GK celebrates 10 years of transforming Filipinos to modern ‘bayanis’

Celebrating ten years of servant leadership and social transformation, Gawad Kalinga (GK) rejoiced for continuously bringing out heroism in every ordinary citizen, through the spirit of bayanihan.

Tony Meloto, founder of GK, signified the power of love to transform communities, to turn slams into beautiful villages and to turn criminals into good citizens.

“The power of Gawad Kalinga is the power of love. We change many people’s lives and make everything possible, because we know how to love. And the only way to really heal a broken life is through love. That is Gawad Kalinga,” Meloto said during the closing ceremony of GK 10th Anniversary at GK Enchanted Farm.

GK aspirations have been focused in building the nation for the next generation and taking part in resolving social dilemma.

“GK is people power. We are all part of the solution to our social problems. This is what we do in Gawad Kalinga. We light up the torch of hope and the whole world believes we can change the Philippines,” Meloto explained.

As the organization turned ten, GK is committed to achieve its 2024 mission of ending poverty for five million families.

“Whatever we build now is a legacy to the next generation. Together, let us build our nation and end poverty by 2024. Remember to live more for others and less for ourselves. Let’s love our country more than anything else,” Meloto ended.

Gawad Kalinga begets the spirit of bayanihan

Jammed and caught in the edge of several social dilemmas, poverty has been described as a fatal syndrome of the society. Due to its bugging fretfulness, many have lost the optimism of ending this phenomenon.

Nevertheless, on the bright side of life, one group seems to contradict with this discouraging idea.

Unified by the aspiration of serving the Filipino people and shaping the future of the Philippines, a throng of nation builders and change-makers from all over the country unified themselves to establish a noble organization dedicated to let the underprivileged experience the dignity and comfort of life.

Tony Meloto’s dream for a poverty-free world triggers his passion towards nation building. Thus, dedicating him to embark on community service and establish Gawad Kalinga.

Meloto, as the frontliner of GK aspirations, has inspired millions of families and has encouraged young volunteers to work towards building model communities, where deprived families can thrive and attain their fullest potentials.

Looking forward to a better future of the succeeding generations, GK signifies the Filipino culture of caring and sharing.

Since the essence of “Gawad Kalinga” is paramount to the idea of giving care, each member of GK’s “kapitbahayan” (residence) believes that building a prosperous community means leaving no one behind.

The “Walang Iwanan” kind of thinking paves the way for the naissance of the true spirit of service and companionship. As the whole community acts as brothers and sisters, GK is certain of helping each member by giving the best for the least and by doing more for others and less for self.

Yearning to let the underprivileged go through a prosperous life, GK aims to build communities of mutual respect and reverence (Faith Community); higher principle of neighbourly love and the common good (peace zone); dignified human dwelling (Tourist Spot); dynamic human and natural resources (Productivity Center); proper utilization and preservation of environment (Environmentally Healthy Community); engaged citizenry (Empowered Community); and a well-prepared residence in times of sudden calamities (Secured Community).

The faith of Gawad Kalinga is to build a nation, which drives each volunteer and villager to achieve an empowered populace with faith and patriotism, an archipelago of caring and sharing communities and modern ‘bayanis’ dedicated to eradicate poverty and re-live human dignity.

If only we start asking ourselves, “What simple acts can we do to contribute to the mission of ending poverty?”

Perhaps, the spirit of “bayanihan” will start pouring in the mainstreams of our beings. If only we aspire and hope the same way GK does, we can end poverty and set the closing stage of sufferings and living in miseries.

Like Gawad Kalinga, let us all aspire to accomplish a mission of ending poverty for five million families by 2024.

Let us all work together to provide land for the landless; home for the homeless; and food for starving stomachs.

Through the undying spirit of bayanihan, let Gawad Kalinga be an epitome of the country’s hope.

More than anything, let the GK mission and vision be as viral as a social infection positively disturbing the sleeping consciousness of many Filipinos. Let this dream, which for some is impossible to reach, a stepping stone to completely realize the profound tomorrow of the Pearl of the Orient Sea.

Let us instill in our hearts and minds that impossibility is nothing. In the long run, together, we can end poverty. (Lorie Gene Cruz – The Raconteur)