Timeline of the CFC Crisis

This article is about the timeline of the CFC Crisis. A substantial portion of this article, as well as the sources linked herein, was copied from |The CFC Situation: A Chronology of Events.

2006

 * March 3: The International Council releases its paper CFC and GK.
 * August 31: The Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership is awarded to Gawad Kalinga and its Executive Director, Antonio Meloto (read citation here). Francisco Padilla, CFC Executive Director and concurrent GK Chairman, accepts the Award for GK. (Read Meloto's response here and GK/Padilla's response here.)
 * November 9: The International Council releases its paper CFC and GK 2: Working Through the Contradictions.
 * December 30: The Philippine Daily Inquirer publishes its editorial "Rizal's 'Kalinga.'"

January

 * January 28: The Inquirer, in its report "After Edsa I, Gawad Kalinga Filipinos’ next gift to world," announces their picking of Meloto as their "Filipino of the Year" for 2006.
 * January 31: The Inquirer writes about GK and Meloto in its editorial "Solidarity."

February

 * February 6: The Inquirer publishes an email from a Sandra Sotto, which the newspaper entitles as "Meloto not founder of Gawad Kalinga."
 * February 7
 * The Inquirer writes about GK and Meloto in its editorial "High achievement."
 * Boo Chanco, a columnist of the Philippine Star, writes about GK in his column Demand and Supply, entitled "Gawad Kalinga now a 'global brand.'"
 * February 8: A Lorenzo Cruz sends an email to Chanco, wherein the sender questions Meloto's motives in GK; Chanco forwards Cruz's email to Meloto.
 * February 10: Meloto replies to Chanco's email.
 * February 13: During the International Council meeting, Meloto announces his resignation from the body. In response, Padilla also resigns. The two then request the resignation of another Council member, Arturo Lagana, who follows suit.
 * February 19: Based from Meloto's reply, Chanco replies to Cruz in his column, with the title "Social entrepreneurs."
 * February 20
 * AM: Council member Jose Tale emails Padilla, asking him to reconsider his decision. Padilla replies that he will push through with his decision.
 * PM: Padilla, Meloto, and Agana announce their resignation from the International Council during the Mission Core Group teaching at Xavier School in San Juan, Metro Manila. (Read Padilla's speech here, Meloto's speech here, Agana's speech here, and Tale's speech here.)
 * The International Council releases its statement on the resignations, entitled Looking to the Future with Hope and Joy.
 * February 22
 * The 4-man International Council releases its memorandum on the resignations; Tale is appointed Executive Director.
 * Tale releases a memorandum on the new assignments of the 4-man Council on the Seven Pillars.
 * Ernesto Maipid, a member of the 4-man Council, releases a memorandum for the GK workers, specifying Tale's appointment as GK Chairman (replacing Padilla), the appointment of Luis Oquiñena as Executive Director (replacing Meloto), and Maipid's appointment as Secretary.
 * February 23: Victor Agustin, a columnist of the Manila Standard Today, writes about the resignations in his column Cocktales: Reading Between the (Head) Lines, entitled "Gawad Kalinga loses pillars."
 * February 26: In his column, Agustin mentions that a group of "elders" in CFC (possibly referring to the International Council, the Board of Elders, and the Elders Assembly) precipitated the resignations of Padilla and Meloto.

March

 * March 1: The Inquirer publishes "Gawad Kalinga goes worldwide: Bishop says GK new kind of People Power."

April

 * April 8 (Easter Sunday): Padilla releases his paper CFC and GK 3: At the Crossroads of our Journey of Hope and Joy.

May

 * May 8: A draft proposal addressed to Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales paving the way for the separation of GK and CFC, which was sent to the Easter Group (specifically Maribel Descallar and Gary Faustino), makes its way into the International Council. The authorship of the draft remains in question. Although it was said that Bishop Socrates Villegas of the Diocese of Balanga drafted it, it was also said that Padilla, Lagana, Tale, and Maipid were directly or indirectly involved in writing the draft.

June

 * June 1: Meloto writes to Bishop Gabriel Reyes of the Diocese of Antipolo, where he apologizes for the International Council's neglect of the bishop as Spiritual Adviser.
 * June 6: The International Council releases a statement announcing the scheduled election of that body and the Board of Elders on June 22.
 * June 7
 * Bishops Villegas and Reyes and Archbishop Angel Lagdameo of the Archdiocese of Jaro, in behalf of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, write to the Elders Assembly strongly recommending the Council members to discuss their differences and problems with one another as well as the postponement of the elections.
 * In a special meeting, majority of the Board of Elders (11 out of 15) vote that the elections proceed as scheduled.
 * The International Council responds to the CBCP letter, stating that they will keep on discussing their problems, and respectfully and humbly submitting the decision to proceed with the elections.
 * Padilla and his wife, Lagana and his wife, Faustino, Descallar, and other leaders of the Easter Group meet at the house of Oscar Contreras and prepare "strategic action plans" in connection with the scheduled elections.
 * June 8: Cardinal Rosales writes to Archbishop Lagdameo and Bishops Villegas and Reyes, stating his support in whatever recommendation they will make with regard to CFC.
 * June 10: Padilla releases his letter An Open Letter to the CFC Global Family.
 * June 11
 * The International Council writes to Archbishop Lagdameo and Bishops Villegas and Reyes, explaining the decision to hold the elections as scheduled.
 * Jose "Lito" Tayag, Moderator of the Board of Elders, writes to that body, countering the claim made by Padilla that the body agreed to the proposal that the former International Council (made up of the resigned and the remaining members) be inhibited from the election.
 * June 12
 * The International Council writes to the CFC family, where they state their appeal to Padilla to submit with the decisions of that body and the Board of Elders.
 * Bishop Reyes writes to the 4-man International Council, still recommending that the elections be postponed, and that dialogue should continue.
 * June 13-June 16: The International Council and the Easter Group meet to resolve their differences. This results in the production of a draft memorandum of agreement between both sides.
 * June 16: The two groups write to the CFC family, stating that they have come to a basic agreement (the memorandum of agreement) which will be brought to the bishops and the Elders' Assembly.
 * June 17: Padilla releases his letter Hoping in the Lord.
 * June 20: The Elders' Assembly meet for a recollection night as part of the procedure for the elections.
 * June 21: Bishop Reyes meets the Elders' Assembly, wherein he explains the recommendation for a win-win solution.
 * June 22: The elections for the new members of the International Council are held. The Elders' Assembly does not ratify the memorandum of agreement despite pressure from the Council and the Easter Group. The remaining Council members (Tale, Maipid, Jose Yamamoto, and Rouquel Ponte) are re-nominated and reelected, along with the additions of Tayag, Joey Arguelles, and Melo Villaroman Jr.  A new set of Board of Elders are elected as well.
 * June 23: Padilla reorganizes the National Council members of CFC in the United States.
 * June 24: CFC holds its 26th anniversary at the Rizal Park.
 * June 29: The new International Council visits Bishop Reyes.

July

 * July 2: The International Council writes to the CFC family, appealing for unity.
 * July 12: Bishop Reyes responds to the International Council letter, stating that he remains steadfast to postponing the elections.
 * July 13: The Easter Group conduct the first Restoration Assembly in Quezon City.
 * July 18: Padilla is removed from his position as Regional Coordinator of North America and Country Coordinator of Canada and the United States.
 * July 19
 * The Board of Elders write to the CFC family, calling for unity and support for the duly-elected International Council.
 * The International Council releases its statement Defending CFC Life and Mission, and Moving Forward! The body also explains why the Easter Group was referred to as the "Easter/Playboy Bunnies" in that statement.
 * The Easter Group release their response regarding the International Council's statement.
 * July 20
 * Padilla releases his letter My Lamentations, My Joy.
 * Board of Elders member Jun Uriarte and his wife release their paper Letters of Aquila and Priscilla entitled By their fruits you will know them, admonishing Padilla and Meloto to reconcile with one another to help solve the crisis.
 * J.A. de la Cruz, a columnist of the Business Mirror, writes about the CFC Crisis in his column Coast-to-Coast, entitled "CFC vs GK; DOF’s plan."
 * July 21: Contreras releases his response regarding the July 19 International Council statement.
 * July 22: The International Council consults with the Provincial Area Heads throughout the Philippines.

August

 * August 6: De la Cruz writes "True faith: CFC vs GK" in his column.
 * August 20: Psychiatrist Vic Cabuquit releases his paper The CFC Crisis: What Went Wrong and Its Resolution (A Psychiatrist's Point of View).
 * August 22: GMANews.tv publishes "Split rocks CfC; Meloto quits Gawad Kalinga."
 * August 23
 * Newsbreak publishes "Split in Couples for Christ May Hurt GK Housing Projects."
 * Agustin writes "Couples admits 'divorce' over Gawad Kalinga" in his column.
 * August 25
 * The Standard writes about the CFC Crisis in its editorial "Sorry split."
 * la.indymedia.org publishes "Splits Rock Couples for Christ/Gawad Kalinga (GK)."
 * August 27
 * Agustin writes "Bishops boxed in by CfC, Gawad Kalinga divorce" in his column.
 * The Inquirer publishes "Gawad Kalinga pioneer sidesteps rift in 'Couples for Christ.'"
 * August 28
 * The Inquirer publishes "Quo Vadis, Couples for Christ?"
 * CBCP News publishes "CFC opts to split."
 * August 29
 * Bong Austero, a columnist of the Standard, writes about the CFC Crisis in his column Are We There Yet? entitled "Walking the talk."
 * GMANews.tv publishes "CBCP: Couples for Christ factions opt to split for now."
 * Cito Beltran, a columnist of ABS-CBN, mentions the CFC Crisis in his column CTalk.
 * August 30: The Star publishes "GK head breaks silence on Couples for Christ split."
 * August 31
 * In his column, Agustin mentions the scheduled CFC Pastoral Congress.
 * Rina Jimenez-David, a columnist of the Inquirer, writes about the CFC Crisis in her column At Large, entitled "Crabs and God's design."
 * Jose Ma. Montelibano, a columnist of the Inquirer, writes about the CFC Crisis in his column Glimpses, entitled "The good, the crab, and the ugly."
 * The Inquirer publishes "Bishops fail to mend split within Couples for Christ."
 * Chanco writes "Is Gawad Kalinga too good to last?" in his column.

September

 * September 1: The Inquirer publishes "We have Vatican support, says Meloto."
 * September 3
 * John Nery, a columnist of the Inquirer, writes about the CFC crisis in his column Newsstand, entitled "CFC: Between Jerusalem and Antioch."
 * Dahli Aspillera, a columnist of the Malaya, writes about the CFC Crisis in her column entitled "CFC and GK."
 * September 4
 * The Inquirer publishes "Differences in beliefs caused Couples split."
 * The Asian Journal publishes "Couples for Christ Splits Into Two."
 * Emil Jurado, a columnist of the Standard, mentions the CFC Crisis in his column To the Point.
 * William Esposo, a columnist of ABS-CBN, writes about the CFC Crisis in his column As I Wreck This Chair, entitled "Splitting 'Couples'."
 * September 5
 * Michael Tan, a columnist of the Inquirer, writes about the CFC crisis in his column Pinoy Kasi, entitled "Evangelical Catholics."
 * Agustin writes "Gawad Kalinga, Mao and Chinese products" in his column.
 * September 6
 * CBCP News publishes "Bishop Reyes sheds light on CFC split."
 * Joey Concepcion, a columnist of ABS-CBN, writes about the CFC Crisis in his column Ask GoNegosyo, entitled "The C-Factor."
 * September 7
 * Agustin writes "Divorced Couples drop civility" in his column.
 * GMANews.tv publishes "Bishops to CFC: Don’t drop mission for donors."
 * September 10: In his column, Agustin mentions Bishop Reyes' ad in the Bulletin regarding the CBCP meeting.
 * September 12: Alvin Capino, a columnist of the Standard, mentions the CFC Crisis in his column Counterpoint.

October

 * October 4: Mariano Santos, editor-in-chief and publisher of the Chicago-based PINOY: The Filipino-American Newsmagazine, writes about the CFC Crisis in his column PINOY Insider, entitled "A blessing called 'Gawad Kalinga.'"
 * October 5: In his column, Agustin mentions that CFC is "sniping" at Senate President Manny Villar and his wife Las Piñas Representative Cynthia Villar because the couple allowed the FFL to establish its Home Office at the Villar-owned Star Mall.
 * October 28: The Manila Mail publishes "Meloto, Padilla give their sides on CFC split."