Like many of GK's unsung heroes, husband and wife Tito Reny and Dr. Babes Ramos have found themselves part of something that grew gradually out of their own blessings in life. 

Reny and Babes Ramos joined a renewal community, Couples for Christ-Cebu, at the invitation of Reny's older sister. Married in October 1990, Reny works as an electrical engineer (now an employer of other engineers) while Babes is a doctor of medicine.

For the young couple, joining CFC in 1994 changed their lives. As Babes describes, "It was my prayer then that we would come closer together. My husband used to drink and come home early in the morning," she continues, "And for me, the invitation to join CFC was an answer to prayer."

"It was a miracle that we were able to finish all the sessions together," Babes smiles.

But finish they did, and together joined the community. In the times that followed, they experienced renewal as a married couple.  As Babes describes, "It was a real work of the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God. It was during this time that he really did stop drinking."

As the couple grew together, they became leaders of the community, eventually working as Youth Coordinators for their cluster of areas. Then, in 2000, they felt themselves called in a new direction.

"We moved into the CFC Medical Missions area because in the youth area, there were many who could replace us," Reny describes, "But in the medical mission, it should be a doctor, and there are few available to help."

They prayed and discussed as a couple.

"It took us a while to consider whether to accept the position. The work is very demanding; It demands your time, you have more meetings and missions," Babes says, "We thought about it for one week, the eventually we said yes."

And the couple found themselves pioneers in a new ministry.

"In the early stage there was no fixed direction. We were part of the leadership board, so we had to play a part in making our own system so we could help people." Reny says.

And while Babes medical expertise serves in the specialist medicine, Reny's business experience led him to provide many logistics skills.

They have found the medical missions to be an area requiring sacrifice as well as partnership.  With the growth of CFC's Gawad Kalinga ministry with the poor, the medical mission found a concentrated and holistic new outlet.

"The health aspect of Gawad Kalinga is Gkare, or Gawad Kalusugan," Babes describes. "The reason why the medical mission gives focus to Gawad Kalinga is because there is continuous follow-up."

"If it's only medical mission, we get to touch the physical aspects, but healing is both physical and spiritual," she explains.

"We provide the medical through GKal, while the work of the caretakers addresses the spiritual healing," she says.  "So we have a greater chance to evangelize them through our combined activities."

In addition, the couple works with GKare to promote basic medical independence and sustainability in the communities. Volunteers from among the villages' population are trained in basic medical care, and a GK Health Manager appointed within the team.

"They are very enthusiastic to be of service to others in the village!" Reny says.

With adding the dimensions of Gawad Kalinga to their medical mission work, Reny and Babes have found much to encourage them in their work.

Babes notes, "In GK sites the families are being renewed, not only in the spiritual, but also in the social dimension - which is where our health work comes in. So it's a complete transformation."

And not only is the work benefitting the poor, it is a source of great fulfillment to the couple.

"I feel fulfilled being able to respond to the call of God to bring glad tidings to the poor," Babes smiles, "I'm able to share my time and talents and treasures, and it is fulfilling to be able to share together."

According to the couple, transformation of lives in the villages is a gradual process, dependent strongly on the presence of the caretakers and volunteers on the ground.

"They are blessed with people who are willing to give their time to build their houses, to help them look for livelihood, and to teach their children," Babes says, describing the vision of total transformation and liberation.

Reny notes that "Almost all the beneficiaries are from slum areas. They have vices. To change, well, one cannot change abruptly. That's why the values formation is so important a part."

Babes continues, "I think it's the whole dignity of man that’s being changed - spiritually, socially, economically, politically. So if this direction of Gawad Kalinga will continue, socially there will be less delinquent children, there will be less criminals - because the moral values will be integrated. (By) restoring the dignity of man, total human liberation (begins)."

Looking back over the path that their lives had followed, the couple sees a path of grace leading to fulfillment.

"For me there's a sense of fulfillment, because for me I'm able to give back to God, thanking Him for all the blessings he's given me, including the blessing of our marriage becoming stronger, and helping my husband to get rid of his vices."

Babes believes that all play a part, saying, "The success of CFC's achievements till now is because of obedience: people who are obedient to God's call. There's really no one person to be glorified but God himself."
 

Reny nods, affirming "There's still a long way to go. We're only just starting."