Pondo ng Pinoy

In 1991, during the historical Second Plenary Council of the Philippines, the Philippine Bishops emphasized as a major priority their support for the Church of the Poor. Sadly, ten years thereafter, the Bishops conceded that very little has been done about this.
Six months after he was installed as Archbishop of Manila, Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales, together with 13 other dioceses of the Ecclesiastical Province of Manila, have launched the Archdiocese's "Pondo ng Pinoy" [Funds of the Filipino]. It is a movement which banks on a massive catechetical program in preparation for the concrete act by individuals and families of setting aside 25 centavos [circa Euro .005] in receptacles to be offered on Sunday Masses or in schools, offices and participating private institutions. It is a movement towards the Church of the Poor.

Urban poor
The "Pondo ng Pinoy" is the Theology of the Crumbs, based on the parable presented by Jesus Christ, of Lazarus who longed for merely the scraps and crumbs that fell from the rich table of Dives [Luke 16:19-31].
During a press briefing today, Mons. Gerardo Santos of the Archdiocesan Catechetical Ministry pointed out that at least 52 percent of the 10 million
residents of Metro Manila are the urban poor, some living in the streets or even under bridges. Some opt to leave the country, to find jobs abroad despite the risks. Seeing the 'signs of the times', Archbishop Rosales shared his vision with the Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Manila, his clergy, lay leaders, consecrated persons and religious sisters. "That translation of vision to reality is now what we call PONDO NG PINOY," said Mons. Santos.

Building again
As the new Archbishop of Manila, Mons. Rosales has been talking about the movement in parishes and youth gatherings. Already in his Easter Pastoral Message, he explained that this movement "will be about building up again the people, the poor, the undignified, those with less food, homes and name. It is all about us regaining the attitudes that respect others and about
values that build mutually helpful kindness." It will take the people "beyond the politics of money, power, class, greed and family ambitions that has held us captive for many generations,” he added.

Development program
Father Anton Pascual of Caritas Manila calls it a development program, a progress to the people program. "It is an evangelization program."
The "crumbs" of the 'Pondo' program are the 25-centavo coin contributions from the people. Mons. Rosales emphasized that it is not the gathering
of the coins that is important here, but the motivation of the giver. That motivation is love, he said. And it is love done in small amounts but in a consistent manner.
Whatever will be collected will come into a community foundation which would finance projects for the poor, like livelihood, housing, restorative justice, among others.
"W will inaugurate a movement that will please God. You will see how these things will translate to the lives of the little people. And like any beginnings, it will be small - like a mustard seed," Mons. Rosales said.
The Archbishop also pointed out that, as reported by the World Bank, 40 percent of the government's annual budget is lost to graft and corruption, "Our politics is so full of self-ambition, pride and greed." The greatest tyrants over the Filipinos are the country's leaders, not the foreign colonizers, Mons. Rosales said. He continued, "We are going to move towards the full development of our brothers and sisters, especially
the poor who can no longer afford another misadventure of any kind by any group."

Signs of the times
It is these "signs of the times" which motivated the Church to launch the movement based on the "Theology of the Crumbs". "An educational component, called catechesis, will always accompany the witnessing to the values of Pondo ng Pinoy," explained Mons. Rosales. He urged everybody to contribute in this movement.
In our society, he said, the poor are in a disadvantaged position, because: they are not given by government opportunities in finding work in the
country; they do not have any security and lack influences from those in power.
Professor Ernesto Gonzales of the University of Santo Tomas Social Research Center said that in the country, the middle class is decreasing, while the gap between the rich and the poor is increasing.
Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle of Imus, Cavite, explained the Theology of the Crumbs through the symptoms of our leaders: their relationship with material objects like money, their economics of affluence and acquisition;
the politics of marginalization; and the religion of alienation or having merely an "occasional God."<WM