Paskuhan sa Payatas

with the Blue Eagles of Ateneo University

December 2003

Parol is the symbol of Christmas in the Philippines. This year, the parol was not an empty symbol. A lot of gay and bright parol lighted Payatas and the hearts of its residents as well as those who brought the best Christmas present Payatas families did not dare dream of, new and pretty houses that they could call their very own.

Ateneo University president, Fr. Ben Nebres, and GK head, Tony Meloto stand happily in the center of the Plaza as the new residents of the Ateneo Blue Eagle Village get their certificates of conveyance for their new GK homes

From its noted intellectual focus and the individual accomplishments of many of its graduates, Ateneo moves towards helping empower those that are left behind, the weaker ones, the slower ones, the very poor and the ever marginalized - and maybe even victims of the individual successes of many Ateneo alumni. By its committed shift to invigorate the "Person for Others" motto of the University, Ateneo aims to correct the failure of the elite to help uplift the lives of Filipinos who belong to 63% of the population that live below poverty level.

Very recently, the Ateneo University through its president, Fr. Ben Nebres, declared its all-out support for Gawad Kalinga. This declaration of support was not just a personal sentiment and decision, but one that was collectively reached by the university's Board of Trustees. Last November 30, a large group of Ateneo students trooped to one section of Payatas (Payatas 13) which is a Gawad Kalinga community. In Payatas 13, the first ever Blue Eagle Village is rising.

This is a shanty ready to be dismantled. In no time at all, there will be a colorful GK house standing here. The owners are now preparing to contribute their sweat equity to match the materials funded by the money of Ateneo students and faculty.

The new houses are towards the rear. At the end of the paved road is where Ateneo President, Fr. Ben Nebres and Ateneans were building a week ago.

Landscaping will complete the work, and the flowers are being readied.

Just two weeks of work by students and the sweat equity of the family beneficiaries and... voilá! a transformation!

A special couple, Dick and Odette Manalo... Dick is the project director for Payatas Trece, an architect or engineer in the construction business who is devoting a large part of his life to GK. Using pavers along the pathways of Payatas Trece is Dick's idea. He insisted on it, even when his elder in the sector was reluctant because of the cost. In the end, the cost was worth it and more.

Stockpile of pavers to be used for houses at Payatas Trece

This is part of the Plaza which has just been paved with our favorite Vazpave bricks, the same pavers used by the city of Manila to line the pathways along Roxas Boulevard. Ateneo students were the ones who laid out the pavers that the GK caretaker team bought from Vazpave at a hefty discount. This Plaza will become the center of festivities in Payatas Trece and a coffee shop will stand here on a regular basis after the Christmas season.

The students who build have become performers as well, preparing to entertain the children of their adopted village.

some children of Payatas Trece in one area of entertainment

Ateneans will be Ateneans. If Starbucks will not come to Payatas, then Payatas creates its own kapihan, Starbox.

... and children will be children, creating their own own toys and playground where there are none.

And, of course, a Filipino celebration will not be complete without a mass. Fr. Nebres officiated and Ateneans sang as an impromptu choir.

Maria Montelibano, with her GKom team led by the Meloto daughters, celebrate with Payatas.

The National Food Authority also celebrated with Payatas. The NFA Coral group not just contributed part of their salaries to build houses for the poor. They sang. Treasured gifts are not not all material or financial. Most of all, it is heart.

Payatas is a sector of Quezon City. Jun Dimarucut, who is head of a whole sector in Quezon City and a very committed GK advocate, was one of the happy GK advocates at the Paskuhan sa Payatas.

Individuals like Jun Dimanucut, couples like Jose and Maria Montelibano, Dick and Odette Manalo, Mikee and Dodot Jaworski have been touched by GK. Ateneo University is the single biggest institution yet who has joined and made a commitment to GK. Ateneo is affirming what St. Ignatius of Loyola must have whispered each time he encountered the poor that needed the Good News, "The Eagle will not fly without you!" Paskuhan sa Payatas symbolizes a new beginning... the flight of eagles and the nobility of lionhearts.