GK Youth in Balita:

Here is the article of Lori Canlas in the January 1 issue of Balita:

Excerpt:

"I had a chance to be a youth volunteer for Gawad Kalinga in the Philippines and it is an experience I cherish so much and take pride in..."



Click the image to view a larger pic and read the great article

I hope the youth of today will feel the call for youth volunteerism in 2009!!!

GK Youth Build Experience Explained

Watch Junnie and Michele as they share the experience of participating in a GK Youth Build

Venue was the launch of GK1MB in front of close to a hundred GK advocates at the Kalayaan Cultural Community Center in Mississauga.

Dylan Wilk launches GK1MB in Canada

Watch Dylan Wilk as he talks about the transformation of communities and transformation of the youth - the same mission of GK Youth Build - Building Communities. Building the Youth

GK Youth Build Joins GK Walk

GK Walk 2008
Yonge St, Toronto

"Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend."- Albert Camus

Got 15 minutes?, maybe later. But if you have, please read on

September 6, 2008 was the day more than a thousand pro-poor advocates from Gawad Kalinga, Answering the Cry of the Poor (ANCOP), PIDC, Bukas Loob, Light of Jesus and the biggest contingent of all - from Couples of Christ, walked for 5,000 meters and practically closed the longest street in the world - Yonge Street!

777 is Just a Number, the Passion is More Important

It wasn't as grand as having 40,000 people during the launch of the program in October 2003, (watch this GK video which was the first video that hooked me into GK, it will do the same to you) but the commitment and dedication of the participants was close, if not more intense. We loved placards saying "Live Simply so that others may simply live". Ouch.

The walk was towards providing awareness to the nation-building projects of Gawad Kalinga in the Philippines, South East Asia and soon in Africa. All participants also raised funds walking for their family and friends towards building more houses and more villages for more poor, taking them out of poverty.

GK - the Gift of the Pinoy to the World

Inquirer wrote that after EDSA's People Power, Gawad Kalinga is the next gift of the Filipino to the world. So it wasn't a surprise that more than a couple of dozen walkers were GK advocates who didn't have a Pinoy blood in them.

Dylan - di lang Pinoy, bayani pa!

Part of the thousand-strong GK walkers included Dylan Wilk, one time 9th richest bachelor in England. As once said he came from GB to GK! or from UK to GK.

One thing other people don't know, he is an Internet Technopreneur, having sold, Gameplay.com, a leftie and owns a Red moleskine. Some things I share with him, but the most important of all our passion for Gawad Kalinga.

Will you join us in this endeavor and share the story of Gawad Kalinga to your friends?
NBA Star Gilbert Arenas, already did.

Please read how to volunteer.

GK Youth Build Goes Blue in Payatas

GK Youth Build joined Ateneo de Manila in their feast of St. Ignatius celebration with GK Bayanihan Build and here's their account.

The Ignatian Spirit Lives On!
GK Bayanihan Build for the feast of St. Ignatius

By: Leigh Hernandez & J. Michael Go

The notion of men and women for others was exemplified Last July 31, 2008 as strong rains and a school holiday did not hold back volunteers from the Ateneo to answer the call of service. Around 200 Ateneans worked with 200 Gawad Kalinga beneficiaries to build houses for the poor to celebrate the feast of St. Ignatius.

This is the first time for a GK – Ateneo Bayanihan Build to be held in two simultaneous sites. GK Molave (Payatas, Quezon City) in partnership with the Ateneo Alumni Association (AAA), was able to accommodate a community of Atenean nation builders and even prepared non-stop presentation for them. A ceremonial demolition of the Wall of Poverty was held as a highlight of the build. Picture a wall painted with the words "Garbage," "Stealing," "lack of Education," "Poverty," "lack of Unity," "Hopelessness," "Drug Pushing," and "Unemployment" was torn down by volunteers and beneficiaries as a symbol of a new life they have in GK.

The Ateneo volunteer contingent in GK Molave was composed of builders from the Office of Administrative Services (OAS), Psyche, Oberlin Philippine Immersion and Cultural Program 2008, Ateneo Residents-Students Association (ARSA), and GK Youth Build-Canada.


The other build was hosted by the GK Pinagsama Villages (Taguig City). This event marks the common journey of the City Government of Taguig and the Ateneo in building a first world Philippines by eliminating the gap between rich and poor. The grand vision of Taguig City is to compliment Bonifacio Global City with Taguig GK City. The Taguig GK City features a 10,000 strong socialized housing build the GK way this is the city's statement that they will not leave behind the poor as they pursue development.

Volunteers from Youth for Christ, the John Gokongwei School of Management and the Ateneo Graduate School of Business took part in a build of over 4 GK Pinagsama sites (GK Philam Doctors, GK Zonta of Makati, GK International School Manila and GK Jack & Jill).

The grand army of nation builders which Ignatius envisioned came to life in Payatas and Taguig that day. Although the sudden rain in the afternoon put most of the work in a standstill, the greater work was done early on with the impression made by the participants to the communities. Participants matched the efforts of the skilled laborers and beneficiaries with most continuing work under the rain – a true testament to GK's approach to nation building which is to leave no man behind. The Bayanihan Build did not stop even as the rain poured The bad is a blessing in disguise because it allowed the volunteers to build not only houses, but most significantly, relationships with the beneficiaries. The day ended with the volunteers and beneficiaries sharing stories and exchanging heartfelt thanks for the memories made. An Ignatian mass was held in both sites to cap off the day's events.

More than building structures that will provide homes for the people of Molave and Pinagsama, the relationship building which transpired during the feast of St. Ignatius has made a home in everyone's heart.

Day 5 : Going Home

Bye Marinduque


The Future Looks Bright


So it was the perfect time to go. Short but sweet would be the best phrase to describe the experience. We all decided to go back to Manila today Friday, instead of the planned Saturday. We upfronted the schedule of Friday to Thursday and met with the Dean of the Marinduque School of Fisheries in the morning to discuss the potential livelihood programs for GK Gasan and for the school to support the village's fishpond plans. The dean was so accommodating and the GK Careteaker team and the school will continue the talks.

Ruby, whose insect bite has now 90% dissipated, needs to see a real specialist. She continued to be in high spirits.

You will see it in this pic :)

Ruby was thankful for all the manangs who took care of her day in and day out, she said in her dedication to the village - "my birthday was amazing because of all your smiles. They touched my heart and you made a difference in my life. You brought importance and happiness in my life."

Sa mga bata, your energy was everlasting and I will never forget, I love you all so much and I hope to be back soon." Always, Ruby.


Eliza was as thankful as Ruby and was candid in saying that
"it has been a week that I will never forget and I hope I will be able to come back next year. Mahal kita lahat!"

With that our stay here comes to an end.


The manangs were waiting outside to see us off the pier and I'm sure just like last year, they will all be waiting for our next trip excited and waiting to welcome us again with their smiles, their potong dance, the kids energies, the manong's hardwork and of course Marinduque's beauty.

Here was our last pic - Junnie and the angels. A copycat of Charlie's Angels. Enjoy and til next year!

God will make a way for more youth to come and experience it. Please pray for us!

Day 4 : A Special Day and Treat for Everyone

GKYB 2008 Highlights and Out takes (on Video)
Press Play to Watch the Movie


Youth Build 2008 Version
Marinduque, Philippines

GK Youth Build - "Building Communities. Building the Youth
- and now Building Relationships"

Today was a special day. Via the video above, you'll be witness to a surprise party the GK Village Caretaker team hatched for our birthday girl - Ruby. (Click the movie above and see for yourself.)

The birthday party didn't end during breakfast, after finishing our landscaping of the model house, we continued doing jewelries with the manangs and played with the kids and prepared for the bigger party that night.

We had lugaw party with 60 kids and dancing and swimming and a lot of fun! It was a memorable birthday for Ruby, for the manangs and most especially for the kids.

Looking back at the GK Youth Build program, we were successful in many aspects that Gawad Kalinga has been known for - that is of building relationships and nurturing this with the GK beneficiaries. There is no one-time dole out nor plain outreach. There is a cemented relationship that can last for a long time.

Day 4's activities did a lot of relationship building and a lot of eating and dancing too.

Here is a slideshow of the lugaw party. Click here for the slideshow

Day 3 : Jewelry Making, Cockroaches and Paper Folding

Youth Build 2008 Version
Marinduque, Philippines

"Jewelry takes people's minds off your wrinkles." ~Sonja Henie - Olympian Figure Skating Champ

After the great make over of the Model House, we had enough time to plan our next afternoon's sessions with the Manangs and the kids.

Last year, Therese started with the basics of Jewelry design and vowed to bring back more beads using her influence and charisma to come up with a give-back project called "A Bag of Beads". She collected extra supply of beads from her classmates and had it shipped to Marinduque including pliers and magnifying lenses.

Our job is to follow through her legacy and review the manangs of their learned skills from last year. We were not disappointed. They were able to churn out as much jewelry from the supply given and were ready to go primetime with their finished products that they planned to sell in the bayan for Php 15 each. I had a grand plan of getting them financed through orders from Canada. The quality and workmanship is good and of course it's all for a good cause.

Let's see.

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We had a scare in the middle of the afternoon as Ruby had swollen arms and was breaking out from her right temple, nose and lips. Apparently she was bitten by a cockroach which prompted me to bring her to a doctor, fearing that it could be more than what we think it was. I asked her if she wanted to go home the next day so that she can get treated by a real city doctor. She agreed to stay if she will not get chills or feverish. She was given meds by the doctor, and we have to move out from our newly painted house to a resort across the street.

************

Ruby's will to continue and her tenacity to finish the build sked and spend as much time with the kids was admirable. She inspired us to do more that afternoon and provide more quality time with the kids. Eliza volunteered to share her paper folding skills, giving each kid, numbering to almost 40, a paper crane each.

Tired after all morning of painting, fulfilled to see that the manangs can create masterpieces from their own hands, anxious with what bit Ruby, and happy to be around the kids til late in the night, all in one day.

It ended with an afternoon dip and night swimming. A well deserved treat for all the hardwork, and to take away the anxiety and trauma of a cockroach bite :(


Day 3 slideshow is here

Day 3: Painting Job

Paint Job

<
Two Tone


Ooops!

Youth Build 2008 Version
Marinduque, Philippines

Some colors enliven the spirit, some just put you to stupor that it doesn't help staying long enough and be totally depressed. Our model house in Gasan needed that extra punch as the place was faded being nearest the water, and needed a color that will put life back to once the most beautiful house in the village.

So we decided that morning to paint the house. The color was a unanimous choice - yellow!

In half a day, the once drab pink was now a bright colored yellow. Swept the place off dirt and tidied it up as if it was ready for pre-selling :).

We were happy with our accomplishment. The house was now alive. The walls refurbished and painted on. It can now be called back to being called GK Gasan's model house. All in a half-day's work.

Day 2 : Play Time

Remember GK? Gian Karlo - he's 1 year old now


Dead Tired After a Half Day's Work Mixing Cement


Waiting for a Jeepney Ride


Setting and Tossing Lessons


Your Turn


Day 2 - Rest of the Day.

What do they say about Jack being a dull boy? Yes, all work and no play makes anyone dull.

So whenever we had time, we tried our best to go around the village and talk to our GK villagers. My favorite is Aling Amalia and GK, the first baby born in Gasan. He seemed to have grown faster and can even recognize me as he was responding with a smile whenever I call his name.

In the afternoon, the youth were dog tired and crashed literally in separate rooms, while Don and I started to think of retooling the landscape of our model home. Our playtime consisted of plans of teaching them volleyball and a different type of basketball - closer to basketbrawl :)

We went downtown - to Boac - to get our volleyball and basketball and some side shopping too! The trip took 45 minutes - one way, but was a pleasurable treat for everyone too to see some sort of urban life. When we arrived at 5 PM, the games started with drills on serving, stopping, setting up and tossing, and when they were ready to play, we couldn't stop them til late 8 pm.

It was one long day - of work and play. The 2 Jacks in Don and I and the 2 Jills - really were'nt dull at this point. But at the end of the night, after Jack and Jill went up the hill - both came tumbling after - too tired to care and the place was drowned again - by some sort of nasal cacophony. Ok ok, that read - the village heard a lot of snoring. This time not just from yours truly. Peace Zzzzzz.

*********

Day 2 slideshow is here

Day 2 : Build Time

We Are Near the Heart Shaped Island


All Ready for Work for the Lord


Time to Work


It's like Glass :)


Second day.

We already slept in the GK Village and fairly knew how it felt so eeriely quiet until someone every now and then would disrupt it with a loud snore that easily can be heard across the village. One youth described it as strong enough to blow the entire GK house from the ground.

"Exag" - any teener would say for something that is more than reality. To the uninitiated, it is short for exaggeration, needless to explain.

The house was surely still intact when we woke up. I really don't know. We didn't check. What is for sure is that the snorer - was me.

Despite that ruckus, we were pumped up and ready. We did an early morning walk, which we considered to be our Morning prayers and meditation, absorbing as much fresh air before we buckled down to work.

It may not have been enough to finish one house, yet our efforts which lasted til the rains set in was enough to see the basic foundations of a GK home. We knew we did our best and whoever will live there will surely be happy that all of us ensured that it will be strong and sturdy.

We will know. I'll try to snore inside it to do a stress test next year. :)

Day 1 : Our Arrival

Start of Day : Sunrise of Marinduque


We caught a stray Moriones


If smiles are worth a dollar each, Marinduque will be a rich province


To the Island and Back
Marinduque, Philippines

"How I wish that somewhere there existed an island for those who are wise and of good will"

There are places that feel so familiar from the moment you step into its bosom and be welcomed by its open arms, you know you're safe and that you will have a grand time!

I had the same feeling coming to Marinduque.

Although this time this was not because of places like Paris' towering love edifices or Switzerland's white capped mountains, both places you fall in love deeper every time you visit, but the smiles of the people of Marinduque. Disarmingly different compared to other places in the Philippines, the smiles are so genuine, the conversations that accompany it and the gestures of the villagers-make you feel warm all over.

So when we started the GK Youth Build program last Monday, after waking up at 5 in the morning and travelling from Ortigas to Dalahican in Lucena , Quezon for 2.5 hrs, and to Balanacan, Marinduque for another 2 hrs, all the rigors of the road trip and the unfamiliar movement of the ferry, were all swept away as soon as we saw the giant statue of Mama Mary at the mouth of the port of the heart shaped island.

So today kicks off the first day of the rest of our lives. We are all excited at the prospects of what is in store. Excited, anxious, and just happy to just be there. We are just letting go, loosely opening our stance, and just ready to be cradled in the arms of Marinduque.

Watch a slideshow of the events from our stay in the condo to our arrival in Marinduque. Click Here

Youth Power

The youth paraded with the GK Youth Build streamer and called it their own. This is the dream of GK Youth Build, that every possible youth to think beyond himself and think of his environment, his future, his freedom - and call it his own.

********

Elvie took these pictures with the thought that one day, the youth will hold the fort for GK Youth Build. For its 2nd year, there is hope. The youth have embraced GK Youth Build. The future looks bright with them.

Shown on the top is Elvie representing GK and GK Youth Build in the Independence Day celebration and announcement of "Spot the Hero" program.

Summer Newsletter Released

We have released the latest newsletter with complete schedule of the GK Global Youth Build and the Nomination Forms for the GKYB Spot A Hero campaign.

We hope you find time to read through the newsletter and to also give us feedback.


To get your copy - click here

GK Youth Build Schedule Released

Slated on July 10-19, 2008 in 4 major provinces all over the Philippines


Schedule is shown on the right. Click to view larger image.





GK National Head Laksmi Flores has released the final schedule of the GK Youth Build for Summer 2008.

Scheduled for 10 fun-filled and life enriching days and nights, the youth contingents from various GK countries like the US, Australia, Canada, and other countries within Asia, Europe and Middle East will converge in Metro Manila and travel to Tarlac and Pampanga to kick off the summer event with a day with our Aeta friends.

The real BUILD event will be held in beautiful city of smiles - Bacolod and capped with a visit to Dumaguete.

The whole Youth contingent will be back in Metro Manila for a lively interaction with GK School organization partners with a power dinner with GK Corporate Partners.

The Canada contingent will continue on with a visit back to their adopted province - Marinduque for a 4-night, 5-day immersion program scheduled for July 21-25, 2008.

Spot A Hero Launched!

It was a good gathering yesterday at Parliament Library between PATAC (Philippine Advocacy Through Arts & Culture) Migrante and GKYB.
It was inspiring to see how the Holy Spirit moves people to serve their fellowmen through their God-given gifts and passions.

We were made aware of social issues affecting the Filipino community through music. Likewise, we were able to share about GKYB and promote the Paraiso movie/Spot-a-hero to a new group of potential advocates. We missed Lori, Peachy and Junnie though...

I think there were some interesting connections made from yesterday's launch. Thanks to Maripi for arranging that opportunity.

Hope to see everyone in our upcoming GKYB activities this spring/summer:
-GK Booth @ Carrasauga Festival - May 23-25
-Paraiso movie showing @ Lourdes Church - June 27
-Community Service within Toronto - June or July?
-GK Walk - Sept 6

See you soon!

To view images from the event, click here

Follow Your Passion

For 2 separate occasions now, the first last April 28, 2008 at Jean Vanier in Scarborough and yesterday, May 9 at University of Toronto, GK Youth Build has been having small sessions with 12-20 secondary students to build on its promise to have more youth hear about an opportunity for them to become modern day leaders.

Yesterday's session was attended by 12 students from 6 various secondary schools as part of the Asian Heritage Month month-long activities. The discussion cum forum was moderated by GKYB Core founders Maripi Leynes and Junnie Arreza and was well received with active discussions and a lot of interesting points coming from the youth.

The results were very encouraging. One of the youth participants intimated we will be invited to their church to speak to their youth group. Another one came up to us and volunteered to have their groups of friends join in the next events that GK Youth Build will conduct.

Indeed, these are welcome and we are excited about the prospects.

If you have schools who want to hear the good news, as well as other stories about Therese's "Bags of Beads" campaign, etc. please email us at gkyouthbuild@gmail.com

Being Youth Again

What a wonderful feeling that is to be young again! Last April 25, Mike Almojuela and Junnie Arreza went with 14 youth dancers to have their taste of dancing in the streets of Toronto.

Well, initially planned to shoot at the Esplanade, it turned out that Ontario Place also had a better vantage point of the CN Tower, thus allowing the video's whole segment to be shot from its hilly entrance.

The youth ages 13 to 17 were so gracious enough to volunteer their time and talent to a worthy cause of being the video background for the upcoming GK Youth Build program called "Spot A Hero" contest. They traipsed, skipped, jumped, and somersaulted their way to what is now to be known in You Tube to be the Toronto-portion of "Spot A Hero" dance video.

Organized by Mica Cruz, a GK Youth Build volunteer, the team from IONA Secondary School was able to fully imbibe the theme of Global Youth Heroism through the dance self-choreographed by the team with Toby Mac's "One World" as background music.

"We plan to have the same video clips shot with various Canadian points of interest from Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Montreal and piece them together to come up with one Canadian video", Elvie Tan, mentioned in late 2007. The plan has now been approved and will launch this coming May 15, 2008.

The video on BETA, or on limited viewing was viewed by 150 in 5 days and was replaced by the current final version with 130 viewers in less than a week. "The beauty about having it in You Tube is that you can link and share with all your friends. This is the objective that we will ask all Canadian youth and volunteers to do when we fully launch this on the 15th of May.", said Junnie Arreza, who shot the video with the help of Mike on handheld camera.

For now, you can see the video by clicking play below.

GKYB Core Team Invited to Ancop-GK Visioning Process

GKYB Core team members were honored to be invited to the Visioning Workshop held at Scarborough last April 19. The event was well attended. Active volunteers, advocates, CFC, SFC and YFC members and of course Ancop-GK officers were one in mind, body and spirit to come up with the vision and mission of Ancop-GK.

"I fully believe that this communion of hearts and minds is a sanctification process and the highest form of connecting all parts of the body with the will of the Holy Spirit, in unison and perfection of the will of the Father.", as Ricky Cuenca, President of AICI, mentioned.

The 6-hour session was an exercise to really center our minds and hearts to how we see Ancop and GK-Canada in the current and coming years.

Greg Forbes facilitated the activity well that we all felt what Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt the power of a few people to transform the world, indeed it is the only thing there ever was."

The GK Youth Build Core Team feels honored by the invitation. Junnie, Michele, Maripi, Peachy and Lori were there to represent the youth volunteers sector of the community. We will continually pray for the success of the GK-Ancop as we will uphold its mission in GK Youth Build!

P.S. As if the morning and afternoon sessions weren't enough, we only had 3 hours to change to our dancing shoes as we hit the floor til midnight during the GK Night of HOPE at Rembrandt in Scarborough. This time, it was less work, more dancing!

Our First Formation Day

The rains stole the thunder away. Yes it did! Last April 12, one of the best contents for a formation that most of us never heard was participated by 11 youth participants, Core Team members and guests at the Good Shepherd Convent at Dufferin and Good Shepherd Court.

Thanks to Lori for putting up 7 modules that will surely prepare the youth volunteers and participant to their journey of not just going back to the Philippines - but also preparing them for challenges in life.

This prompted for the group to unanimously want to share to at least 2 more friends in the next Formation day in late May or early June. We want to share the great experience with more of you. This time, rain or shine, promise? :)

(Click Play to view and listen to the video of Lori's introductions)