There is a dictum THAT says wise men count their blessings, the fools, their problems. In PONDO NG PINOY all that we can remember, everything that we count, every bit and item received and shared are blessings. From the time of its launching on June 12, 2004, nay from the moment of conceiving the idea of sharing little pieces of bread, a few centavos, done in love for God and in compassion for the poor, people came in groups, in threes and twos, as family, as friends, as parishes --- they, like you and you among them, you are the friends and children of PONDO NG PINOY.

What makes PONDO NG PINOY so appealing, so alluring to people? There’s a certain attractiveness to PONDO NG PINOY. God put it there.

First of all, PONDO NG PINOY simplifies good acts! Gone are the thoughts and days when one must think of great things to give or wait for a colossal occasion to donate or display a benefaction or donation. Goodness can equally be shared by the big and the small, the rich and the poor. It is PONDO NG PINOY that has glorified the twenty-five centavo coin. Was that small coin in currency incapable of buying a piece of candy? Truth to say, a 25-centavo coin may not even be enough to pay for the wrapping of the candy. Children do not even play with it; they kick the coin under the table, chair or pavement. Today and because of PONDO NG PINOY the young and the old collect the same useless coin, put them in plastic bottle containers and like the piece of bread and crumbs gathered in the Gospel they form the core of the present day miracle of feeding the malnourished and building homes for the poor, giving water, and form a sum loaned to the poor for a small business start-up.

Second. The movement, PONDO NG PINOY, has reminded us (if not taught us) that the little bit of a 25-centavo coin can be tagged with the love of Jesus Christ. So powerful/commanding is that piece of coin that it can be given in the name of the love of Jesus. PONDO NG PINOY has taught us, young and old, that when you “whisper a prayer” as you drop the coin into the bottle or any container, the coin, small as it is, becomes a prayer, yet still in the bottle it speaks to those who see. It appeals to others “come and join me.” But above all, the prayer is to Jesus, “Dearest Lord, this is only a small, nearly useless coin, but begin the miracle now—touch the hunger, the thirst and the needs of others, especially the poor, with this coin.”

Third. Any Filipino can easily identify with the littleness of the movement of PONDO NG PINOY. This is the easiest movement to join. One does not even have to give his or her name. No ID’s needed, no endorsement required. No checking, you check yourself. No reminding, you remind yourself. When you love, and PONDO NG PINOY is a movement, a crusade of love for God and compassion for those who are needy, every little chance to say “I love you” becomes “I do this because I love you.” It is the littleness of even the act of smiling if a coin is not available that appeals to people, like you and me. It is so easy to become part of the little; it is almost natural to identify with the least. It is so easy to become friend of the weak. Everybody loves the underdog. It is a very good beginning; love the weak. Jesus loved the poor. What else do you make of PONDO NG PINOY, if not "the embrace of the poor”?

Fourth. PONDO NG PINOY gives you the chance not only to give, but to serve others. This reminds us of the saying of Jesus Christ that He came to serve and not to be served. (Mark 10:45). When any person serves s/he gets a new purpose in life. Just try giving something no matter how small, and immediately a new purpose looms in your life. Why did you do it? Why did you give? A new direction bids you to go forward. When you give, you are (being) called to pursue this path. You are actually being accompanied to renew yourself. Magbigay ka sa PONDO NG PINOY at dahan-dahang magbabago ang pala-isipam mo, and pagpapahalaga mo.

PONDO NG PINOY helps change one’s attitude and purifies individual values for how can one explain repeated little acts and yet the same is done with regularity and above all with joy? Through those daily and repeated acts something changes in the attitude or mental outlook of the PONDO NG PINOY practitioner. He becomes more generous, not only in giving or lending little help. Above all this big or little practitioner slowly becomes big hearted; he is more ready to understand, to be kinder in his thoughts and in his heart. Ang kasama sa PONDO NG PINOY ay madaling makaunawa.

At kapag hawak-hawak na niya ang beinte-singko at may ibinulong siya kay Kristo. Ang sarili na niya ang simula ng milagro. Madali siyang maaawa! Ito ang dahilan kung bakit ang Pag-ibig ng Panginoon ang siyang magiging Pag-asa ng Pilpino!

Ang PONDO NG PINOY ay isang pandayan ng mabuting tao na dahan-dahang, sa tulong nga maliliit na pagsasanay sa kaliitan at kabutihang ipinangaral at ipinakita ni Kristo ay gagawain na ikaw at ako, TAYO ay magiging mga taong tunay na kalarawan ng Maykapal, mabubuting Pilipino, Mamayan at Kristiyano.

PONDO NG PINOY is a workshop, a workplace where through the means of little acts of kindness symbolized by the littlest good act (“like a mustard seed”), any person, young or old, of whatever status, creed and persuasion is tutored to be alert and sensitive to the needs of others. The key to all these is the love that Jesus Christ taught and lived for us. In a certain sense, PONDO NG PINOY is a school in life where character and virtue, principles and values are intertwined. No classroom lectures, none of the experts’ elucidation. PONDO NG PINOY’s laboratory is life itself. You have been loved by no less than God; love has been shared with you by those who love you—parents, elders, and the family. Awaken to that giftedness. You are loved. DO LIKEWISE!

Lastly, in PONDO NG PINOY you see many faces. Friends, acquaintances, classmates, officemates, bosses, employers and employees, the rich and the poor, the families—all believing in the one thing Jesus that taught—that love is still and is always possible in any and every circumstance. No matter how dark is the night and dreary the surrounding and still made darker by others, in PONDO NG PINOY we say love is still possible. And the beauty of it all and with the guarantee of Jesus, democratized charity and love. Today before God and with our communities as witnesses—not only the rich or the better abler are capable of helping. Even the poor, the little children can live—not just give—a life of charity and love. In a democracy of love there are many acts of kindness, but only one way of life, style of life and hierarchy of values—Love, PAGMAMAHAL SA DIYOS AT SA KAPWA. All our acts in life, in the community begin, end and are summarized in love.

Iisa ang mukha ng bawat PONDO NG PINOY PRACTITIONER—MUKHA NG NAGMAMAHAL.

In PONDO NG PINOY we all look alike—we are all, please God, trying to be, appear CHRIST-LIKE.

This too is the reason why the story of one is the story of everyone. Again we will this time, hear the true story of JAYJAY ESTRADA. This time from his own mother and teacher. They will tell you who JAYJAY was, how old, how young and yet how faithful to PONDO NG PINOY until his last.

But that is the beauty of PONDO NG PINOY, everyone’s good story and good points are also your story. It has to be our same story and life…because every good act, every 25-centavos is the love JESUS retold again and this time in your life.

PRAISE THE LORD FOR PONDO NG PINOY!