How I got into Gawad Kalinga

I thought I would share how I got involved with GK.

I went to school for Theatre Arts at San Francisco State University and then went to LA to persue an acting career. I experienced my first taste of show biz in Hollywood. As a small fish with basically no connections, I learned quickly how easy it could be to lose yourself and get eaten alive just to get ahead. As a woman of color, I also became bitter towards the lack of decent roles offered to us. Compromising my values had tempted me much more than I wanted. Unfortunately, that's how much of the business is and I was not ready for it at that time. I am the kind of person that needs time to fully digest the pros and cons, what experiences mean to me as a changing, growing woman. Because of this, coupled with the lack of inspiring work/art I was groomed with in college, I lost the fire to continue the path as a "struggling actress". Ironically I'm volunteering six months for the poor.

So, I thought what do I do now if Im not gonna act? I initially went into acting to use it as a medium for social awarness and to inspire change. So I decided I would do just that, seek how to directly change peoples lives. After I became more aware about world issues, I passionately dove into activism in the States, during Bush Jr.'s term. After about a year of heartache, I grew an even bigger passion to travel to the Motherland and help the poor.

Born and raised in Orange County, California, I had never been to the Philippines so I wanted to connect with my roots as well. I wasn't sure who to work with though. And then a friend of mine told me he had an aunt that did missions with the poor in the Philippines and that I should talk to her. So I did. She introduced me to Gawad Kalinga and explained how they work to strengthen communities on all levels, in very experimental, radical, and holistic ways. Never hearing of anything like it, I was overjoyed and very curious to learn the ways of how they address the roots of poverty. I thought it was the perfect vehicle to journey through the Motherland for the first time and satisfy a strong longing to make a lasting, revolutionary difference.

And what a difference it has made! GK has made all the difference. It is the most amazing, most fulfilling, life changing ride I have ever experienced. Seeing and sharing the dramatic changes they have made in people's lives inevitably changes you in more ways you can imagine. I never had any idea that when I walked into GK that I was going to be in the first batch of this crazy six month BUILDER'S CORPS program! It was definitely meant to be though. GK just started the program when I decided to volunteer. As a young lady, taking this huge leap all by myself, has been extremely empowering. It is also very challenging and lonely many times, but that is where you discover so much of yourself.

Every day I reflect on what God's plan is for me.... And I pray to fulfill what ever it is one day at a time. I am humbled and blessed to be here as Gawad Kalinga's first official "guinea pig" of the BUILDER'S CORPS.

I have to admit, it is quite a historical role!



“The times in your life you’ll regret the most won’t be when you looked foolish, but when you didn’t take action at all.”
— Denise Marek

Re-energized!

Today was so inspiring and exciting, a brand new experience to add to my life. We all went to UP for a builder's corps meeting on the begining of the Builder's Institute's studies to community developement with Tito Tony and Kuya Mark. This guy Pierre is only 18 yrs old and was amazingly advanced in his studies! He was sharing his rough draft on a development report he did with 2 other girls (I will get their names) on the quantative measures of community developement. This study was soo energizing to my senses... It was excellent. It had studies on the economic development and the social developement of the different programs in GK Brookside Village. This study is still in its early stages and isn't ready to be shared publicly yet, but can you imagine that GK has quantative measures for the progress of values and human dignity?! Aside from the excitement, I felt more grounded, that I had concrete studies & knowledge of GK's brilliance and mystery in a hardcopy in my hands! lol! I absolutly love and appreaciate GK's hands on approach to things and now there is an acedemic aspect begining to form! I love acedemic learning as well, and combined with GK's abundance with hands on experience is something incredible and very exciting!

We also went to a weekly session of local govermental learning with about 20 Philippine mayors present. Tito Tony gave a speech and had personal question/answer interaction with the different mayors and then we all "broke bread together" and conversed with the mayors ourselves! Now, if you dont know.. I use to be an activist who looked at the gov as "the enemy". You can imagine how this experience was for me. I mean I am aware that not all politicians, especially local, are 'bad' but this was a pleasant surprise. To see that many mayors (especially at the GK 'Township Development' event! over 100 gov. officials) who were honestly concerned with the issue of poverty and making a difference with GK, AND THEN talking to us young folk from the States like we were their equals, with honor and genuine interest to learn about us, share, and work with us was revitalizing and brand new!! I guenuinely enjoyed sharing and conversing with them! We rode home with mayor Eric Saratan, and what a great guy he was. He has an amazing story.

I was soo inspired with how GK was making change on a political level, and really pushing the younger generation to practice leadership is such a way. It really showed me how GK is becoming a convergence point for many sectors of society. What an exciting time to be a part of GK indeed.

Amazing.

Thank You

The whole builder's corps team has arrived and I feel like my builder's corp experience has officially started! I am so happy about it. I was begining to feel really confused about what role I am suppose to play here in GK. I still am learning what that is, but I feel much more secure and focused now that the rest of the BC family is here. So Thank you to all of them for coming and commiting to 6 months volunteer work! All of our presence together makes a huge difference in this process.

I also want to begin this journey thanking the host families that have been so generous, loving, and hospitable to me. Thank you for letting me live in your homes and become "part of your family"! I am blessed and honored to have been hosted by such lovely, beautiful, and outstanding families!

Thank you, Tito Eddison, Tita Tina, Ate Rose, & Kuya Bong and the whole family (they have a large one!) for sharing your home and time with me for my first journey home to the Philippines. Rye and Cha (Ate Rose's nephew & niece) were like my brother & sister, I developed good friendships with them. Rye was so helpful showing me the malls & restaurants around Manila. I was fortunate enough to experience my first build with them too. It was the perfect welcoming.

And thank you to my 2nd host family, Ate Issa, Kuya Manny, Arron, and Reina. They were also a wonderfully loving hospitable beautiful and outstanding family. Thank you for inviting me into your home and putting up with me for 2 months! It's amazing how they shared their space... I was there for a pretty long time and I can't believe they didn't mind and were always welcoming me. Thank You!

I really felt at home with all of you. You have made my journey here so pleasant I don't want to leave! haha

(I am currently staying with Greg Mercado's family.)

I shared wonderful space and memories with all of you. You are the definitions of true filipinos with beautiful families and I will treasure you always. I pray for God to bless, protect, and guide your families always. I hope to have families like you some day!

SALAMAT PO & GOD BLESS!

I was in the Inquirer (A Philippine Newspaper)

The online story doesn't have the pic that was in the newspaper so I took it off my laptop camera lol!

You can check out the story here...

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view_article.php?article_id=80048

God Bless

Jay & Eena's Meloto's wedding in Bicol

Just to let yall know this wedding was on 7/7/07. I wrote this a while ago...

Magandang Gabi!

This weekend I had the honor of attending Jay & Eena's wedding in Bicol at the GK Panganiban Village. Jay is Tito Tony's son and Eena is a full time GK worker in charge of Tito Tony's daily itinerary and the Cultural program. Bicol is a beautiful lush province about 9hrs drive from Manila. You see endless hills of green tropical trees and plants and the weather is much cooler from Manila. The wedding was so beautiful. Their marriage was on such a strong foundation and expression of Love in its purest form, seeing love for country and people reflected everywhere in one of the highest events of Love. It was in the whole experience.

When we arrived to the village we were in awe at its beauty, it’s the nicest village I've been to yet. It has a beautiful church, a huge amphitheatre, and a big hut where tons of people ate during the reception. The homes are gorgeous and surrounded by green trees everywhere. The village is also environment conscious, not one tree was cut down for the build and they are building an Environmental Institution here as well!

All the beneficiaries were dressed in simple yet nice Filipino garments of orange. (orange was the theme color.) They were very friendly, helpful, and joyful in the event. Their homes were decorated for the special day, and we found out they never decorate their homes. They cooked an extravagant meal that covered one long table and three smaller ones. Get use to being feed til your busog (full)! And what’s funny is that people wanted to go to the wedding just to experience it, people were there that were not even invited! lol

It was amazingly beautiful to see a marriage in such a setting, especially because they share a love that extends to the dedication to uplift the poor and change the Philippines for the better. It was in the setting that is the manifestation of that change in the Motherland. It also adds to this impact, being that Jay is Tito Tony's son and Eena now his daughter. There was a beautiful pray-over for the newly weds led by Tito Tony, which was a great affirmation to all of our presence in GK and a blessed experience of a true Love Story of GK, within the Love Story of GK itself.

Bagong Silang Musical

History
Located in Metro Manila, Philippines, the slums of Bagong Silang, is where Gawad Kalinga was first inspired to build homes. In 1995, as missionaries of the “Couples for Christ” community, they were working with the youth through empowerment programs in a youth camp. They created successful programs, but at the end of the day the youth had to go back to the environment that perpetuated the negative behaviors of theft, drugs, gangs and violence. By the year 2000, the CFC members realized they had to change the environment to one that reflects dignity, so as to begin a process of transformation in its entirety. This movement is now known as Gawad Kalinga, which means “to give care”.

During this process, GK had the idea of making the true story of the Bagong Silang villagers into a musical. They found that theatre provided rehabilitation and therapy to the people, while allowing them to develop their creative talents. The people found out that they were talented performers, which made them stronger and gave them more confidence and joy. The Bagong Silang Musical was an activity that inspired productivity and creativity, taking them away from negative habitual behaviors. The musical turned out to be one of GK’s great successes and a strong voice of the village life to share with the world.
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I was so inspired and moved by this story! you have to see it if you get a chance!