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