Proud of being a true Filipino By LOURDES MANOTO
I always said from the start that I would come into Gawad Kalinga Youth Great Adventure Tour (GKY GAT) to learn more about the Philippines. I came into it not much knowing anything about the Philippines, although I was born there and was raised as a Filipino growing up Australian. I did not know anything about Gawad Kalinga, although I was more than happy to join in on what seemed at the time "a good cause" and "the right thing to do". I did not know any of the people who I was to join, except for the one great girl that introduced me to GK, Christine Stanley. But even then , she was just one person I knew.
Every time I saw Christine she was always telling me her stories of GK and the stuff she had done, and was continuing to do. I voiced my interest in it, but I never realy thought much about it. It was always in the back of my mind to try it some day, but here was another voice in my head that said "but not now, later". I was planning a trip to the Philippines in late January and I wanted to stay for at least a month. I wanted to go back to the country that I knew nothing about, even though it was my blood. I wanted to take back all those years in high school ridiculing the 'filo' way. I wanted to be proud to say I am Filipino, and be able to tell others what was so great about the Philippines. My parents had told me that the GKY GAT was going to be on at the same time, but I was a bit worried to join. After a talk with my Dad I realised, it was perfect timing.
As soon as we met at the airport and left our families behind, it was easier for us to let go and try to meet the rest of the group. It was funny how most of us found this the most daunting. I knew nothing of GK Youth, Singles For Christ (SFC), Youth For Christ (YFC) or Couples For Christ (CFC), and was constantly getting the three acronyms mixed up, with the GKY GATers reminding me that they can not be part of CFC because they were not married yet. I worried about the people I was to meet and wondering if I was going to be left out because I was not a part of any group and not a strong practicing Catholic. It never worried me about where we were going to live or the things we were going to see despite all the advice others were telling me of the Philippines. I was just excited to go, but I did not know what I was excited about. I did not know of all the people I would meet, all the places I was going to see, all the stories that I was going to hear and just how much I had to take in in the 16 days I was to spend on GKY GAT.
GK is not about charity, it is about helping people help themselves as a community. To be able to work together, and not meaning, only those who need help, but as a nation we can all do something to inspire someone else. Everyone is helping one another, whether they mean it or not. We are all able to learn from one another and be able to appreciate not only other people, but ourselves, so that when we tell others of our experience, it will not be a rehearsed speech preaching of our good deeds. It will be everything that comes from inside us, with true feeling and heart where hopefully other people can see we truly are making an impact, not just a difference.
The biggest impact on me was when we stayed with a host family for four days in a GK site in Tabon, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija. The Simon family took Christine and I in, and they gave us the best they could. Ate Efpie, Kuya Ruben and their three daughters gave us their bed while they slept on the floor. They gave us the best meals they could cook and first servings to the food as the table was not big enough for everyone to fit on and let us eat first. They took us in and took care of us like we were family, even though they knew nothing about us. They were so happy we were there and they wanted to do everything they could to show their appreciation. Our four day stay at the site will stay with me forever.
What had touched me the most was the way I was able to relate to the family's eldest daughter, Sandra, even though she was only seven years old. She was the eldest and had done everything she could to help her family. I have two younger brothers who are nine and eleven years younger than me and I love them to bits. All my friends know who I am talking about when I mention 'my boys'. I spend a lot of time with them and I complain because of it. But I see Sandra, who is younger than me, and taking care of her sisters who are only five and two with no complaints, it made me sad. I never really understood what my parents had said of their sacrifices they made to look after their family (my Dad is the eldest in his and my Mum the eldest daughter in hers). It was only now I understand, and it makes me cry every time I think about it. I learned from Sandra what it was to appreciate famil, and this was only in the first week!
there is so much you can do with what you are given and be thankful for what you are able to have. I have learned about family and I am glad that you can be an inspiration to someone as much as someone else is an inspiration to you. I wish I could thank all the people along the way because they have taught meso much in so little time, and most importantly what I have learned about what it is to be proud about my home country, I am leaving more each day also about what it is to be Filipino and say with true spirit, "ako ay tunay na Pilipino!" (I am a true Filipino!).
GK is not about charity, it is about helping people help themselves as a community. To be able to work together, and not meaning, only those who need help, but as a nation we can all do something to inspire someone else. Everyone is helping one another, whether they mean it or not. We are all able to learn from one another and be able to appreciate not only other people, but ourselves, so that when we tell others of our experience, it will not be a rehearsed speech preaching of our good deeds. It will be everything that comes from inside us, with true feeling and heart where hopefully other people can see we truly are making an impact, not just a difference.
