PASSION FOR LIFE

Last night was the GK Christmas party, with a thematic dress up of the 80's. It was one of the coolest parties I know. Some dressed up in TOYOTA-CRISPA basketball uniforms, many had the Debbie Gibson look, some the Madonna look, and most guys with the folded sleeve open polo and undershirt with a touch of "pang baha" fold on the pants. The GK drivers, janitors, and messengers dressed up like CEO partners with coat and tie.

A particular symbol caught my eye: the ones dressed in the 1986 Edsa revolution theme. Reminds me of the unity of the Filipino people to bring back democracy into the land. Yet, if you observe 20 years after the revolution, we have become worse than before. But hope is not gone. It took 20 years to birth a movement that will renew the face of the Philippines -- Gawad Kalinga. The call to make every Filipino a hero started in 1986 and the concrete response 20 years later through GK1mb -- Gawad Kalinga Isang Milyong Bayani. Let us bring the revolution from the streets to the communities!

I just experienced my first Go Kart Ride. For someone who doesn't know how to drive, its an adrenaline rush.

Two basics in Go Karts: Accelerate and Brake. You can either go full speed or full stop. But a skillful mix of both will give you the speed you desire and the control that you need. How do I relate this to my own life? For most of the time, I want people around me to improve. I want them to accelerate to meet my expectations. I become impatient. I realize that it should be a mix of expecting them to improve, but at the same time giving them time to brake for learning.

I also get impatient with myself. I want to achieve so many things all at the same time. I want fast results. But the faster I go, the faster I get lost and out of track. I also need to decrease some speed to be able to handle the sharp curves and turns of life. Otherwise I'll just crash on the sidelines.

What is power? According to Dictionary.com it is the "ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something."

In the Philippine setting, it is usually connoted with politics or position. Is power really about position? I do not think so. Power is about making things happen according to your capacity or capability.

As I am now handling the Kids for Christ ministry, I see a lot of power in the kids. Some may say," What can kids do? Aren't they too small and too young to do anything significant?" Yes, they may be small and they may be young, but indeed they can impact the world like none other.

Kids can pray with the purest of intentions. Now, that's power. When they pray to God, surely God honors their petitions and thanksgiving. The Lord said, "Let the children come to me..."

Kids can share without pre judgement. When we give, we often judge the receiver, questioning their intentions. When kids give, they give with their whole heart. It is not easy for them to share for they act by instinct. But when they do, they emit a love so great, its life-changing.

Kids can build the nation. To date, we have 12 Gawad Kalinga Villages. They were built by the sacrifices of the kids by dropping coins in a cannister and helping build the village themselves. Small acts, great impact.

Kids have the power of prayer, the power of sharing, and the power to build. They do all these because of one main reason: love. Love is the greatest power anybody can possess. Kids may be small, but power is not about size, its about heart.