| Discovering a Hidden Treasure: GK Libmanan Village, Camarines Su |
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| Written by Marjorie Ann Duterte | |||||||
| Thursday, 11 September 2008 | |||||||
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The province of Camarines Sur, Bicol, is a hidden beauty discovered recently by adventure-seekers. Development in the area is taking off – including the CamSur Water Sports Facility in Pili, known for its world-class wakeboarding, the pristine beaches of Caramoan Peninsula (setting of Survivor Philippines), and Sorsogon’s whale sharks. Here I met Mang Bienvenido Nierves, an 80-year old farmer who has been tilling the land of various tenants all his life. “Magaan ang buhay dito,” he said. “Life is easier here”, he says of life as a caretaker on the GK village’s farm. It’s hard to imagine how life is any easier now! He works under the scorching sun, is the first to rise in the morning, and the last to leave the farm, just as the sun is going down. But taking in the sight of freshly sprouting greens of chili, eggplant, monggo, and various root crops, I can almost feel the years of burden being lifted up from Mang Bien as he quietly inhales the fresh air. I admire his patience and perseverance - most urban dwellers his age would take a much needed vacation after so many years of hard work! But Mang Bien is content, knowing his labor is not in vain. He is feeding not only his family, but the whole village. Though his province is regularly struck by typhoons and heavy rain, sometimes destroying the crops, he simply plants again. And every Saturday, the whole community joins him to help in a “grand bayanihan,” where village residents plant and tend their designated patch of land, which Mang Bien has lovingly cared for the week before. Mang Bien does not have to worry about keeping the community clean as others manage this task: clean-up of GK village pathways, maintaining the beautiful flower beds, and keeping homes clean and orderly. The kapitbahayan (neighborhood) is well organized, working as a team with a common vision. Such joyful energy permeates the whole village as the residents take care of their environment, retaining a sense of peace knowing they will have what they need, with food from their well tended vegetable gardens beside their homes. Village residents are genuinely happy and their joy is simply contagious. As a city-dweller used to multi-tasking - doing a hundred things at once - I was amazed. What is the secret to this thriving GK community, I wondered? It was everything I envisioned a GK community could be. Indeed, perhaps Mang Bien does not wish for a vacation because being in GK Libmanan feels like a vacation! I discovered the secret when talking to the kapitbahayan president at the village sari-sari store (where they sell rice and household items at an affordable price). “Ang daming nagbago sa akin, ugali, yung pakikisalamuha ko sa tao, nawala ang aking bisyo, para bang nakalapit ako sa mahal na Diyos,” shared Ariel Sael. (A lot of things changed in me, my character, the way I related to people. My vices were removed, it’s like I drew closer to a loving God.) Kuya Ariel was a former drunkard and admits he did not care about the plight of his family and five children - only himself. “Para bang lumiwanag ang isip ko simula ng makarating ako dito sa Gawad Kalinga,” he shared. (It was as if my mind was enlightened since I came to GK.) “Sabi nga ng asawa ko, thank you. Sabi ko, bakit ka nagtha-thank you? Kasi,nawala na yung wala kang pakialam.” (My wife thanked me. I asked, why are you thanking me? She said, because I grew out of my apathy.) Where in the past he didn’t care whether his children had enough to eat, he is now deeply invested in their education, and eager to teach them good values by being a good father. “Hindi ko na po kayang balikan ang dati kong buhay. Bakit ko pa babalikan, alam ko ng mali,” he said. (I cannot return to my former life anymore. Why would I go back to that, when I know now that it was wrong?) It is this life-changing grace that is the secret of GK Libmanan. “Binabalik-balikan tayo dahil sa pagbabago ng tao,” community organizer Jim reflects. (Visitors keep coming back to us because of the transformation in the people). Tito Jim Salazar is one of seven couples from Couples for Christ who are the caretaker team of GK Libmanan, daily sharing their time, resources and love with the residents. When asked about what major change has happened here aside from the eighty-five colorful GK homes, “Yung paniniwala nila sa Panginoon,” he shared. Dati-dati, (sabi nila) may Diyos ba? Wala! Dahil hindi na nga kami tinutulungan.” (Their faith in God. Before they asked, is there really a God? No! Because he is not helping us.) “Ngayon, hindi na ganyan. Naniniwala sila talagang mayroong Diyos, at mayroong mga taong nagmamahal sa kanila,” he said. (Now, it’s not like that anymore. They now believe that there truly is a God and that there are people who love them.) “Ang pangarap ko makita ko lahat ng mga bata dito na makapagtapos ng pag-aaral,” dreams Cecile Deomano, who is in charge of teaching values formation in the village, and supports her husband Agoy, the village’s Project Director. “I accompanied them to scout for furniture for the GK health clinic they were setting up. They were so excited window shopping like they were buying for their own house. I thought, “There’s another secret”: loving the beneficiaries like your own family - you give only the best to the ones you love.” “Alagang alaga kami. Nakakalungkot kahit isang araw na hindi sila pumunta dito, namimiss namin sila. Parang isang pamilya na kami dito. Sila ang mother and father naming sa GK. Mahal na mahal naming sila,” says Ate Grace, as she thinks fondly of their caretakers. (“We are very much taken cared of. It’s actually sad when they are not here even for a day. We are like one family here. They are our mother and father in GK. We love them very much.”) Even if they were not loved as much, Tito Jim shares,“Yung pagmamahal na galing sa puso na ibinigay namin sa kanila, hindi man ibalik sa amin yun, ibabalik yun sa iba.” (The love from our hearts that we gave to them, even if it does not return to us, it will be given to others.) He recounts the story of a village child who suffered an accident: the whole kapitbahayan gave whatever little money they had - even money set aside for tuition - to get the child to the hospital. If in the past, every man was concerned only for his own survival, here they have truly learned how to love. “Gusto ko ring makatulong sa iba. Kahit wala kang pera, kailangan makatulong ka naman na galing sa puso mo,” affirms Kuya Ariel who continues to build the unfinished homes for his fellow beneficiaries even without being asked. (I want to help others too. Even if you don’t have money, you need to help out of your own heart.) Love begets love. And people learn more from what you do than what you say. I learned these things in my brief stay in GK Libmanan. The kapitbahayan learned from the example of their devoted caretaker team. And where does this team, in turn, get their strength to love so generously? “Hindi lahat ng tao binibigyan ng pagkakataon (na ganito) to serve. We are blessed,” expresses Tita Cecile, who together with her husband faithfully attend their weekly household meetings in Couples for Christ, where their strength for service is renewed. “Hindi naman kami mayaman, very ordinary, pero proven ko na ito na pag-sinabi mo talagang magse-serve ka sa kanya, He will provide. In the two years, na nagserve kami sa GK, hindi kami nagkukulang.” Tita Cecile, who is herself sending 6 boys to school, says. (“We are not rich – we’re very ordinary - but I have proven that if you really say you are going to serving him (God), He will provide. In the two years we have been serving in GK, we have not lacked anything”). God did provide abundantly - not only for their family, but for the whole GK village as well - and blessings pour in steadily. Today, GK Libmanan is expanding in a new direction: Two bed and breakfast cottages are under construction, sponsored by Governor LRay Villafuerte to augment the livelihood of the residents, in addition to the farming and the slippers (made from native fiber). More and more visitors are coming! Some, like GK Builders Corps nurse volunteer Heather McPhee find it difficult to leave, so inspiring is the hope and transformation shown in GK Libmanan. And one thing for certain that will draw visitors back to this village is the people - for such treasures I would return again and again. (By Marjorie Ann Duterte) src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
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