He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Luke 10:27
CCT KAIBIGAN MINISTRY At a Glance: 2022
Total Outreach: 3,750 individuals
3 Organic churches
36 Water baptized
444 Discipled
245 Church average attendees
Street feeding ministry
1,833 ⊲ Evangelized and served with meals
11 ⊲ Feeding sites
906 ⊲ Street savers
Children’s ministry
338 ⊲ Outreach
191 ⊲ Regularly tutored
Medical assistance
1,717 ⊲ Outreach
⊲ Services: check-ups, laboratory works, medicine distribution, hospitalization
Temporary shelter 120 ⊲ Outreach
57 Rescued from the streets (children, women-at-risk)
Balik Probinsya
21 ⊲ Reconciled with families
Elderly/sickly
17 ⊲ Under the homecare program
Scholars
16 ⊲ High school and college
Skills training
56 ⊲ For masonry, carpentry, housekeeping, mushroom production
49 Directly employed by partner companies
Assisted with government registration
68 ⊲ Services included processing of documents for birth certificates, government IDs
220 Workers (CCT KMI, KMMC, C’s Kingdom Builders, Blessings at Work, TRTC)
168 Residents in Lupang Pangako
When I think of the street people of the Philippines, I think of the dry bones in the prophet Ezekiel’s vision recorded in Ezekiel 37. Street people are like the dead among the living: deprived, desolate, hopeless, unseen, ignored—and yet the Lord has allowed us to see how, through His mighty power, they can be revived, given hope, and restored to what He originally planned for them.
The pandemic did not deter the Kaibigan Ministry from pursuing our passion for street dwellers. Despite the threat of COVID-19, we struck out in faith, adapting to the situation, boldly providing for the needs of this particularly vulnerable group.
THE JOURNEY OF CHANGE IN 2022
The Kaibigan Ministry follows a road map, called the Journey of Change, as we serve street dwellers. The starting point is, naturally, at their dwelling places on the street. At the beginning of 2022, the ministry served 1,833 individuals at 11 sites in Metro Manila.
Once they encounter the Holy Spirit, they gain a changed perspective of themselves. It takes time for them to internalize this and so the Kaibigan Ministry has committed to journeying with them for a lifetime.
Street Fellowships. Although churches had to close their doors to the ministry due to pandemic restrictions, we continued serving kaibigans, bringing our programs to where they were forced to hide themselves, holding feeding sessions and Bible studies inside abandoned culverts, and other places where they sheltered.
Because they love God, and because of the love God has placed in their hearts for others, our people walked the extra mile to help these street dwellers, and by God’s grace, we suffered zero cases of COVID deaths among the staff!
The street fellowship is where we start to build a relationship with street dwellers, where we start walking with them on a journey of change that will last a lifetime. We have realized that only giving food without building a relationship becomes demeaning, that alms do not eIevate their sense of dignity, that handouts without real compassion from the heart only exacerbate the inequity between the “haves” and the “have nots.”
We have also found that without God and without the building of trust, they will not stay. Street dwellers cannot and do not trust anyone. They do not even trust themselves.
The pandemic did not deter the Kaibigan Ministry from pursuing our passion for street dwellers.
Unless they have a relationship with God and an enhanced relationship with one another, they will never be able to move forward. This is why spiritual development is an integral component all throughout the Journey of Change.
Aside from the feeding and fellowships on the streets, 2022 saw the start of the School by the Roadside, with 151 children attending classes and learning the basics of reading, writing, and math right where they live. We call it Paaralan sa Tarima. The opportunity to learn was never hindered by the lack of government documents, or shoes, or uniforms—a problem they run into in the public school system. Our vision is that there will be no Filipino excluded from the educational system.
Like education, savings is beyond the reach of street dwellers. Besides, setting money aside is not something they even think about, and so savings is a program we also bring to them. In 2022, 906 street dwellers were pleasantly surprised to discover that they could actually save money. By the end of the year, they had accumulated around PhP600,000 in savings.
Kaibigan Centers. The second leg of the Journey of Change involves the Kaibigan Centers, where kaibigans are afforded temporary shelter, assisted with social services, helped with character formation, and given a chance for resocialization.
Fifty-one kaibigans stayed temporarily at the Cabrera Center in Pasay, and another 50 were assisted with the processing of government documents there. At the CCT Lupang Pangako in Nueva Ecija, 69 enjoyed temporary shelter, and 18 received help with document processing.
Likewise, 36 kaibigans made a public profession of their faith in Christ through water baptism.
Skills Training. In 2022, the Kaibigan Ministry provided carpentry and masonry training to 20 men, housekeeping training to three individuals, while 29 others learned mushroom production. The skills training along with spiritual development empowers kaibigans. It boosts their confidence and self-esteem, gives them a sense of
accomplishment, helps improve their mental health and well-being, and gives them opportunities for advancement. With their newly acquired practical skills, the new carpenter-masons can secure employment with the Kaibigang Maaasahan Multipurpose Cooperative or KMMC. Those who learned mushroom production can use their newfound knowledge to start a business and generate income.
Lupang Pangako. The Kaibigan Ministry’s Lupang Pangako serves as a model for a faith community that integrates all of our ministry programs. It provides spiritual care, housing, health care, livelihood, skills training, and farming opportunities along with many other benefits. As of December 2022, it had a total of 168 residents. This number includes children in the homecare program, kaibigan workers and their families, elderly and sickly individuals, and staff. It brings me joy that some of the children living here were born after their parents left life on the streets and therefore do not have any painful memories of extreme poverty. This place has also witnessed the reconciliation of long-lost grandparents with their grandchildren. The barriers and stigma that often surround those who have experienced homelessness have been broken down, and residents are now welcomed by the surrounding community.
Social Enterprises. Toward the end of the Journey of Change are social enterprises. The Christ’s or C’s Kingdom Builders, Inc., for instance, is composed of construction workers supervised by KMMC. Blessings at Work, Inc., on the other hand, is composed of service or utility staff. Sulit Tipid in Lupang Pangako, which began in 2018, sells excess donated items to generate funds to support the operations of the Kaibigan Ministry. In 2022, it thrived and achieved gross sales of PhP2.9 million and created employment opportunities.
Spiritual development is an integral component all throughout the Journey of Change.
OTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN 2022
Transformation of the Street-Dwelling Sector. When CCT began serving street dwellers through the Kaibigan Ministry, we focused on the transformation of individuals. As we learned more about these people, we started to focus our work on transforming and reconciling families.
We have introduced street dwellers as a sector of society. Albeit unrecognized or ignored, they compose a sector—three generations living on the streets, having a culture of their own, the culture of street dwelling. We had the joy of seeing transformation in this sector itself. The Lord allowed us to have an organized response to the situation of this sector guided by the Journey of Change, with clear goals and objectives, with the coordinated action of our people, and with adaptability to changing circumstances.
Our total outreach for the year was 3,750 individuals.
Institutionalization. The Kaibigan Ministry, in 2022, strengthened institutionalization, marked by stability and financial sustainability. The ministry developed effective strategies and acquired the capacity to expand our social services into other areas. Through consistency, predictability, reliability, and
stability, we made a significant impact on the street-dwelling sector. We developed a structured approach that makes our work possible. We developed systems and processes, such as knowledge management, to ensure consistent help for street dwellers. By the grace of God, the institutionalization of the Kaibigan Ministry enabled us to become a reliable instrument of organizational response, making the ministry an essential player in addressing the plight of street dwellers.
Dedicated Workers. The Lord blessed our ministry among street dwellers with dedicated leaders like Arleia Agustin of KMI, Mileth Visaya of KMMC, Arlene Diel of the homecare program, and Zaldy Lugay of C’s Kingdom Builders, alongside equally hardworking staff. Their commitment, hard work, and passion made a significant impact on the lives of those they serve and enhanced the effectiveness of the ministry. They are willing to go the extra mile, work long hours, and make personal sacrifices to ensure that the ministry’s objectives are achieved. We highly value and appreciate their contributions.
New and Strengthened Partnerships.
In 2022, the Lord sent our way new ministry partners, one of which is Awana, a worldwide nonprofit ministry focused on providing Bible-based evangelism and discipleship solutions for children ages
By the grace of God, the institutionalization of the Kaibigan Ministry enabled us to become a reliable instrument of organizational response, making the ministry an essential player in addressing the plight of street dwellers.The Kaibigan Ministry supported by the local police
2−18. In addition, our longtime partnership with the Institute for Foundational Learning or IFL was strengthened. IFL graciously shared its curriculum for use in the School by the Roadside and the Lupang Pangako homecare.
CHALLENGES
I have said time and again that it is easy to get street dwellers off the streets, but it is very difficult to get the street out of them.
When kaibigans start to crave the “freedom” of the streets, they run away from wherever they are on the Journey of Change, back to the streets and to their old ways, back to freedom without direction, back to hopelessness. For this reason, character formation anchored on spiritual development is a vital component of their continued life transformation. Just how many times do we have to forgive? Seventy times seven times, Jesus said. And so kaibigan dropouts are always welcomed back to the fold with the same grace and love God lavishes on us.
MOVING FORWARD
Moving forward in unity, we aim to increase both outreach and areas of coverage of the Kaibigan Ministry programs. We hope to strengthen existing enterprises under KMMC for profitability and sustainability. We are also exploring the possibility of building two more Kaibigan Centers, one in Balut, Tondo, and another in Dasmariñas, Cavite.
As the Kaibigan Ministry perseveres in our mission, we will continue to build faith communities where former street dwellers live in dignity and sufficiency under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. A crucial element of this effort is to continuously empower kaibigans, who are entrusted with the task of managing their households and neighborhoods, as demonstrated by their active participation in the Sambahayan Homeowners Association in Lupang Pangako. Over time, we envision these kaibigans assuming leadership positions not only within their community but also in the larger society.
Moreover, the Kaibigan Ministry recognizes that infrastructure development is essential to enhancing the community’s sense
of identity. To this end, we are currently constructing three facilities expected to be completed by 2023: the Kabataan Village (which will serve as a dormitory for young people) and the Living Biblical Museum with the Lupang Hinirang Philippine Museum in it. Continuous enhancement of all our programs and services will be pursued to mirror our utmost desire: to love the kaibigans solely because the entire being of Kaibigan Ministry is founded on the perfect and unchangeable love of God.
CONCLUSION
Going back to Ezekiel’s vision: when he obeyed God’s command to prophesy to the dry bones, they began to assemble themselves, not haphazardly but properly. Similarly, I see street dwellers transformed— properly enjoying good physical, financial, mental, and spiritual health; reconciled with family; having overcome addictions and generally no longer the dead among the living. A sector transformed by God’s grace and are now valuable and productive members of society.
To God be the glory!
Serving with you,
RUTH S. CALLANTA PRESIDENT AND FOUNDERIt is easy to get street dwellers off the streets, but it is very difficult to get the street out of them.Lupang Pangako Community Church in Cabanatuan
The love of God has propelled CCT to respond to a Biblical calling that is expressed by loving God and loving each other. For the Kaibigan Ministry, this has always been about the lifetime journey with the kaibigans, from womb to tomb, so to speak.
Kaibigan Ministry is the CCT ministry among the street people. Over the years, it has developed into the CCT Kaibigan Ministry, Inc. (KMI), the Kaibigang Maaasahan Multipurpose Cooperative (KMMC), C’s (Christ’s) Kingdom Builders, Inc., and Blessings at Work, Inc.
Nurturing the Soul, First and Foremost
In CCT, spiritual development is integral to its being and doing. Similarly, in the Kaibigan Ministry, the CCT core value of intimacy with God takes primacy.
Sharing and studying the Word of God is of utmost importance in all kaibigan outreach programs. Ate Ruth Callanta, president of CCT, would always remind us that, “there
could be no real transformation unless the person receives Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.” As such, evangelism is the heartbeat of the ministry—for people to know the Lord.
Equally significant is discipleship. By the grace of God, discipleship for the kaibigans has been intentionally embedded in the ministry’s Journey of Change. This is evident among the kaibigans in the streets, the centers and homecare, as well as the kaibigan scholars, trainees, workers, and their families.
STREET FELLOWSHIP
The Kaibigan missionaries pursue the kaibigans through the Good News, and then, the good meals. Street feeding is literally nurturing the soul and stomach of the street dwellers. Little by little, a fellowship is being developed, an avenue by which the ministry addresses the needs of kaibigans while building a relationship with them.
Sharing and studying the Word of God is of utmost importance in all kaibigan outreach programs.
During the pandemic in 2020, while most churches resorted to closing their doors, the Kaibigan Ministry continued to be on the streets, bringing food and hope among the street people who had nowhere else to hide but the culvert tunnels. This strengthened the relationship between the kaibigans and the ministry workers.
Fast forward to 2022, nearly 2,000 street dwellers were evangelized and served with meals. There were 11 streetside fellowships, mostly in Metro Manila, and three were established and funded by staff of other CCT ministries in other areas. These included Dasmariñas and Pala-Pala in Cavite, with 123 participating in the street ministry. In Lipa, community servant leaders or volunteers initiated a street-feeding program that ministered to 69 homeless people.
The year 2022 also saw the support of the local police in the street ministry of CCT. The police used to call the attention of the Kaibigan street facilitators until they realized the intention of the ministry for the welfare of the underprivileged. Today, the local police themselves refer street people to the Kaibigan Ministry.
Simbahan sa Tarima (Church by the Roadside)
The Kaibigan Ministry started a street discipleship program with the end in mind of seeing churches by the roadside. Tarima is a term used by street dwellers to refer to their stomping ground.
True to its name, Simbahan sa Tarima put discipleship at the heart of the streets of Baclaran in Parañaque, Macapagal and Pasay Complex in Pasay, and Kalaw and Sta. Cruz in Manila.
Those with leadership potential were identified and provided with a dedicated time for discipleship on top of the feeding program.
In response, a mobile school, an alternative educational system, was created out of a deep love and concern for these children.
School by the Roadside was established in 2022 to bring education directly to where the young kaibigans’ lives began— their parents’ tarimas. Kaibigan Ministry separated the children from the adults for its streetside activities. While the adults attended discipleship classes, the children were learning their ABCs and 123s.
Around 130 children went from being nonreaders to acquiring the necessary skills for basic reading with the help of a curriculum generously shared by the Institute for Foundational Learning. The curriculum, which is accredited by the Department of Education, is used to teach English, Math, and foundational skills.
A team of dedicated teachers was trained, and efforts were focused on three strategic areas: Macapagal Avenue, Pasay Complex, and Lubog/Escolta. The Lubog location had to be dissolved, however, after five months—but for a good reason: many of the participants were already enrolled in public schools, and their parents had found ways to support their children’s education through street vending.
Education is one definite route out of poverty, but the poorest of the poor are unable to even step beyond the gates of Metro Manila’s numerous public schools.
School by the Roadside was established in 2022 to bring education directly to where the young kaibigans’ lives began—their parents’ tarimas.Paaralan sa Tarima
Inspired by Ate Ruth’s vision and faith, “there will be no Filipino excluded from the educational system,” it is hoped that the Department of Education will recognize the schooling these children are receiving through Paaralan sa Tarima and will accept them as students in the public education system.
Savings Program
Street people were also empowered to save through CCT’s savings program. In the past, they would usually withdraw their savings an hour after depositing them. This was rooted in their trust issues. Yet in the course of time and relationship building, kaibigans have learned to trust the ministry with their money and realized the value of saving.
In the past year, for kaibigans on the streets alone, there were 906 savers with around PhP600,000 in accumulated deposits.
Health Care on the Streets
Street people were able to gain access to health care services. With the help of a full-time nurse providing medicine and assistance for online consultations with volunteer doctors, 1,136 street dwellers received medical care in 2022. Ailments treated included pulmonary tuberculosis and acute respiratory tract infection. The kaibigans also learned from health lectures
while receiving medical assessment and free medicines.
Rescue of Street Kids
Neglected street children were rescued through the Kaibigan Ministry.
It has been alarming to witness third and fourth generations of children being raised on the streets. These kids were brought to CCT’s homecare facilities in the hope of providing them with God’s love and with a better future. A total of 41 children were rescued in 2022.
KAIBIGAN CENTER: CCT CABRERA
Since 2008, CCT Cabrera has been a place where kaibigans can go when they need help and support. It offers a safe haven with free access to basic necessities like bathing facilities, a place to sleep, laundry services, and opportunities to learn about God and grow in faith. Some 595 kaibigans enjoyed these basic services in 2022.
Also in the past year, Cabrera Center staff reconciled 21 kaibigans with their families, gave 49 work referrals, and processed important documents, such as birth certificates, for 68 kaibigans.
“There will be no Filipino excluded from the educational system.”Paaralan sa Tarima
God has made the Cabrera Center a rich spiritual community, with ongoing programs aimed at promoting personal growth and development. Throughout the year, dozens were led to the Lord, and 36 made a public profession of their faith through water baptism.
The kaibigans manifested a remarkable growth in their spiritual disciplines, particularly in the prayer and Bible-reading habit. At the start, it was challenging for them to adjust to waking up early. Budding evidence of their faith is that today, many of them voluntarily read the Bible and pray even before the dawn watch prayer time.
With the temporary shelter, social services, character formation, and resocialization that it provides, the Cabrera Center truly is a place of hope, comfort, and love.
DECISION CAMP
The purpose of decision camps is to usher the kaibigans to an awakening of the new life in Christ, thus making a decision toward Christlikeness.
In 2022, this necessitated water baptism and inner healing seminars in partnership with the CCT Training and Development Institute, held at the Lupang Pangako (LP) in Cabanatuan. In April, 15 kaibigans participated and were freed during deliverance sessions. With the prompting of the Holy Spirit, they confessed the truth about themselves. They became transparent about their real identity and experiences.
SKILLS TRAINING AND SCHOLARSHIP
The Kaibigan Ministry focused on the essential trades of carpentry and masonry, with the 15 baptized kaibigans who had experienced the decision camp also participating in the training. Overall, 20 kaibigans benefited from the training—14 from the streets and six from the homecare. Upon completion of the two courses, the participants were awarded certificates from the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST), recognizing their hard work and dedication.
Evidence of their skill is the beautiful nipa hut they built at the Kaibigan Village. As a
testament to their determination, nine of the participants were referred to full-time employment at the Kaibigang Maaasahan Multipurpose Cooperative.
Additionally, 16 high school and college students received scholarships from the Kaibigan Ministry. Four of them passed the alternative learning system, allowing them to start high school. The program also emphasized the importance of education and provided face-to-face classes for everyone, as well as work assignments to gradually introduce them to independent living, gaining valuable work experience.
In 2022, two senior high school graduates were also produced by the program, further demonstrating its success in empowering street people and providing them with the skills and resources needed to lead a better life.
MEMBERSHIP IN KMMC
The Kaibigang Maaasahan Multipurpose Cooperative envisions a cooperative of former street dwellers owning land and managing enterprises.
Among the social enterprises was the Sulit Tipid in Lupang Pangako and its neighboring communities. Sulit Tipid is the brainchild of CCT Tindahan selling highly affordable pre-loved, unused, and brand new apparel, shoes, bags, books, and groceries, among
The purpose of decision camps is to usher the kaibigans to an awakening of the new life in Christ.Skills training at the Lupang Pangako in Cabanatuan
other personal and household items. All of these goods came from donations, and the profit went to ministry operations. In 2022, the Lupang Pangako Sulit Tipid had gross sales of nearly three million pesos. What made it even more of a success was the collaboration with the local communities as resellers. Besides the economic gains, this also paved the way for strengthening the network of relationships with the locals not only in Nueva Ecija but also in Pampanga and Pangasinan.
In the South, the CCT Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center (TRTC) is also home to kaibigan workers who serve as construction workers, housekeeping and janitorial staff, maintenance and kitchen crew, and security officers. Right from the start, the kaibigans have been part of the TRTC story. (See story in the Livelihood and Skills Upgrading section of this report.)
With TRTC’s rise from the impact of the pandemic, the kaibigans were instrumental in its full restoration. In 2022, the kaibigans formed part of the center’s trusted manpower, leveling up operational service and total guest experience. TRTC was awarded and commended many times for its quality service by both church and secular groups.
A total of 16,745 guests in 322 groups visited TRTC. Likewise, the kaibigans took charge in the reopening of TRTC Pasalubong Center
in July. Since the third quarter, the average sales per month was at PhP150,000.
Besides access to financial means, kaibigans have also been able to save up and avail of insurance. By the end of 2022, there were 152 member-savers from KMMC with their total savings of PhP2,865,177. In addition, through the CCT Mutual Benefit Association, 35 workers enrolled themselves in the insurance program.
JOB PLACEMENT
Another essential chapter in the kaibigan’s Journey of Change is job placement, whether in CCT ministries or elsewhere.
After capacity-building programs which include skills and related training in technical vocational courses, KMMC would usually partner with CCT Working Hands Ministry (Working Hands), C’s Kingdom Builders, and Blessings at Work to place the kaibigans in suitable jobs. Twenty-six kaibigans were placed at Blessings at Work.
Thirty-one skilled workers from KMMC got employed in Lupang Pangako while another 31 were on-call. KMMC also assisted 13 kaibigans for regular and contractual posts in TRTC and another 40 for on-call duties.
Meanwhile, KMI partnered with the companies of CCT corporate members in journeying with
Besides access to financial means, kaibigans have also been able to save up and avail of insurance.Kaibigans are a vital workforce in CCT Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center.
the kaibigans by providing employment for them. Forty-nine skilled kaibigans, undergoing the entire Journey of Change, were deployed to partner companies. For their wellness and the confidence of their employers, at the same time, the Kaibigan Ministry ensures that they are part of discipleship, a savings group, and a Christ-believing church. Nine kaibigans who ably finished skills training were referred to KMMC for work opportunities. Six were absorbed by C’s Kingdom Builders. Working Hands assisted the Kaibigan Ministry by organizing the training programs in Lupang Pangako.
LIVELIHOOD AND SKILLS UPGRADING
In 2022, kaibigans continued to improve themselves by upgrading their skills. At Lupang Pangako, kaibigan workers exemplified their skills by building five additional duplexes or 10 houses at the Kaibigan Village 6 ahead of schedule. Project completion was supposed to be in June yet it was finished earlier and already dedicated in March. Also, they built the motor pool area for the ministry use in September.
Again in Cabanatuan, in partnership with NEUST, kaibigans together with a number of staff finished courses in Electrical Installation and Maintenance, Plumbing, and Domestic Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. The Kaibigan Ministry partnered with NEUST for its Technical and Vocational Education and Training program.
The kaibigans are a noteworthy part of TRTC history. Despite the stigma surrounding street-dwelling individuals as being stinky, dirty, and unruly, with zero knowledge of construction work or any work, the Kaibigan Ministry persevered in giving them a chance. When the TRTC was being built, the kaibigans were initially only assigned to do the barbed wiring at the farthest part of the fence. However, as they proved themselves in the fencing work, they were given some construction work with the additional two dormitories in TRTC.
Here’s the story: the usual contractors had back hoe, excavators, etc. The kaibigans only had their usual shovels, hammers, saws, and axes, among other manual tools. When Typhoon Glenda (Rammasun) struck in 2016, most dormitories were severely affected, with damaged roofing and wrecked windows, to name a few. Only the two dorms constructed by the kaibigans remained intact. What an amazement—the redeeming power of God in and through the kaibigans! What Jesus said echoes: “the last shall be first . . .
As of this writing, the second phase of TRTC expansion has been kick-started with its groundbreaking and thanksgiving ceremony. The kaibigans have been entrusted to build more dormitories under the guidance of construction professionals within KMMC and CCT. The Lord’s abounding love to the kaibigans has changed their lives. Today, they embrace their true identity as children of the Most High God, looking forward to becoming the best they could be.
“The last shall be first . . . ”
LUPANG PANGAKO FAITH COMMUNITY
Come and See!
From a one-hectare donated property in 2008 to a 38-hectare noncontiguous village today; used to be a field of 7-foot bushes everywhere, now a thriving community of Christ believers; welcome to the CCT Lupang Pangako in Kalikid Norte, Cabanatuan City!
True to its name, Lupang Pangako or LP is the promised land for the kaibigans or former street dwellers and their families. The kaibigans themselves named it Lupang Pangako. It is the resettlement site for the kaibigans and is now composed of 10 Kaibigan Villages or KVs.
No Place Like Home: Sambahayan at KV 6
The Sambahayan is the residential subdivision for missionaries in LP with a total of 168 residents, comprising CCT and kaibigan workers.
What best characterizes Sambahayan is that it has come to regulate its own community living by forming the Sambahayan Council or homeowners association with a set of officers.
In 2022, this resulted in residents becoming more responsible and caring toward the neighborhood. Among the guidelines was to ensure devotion to God’s Word.
Mileth Visaya, officer-in-charge of KMMC shared, “The kaibigans are able to love alongside their fellow believers, and the children are growing up being guided in the Christian faith. The study of the Word continues to guide everyone to live a life that honors and pleases God.”
On a weekly basis, the residents would conduct their discipleship session. On Wednesdays, the whole KV 6 along with the homecare residents, would meet at the basketball court for midweek service or Bible study.
With the Scriptures as the residents’ guide to Christian living, this fostered greater concern not only for their respective families but also for the neighborhood.
In 2022, the bayanihan spirit of Sambahayan became more evident as mothers volunteered to clean common areas like the nipa hut. In addition to their respective household gardens, they also put up a collective FAITH (Food Always In The Home) garden on each street, making fresh vegetables available for their dining tables.
“Our faith community is growing not only in number but also, and primarily, in the spirituality of our members.”
Regular bayanihan was also done by everyone of all ages every Sunday— community clean-up, grass trimming, drainage and pathway clearing, and fence painting, among others. Some also brought food for the workers. On their own, they also installed a gate to better secure the community.
When Typhoon Karding (Noru) struck in September, communal cooperation was cultivated in the Kaibigan Villages. Led by Sambahayan, they helped each other in restoring the devastated areas. Every household also shared with the community food and supplies available in their home.
One Faith Community at Work: Kasanayan at KV 9
Kasanayan houses the local CCT Group offices with KMMC, KMI, CCT Multipurpose Cooperative, CCT Mutual Benefit Association, CCT Working Hands Ministry, and CCT Tindahan para sa Bayan, Inc. It also holds workshop stations for the technical-vocational courses, and a Sulit Tipid outlet. As of this writing, there is also an ongoing construction for KV 9 Extension which is detailed in the Infrastructure Development section of this Annual Report.
Beyond being a first-rate building, Kasanayan serves as a meeting point of minds and hearts where CCT ministry workers dedicate their passion and talents to serve the Lord. The first hour of every working day is spent for studying God’s Word. This is in line with the CCT Group schedule for morning devotions. The kaibigans also conduct and lead their own Bible studies.
Strategic meetings were also held between the barangay council and CCT—forging ties with the barangays around Cabanatuan. In August, CCT was able to orient the heads of barangays about its programs, as well as introduce the Biblical Museum and its purpose for the communities. Regional council meetings were also held to regularly update the board and discuss with the members the plans and programs for the sectors.
Last but not the least, a medical mission was held in KV 9 in partnership with Bread from Heaven Christian Fellowship. Some 200 kaibigans and their neighbors received medical, dental, and pediatric treatment with free medicines and vitamins. This came along with evangelism to the local communities.
Finding Rest in Kapahingahan at KV 8
KV 8 started as a Chapel of Remembrance until the Lord turned it into a community fellowship that pioneered the organic church model in the whole of CCT—organized and managed by volunteers! It was also registered in the Securities and Exchange Commission as the Lupang Pangako Community Church.
It used to be that only the kaibigans would gather along with CCT staff. Now, the local communities outside CCT join the kaibigans in their worship.
In 2022, there were 142 members and attendees of the community: 66 adults, 35 youths, and 41 children.
Pastor David Campanero, resident pastor, attested, “Our faith community is growing not only in number but also, and primarily, in the spirituality of our members. Majority of those who attend already understand the salvation that is in Christ.”
KAIBIGAN VILLAGES (KVs)
KVs 1-5 Kabuhayan (livelihood)
KV 1 & 2 livestock raising
KV 3 citrus (calamansi) farming
KV 4 irrigated rice farming
KV 5 irrigated rice farming with vegetable farming
KV 6 & 7 Kanlungan (shelter)
KV 6 Sambahayan, a housing subdivision for the LP residents
KV 7 Kabataan Village or homecare for the rescued street kids, along with the elderly and the sickly
KV 8 Kapahingahan (rest) Chapel of Remembrance, forest park, lagoon
KV 9 Kasanayan (training) Training and Development Center, main office of KMMC along with other CCT ministries
KV 10 Kabuhayan (livelihood) vegetable farming
A Thriving Christ-centered Faith Community
The Kaibigan community has become a living testimony to the power of transformation. Many former convicts and addicts who have settled in the community are now accepted and respected by those around them. It was not always this way. In the past, the locals would avoid the Kaibigan Villages and shun the kaibigans. But today, thanks to God’s transforming power, they work together on barangay projects and partake in CCT culture and traditions. Their lives serve as an inspiring example of unity and cooperation to others in the community.
CCT Day of Remembrance
The kaibigans actively participated in the yearly CCT Day of Remembrance in May, honoring departed kaibigans, coworkers, corporate and board members of CCT. The LP community along with the rest of the CCT ministries paid tribute to their legacy and extended support, such as scholarships for bereaved children.
Cultural Redemption
Loving God also means loving our very own nation. CCT believes in redeeming cultures for Christ while celebrating the nobility of the Filipino spirit and the heroism of our race. This includes the greater understanding and better appreciation of our local arts and culture. Through the CCT Salinlahi program, passing on the baton for the love of God and of the country are expressed in the communities. Salin means to pass on, while lahi connotes culture; thus, Salinlahi means passing on the culture.
The whole Lupang Pangako community supports this by organizing its own LP Salinlahi. The members, coming from all ages, rendered an outstanding presentation during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Biblical Museum and the Guesthouse. They also presented a heartwarming song during the enshrinement for departed CCT brethren. Both events happened in October.
CCT believes in redeeming cultures for Christ while celebrating the nobility of the Filipino spirit and the heroism of our race.Lupang Pangako Salinlahi
The ensemble also cheerfully welcomed guests from CCT ministry partners, including Security Bank, Wholistic Transformation Resource Center, PEER Servants USA, Count Your Blessings Foundation, Eurofragance Philippines, and RightJobs.
From Bottomless Pit to the Promised Land
It is only by the grace of God that the kaibigans are entering their own promised land of hopes, dreams, and brand new beginnings!
Back in the day, many did not want to live in LP because of the stereotyping against the kaibigans. In God’s timing, all Kaibigan Villages emerged as a thriving faith community where the love of God and the love for people are intrinsic and shared.
Today, the kaibigans themselves are the ones requesting to be assigned to LP and prefer LP projects.
SOCIAL ENTERPRISES
Christ’s Kingdom Builders or C’s Kingdom Builders and Blessings at Work, Inc., are social enterprises organized, managed, and owned by the kaibigans themselves.
C’s Kingdom Builders is the construction firm owned by kaibigans. It is a spinoff from the pool of construction workers formed in the Kaibigan Cooperative. Among their projects were the TRTC gate repairs, perimeter fence repair and painting, rotunda trellis replacement and repair; the Biblical Museum pathwalk and station layout, riprap works, and stone layout; Lupang Pangako landscaping; and laying of boulders and leveling, and road grouting and finishing at the CCT Malungon Retreat and Training Center (MRTC).
Blessings at Work, Inc., is a corporation that provides all kinds of cleaning and allaround help such as janitorial, laundry, oncall cleaning, maintenance, messengerial, and driving services, among other related business. It formally started its operations in September 2021 with 11 workers assigned to the various branches of the CCT Multipurpose Cooperative in Luzon. At the
close of 2022, it already had 30 workers, consisting of former street dwellers and tribespeople, with operations expanding in Mindanao through the MRTC.
In 2022, C’s Kingdom Builders had 31 regular and contractual workers, with an additional 39 on call for MRTC. Likewise, 34 individuals found a steady source of income with Blessings at Work including tribespeople who were on call. Workers from both enterprises were insured under the CCT MBA program.
MAINSTREAMING BACK TO SOCIETY
“I no longer call you servants . . . instead, I call you friends.” What a powerful yet humbling affirmation from John 15:15! The kaibigans were considered even lower than servants and endured labels such as eyesores, thieves, and bottomless pit. However, as they received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and trusted in the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, they too became friends of God.
Today, not only they have become productive members of society, but also proactive members of a faith community. Best of all, they are co-heirs with Christ.
“I no longer call you servants . . . instead, I call you friends.” What a powerful yet humbling affirmation from John 15:15!The elderly love to sing and share their talents through the Lupang Pangako Salinlahi.
Multiplying the Impact of Wholistic Transformation
The Lord’s love has led the Kaibigan Ministry to serve with love. No matter how long it takes for a kaibigan’s life to be changed, or how much it costs to journey with the them, the Kaibigan Ministry pursues them and enables them to become a Christ-centered movement.
Furthermore, the agents of transformation, the Kaibigan staff, are also being transformed. Imprinted in them is a special burden—not one that causes exhaustion but rather a burning passion to help the sector and see them transition to how God wants them to be. Through consistent spiritual disciplines including discipleship, these missionaries have come to realize that it is only the Lord and His timing that will fulfill His plans and purposes for the kaibigans.
Together with the CCT Group, the Kaibigan Ministry highly regards discipleship to nurture faith communities and multiply the
impact of wholistic transformation. The ministry has been immensely blessed by the discipleship efforts of CCT board members. Bro. Lawrence de los Santos has been discipling the kaibigans and ministry workers for more than five years now. In 2022, Bro. James Tioco started mentoring the Lupang pangako staff while Bro. Ben Liuson included some key staff in his discipleship group along with other CCT missionaries.
As discipleship is life transference, Ate Ruth Callanta, has since taken pains to share the Word, impart wisdom, and journey alongside the kaibigans and the staff. The latter learned so much from all the mentoring from the CCT president and Kaibigan Ministry mentor.
Arleia Agustin, executive director of KMI, attested, “Journeying with the kaibigans is a daily reminder that we are no different from them and it is only Jesus who transforms us.”
With the Word of God in Ezekiel 37, the “dry bones” out of despair and homelessness can be restored by the redeeming love and power of Christ.
“Journeying with the kaibigans is a daily reminder that we are no different from them and it is only Jesus who transforms us.”
Testimony: Jayson B. Garcia
36, Timekeeper
Kaibigang Maaasahan Multipurpose Cooperative
I was 20 and a nursing aide student in Dapitan City when I decided to follow through on a long-held plan. Right in the middle of the school year, I said goodbye to my parents and got on a cargo vessel whose captain I knew.
Arriving in Manila three days later, I headed for Tondo to live with a cousin. He, however, turned out to be a bad influence. Within two years, he’d gotten me hooked on shabu. Meanwhile, I found work as a beauty salon helper and also became well known in the community as a hopeless drug addict.
In 2016, when drug suspects were being killed in the brutal war against illegal drugs, I left Tondo fearing for my life. For a month and a half, I lived in Luneta, drug-addled, roaming aimlessly, begging for spare change, scavenging for recyclables to sell.
“Dear God,” I prayed one dreary afternoon, “would you please send some rich person into my life to take me away from this miserable situation?” God must have answered that prayer because a few days later, one of the Kaibigan Ministry street facilitators came around, asking if any of the street dwellers wanted to join a Bible camp.
That was the beginning of my journey with the Lord. Since then, I have grown in my faith and developed a deeper understanding of His love, forgiveness, and grace.
I gave my life to God during the camp. I studied electrical installation and maintenance back then in CCT Magdalena, and did construction labor at the Eurofragance building in Parañaque for three months. Then, in February 2017, I stumbled.
I fell back into my old drug habit and had to be disciplined. I asked God and the Kaibigan Ministry people for forgiveness. Praise God, that was the last time I did drugs.
I’ve been a member of the Kaibigang Maaasahan Multipurpose Cooperative for the past seven years and have worked on several construction sites with the Kingdom Builders in Tagaytay, Batangas, Bulacan, and Nueva Ecija.
In 2021, I was elected secretary of the Sambahayan Association of our residential village at KV 6 in Lupang Pangako. In 2022, I was elected as its clean-and-green officer. Today, I serve as timekeeper for the Biblical Museum and Friendship House construction sites, and am among those who lead devotions every morning. I thank God for His love and care, for His forgiveness, and for the way He has turned my life around. I testify to show how good the Lord is in my life, how He has changed me and blessed me.
All glory to Him alone!
Feature Story
The Rise of Organic Churches
As early as 2018, CCT began to conceive its organic churches. This means that the worship services and outreach are organized by volunteers—from the pastors to the pulpit ministers to the various teams that run the program, church operations, and other related activities.
Most remarkably, what a sight to behold when the kaibigans themselves stand up in front of the altar and manage the back end to usher the community to worship!
As the Lord made it possible, the Lupang Pangako Community Church in Cabanatuan pioneered an organic church in the whole of CCT Group. With the kaibigans being transformed through the years, they have come to regularly worship the Lord with their families. Not only are they being joined by the staff, but also by the neighboring communities outside the Kaibigan Villages. It used to be that non-CCT communities dreaded the kaibigans with the awareness of their past and behavior. They would rather avoid the kaibigans and dare not want to do anything with them. Oh, truly how the Lord touches hearts and changes people!
The entire Kaibigan Villages form part of the Lupang Pangako (LP) faith community together with the local communities. Besides the Sunday worship, the members also engaged in Kids Sunday School, Youth Fellowship,
Midweek Prayer Meeting, Discipleship, Home Bible Studies, and Dance Ministry. These gatherings also serve as a springboard to inviting people from other communities to hear the Word of God. In fact, 27 new church attendees are from the evangelism initiatives of volunteers.
Discipleship is also key to LP being a thriving faith community—all ages, male and female, belong to a discipleship group. In 2022, there were 13 discipleship groups in LP, seven of which were Bible study groups for the community workers and their families.
Pastor David Campanero, LP’s resident pastor, testified, “The spiritual life of our brethren grows because each one is part of a discipleship group. We were able to raise and empower 18 church leaders to handle at least one group for weekly discipleship.”
At the close of the year, the church had 115 active members including adults, youths, and children. About 20% came from the neighboring community. The church was also the highest in terms of tithing and offering across the CCT Group.
Further south, the local church in CCT Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center (TRTC) was organized by a group of volunteers from its manpower team. When it started, it
was confined to worship services. Time and again, with relationship building, they all formed themselves into the Kaibigan Community Fellowship Tagaytay or KCFT.
The church also persevered in discipleship making with six discipleship groups. “We are being known as a family who cares about the poor in our communities by sharing the love of God,” said Pastor Daniel Campanero, the church’s volunteer pastor.
By yearend, the congregation had about 100 regular attendees, around 30% of whom were children and youths. When the younger generation started to join, a special burden for them was stirred among church leaders. Aside from Sunday School and Youth Fellowship, the “millennials and Gen Z” enjoyed the church-initiated sports discipleship with basketball, volleyball, football, and swimming. They also enrolled in music classes and dance workshops.
Nonetheless, the adults remained committed to the growth of the church. While they were experiencing the love of God, they also addressed the needs of others and served them well.
KCFT was also among the highest in tithes and offerings across the CCT Group.
Another story is that of the church in the Cabrera Center. With the center as a hub for social services of the Kaibigan Ministry, it is but as natural for the kaibigans to consider it their home church. Similarly, kaibigans who no longer reside in Lupang Pangako and work outside CCT also became part of the Cabrera faith community. Not only that, adjacent communities also found a church that cares for their spiritual and physical needs.
In 2022, the Cabrera Church also reached out to young people by organizing a sports clinic. All youth members also participated in the quarterly evangelism to reach out to more teens in the communities. Likewise, a Sunday School for the kids ministered to both kaibigans and non-kaibigans.
Pastor Cristopher Solis, the church pastor, said, “Our Kaibigan church further strengthened our ties with the CCT Community Fellowship, Inc., or CFI in line with our convergence endeavor to win more kaibigans for Christ.”
The Cabrera Church had more or less 60 members by end of the year. Among the directions it will embark on is to integrate the kaibigan and local community services as a practical application of discipleship and convergence.
Strengthening Christ-centered Faith Communities
Three organic churches in the Kaibigan Ministry: the Lupang Pangako Community Church in Cabanatuan, the Kaibigan Community Fellowship Tagaytay, and the Cabrera Church in Pasay—all rooted in loving God and loving each other.
One common result of the Kaibigan organic churches was not only the growth in numbers but also, and more importantly, the deepening of spirituality. With a heightened devotion to the Lord, this inspired the church to share the love of God as “He first loved us.”
Another extraordinary outcome was the involvement of non-CCT neighboring communities in the worship services, gatherings, and discipleship. In the process, more people are being reached out for the Gospel.
Fulfilling the Great Commission, “to go and make disciples,” has also been evident among the Kaibigan churches. Every mentoring and life transference, is an act of love between the disciples and those who disciple them. In 2022, there were more than 400 who were discipled with members meeting on a weekly basis.
The Kaibigan fellowships becoming organic churches, has truly become a model and inspiration not only in CCT but also in the community. God be praised!
Feature Story
Homecare: The Kabataan Village
In 2022, one of the major transitions that the Kaibigan Ministry embarked on was extending its homecare for the elderly and the sickly, to the boys who used to be under the care of the Visions of Hope Foundation (VOH) in Magdalena, Laguna.
In December 2021, the Lupang Pangako community welcomed children and youths from VOH to its homecare, now recently called the Kabataan Village, operating 24hour residential care for neglected, abandoned, and abused street children, ages 3–18 years old. At the same time, it still houses the elderly and the sickly.
Imagine a safe and happy place that the children and the elderly could call home—youngsters gain grandfathers while the latter remain young at heart with them. Both enjoy a wholesome experience that caters to their spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, and social needs. Here they are well provided with food, clothing, shelter, among other basic necessities.
A total of 33 children, 11 older people, and five working students found a home and family in the KMI homecare.
Let the Children Come to Jesus
With spiritual development integral to all CCT programs and services, the child experiences a well-rounded journey of change, thus becoming a God-fearing person.
The Kaibigan Ministry strengthened the spiritual disciplines with discipleship groups, morning and evening devotions, as well as midweek and Sunday services. As to the daily devotions, the children were blessed with the materials from partner organization, Awana. They found inspiration from the plenary sessions while being able to express their reflections among the small groups.
By the yearend, there were seven discipleship groups among the children and youth plus two batches from the community outreach. In September, five children and three working students made the decision to be baptized.
A Day in the Life
While both the young ones and the once young take pleasure at the Lord’s provision, they also learned to be responsible with daily assignments to keep the house in order. Duties include kitchen assistance, clean-up of surroundings, garden work, and laundry. Similarly, the elderly assist in front yard cleaning and tending the vegetable garden at the backyard.
Throughout the year, both the children and the seniors were given some time off, to play or unwind. The elderly would enjoy visits to parks and other recreational sites. The teens would play basketball or simply hang out with the other kids in KV 6 Sambahayan. During semester breaks, the youngsters took trips to nearby towns.
Education made Inclusive
Ate Ruth Callanta, president of CCT, has believed and coined the slogan, “Every Child is a Vision of Hope.” And this vision for a brighter future lies in the next generation— street children included. With this comes the commitment to provide quality education especially to the poorest of the poor.
In 2022, the students resumed face-to-face classes. All of them underwent tutorial lessons on reading and foundational skills from the curriculum of the Institute for Foundational Learning (IFL), a partner organization of CCT.
All because of God’s grace, the children in Lupang Pangako were afforded formal education and tutorial classes. For the year that was, with the homecare program, there were 17 children enrolled in nearby Bagong Buhay Elementary School while 13 students went to Camp Tinio National High School. Six were enrolled in college while one underwent the Alternative Learning System.
To make their testimony even sweeter, three of these children won quiz bee and poster-making contests, thus represented their school in the division level. The parents of six graduating students witnessed their Moving Up Ceremony in July.
By the end of year, there were 30 children studying in public schools. Their schools were impressed by how well they did in classes and even in extra-curriculars. The teachers gave feedback that the students were kind, intelligent, and neat.
Meanwhile, 40 community children also benefited from the tutorial assistance after school conducted at Kaibigan Village 1. They learned from the IFL curriculum, and also gained knowledge in Math and Alpabasa, a curriculum endorsed by the CCT Visions of Hope Christian School.
Capacity Building
In July, four teens learned applicable takeaways from the Basic Entrepreneurship and Personality Development and Values Formation given by the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology. Also, the big boys aged 15 years and over, geared up for basic construction skills. Six teens from the homecare also learned from the masonry and carpentry training.
Those under 15 harnessed the entrepreneurial spirit in the garden and in the kitchen. In July 2022, together with the elderly, they planted more than 1,600 calamansi crops. The harvest, besides being served with the meals, was sold. Part of the income went to the children’s savings.
The young people also learned how to save. With the savings program, the children put up a total of PhP17,524 and a few scholars saved PhP4,400.
Health Assistance
By the grace of God, 2022 was generally a healthy year among the residents.
The homecare also looked after their overall health and wellness. Regular medical check-ups were scheduled. Besides the usual cough and colds, some children were treated for skin conditions and ear infections.
Finding a Home and an Extended Family
All the programs and services in the Kabataan Village are designed for community integration. While there are still some challenges in dealing with the teenage boys and difficulty for some in relating with the local community, gradually, character development is being honed in the homecare.
For a year now since their transfer to Cabanatuan, these boys have witnessed the transformation journey of former street dwellers and their families while experiencing their own journey of change together with a larger faith community that has become an extended family.
During the past year, the Kaibigan Ministry scheduled family visitations of parents or relatives, who also joined the worship services. These visits nurtured the connection with their children. Similarly, the kids and teens who still have families went home for vacation and during special occasions. On the other hand, some of the parents spent Christmas Eve in Lupang Pangako. They too were blessed not only with their reunion but also with the sense of family in the homecare.
The goal is to eventually resettle these youngsters with their parents. By the end of the year, out of the 21 boys, two were reconciled with their families whose parents are former street dwellers and are now able to provide for their needs and send them to school. The parents themselves have also been transformed in Christ and can thus be trusted with their children’s faith and future.
From the Valley of Dry Bones to the Promised Land
The story of kaibigans is like the valley of dry bones, yet because of the transforming love and power of God, they are given a new life in Christ. With a home and safe haven, the kaibigans have found their promised land. Your support over the years since the first Kaibigan Village was opened in 2008 enables the whole Kaibigan Ministry to develop the infrastructure in Lupang Pangako—to be able to raise the living standards of kaibigans who are now reformed, to encourage them to be good stewards of the blessings they receive, bringing us closer every day to the fulfillment of our vision of creating lasting wholistic change among the poorest of the poor.
CCT Lupang Pangako, in the province of Nueva Ecija, is a set of noncontiguous villages designated for the growth, development, and residence of street dwellers ministered to by the Kaibigan Ministry.
The goal of Lupang Pangako is to provide a place for kaibigans to live well and continue their journey of change with fellow Christians. To achieve this, various facilities have been built to meet the needs of the residents. Housing projects have been developed to ensure that kaibigans have a comfortable and safe place to call home. A training center was established to provide opportunities for personal and professional growth. Agricultural and entrepreneurial facilities have been put in place to encourage economic development and self-sustainability. Additionally, homecare facilities have been built to support the physical and mental health of residents. By providing these resources, Lupang Pangako aims to encourage kaibigans to stay and continue to build a strong community.
A major infrastructure project, the Living Biblical Museum with the Lupang Hinirang Philippine Museum, was prayerfully planned for and started in 2022. The job
opportunities have become blessings to the surrounding local community. Men were given construction work and women opened small businesses to sell lunch and snacks to the workers.
These museums will be part of an interactive park that highlights CCT’s passion for God and passion for the Philippines. The Living Biblical Museum is CCT’s way to reliving the Christian article of faith—a journey through creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. The Lupang Hinirang Philippine Museum will feature our national heroes with the same Christian values. A groundbreaking ceremony for both was held in October, celebrated by the entire faith community along with the rest of CCT Group, Security Bank Foundation, and Wholistic Transformation Resource Center.
In the same vein, the whole Lupang Pangako faith community has been grateful for both major and minor
infrastructure work and improvements that were done in seven of the 10 Kaibigan Villages in 2022.
KAIBIGAN VILLAGES 1, 2, 3 - Kabuhayan
Since their establishment, Kaibigan Villages 1, 2, and 3 have relied solely on solar panels for lighting and a generator to operate a water pump, as they were off the grid. These villages are dedicated to livestock raising and citrus farming. Of the five prefabricated houses here, one house is used by the agricultural staff, two serve as classrooms where nearby children can take informal reading and writing classes, and two are currently unoccupied.
In 2022, the Kaibigan Ministry staff worked to connect the villages to the local electricity provider to reduce the cost of the generator’s fuel. In addition, to ensure the safety of the livestock, a perimeter fence was constructed using barbed wire and cyclone wire to keep stray dogs out.
Testimony: Roberto Maravilla 17, High School Student
KMI Homecare Program
I don’t remember much about my younger years except that my parents and I had nowhere to live, we often had nothing to eat, and I had nothing good to wear. I don’t even know why my family ended up on the streets or where my parents grew up. I do know, though, that I was born on Recto Avenue in Manila and that my mother didn’t make it to the hospital to give birth to me.
I was eight when Kuya Angel Diel from the Kaibigan Ministry visited Quiapo to extend an invitation to homeless children like me, encouraging us to leave the streets and join other children at Visions of Hope, a home for children in Puypuy, Bay, Laguna. Convincing my mother to let me go was a challenge, but after discussions with my father, she eventually acknowledged that they would not be able to provide for me and granted me permission to take up the offer.
Through the Kaibigan Ministry, God has blessed me with many good things to do and learn. I am in school, I play soccer with other boys, and years ago, we attended swimming lessons. But of all the things I get to do, what I enjoy the most is performing folk dances with the Lupang Pangako Salinlahi.
After high school, I hope to enroll in a maritime course to prepare myself to work on a ship. I want to travel around the world and visit many places beyond the Philippines.
My favorite verse is 1 John 4:8 - “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” I thank God that He loves me. Someday, I want to show my love for Him and for others by bringing older homeless adults to a place where they can be cared for. I also want to help children on the streets by giving them a place to stay, food to eat, and clothes to wear.
KAIBIGAN VILLAGE 6 - Sambahayan
Kaibigan Village 6 is a housing subdivision for kaibigans and for Lupang Pangako staff. It is composed of 20 duplexes or 40 housing units, two 2-story houses, one 2-story pastoral house, a sawali-made house for elderly women, and a basketball court.
Of the 168 residents here as of December 2022, 75% used to live on the streets. Today they live here with their spouses and children, many of whom have no recollection of street dwelling.
Several projects were carried out here to improve the living conditions of the residents. The construction of 10 additional housing units (duplexes 16–20) began in November 2021 and was completed four months later. An elevated water tank was built to meet household water needs, and electrical posts were installed to provide each duplex unit with its own electricity meter. Additionally, the construction of fence grills and installation of a gate improved the security of the households. Partial construction of a drainage system and alley road was done, and to ensure proper maintenance and safekeeping of the Lupang Pangako vehicles, a motor pool shed and office were constructed.
KAIBIGAN VILLAGE 7 - Kanlungan
Kaibigan Village 7 is a housing facility designed to provide accommodation for up to 45 persons. This home is specifically intended for elderly or sickly individuals,
as well as children who have been transferred from the Visions of Hope Homecare for boys. The village offers its residents a calamansi garden and FAITH garden, which provide a space for physical activity, a place to reduce stress and anxiety, something to focus on, and give them a sense of accomplishment.
To improve the quality of life of its residents, several improvements were made to the facilities. To begin with, a deep well was installed to supply water for the homecare facilities. This system is separate from the one that supplies the calamansi farm, ensuring that the water needs of both areas are fully met.
In addition, the temporary shelter for children underwent extensive renovations to create more space and a staff office. These changes will help improve the overall administration of the village and provide more efficient services to its residents.
KAIBIGAN VILLAGE 8 - KAPAHINGAHAN
Kaibigan Village 8 is home to the Kaibigan Chapel, a gathering place where kaibigans have expressed to the Lord joy, gratitude, and reverence without reservation.
It is also the site of the Erlinda Park, named in memory of Architect Erlinda Tan, a staunch supporter of the Kaibigan Ministry. She first designed the place to be a forest park with 3,000 endemic trees.
As of this writing, the site is being developed to feature a Living Biblical Museum with the Lupang Hinirang Philippine
Museum, which will leave a legacy by providing its visitors a historical journey and spiritual experience. A guesthouse inspired by Philippine traditional houses is also being built. The target completion dates are in 2023.
To make the chapel more accessible and welcoming, the fence surrounding the area was renovated. The wooden cross located out front was replaced with a stainless steel version inlaid with LED lights for better visibility both day and night.
KAIBIGAN VILLAGE 9 – KASANAYAN
Kaibigan Village 9 houses the Training and Development Center, several offices of the CCT Group of Ministries, a workshop area, and a warehouse of Sulit Tipid, a social enterprise for the kaibigans and the community.
In 2022, the village underwent construction to improve its facilities. Specifically, a barbed wire fence was changed to a concrete fence, which is more durable and provides better security for the community. The parking lot was also repaired: it doubles as a basketball court, providing an area for recreation and social gatherings. These upgrades have improved the overall functionality and safety of the village, making it a more conducive work station and a welcoming place for residents and visitors alike.
All of these physical structures are tangible results of the love God has put in the hearts of supporters like you, from whom love for kaibigans overflows.
Testimony: Marlon Marog
46 years old, Carpenter
Kaibigang Maaasahan Multipurpose Cooperative
I belong to Mindanao’s Subanon tribe.
My journey began when my mother, one of my father’s two wives, left him. (Polygamy is practiced in our tribe.) My father was abusive to her, and after she left, my father directed his cruelty toward me. One day, he put me in a sack and hung me upside down. He then poked me with the tip of his bolo, a type of machete. Fortunately, a neighbor happened to drop by and rescued me.
I was around 15 years old when I started living at Luneta. An old man who’d probably lived there most of his life gave me some advice on how to make a living. I would collect food from a trash bin and pretend to bump into wealthy or foreign-looking people. I would drop the food and pretend to pick it up and eat it, hoping to gain their pity and receive some money. And I did! However, I soon turned to serious crimes. I served as a lookout while my gangmates robbed passengers on buses or jeepneys. Eventually, I was caught and thrown into jail, where I stayed for ten years for possessing a gun.
After my release from jail, I had nowhere to go but back to the streets. I was among the first kaibigans to be given a ticket and some pocket money by the Kaibigan Ministry to return home. However, in the culture of my tribe, people who have been away for a long time are often assumed to have a lot of money. So, before I left, I committed a robbery all alone and ended up stealing PhP300,000. I brought the money home with me, but it quickly ran out. Over a month later, I found myself back on the streets of Manila, up to my old ways.
One day, I was walking down a street in Pasay, eyeing a Japanese man and planning to rob him. However, I ran into a worker from the Kaibigan Ministry. I confided in him my plan, but he convinced me not to go through with it. Instead, he invited me to come with him to the Cabrera Center. It was there that I was introduced to the Lord Jesus and came to have a relationship with Him. My life began to change from then on because of God’s work.
I took the safety course and finishing carpentry course at CCT Magdalena along with other kaibigans, and have worked steadily with the Kaibigang Maaasahan Multipurpose Cooperative since 2009.
I learned about prayer and faith from the example of Ate Ruth. I was with her and two other CCT leaders when our car got stuck in the mud on a high, isolated road on a dark, rainy day. Ate Ruth gathered us to pray that the Lord would send someone to help us. After she prayed, she said, “Someone among us doubts that we can get out of here, that people will come to our rescue. We all have to be united in faith about this. Otherwise, we will be here for a long time.” It was I who was the doubter.
We held hands again as Ate Ruth prayed a second time. This time, I cast all my doubts away and prayed with faith along with the others. In a few minutes, we saw a group of men coming our way! They were strong enough to lift the car out of the mud.
I never even finished first grade. I only learned to read when another kaibigan showed me how to, using the Tagalog Bible. Strangely enough, I met my wife via text messaging. It was this same kaibigan who taught me how to read who did the texting for me.
Today, my wife and our two daughters live at the Kaibigan Village 6. I love reading the Bible and pray to raise my daughters according to God’s ways. I pray I will never
treat them cruelly. I thank God that they will not have to go through all my harrowing experiences.
I can hardly believe the miracles God has done in my life, and I will never be able to thank Him enough. I used to sleep on a piece of cardboard on the street. Today I get to sleep on a mattress in a house I can call my own. I thank God for this and all the many blessings that have come with my relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Glory to Him alone!
Ate Ruth also vividly recalls this experience with Marlon. As a post script, she shares,
I remember this incident well! When we opened our eyes after the second prayer, I saw a line of men streaming toward us along a narrow path. They positioned themselves around the car and lifted it out of the mud with a few grunts here and there. Finally, we would get to go home! A few minutes later, spying a sari-sari store, I looked around hoping to treat the men with some soft drinks to show our appreciation—but the men had left without a word. I thank God that He sent us those rescuers, and for the miracle of faith planted deep in Marlon’s heart that day.
Board of Trustees
Board of Directors
Alliance of Ministers and Ministries in Nueva Ecija
Anastasia Dy
Antero Sapnu
Ariston Balala
Arvin Careon
Awana
Bagong Buhay Elementary School
Barangay 115, Pasay
Barangay 117, Pasay
Barangay 666, Kalaw
Barangay Bagong Buhay Council
Barangay Camp Tinio Council
Barangay Communal Council
Barangay Kalikid Norte Council
Barangay Macatbong Council
Barangay Pangatian Council
Beebee Chua
Ben and Judy Liuson
Biddy Que
Bread from Heaven Christian Fellowship
Cabanatuan Covenant Ministries Fellowship
Camia Tangco
Central United Methodist Church – Kalaw
Cecilia Chavez–Custodio
Chito and Chit Poblete
City Cooperative Development Council
City Health Clinic 8 – Camp Tinio
City Livelihood and Cooperative Development Office
Cityland Foundation, Inc.
City Social Welfare and Development Office – Cabanatuan
Claire Godalla
