“An Unwavering Resolve to Transform Lives”

 

Message of Dr. Cezar T. Quiambao on the 2nd Recalibration of the Bayambang Poverty Reduction Plan (BPRP)

MESSAGE

 

“An Unwavering Resolve to Transform Lives”

We are now on the eighth year of our Rebolusyon Laban sa Kahirapan. Only two years remain before we reach our tenth year. Are we still up for it? Haven’t we grown tired of the Rebolusyon Laban sa Kahirapan?

If you ask me, my answer is no. Absolutely not! I will never grow tired of fighting poverty. Yes, it can be exhausting, but helping others never becomes tiresome. In fact, it is inspiring, and it makes you feel young. It never gets old to help transform our community and improve the lives of our fellow citizens. It is never tiring to give hope without pretense or political motives. And it is never a burden to help your community and raise the standard of living of its people.

In our eight years of the Rebolusyon Laban sa Kahirapan, we have learned many lessons because we have undertaken many projects. Admittedly, not all of our projects have been completely successful, but every lesson we have learned is valuable because it allows us to try again using a different strategy.

That is why we gathered once again to recalibrate. And in that activity, one of the important lessons we have learned is this: many of the factors in our fight against poverty are beyond our control. That is why we often coordinate with different levels and agencies of government, as well as with private organizations.

Nevertheless, while there are things beyond our control—such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and natural disasters—we can focus on the things we can control, on acting on what is within our sphere of influence.

Limited means and resources simply mean that we can choose to be creative. On our eighth year, I am grateful to everyone who has helped and contributed ideas to advance the Revolution in different ways. That means all of you involved in this recalibration activity, so let us give ourselves a round of applause.

Instead of complaining that “it is difficult to be poor,” we took action. Our accomplishments clearly show that we were not wrong to launch a Revolution. It turns out that there is nothing wrong with dreaming big! Ambition has helped us succeed. Having a vision and a mission has given us direction. Even now, we should already be grateful that we had the courage to launch a Revolution.

Our recalibration activity, the second one we have done, has detailed what we have accomplished, and here we can clearly see one thing: Change--real, wide-ranging change--is indeed possible! If your intentions are sincere and genuine, it is possible to create change without harming anyone. God blesses your efforts.

Throughout our journey so far, we have faced many challenges, but we have also received many blessings that were not part of our plans and that we never expected. The only people who were not happy with what we have accomplished are those who have nothing better to do—those who have done nothing but try to tear us down.

But we will not be defeated by naysayers. We will not be shaken by ill will. We will not be overcome by negativity and the selfish ambitions.

We have been at this for eight years—we are not going to give up now. Therefore, let us continue our Revolution!

Long live the Rebolusyon Laban sa Kahirapan!
Long live the people of Bayambang!

 

DR. CEZAR T. QUIAMBAO

Founder of Rebolusyon Laban sa Kahirapan