Having Our Own Home
Sonia Cadornigara gives hope to the homeless
* With a savings of P20,000, Kabalaka's savings ballooned to over 2 million pesos. In fact, their savings have transcended their original purpose of providing financial assistance and loans to contributors
Since she was a child, Sonia Cadornigara has never experienced living in a house that stands on their own lot. As a settler in a squatters area, her sleep was often disturbed by pressing questions like where to go or what happens next if news of demolitions reach their ears. This fate was shared by the other people in Sonia's community.
Little did Sonia know that the thing that bothered her would be the same thing that would pave the way for her to bring comfort not only for her but her community as well.
When demolitions became rampant in their community back in 1997, their parish priest in Calumpang wanted to be of help not only spiritually but in other ways as well. As an active member of the church and the Kabalaka Homeowners Association, Sonia was sent with eight others to Manila to train for the Community Savings Program (CSP), a savings program that originated from India.
Sonia took on the role of convincing people in their community, who were grouped, to contribute any amount daily (as low as one peso), emphasizing the effect of collective effort and contribution.
Sonia participates in the discussing
during a forum on slums development
in Nairobi.
True enough, with a savings of P20,000, Kabalaka's savings ballooned to over 2 million pesos. In fact, their savings have transcended their original purpose of providing financial assistance and loans to contributors. With its savings, Kabalaka was able to purchase a property foreclosed by a bank. Now, that piece of land cradles 72 families that can sleep well at night without having to worry about their houses being demolished.
Having tapped the support of Miseror, an agency in Germany, which helps other organizations of the same nature with Kabalaka, especially the one in India, Kabalaka has expanded its wings. Locally, it still carries the same name. But on the national level, it assumes the label Homeless People Association after it federated. HPFP works toward securing land tenure and upgrading communities through community-initiated or partnered processes. It has engaged government to ensure that displaced communities are resettled in suitable places and receive at least the minimum legally-mandated level of access to land and development; provision for health and education; and facilities for potable water, electricity, transportation, and solid waste management.
Some of the members of the Homeless
Federation of the Philippines in Iloilo City.
HPFP consists of different associations and savings groups found in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. As of December 2002, HPFP has approximately 40,000 members representing 22 cities and municipalities.
Federating further with other organizations supported by Miseror, around the globe, HPFP carries the name Slum Dwellers International.
With the growth of Kabalaka also came the growth of Sonia, literally and figuratively. She now holds the post of Regional Coordinator of Kabalaka for Western Visayas and is also part of the board of Slum Dwellers International. To top it all, she will soon have her own piece of land that will surely eradicate her demolition worries. Despite this, Sonia continues to find fulfillment in sharing to others what she knows.
Sonia facilitates the Christmas party of
Kabalaka Phase 1 Homeowners
Association
Sonia recently received the Urban Leadership Award from the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI). This is the second holding of the Urban Leadership Awards. This honors those who have made outstanding contributions to the enhancement of the public realm and the quality of life in the Metro Iloilo-Guimaras area.
There are 10 awardees from Iloilo City. They are Henry Babiera, Sonia Cadornigara, Ma. Luisa "Marissa" Segovia, Edgar Sia for individual awardees and Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Incorporated, Iloilo Washington Commercial, Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center (JASAC), SM Waste Market Fair, Taytay sa Kauswagan and Callbox, for the organization awardees.