AdventWord: Grow

Originally published on The Episcopal Church's blog as part of AdventWord reflections series.

The Young Adult Service Corps is giving me the opportunity to experience God in another part of his kingdom and build relationships. It has inspired my spiritual and personal growth. I am working alongside our brothers and sisters in the Anglican Communion to promote values of sharing, stewarding God’s creation, and economic development through the Episcopal Church in the Philippines.

Living in a different land, adhering to a new set of social norms, and existing within an unfamiliar system, I’ve encountered new opportunities to strengthen my virtues. When a jeepney leaves an hour past scheduled or electricity is out for two weeks after a typhoon, I have two options. One, I can stick to my default way of being—expecting everything immediately and according to plan. Or, two, going Filipino style—being patient and present together wherever you are, whomever you’re with.

As an American now serving as a missionary abroad, I’ve observed that each culture has unique ways of expressing their values. Experiencing new customs – through observation, being on the receiving end of interaction, or being encouraged to participate myself – I’ve embraced many of the values expressed in the Philippines.

[Are you a young adult Episcopalian ready to serve God and neighbor abroad? Visit the Young Adult Service Corps page to learn more about this amazing program.]

For example, Filipinos pride themselves on their warm hospitality which any visitor will surely experience first-hand upon entering a community. Passersby greet you warmly. Approaching any household, one is quickly invited for coffee and bread, and people take time to sit, talk and be together.

Having experienced this outward expression of inner grace and goodwill, and also having the opportunity to live this custom when visitors enter our office in the diocese, I am inspired to adopt the habit in the U.S. Often, we feel too busy to sit and have a conversation; in the Philippines, it is culturally mandatory! Moreover, this practice truly honors our blessing of fellowship. I will live out this souvenir of the Filipino way with those who cross my path in life going forward.

Having been inspired and given space to grow, I am energized to carry these lessons and values in my ventures beyond YASC. At times, I feel overwhelmed to share all my new experiences with those back home. If I just said it in words, I would spend all my time on writing letters! However, I’ve realized that the lasting treasure is what is being formed into my being. I will share these experiences by exemplifying the lessons in my daily life in due time. The instillation of these virtues is a blessing, and I look forward to living out the truths I’ve discovered here.

In turn, all have the capacity to grow from lessons learned in our walk of life. Spiritual growth is not static. Embrace values that new people and places can teach you. Incorporating these into our lives is a way of honoring our formative experiences as well as sharing the gifts from our path with loved ones.

E-CARE hosts international development training

Twenty-two Anglicans from Myanmar and Mexico journeyed to the Diocese of Santiago for E-CARE’s annual International Development Training, eager to learn how to develop the economic wellbeing of their communities. They came to see how the Episcopal Church in the Philippines established self-reliance as a Church, in pursuit of financial independence themselves. The Diocese of Santiago serves as a shining example of how cooperatives can both empower communities with access to capital and generate income for the church.

Priest and lay members of Christ Episcopal Church share challenges and lessons in forming their savings group.

For one week, trainees, a couple E-CARE community organizers and I immersed ourselves in the St. Williams Multipurpose Cooperative in Paracelis, Mountain Province, surrounded by beautiful lush forest landscape (with no internet or cell service!). We learned firsthand of St. Williams path from a new mission station surrounded only by trees and a few farms in the 1990s to becoming a thriving parish and a catalyst for significant development in the barangay (village).

Inside the main office of St. Williams' savings & lending operations

St. Williams Multi-Purpose Cooperative began as a savings group among 3 of the Episcopal Church women with a capital of about $20. At this time, cash flow was heavily restricted. If a family needed to money for school tuition or if a family member were to fall ill, one would need to walk to the center of town (a half day trek through the mountains) and try to borrow from a wealthy businessman, with no certainty that one might be willing to lend.

They began small, with membership limited to only church women, then all church members, then Anglicans; now, any person who wants to join in the spirit of cooperation is welcome. Over the last 25 years, it has grown to have 1800+ members, 50+ employees, and a capital assets valuation greater than half the municipalities in the Philippines!

Trainees and staff in front of SWMPC main office building

By providing access to capital, St. Williams has promoted the development of the local community -- and their membership is expanding beyond the Cordillera region to all parts of Luzon! They’ve also expanded their services savings and lending, now offering rice and corn processing, rice and corn trading, transport, farm input supply, four general merchandise stores, a pharmacy, an elementary school, a teaching farm and more!

Inspecting milled corn at SWMPC rice and corn processing center

Touring the SWMPC teaching farm

Trainees (and myself!) learned the basics of starting a cooperative from the St. Williams’ staff’s presentations, tours of their facilities and stories of their challenges. Traveling back to Santiago and onto Manila with the trainees, I was encouraged hearing their excitement to apply these lessons in their own communities. Myanmar in particular, in the process of transitioning to democracy from a military regime, has vast potential for growth as community organizing is a relatively new opportunity. We’ll watch and see how these 2 countries (and their Anglican churches) empower people to enhance their livelihoods, support their church and, in turn, assert themselves in true independence.

Trainees participate in a workshop creating a coop plan to generate income for their parish

International fellowship!

A provincial church's journey to self-reliance & sharing

Walking up the small hill to St. Stephen's Parish of Namillangan, Alfonso Lista, Ifugao Province, visitors are welcomed by good energy. Perhaps from the cool space shaded by the tall mango trees planted by the congregation sheltering us from the hot Filipino climate, or perhaps the array of tropical plants that surround the church building and throughout the compound, or maybe still it’s the open hearts of the church members, set on following the Good and sharing love with all.

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Ifugao Province, Philippines

Founded as an organized mission in 1976, the church community is home to members, most of whom are small-scale farmers, cultivating rice or corn fields and fish ponds. While not financially well-endowed, the members of this parish are strong givers. St. Stephen’s was able to become an aided parish in 2009 and a ‘full-fledged parish’ in 2013, being totally self-reliant and generating all operating expense funds. While some parishes achieve this through income-generating projects like farming or food production, others do so through creating a cooperative to support the church. St. Stephen’s, however, established self-reliance solely through membership giving. Fr. Constantio Abbugao, rector of St. Stephen’s, or ‘Padi Tando’, as called by all, attributes this success to preaching on stewardship, regular Bible studies and periodic retreats.

Even though self-reliance is achieved through giving, members are still keen on earning extra income for the parish and themselves. They have participated in a number of varied income-generating projects, including a beekeeping, livestock raising, water sanitation, microlending, and soapmaking. Through these projects they’ve learned lessons, strengthened their project management approach, and proven their spirit of resilience in overcoming challenges.

In 2008, the congregation began a beekeeping project in which the members would manage a hive in a newly constructed building adjacent to the church. Members were trained, materials were purchased, a professional bee consultant was hired. The feasibility study was complete, and by all estimates, the project would surely be a success. The bees arrived, and members were maintaining the hive. However, as the weeks passed, the bees became fewer and fewer. One thing the feasibility study did not account for was that the areas surrounding the community are corn fields which are heavily sprayed with chemicals which are toxic to the bees. The bees steadily declined, and the project failed.

St. Stephen's church members sharing their story of self-reliance with Anglicans from Myanmar and Mexico at E-CARE's recent International Development Training.

With the project’s remaining funds, the group decided to invest them in a livestock raising project with a ‘receiver to giver’ model. The first round of beneficiaries each received 2 piglets. They feed and raise them, and when the sow gave birth, the parishioner returns 4 piglets to the parish. Of this four, two go to the next round of recipients, and two are used for income to the parish. Thus, the project is self-sustaining and also supports the church. The church has granted back 70,000 pesos (nearly $1,600, exchange rate 2013) to the diocese. On top of that, additional income from the project has been used to capitalize a water sanitation and refilling project to serve the outside community’s needs for clean, accessible drinking water. Most of the project’s financing, however, was contributed by the lending organization’s own member share capital. The water project is still in the process of becoming operational. In the meantime, the organization is now tight on cash for its members’ lending needs

Organic pigs at St. Stephen's rectory

In 2012, the congregation used their existing building from the beekeeping project to begin a new enterprise: soapmaking. The community uses natural ingredients from readily accessible tropical plants and sells their products locally and through E-CARE outlet stores. Church members who assist are given a wage based upon the number of hours worked. Part of the income as well is dedicated to additional support for the church.

The three main church organizations [Brotherhood of Saint Andrews (BSA), Episcopal Church Women (ECW) and the youth organization (SKEP)] all have microlending associations with capital generated by membership support. Members borrow for livelihood projects and repay funds with a small interest. Even the SKEP has a microlending group, to gain experience in smart financial practice and the importance of cooperation early on. Using income from this lending group, the SKEP recently renovated the church’s front signage; even St. Stephen’s youth demonstrate true churchmanship and the spirit of giving! The BSA has a lending capital of 145,000 pesos; however, the needs of the group are now exceeding this capacity, as many are eager to further invest in farm livelihood projects.

Of the 266 total members of St. Stephen’s, 158 active members regularly attend Sunday services. On a given Sunday, nearly 100 fill the pews. Together they achieve the parish dream of self-reliance by giving through harvest offerings, annual pledges, special offerings and more to account for more than 430,000 pesos (nearly $8,600 at current exchange rate) annually.

Now, they are eager to enhance their savings and lending operations and continue to further the spirit of cooperation and sharing within the community and to accomplish the following objectives:

Happy Filipino American Friendship Day!!

While back in the States, we're eating barbecue and setting fireworks to celebrate our own independence, July 4th also marks another holiday: Filipino American Friendship Day! The day commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Manila, which granted the Philippines independence from the US in 1946, after being a US territory since 1898.

Filipinos celebrate their Independence Day, however, on June 12, marking the day Emilio Aguinaldo declared the Philippines as independent from Spain. July 4th is also known in the Philippines as Republic Day. While it stopped being observed as a national holiday in the mid-80s, it's still a great day to wish your Filipino friends a happy friendship day!

Good times with American and Filipino friends and coworkers at my despedida last September.

Organizing for Development: Vegetable Growers of St. Cyril Parish, Quirino

A Wednesday afternoon in Quirino Province, in a church nestled in the foothills of the Cordillera mountains, twenty or so women gather in St. Cyril Episcopal Church to discuss the policies and procedures for their newly formed cooperative organization. Most of the members sustain their livelihoods through vegetable farming, making barely enough to cover household expenses.

E-CARE community organizers walk in to join the meeting. The agenda for the day is to finalize the organization’s policies and procedures for member lending. E-CARE must oversee the process to ensure guidelines are in place so community.

The discussion begins with Jane, this community’s E-CARE project officer, making recommendations for the group and sharing policies of the Receivers 2 Givers program (through which community groups avail of funds which they then grant onto other communities in the program). The organization’s leaders, too, share their ideas, and members evaluate what will be best for their purposes.

The main point of discussion was the amount of share capital members should contribute before being able to borrow from the organization’s funds. Some were unhappy the set amount of individual share capital was so high (10% of the total amount they seek to borrow) because it prohibited them from borrowing a higher amount. However, this policy is necessary to ensure members don’t borrow more than they are able to repay and go into debt. E-CARE must ensure members are borrowing responsibly, so we oversee the fledgling organization’s policy development.

After the meeting, community members share their stories. This woman, like most in the organization, is a vegetable farmer. She appreciates how the AWD trainings
have equipped her with household budgeting skills. She avails of R2G funds and is thankful that the add-on is lower than interest rates of available lending options, so her family can increase their household income to send their children to school.

Another woman also avails of R2G funds to support her vegetable farming livelihood. She has struggled to make payments on time but is working hard to grantback and using skills gained through trainings.

All members share a similar experience: enhancing financial literacy through trainings, increasing their household income through the R2G program. Furthermore, as a whole, the community is enhancing their social capital -- forming bonds of trust and developing their ability to work together.

(Stay tuned -- videos coming soon!)

Happy Filipino Independence Day!

June 12 marks the day which the Philippines gained independence from Spain in 1898, after 350+ years of oppressive Spanish rule. After that, however, the Philippines would be occupied by the Americans for another 50 years before they would fully gain their independence as a nation.

Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, wrote essays promoting political reform under Spanish rule. Although he did not directly advocate for revolution, the uprising was inspired by his works, and he was put to death by the Spanish for treason.

Nationalist writers who furthered his ideology also asserted that any nation should account for itself as an independent member of the international arena. A nation should work to be able to support itself and the needs of its people, not dependent on foreign aid and catering to the wishes of a larger power. This value is captured in the vision and mission of The E-CARE Foundation too, which empowers communities to become self-reliant, harnessing their own strengths, and to in turn help their fellow countrymen.

From a visit to E-CARE's housing project in the Visayas region, which was devastated by supertyphoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013. These Filipinos aren't taking a handout, but building their own houses by making their own eco-friendly hollow blocks & selling the surplus to pay for their land. True asset-based development & Receiving 2 Giving transformation!

Celebrating the life of Fr. Mark Ventura

Human rights, indigenous rights and environmental integrity were the advocacies of Fr. Mark Ventura, a Catholic priest who was shot dead earlier this month while blessing children after Sunday mass. His death’s investigation is still pending, yet his activism against mining interests are a likely reason vested interests would want to off him.

I accompanied the contingency of Episcopal priests who traveled to Tuguegaerao to attend the ecumenical service the following Sunday. Speakers praised Fr. Ventura’s life work of attending to the most marginalized communities in the Cagayan Valley and advocating for their rights and wellbeing in the face of mining companies.

Fr. Ventura’s murder fits into a larger picture of targeting environmental and human rights activists. Four months prior, another activist Catholic priest was assassinated. Last year, a vocal bishop was detained as a political prisoner. The government released a list of 600 names of ‘suspected terrorists’ including NGO workers and even UN special rapporteur and human rights advocate, Vicki Tauli-Corpuz. On top of that, the number of extra-judicial killings under the Duterte administration has reached 14,000.

“This administration has gone on for too long allowing extra-judicial killings in the name of anti-drug and anti-terrorist activities,” one priest emphatically pronounced.

Referring to Fr. Ventura’s enemies, another clergy leader raised a good point: “if these people will kill an ordained servant in Christ’s church, then we can be certain they will not hesitate to disregard the rights of the most marginalized among us.”

Inspiring the packed room of family, friends and supporters of Fr. Ventura’s cause, Bishop Wandag of the Episcopal Diocese of Santiago remarked that although Fr. Mark Ventura was killed, his life’s work will not die. The people will not be deterred by intimidation and continue to advocate for community rights and wellbeing.

On the other hand, President Duterte, attempting to discredit the belief that this assassination is related to Fr. Ventura’s activism, has accused the priest of being a womanizer. He even presented a matrix of women he’s accusing the Catholic priest of sleeping with, although previous matrices of his have been found incorrect.

The community is still seeking justice for their beloved priest. Meanwhile, NGOs and communities are still organizing to continue Fr. Mark Ventura’s legacy, championing indigenous rights, sustaining creation and the wellbeing of communities over pollution-related profits.