KMMC Welder Hopes to Become a Pastor

Nestor Siddayao shares his testimony at the dedication of
the new Payatas Community Center in Quezon City.
Photo courtesy of  Roselyne Ko & Therese Keirulf of WTRC.

Note:  In 2013, 26 men from urban poor communities in Quezon City were given a month’s training in masonry and carpentry through Sipag 2, a project of the Center for Community Transformation (CCT) Group of Ministries and the Wholistic Transformation Resource Center.  The men are husbands, sons, sons-in-law, and nephews of community partners (recipients of microfinance loans) of CCT Credit Cooperative (CCT Co-op) branches in Batasan, Payatas, Commonwealth and Bagong Silangan. They range in age from 20 to 55 and are a mix of grade school undergraduates, high school undergraduates and college undergraduates. 

Twenty-four of the men passed assessment by the Technical Education Development Authority (TESDA)and received Level 2 National Certification from the agency.  “This assures them of easier acceptance at construction-related jobs, since employers often seek TESDA skills certification from applicants,” said Goldy Valdellon, of the CCT Co-op. “The men are actually experienced workers but the training gave them knowledge of masonry and carpentry terms that will boost their confidence when talking with foremen, engineers, and architects.”

The men were then invited to help build the CCT's Payatas Community Center and were fully employed during the 11-month construction period. During this time their spiritual lives were also  nurtured by CCT staff and pastors.  During the dedication of the community center, one of the men, a welder, told of a desire and calling to be a pastor.  Here is his story, in his own words: 

Ako po si Brother Nestor Siddayao, member ng CCT Sipag 2 KMMC*, 51 years old, may asawa at anim na anak.

I am Brother Nestor Siddayao, 51, married with six children, and a member of the  CCT Sipag 2 Kaibigang Maaasahan Multi-purpose Cooperative (KMMC)*.

Bago ako dinala ng Panginoon sa CCT Sipag 2 KMMC, wala po akong regular na trabaho. Noong panahong iyon ay kung kailan lang ako tawagin para sa aking pagseserbisyo, saka lang ako makakapagtrabaho. Hirap na hirap kami noon. Kinukulang sa pangangailangan sa buhay. Ang ganitong kalagayan ko noon ay nagiging dahilan ng hindi pagkakaunawaan sa aming tahanan.

I did not have a regular job before the Lord brought me to CCT Sipag 2 KMMC. I had work  only if someone called for my services. It was a very difficult time for my family.  We never had enough of what we needed.  This led to misunderstandings at home.

Ang pinakapangunahing dahilan kung bakit ako nahikayat na sumapi sa CCT Sipag 2 KMMC, ay ang kagustuhan ko na makatapos ng pag-aaral ng kahit simpleng bokasyon. Ibig kong maranasan makatanggap ng kasanayan at diploma. Dahil mula pa sa pagkabata, ibig kong maging isang arkitekto. Hanggang sa may edad na ako ngayon, ito pa rin ang nasa puso ko. Subalit matupad man ito o hindi ang Diyos lamang ang nakakaalam ng tanging pinakamabuti sa akin.

The main reason I became interested in joining CCT Sipag 2 KMMC was my desire to study and have a simple vocation.  I wanted to earn a diploma, because from my youth, I’ve wanted to become an architect. I may be already past my prime but this desire is still in my heart.  And whether or not this dream comes true, God knows what is best for me. 

Malaki ang naging kaibahan ng kalagayan ko noon kaysa ngayon: bagaman hindi kami naging mayaman dito sa CCT, nakatagpo naman ako ng kayamanang kailanman di lilipas. Ito ang Salita Ng Diyos. Dahil dito, napansin ko na hindi nagkukulang ang Diyos mula ng mahalin ko ang kanyang mga Salita. Malaki ang nabago sa pag-uugali ko sa pagsali ko sa CctSipagKmmc. Dati mapagmataas ako. Ayaw kong sinasabihan ako. Subalit ngayon, tinuruan ako ng Diyos na magpakumbaba.

Since then, much has changed in my life and attitudes.  I haven’t grown rich working at CCT, but I have found eternal riches in God’s Word.  I have found that God has never failed me since I began loving His Word.  I used to be proud.  I disliked being reprimanded. The Lord has taught me humility.

Dito rin sa CctSipagKmmc, naranasan ko at naramdaman na ako ay pahalagahan at irespeto bilang manggagawa, bagay na hindi ko naranasan sa ibang construction site.

Also, working here at CCT Sipag KMMC I felt that what I do is of value. I've been given respect as a worker, something I never experienced at other construction sites.

  

Loobin ng Diyos, ibig kong tumugon sa matagal nang sinasabi ng Diyos sa puso at isip ko. Ito ay tawag ng paglilingkod bilang pastor at tagapagturo ng Bibliya. Kung loloobin ng Diyos ay ibabalik niya ako sa sarili kong bayan sa Cagayan upang humayo at gamitin ng Diyos upang ipangaral ang kanyang Magandang Balita ng Kaligtasan. Papuri sa pangalan ng kataas-taasang Diyos. Amen.

I know it is the Lord’s will that I respond to his call.  I know in my heart and mind that  he has been calling me  to be a pastor and teacher of the Bible.  If the Lord wills, He will allow me to return to my home province of Cagayan where He can use me as a preacher of the good news of salvation.  Praise the Name of God on high! Amen. 

*Kaibigang Maaasahan Multi-purpose Cooperative is an organization of transformed street dwellers and skilled workers.  

CCT Opens New Community Center in Cavite

CCT President Ruth Callanta and GMA Mayor Walter Echevarria Jr.
cut the ribbon to mark the opening of the CCT Community Center
in GMA, Cavite. 

The CCT  Community Center in General Mariano Alvarez, Cavite, CCT's newest community center, was formally opened and dedicated to the Lord in a joyful celebration on August 3, 2014.

Highlights of the ceremony were an inspiring talk by Ruth Callanta, president and founder of the Center for Community Transformation  Group of Ministries, and a message from God's Word shared by Anjji Gabriel, CCT executive officer.

The occasion was graced by the presence of GMA Mayor Walter Echevarria Jr..  Also taking part in the program were leaders and staff from the various CCT programs and services being offered in GMA, and servant leaders of the Covenant Community Service Cooperative.

Located at CSB Building, Governor's Drive, Baranggay San Gabriel, the new community center offers services in micro finance, savings, spiritual development, skills training, basic medical help, and an after-school program for children called Kinabookasan.  Basic education for pre-school children will also be offered soon.

CCT's community centers are envisioned to be places where community partners will grow in their spiritual walk with God as they fellowship with other believers, serve others, and evangelize and disciple fellow community partners and other community members. CCT also has community centers in Pasay City,Taguig City, in Batasan and Payatas in Quezon City, in Magdalena, Laguna, in Malungon, Saranggani, and in several poor communities across the country.

The town of General Mariano Alvarez, more known by its acronym GMA, used to be  part of the municipality of Carmona, Cavite.  During the late 60s it became a resettlement site for informal dwellers relocated from Quezon City and, for flood and fire victims  from Quezon City, Makati, and Manila in the early 70s. It was inaugurated as a town in 1981.  Today it has 27 barangays,  a population of 139,000, and is recognized as a first-class municipality.

Mayor Echevarria chats with Ruth Callanta and with
Lyn and Angelito Gabriel before the dedication
ceremony begins. 

Staff and guests sing the well-loved Filipino Christian
song Dakilang Katapatan.

A dedication prayer is read in the community center's
receiving area. 

Photos: Ralph Parado 

TEE Attendees Visit Taguig Community Center

Participants in the Transformative Economic Empowerment training session held  October 2013
listen as Shiera Ondangan(above, right) and Pastor Ruel Castino (below, in brown shirt)
 talk about the programs and services offered by CCT at its community center in Taguig. 

Micro finance workers from  nine different countries visited the Center for Community Transformation (CCT)  Group of Ministries  community center  in Taguig City as part of their learning activities during the third Transformative Economic Empowerment (TEE) training session held in October 2013. The visit allowed the TEE participants to talk with staff and beneficiaries about the programs and services offered by the community center. 

  

The TEE attendees are from Sri Lanka,  Peru, India, Moldova, Zambia, Kenya, Thailand, Uganda, and the US. The weeklong training session they attended was a collaborative activity of CCT and the CCT Ka-Partner Network, a consortium of US-based organizations ministering to the poor through partnership with MF institutions or churches in other countries. The members of the CCT Ka-Partner Network are Hope International, Peer Servants, endPoverty, and Five Talents. 

The Taguig Community Center offers micro finance services, pre-school education, basic medical check ups, and Brigada Bata training.  Worship services of the CCT-Taguig community church are also held there. 

CCT branch offices throughout the country which at the moment simply offer micro finance services will gradually be converted into community centers over the next several years.    

Taguig Community Center Turns One

Partners and beneficiaries of the Center for Community Transformation Community Center in Taguig City celebrated the center's first anniversary with a joyful gathering at the Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center in August. The celebration, joined by nearly 200 micro finance partners, Brigada Bata members, pre-school students, and staff included  times of worship, sharing of talents, and lots of games.  

Children and adults alike enjoyed the group and individual games which occupied much of the day.  Many of the games were  traditional Filipino games like patintero, tumbang preso, luksong lubid, sipa and sungka.   

Two programs were held during the evening.  The first was a praise and worship event with Rev. Joel Indico, national director of Child Evangelism Fellowship Philippines, as speaker.  The second program was composed of talent offerings from students of the Visions of Hope Christian School and from  all the micro finance fellowship groups.  Outstanding community partners were recognized and winners in the games were awarded toward the close of the evening. 

After a restful night, personal devotions, and breakfast, a group devotion was held with Pastor Ruel Castino as speaker, before everyone headed home, happy over the warm Christian fellowship shared.   

The event was held on August 17 - 18, 2012.  

Special Partners' Day Held In Taguig

CCT gives high value and importance to its community partners*. The reason we are in the community  is to serve them and to offer programs that meet their needs. This is a serious business. But of course CCT knows how to have fun and with that reason, CCT marked a special day just for them -- Partners' Day.  

 CCT branches in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao held Partners' Day to recognize community partners who have loyally stayed with CCT for  five years or more.  They were given certificates and several special privileges to encourage them and to let them know that CCT appreciates partnership with them.  

The CCT Taguig branch highlighted their Partners' Day celebration with a  Nanays' pageant on June 2, 2012 at their community center.The program had the theme Ulirang Ina and was attended by 111 community partners, staff from that area, as well as by some support office staff. 

Pastor Ruel Castino speaks words of encouragement  from Proverbs 31 . 

Some fellowship groups showed what they've got. 

Here and in next photo, fellowship 6 members do an interpretative dance.

Team Servant Arlene Ordinario (right) and Covenant Community Builder Kristie Laurenciano   happily call  partners to the stage to receive their certificates. Seventy-five partners were given a certificate of appreciation.

"We are all hoping for more years of partnership with you," says Arlene Ordinario, team servant.

Here and in next photo,
Grace Cayabyab,  peer servant  for  IT, MIS, and Audit,
congratulates some partners. 

 

 Fifteen nanays joined the pageant. Here are some of them:

 

 The contestants showed their talents through song, monologue, dance and drama. 

Some of the Nanays had  fun dancing with student intern from
 HOPE International,  Josiah Meneghini.

Just as in any other pageant, winners were chosen and awards were given out. 

Maharlika Moron, number 11, won the title Mrs. Photogenic. 

The Best in Talent title was awarded to  Delia Marzan.
She was escorted by A.B. Albania from CCT's support office.

Nanay Francisca Roca received the
  People's Choice and Best in Filipiniana awards. 

 

Nanay Jacqueline Valderrama, hands-on Nanay:
  winner of the Ulirang Ina title! 

Partners' Day is a day the Taguig nanays won't forget -- a day of inspiration, encouragement, appreciation, and fun.  

*Microfinance recipients are generally referred to as borrowers or clients.  At CCT they are referred to as community partners because they as seen as co-workers in building God's Kingdom. 

CDO Community Center Holds Feeding Activity

Community partners and staff of the Center for Community Transformation (CCT) community center in Cagayan de Oro City recently held a feeding activity and Bible storytelling session for children living near or on  Gemini St., Barangay Gusa.  About 40 children were fed in what will now be a monthly activity of the community center.

Funds for the food -- arroz caldo (a savory Filipino rice porridge) -- were from community partners  (recipients of microfinance loans) who donate one peso each whenever they hold their weekly fellowship meetings, and from CCT staff who have made a commitment to donate P50 toward the feeding program every payday.

The community center  in San Pedro Village, Barangay Gusa is the hub from which CCT social welfare activities in the city are planned, coordinated, and held.  The center houses a microfinance office, clinic, pre-school, and a worship hall.  The community church that meets here holds two Sunday worship services -- one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

For more information on the work of CCT in poor urban and rural communities, please visit its website at cct.org.ph/new/.

Community partners help cook and serve the food.

Arroz caldo  -- rice and chicken simmered in chicken stock and flavored with

 garlic, ginger, and onions -- ready for the children. 

Marife Evidiente, coordinator for the Cagayan de Oro community center and community
mobilization program officer, and Pastor Mervin Oba lead children in singing
"This is my head...my shoulders...my knees...They move like this." 

Here and in next photo, children are all ears as they listen to the story of the Good Samaritan 
for the first time,  as told by Ryan Etarwa, covenant community builder. 

Some children start to eat while others reach out to catch candies tossed by one of the staff.

The protruding root of a tree serves as a stool for one hungry lad.

Cainta Community Center: Now Open

CCT Community Center Dedication: (left to right) Mike Salili, microfinance operations head,
Alice Pineda,  Business Development head,  and Episcopal Bishop Dixie Taclobao
 prepare to cut the ribbon at the formal dedication of the  CCT Cainta community center. 

CCT management representatives, Rizal community partners and staff, and Episcopal church leaders gathered for the blessing and formal dedication to God of the CCT community center at the Igorot  Village in San Juan,  Cainta, Rizal on December 17, 2011.

The newest CCT community center houses a pre-school, a microfinance office, and a clinic. It is a three-story building under a usufruct agreement with property owners Bishop Dixie and Rev. Juliet  Taclobao of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Philippines.

CCT has been serving the Igorot community of Cainta, the largest Igorot community outside of Mountain province, in partnership with the Episcopal church for the past 11 years.

The unfinished residential building  of Bishop Dixie and Rev. Juliet Taclobao,
 long-time supporters of CCT work in Cainta,
 was completed and converted into this new center under a four-year
usufruct agreement with CCT.  

CCT Rizal staff hold corporate worship every Saturday  at the Episcopal church
 in Cainta's Igorot village.  The church  is next door to the new community center.

Pre-school students coached by Teacher Grace Pailona
 do a dance interpretation of Tuloy na Tuloy Pa Rin ang Pasko.

"Magbalikatan tayo, magbayanihan tayo, magtulungan tayo.
We find meaning in service because we have faith, hope, and love.
 These are the marks of a Christian," said Bishop Taclobao
 in an inspirational talk. 

Alice Pineda, representing CCT President Ruth Callanta, tells of how the Cainta community center
 is part of the fulfillment of a vision of a network  of Christ-centered faith communities
where Jesus Christ  is honored and worshipped and where people live with dignity
and sufficiency in accordance with God's plan  for a just, humane, and caring society. 

Pastor Raffy Salonga preaches a message
 on peace of mind and gladness of heart  based on Psalm 127:1 - 5. 

A community partner sings Keith
Green's Romans 7: 

I want to love them all, the way you do,
I want to serve them, by serving you.
Yes, I want to be like you; Jesus I do.

Men involved in the construction of the new building attend its dedication ceremony. Most of them
are former street dwellers being ministered to by CCT's Kaibigan Ministry.

Pastor Raffy Salonga reads Solomon's prayer of
dedication on the top floor of the building.