Our guest-of-honor and speaker for this morning is a man of modest

beginnings, yet possessed with an extraordinary grand vision for

humanity, largely borne out of his genuine compassion for the poor,
the disadvantaged, and the environment which we all live in. Born
on June 5, 1946 in Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte from God-fearing
parents who have helped mold and shape him to be the charismatic,
yet incredibly humble community builder that he is today, our
speaker is a self-made man who exudes the joy and the passion for
hard work, integrity and peace through social justice.

Before he committed himself to a lifetime of religious service, he

first set his eyes on a career in engineering. He completed a Bachelor
of Science degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of
Sto. Tomas before, only a short time later, he answered God’s call to
be “Fishers of Men.” He later completed his Bachelor of Arts in
Philosophy at the Divine Word Seminary in 1972 and, thereafter,
pursued his Master of Science in Guidance and Counseling at the De
La Salle University. He took his Post Graduate course at the
Gregorian University in Rome where he earned his Licentiate in
Sacred Theology in 1978 and, later, his Doctoral in Sacred Theology
in 1985.

He began his ministry as parish priest at the Parish of the Risen

Christ in Smokey Mountain in Tondo, Manila, whose 25,000-
member congregation largely resided in a huge garbage dump, most
of whom earned their meager wages by scavenging from the daily
garbage dumped into the area. Here he began the SAMBAYANAN NG
MULING PAGKABUHAY MULTI-PURPOSE COOPERATIVE, where
residents were able to form their Basic Ecclesial Communities, the
main thrust of which is not only providing a more decent livelihood
for the scavengers and their families, but also in the inculturation of
the Christian faith into their way of life. Today, he has spent a total
of over a quarter-of-a-century working with the “scavenger
residents” living atop of the third largest untreated garbage dump in
the world.

His advocacy spans three broad sectors, which he calls the THREE
‘Es’: education, economy and environment.

For education, he founded the SANDIWAAN CENTER FOR

LEARNING, an active, non-formal education system, with computer-
based literacy and education for underprivileged children, out-of-
school youths and young mothers. Through this center, a digitalized
program of 150 modules of DepEd’s Bureau of Non-Formal
Education was developed and done in partnership with the
Polytechnic University of the Philippines. In 2014, using cloud-based
technologies, artificial intelligence and data analytics, the center
introduced an adaptive learning environment system accessible
through mobile phone aimed to track student engagement and
progress.

For the economy, he organized a social enterprise system to connect

the urban poor with impoverished farmers and fishermen so that
they can trade directly through the Veritas e-Trading network. As
Lead Coordinator to the Philippine Sustainability Challenge, he
connected people and organizations for sustainable development to
help achieve the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals,
in answer to Pope Francis’ social encyclical calling on every person
on earth to help achieve economic sustainability.

And finally, for the environment, he founded the MGA ANAK NI

INANG DAIGDIG, or MAID, to help raise funds for his creative
projects through dance and music. E worked for a stewardship
agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources to reforest 1,600 hectares in Marikina watershed in an
attempt to minimize flooding, combat global warming and add more
water to aquifers in the watershed. Part of this initiative was the
establishment of the WELL-BEING FOR WAREHOUSES, or WOW
Organic Restaurant, the proceeds of which are donated partly to
provide organic food to children with cancer, autism, and Down
Syndrome.

An author of numerous publications, he won the Manila Critics’

Circle National Book Award in 1988 for “The Christology of the
Inarticulate.” His most recent publication is “Smokey Mountain:
Ravaged Earth and Wasted Lives.”

Because of his pioneering and innovative efforts in pursuit of his

advocacies, he was conferred the prestigious TOFIL Award for
Humanitarian Service for 2018. As his entire life has manifested, he
is not only a preacher but a transformative leader who walks his
talk, acts with swift and steadfast commitment, and devotes his life
in empowering the powerless, enriching the poor, and preserving
Mother Earth.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my supreme honor to introduce to you

our TOFIL Laureate for this session, The Reverend Fr. BENIGNO P.
BELTRAN from the Society of the Divine Word.

Good morning and welcome, Father Ben.

You have the virtual floor.