GKK of San

Isidro
Labrador

Submitted to:
Prof. Joel A. Reyes, Ph.D.
Submitted by:
Jen Maramion

I. Introduction
A. Background of the Study
The GKK was widely known as the Basic Ecclesial Communities or
BECs and in Mindanao it was locally called the Gagmayng
Kristohanong Katalingban or GKKs. Their origin can be traced to the
First Mindanao-Sulu Pastoral Conference or MSPC I in 1971 which was
held in Davao City. The description from MSPC I of worshipping,
teaching, and serving communities paved the way to build the GKK.
GKKs were described as a new way of being church. Because they
are one of the ways of making the local Church of Davao a participatory,
co-responsible and missionary Church. GKKs are a reflection of the
Trinitarian relationship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
I was motivated to do this research because of my teacher in R.S
300, who is Prof. Joel A. Reyes, that even though Im not Catholic this
research will help me to understand the catholic faith more and even
though its the smallest Catholic organization it still is able to help people
within its area because the people who spread these different GKKs
know how to get along with other people. And by this, together, they all
help build faith.

B. Statement of the Problem

There are 250+ households were registered in the GKK communities

but whenever there is a program that was organized by the GKK out of
250 household registered not less than 25 attended the program and out
of that 25 people attended only few will participate so it was a struggle
for those who have positions in the GKKs. Since the GKK in San Isidro
Labrador dont have any financial issues because even though some of
the members of the households dont attend but when they needed help
in the financial department they come to aid the GKKs but their main
concern is that how can they get the attention of the households
registered to participate in the GKK?
C. Objective of the Study
The Objective of this study is to:
Know the reason why they cant get the attention of the other
members of the GKKs
Identify why are there are few members attending the GKKs
D. Significance of the Study
This study was made because the researcher wants the people to
understand more what is happening inside the GKK>their problems,
practices and activities. What are the benefits that can take upon this
research? Firsts to have a better knowledge about your GKK.and for
the people out there to know how it is important to have a GKK in
your community.

II. Historical Background

In the Philippines, the formation of BECs have been adopted as the

pastoral priority of the Church throughout the country. In 1991, the Second
Plenary Council of the Philippines decreed: "Basic Ecclesial Communities
under various names and forms must be vigorously promoted for the full
living of the Christian vocation in both urban and rural area. The council
directed the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to
"issue an official statement on BECs, on their nature and functions as
recognized by the Church, making it clear that they are not simply another
organization. This official statement of the CBCP shall be, among others
things, for the proper orienting of priests and seminarians. Training for work
with BECs shall be made part of seminary formation." In 2007, the Catholic
Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) established the Episcopal
Committee on Basic Ecclesial Communities with the task of assisting the
dioceses in the promotion and formation of BECs.
The beginnings of the GKK of San Isidro Labrador can be traced way
back May 15, 1944 it was 66 years since its first mass was held. Their
founders were a resident in the Ma-a proper namely in their surnames
Olisbo and Villarosa who take action to have a GKK in their community.
The founders were members of Ma-a Catholic Association and their GKK is
also one of the oldest GKK ever built in the Ma-a proper. The persons who
helped formed the GKK are not all Roman Catholic, some were Seventh day Adventist and other religions that helped build the GKK of San Isidro
Labrador. Their first members were also non catholic as they were only
starting building up the new GKK that had been ordained. Their first mass
was on May 15, 1944 and they warmly welcomed all the residents in the

Ma-a proper to join them in their first mass and to celebrate with them in
the successful of building the GKK of San Isidro Labrador.
The land that rested the GKK of San Isidro Labrador was not donated
then later on they applied the land in NAPCO at Toril because it was a
public land.

III. Programs and Activities

The GKK in where I held my research held different kind of programs

and activities. Their Programs were always held by the active members of
the said GKK like the KSP is held every Friday around 8 in the evening
which was programmed by the officers and attended by the members. Their
GKK masses was held every month along with the priest who will pangulo
the mass and it is also the priest who will determined the mass what date
and what time. And they also have this unique program called the Zonal
meeting were all the affected zones in the GKK of San Isidro Labrador are
obliged to attend and discuss their matters of their assigned chapels. The
Zonal meeting composed of the three zones affected the said GKK which
hold 8 chapels in all of the three zones. Their meeting are always held
every 3rd Saturday of the month. They gather weekly in their chapel to
celebrate the Liturgy of the Word presided by lay leaders.
GKK of San Isidro Labrador have communal liturgies or rituals for
various occasions (birthdays, planting & harvesting, sickness, wakes &
funerals) like the Flores de mayo which will be held for the whole month of
May. During the month of May. The Catholic, celebrate the beneficial rains
by giving praise to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The townsfolk gather the
colorful flowers to decorate the Parish Church altars and aisles. They
bundle the flower in arrangements for the many different festivities all
together referred to as the "Flores De Mayo". Many towns celebrate Flores
De Mayo with the community congregating in the afternoons to pray the
rosary, offer flowers to the Virgin Mary, and share homemade delicacies
and snacks. Children and adults wearing their Sunday best sing and dance

to welcome the rains that will water the new crops and throw the fresh pick
flowers in the road as they passed by.
They also held activity were they donated a one whole sack of rice to
the students who were a student priests in the St. Francis Xavier every
month to aid them in their other matter in food for them only to focus their
study and not to bother anymore in finding some rice or foods. They also
held the Holy Rosary, Legions of Mary, the Divine Mercy, and especially the
Novena. Novena comes from the Latin Language and means nine. As used
by Catholics this means a series of nine prayers. Usually the series refers
to a prayer or devotion offered on nine consecutive days, but the series
could be a series of devotions for nine consecutive weeks, or months.

IV. Observation and Personal Comment

On Friday night. I went to the chapel where the GKK was and
there was a kasaulogan held. I thought that priest were preaching and
spreading the word of God but it was their lay ministers as non-Catholic, I
was a little confuse but later on I carried on my research and realize that
there are only few people who attended the GKK but even though they are
few you can still how active they can be even though they are small in
numbers and their number of people attended the kasaulogan didnt bother
them and continuing their program successfully until the end.

It was little hard for me because Im not a Roman Catholic and I

dont have knowledge about the GKK even a little or heard about it. It
was only when my teacher in religion made us to do some research
about the GKK or Gagmayng Kristohanong Katalingban. It was not that
this research was a requirement to us that motivates me but I want to
know how the GKK works because it intrigues me and how just the
smallest catholic organizations, hand-in-hand communities can help one
another achieve a greater good through the strength of their faith alone.

V. Conclusion and Recommendations

This research study has brought me into conclusion that the basic
ecclesial community or locally known as GKK or Gagmayng Kristohanong
Katalingban, even though their small in number or only few supported
them, they can make a difference by handling a program for youth that will
strengthen their faith in God and treat everybody like family from the people
who are poor to rich and accept them who they are. And even they are
small in community but their work can be evaluated as big as a city, hand in
hand to build a brighter future and a stronger faith to face every trials and
temptations.
As for me I would like to recommend to everybody to give the GKK a
try as what the famous quote says dont judge the book by its cover even
though their small they can make a big difference in yourself and can move
your heart and every one should support the GKK because they are still
part of the church communities and other people be little it because theyre
small and they didnt know how important the GKK can be in their
community because the people in there are very heart whelming persons
that even you turn away from the church they will be the first one to
welcome you warmly and be happy that youve come back.