Manila (AsiaNews) – In four years Card Gaudencio Rosales’ “theology of crumbs” has enabled the Filipino Church to raise 161 million pesos (about US$ 3.5 million) for development projects in favour of the country’s poor. After collecting 25 centavos from parishioners and others, the archdiocese’s fundraising project is financing some 80 projects nationwide without government aid.

The information was made public during a thanksgiving Mass celebrated on the fourth anniversary of the Pondo ng Pinoy (The Pinoy or Filipinos’ Fund) at Manila’s Paco Catholic School.

“The Pondo ng Pinoy teaches and shows us how to live God's most important lesson. It teaches us His love,” the prelate said during his homily.

He added that Pondo ng Pinoy's teaching of reaching out to the poor was an antidote to “greed” and a valuable reminder in this time of crises.

“Once you love, you have to give,” Rosales stressed.

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, he told the faithful that “the world can provide for all except for one man's greed. One man's greed can destroy the world. The greedy can destroy God's love.”

While some companies and individuals gave a lot of money, most of the donations were 25 centavos coins, said Henrietta de Villa, a Pondo ng Pinoy director.

Collections are growing each year and are not likely to slow down, like a “miracle.”