that you always seem to carry with you, despite some of the most painful storms that have raged throughout the years.  There are many who are there to share the tributes to Tito Tony, but you have gracefully carried yourself through the lonely moments when the criticisms seemed overwhelming, and the real friends, few.

Thank you for your generosity to open your heart and home to every person that believes in the mission.  Because of you, every missionary has found their home in the Meloto residence, and has been warmly welcomed into your family.  Team Meloto is also Team GK.  And what a privilege to be son or daughter to you, and sister or brother to your amazing children, who are now living out the mission, and are our co-servants as we build a poverty-free world.

Because of all these and so much more, you are truly beautiful in our eyes.  And in the eyes of Tito Tony, no woman could ever come close.  

They say Tony Meloto is the visionary, but I believe you were one too -- you saw the diamond in the rough, and knew in your heart that he was a man destined for greatness in the Lord's service.  Because of you, we have Tito Tony as our mentor and role model, the Filipinos have a man they can be proud of, and the poor have found the love of a father.

You are such a wonderful blessing, and we can only pray for many more happy and healthy years with the family that you love dearly!  Happy birthday Tita Lyn, we love you!

In behalf of all the young moms out there who look up to you,

Issa

Love and Courage

It's always wonderful to encounter people who are in love.  They carry this unmistakable glow that comes only to those who have opened their hearts, and are willing to risk the vulnerability that comes with it.  But vulnerability carries its twin, and that is fear.  I saw both this glow and this fear in a dear friend and co-servant of mine today, and reminded me of this amazing movie that I watched recently.

It's called Letters from Juliet, about a place in Verona where broken hearts go to write about their pain and leave it in Juliet's shrine, where a group of ladies called Juliet's secretaries collects the letters and writes back in her behalf.  It is the story of an "old" woman who wrote a letter there in her youth and received a reply 50 years after.  It recounts her journey to find her one true love.

They do find each other after an amazing journey, and during their wedding ceremony, Claire reads the letter that she received.  I believe it's a letter that's written for all women out there who are aching to find their one true love.  Allow me to share with you the words from the movie.

*********

Claire says : "Dear friends, 50 years ago I went to Juliet's house in Verona.  I wrote her a letter and I asked her a question.  And two months ago, I received a reply.

And without that letter, none of us would be here today.

Dear Claire,

WHAT and IF are two words as non-threatening as words can be.  But put them together side by side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life.  

What if.  

What if.  

What if.

I dont know how your story ended but if what you felt then was true love, then it's never too late.  If it was true then, why wouldn't t it be true now?  

You need only the courage to follow your heart.  

I don't know what the love like Juliet's feels like; a love to leave loved ones for, a love to cross oceans for. But I'd like to believe, if I ever were to feel it, that I'd have the courage to seize it.  And Claire, if you didn't, I hope one day that you will.

All my love, Juliet.

*********

This letter rings true for every woman out there who has ever encountered the wonderful gift of falling in love.  I agree that love is its own gift - one that is deep, the one that remains faithful for a lifetime, the love that overcomes against all odds. 

But FALLING IN LOVE is a gift in itself too.  When you fall in love with the right one, may this letter give all of you, my dearest girlfriends, the courage to seize it and never let it go.

Seven years ago, I met a man in Brunei during a two day mission trip with Tito Tony.  We exchanged letters and phone calls for two months, he came to the Philippines and proposed, and we got married within a year of meeting each other for the first time.  It didn't make sense, it was the scariest thing I had ever done, and it made me understand for the first time why they called it FALLING in love and a LEAP of faith.  But seven years later, I look back and I thank the Lord everyday for the grace of courage to have chosen to follow my heart despite everything that people said.  I would not have it any other way.

People ask me all the time how you know that you've found the right one.  I've struggled to answer that question, because there never seems to be the right words to describe how I felt then when I said yes to marry Manny.  But let me share with you again something that I found online that comes pretty close to what my heart felt and tries to capture what is quite simply, beyond words.

"The way you know you have found the right one is the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with the person.  Having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away." - Dinah Craik

Today, I pray for all my beautiful and passionate single friends who are praying to find the right one.  May the good Lord, in His perfect time and place, allow you to find the one especially made for you.  And when that time comes, may you find the grace to be courageous, and to simply follow your heart.  

You deserve all the happiness in the world, and the Lord intends for you to experience nothing less.

You are in my prayers, and I look forward to sharing that special day with you very soon!

1 John 4:18 "Perfect love casts out all fear."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV3sHN7J7rY