We put up Glad Tidings Foundation (GTF) whose aim was to provide Christ-centered education and community development for the poor and needy. With about 80% of our people within and below poverty line, the challenge can really be overwhelming. It is indeed next to impossible to reach over 60M poor people, but we can start initially with one person, one family and one community. This is the strategy we are pursuing at GTF. The Lord led us then to a nearby community composed of 22 families right beside a smelly creek and bounded by high, concrete walls erected by the three subdivisions around them.

The first thing we did for them was to provide their kids, ages 3-6, with preschool education with free books, a weekly feeding program and
instructions not only on the 3 R’s but on godly fear and love. Next, we helped them erect a makeshift bridge on the creekside complete with a wooden rail and a net to protect/prevent the children from falling into the creek. Prior to this, an 8 year-old girl fell
and had stitches below her chin.

Presently, we are helping them raise funds for a 4-door common CR (2 each for male and female) and a common bath area. They will provide the labor counterpart. (By the way, most of the men in the area are skilled workers.)Our long-term dream is to help them own decent homes. (A schematic plan was already prepared by an architect.) We are also thinking of ways to provide the housewives with livelihood projects for them to earn extra and divert their precious time from tong its and gossiping.

On top of all of these assistance, we are conducting regular Bible studies on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Physical help will only be meaningful when people realize that it is God Who really cares for them. We are mere instruments, conduits of God’s love and goodness.

As one resident and regular attendee of our Bible study said: “You do not only give us help/support. You also gave us back the ability to hope again for a brighter tomorrow.

We are now challenging them to likewise be
mindful of those around them in a sorrier, more miserable state. Freely you have received, freely you ought to give.

And they are not the only ones blessed. We at GTF have experienced our purest, most gratifying fulfillment as we reached out to them. Why? Because the Lord Jesus said if we do things for the ‘least of our brethren’ we do so for Him! (matt. 25) And God considers Himself indebted to us the moment we help the poor! (Proverbs l9:l7)

May we just light a candle instead of cursing the darkness. nomee dizon-canlas

Cheers!

these could be the reasons why:
1.what i have is not (and will never be) even enough for me, me, and for me..how can i think of sharing with others? i’m so poor! what i am holding couldn’t suffice for the designer clothes, luxury cars, houses, jewelry, power, fame, posh, which i greedily desire.
2.the poor? they are distrustful, they are cheaters, they are liars. lazy and all.
3.i worked sooo hard for my money. how could i give it away? i am stingy, yeah…but…oh well.
4.i feel shy to do anything for them, my poor countrymen..cuz..no one else is doing it also.
5.i feel overwhelmed by their situation. i feel helplessly overwhelmed! how can someone like me do anything at all for them?
IN OTHER WORDS, filipinos have become apaathetic to the poor because
-of their preoccupation with getting as much pleasures as they could while alive,
-two, because of their distrust of the poor which at many times is well-founded,
-three, because oif plain old stinginess and ungenerosty fueled by fear of our ailing economy and lack of the knowledge of a gracious and generous God,
-fifth, weakness,
which all could be summarized into…APATHY AND DENIAL.

WHAT COULD WE DO?
-believe in the God of grace and generosity and mercifulness
-be generous as often and to as many poor people as you could find
-know that no matter how little resources and power you have, you could do something
-have the courage to do something good which no one would expect
-forgive and understand the poor cuz they could be so wicked and godless, ya know…but once helped, they would give you their lives
-do not take advantage of them
-teach them
-do whatever you could to help in any small or big way you could help.

in the bible, moses said soemthing like…you will always have the poor with you. do not be grieved when you open your heart and hand to them. you should give to them wholeheartedly for in so doing, the Lord your GOD WILL BLESS YOU IN WHATEVER YOU DO.

in the new testament, paul said…
They only asked me to remember the poor, which is the very thing i was eager to do.

I guess that’s the battle cry – job creation.

It entails becoming entrepreneurs, and encouraging entrepreneurship.

It requires improving our education, so we can better produce entrepreneurs and qualified workers.

And our population growth must slow down.

We can only one thing at a time. Choose helping in either education or entrepreneurship. Helping in population control is also a big big must.

One thing is sure – bitching and rallying won’t get us anywhere.

Your inputs are valuable as well.

I agree with you that we have to come up with a group, discuss then take action. How about putting up a cooperative?

0928-260-28-47

When the inflation level goes up (government apathy against common man) does the wages go up simultaneously? It is an emphatic NO. Then how do you expect the workmen make both ends meet, let alone save something for future or for the upbringing of his children? They ask for wage rise. Here the trade unions controlling the workmen bargain (on behalf of the Management – not workmen – as most of the TU leaders are hand-in-gloves with the Management)and strike a deal – to the detriment of the workmen. Thus the workmen get tuppens as raise. Hence they take to agitation and strike.

Fair wage payment is NOT the order of the day. Most of the big names in the corporate sector, even (non) professionally managed companies too, barring a very few exceptions, are engaged in such unfair labour/trade practices. Therefore the workmen resort to go-slow or ‘productivity’ as per wage/income. The management must ponder over these economic criteria of their workmen. In other words, the cream of the profit is being shared by the executives to the top leaving the bottom barren. Their narrow attitude towards the workmen must change. Say in India, even after 59 years of independence, we can very well see the prevailing scenario in the industrial sector vis-a-vis the plight of the workmen. From the Zamindari system we are now in the slave dynasty. This must change. When we are moving from the 21st century, the outlook, thinking, behaviour, attitude etc. of the top management must change. A humanitarian look with good social welfare schemes even for old, retired ex workers, will boost their morale as they need not worry about their future, will make the worker loyal and discharge their duties diligently and thus the company can prosper with their optimum production thereby enhancing their profits. A share in the profit of the company to the entire organisation – to the lowest most worker – will go a long way.

Here the HR must play an active and vital role. I can write volumes on this subject. Any way I wished to express my thoughts.

Thanks.