Charice Supports Gawad Kalinga
by admin on May.07, 2011, under Volunteer Support
http://www.hollywoodlife.com
Charice Pempengco doesn’t cease to amaze us. The 18-year-old Filipino superstar is taking the world by storm with her awe-inspiring vocal and acting abilities — however, she still manages to make time for charities that are close to her heart, like the organization Gawad Kalinga. Read more HERE
photo credit faxiamen.com

Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao Supports Gawad Kalinga
by admin on May.05, 2011, under Volunteer Support
The world’s pound for pound king, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, will be wearing yellow gloves to support an international organization based in the Philippines, Gawad Kalinga, whose aim is to end poverty in the Philippines.
The Pacman, who is taking on Sugar Shane Mosley this Saturday (Sunday in Manila) urged all his followers to wear yellow as a sign of support and unity. VP Jejomar Binay is in Las Vegas to show support for the Pacman and Gawad Kalinga Hope Ball that is as well happening in Vegas.

FedEx and Gawad Kalinga celebrate ‘moving up’ of preschool kids
by admin on May.04, 2011, under CYD SIBOL Program
http://www.malaya.com.ph
FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and one of the world’s largest express transportation company, and nonprofit organization Gawad Kalinga (GK) recently celebrated the successful completion of another school year for over 200 FedEx-Gawad Kalinga Sibol preschool students. The “moving up” ceremonies heralded the students’ advancement to the next level of their education.
For five years, more than 1,000 children aged 3 to 6 years have been given access to quality, values-based education through the Sibol school program. FedEx supports this program in eight Gawad Kalinga communities – Parañaque, Zambales, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Sultan Kudarat, and Bukidnon. The program encourages skills development and values formation among these children as they prepare for primary education.
FedEx funded the employment of school teachers as well as the construction and operation of eight FedEx-GK Sibol Schools.
FedEx employee volunteers play an active role in improving the lives of the children and their communities. The volunteers helped construct the schools and organize regular educational and community development activities to complement the overall curriculum.
In 2010, FedEx volunteers organized an eco tour for the Sibol children at the Avilon Zoo in Rizal, allowing them to experience nature first-hand and learn about environmental conservation. FedEx also conducted the “FedEx Eco Express” program, where a FedEx truck delivered plants and a team of volunteers to a GK community. The volunteers helped the children clean up their schools, and taught them how waste segregation, recycling and collaboration are important elements of an environmentally sustainable community.
photo credit philstar.com

ComVal 7th GK Bayani Challenge On
by admin on May.03, 2011, under Volunteer Support
Philippine Information Agency
COMPOSTELA, Compostela Valley, May 1 (PIA) – The province is on its 7th Gawad Kalinga (GK) Bayani Challenge, aiming to build 38 houses in Barangay Osmeña, this town.
The teams of the summer bayani volunteer builders have started building houses on April 26, and are expected to finish construction on May 3.
At the opening ceremony, the banging of the drum signaled the start of the challenge, after which a unity dance and passing of hollowblocks (pasaload) followed as a community kick-off.
Activities for the builders are held every night, and special awards will be given at the culmination day.
The identified house beneficiaries will come from the three barangays of San Miguel, Osmeña and Poblacion, who will form the Kahiusahan SOP USWAG GK Village at Barangay Osmeña.
Said village is among the GK Villages that Governor Arturo T. Uy, together with the province’s officials, GK partners and movers are determined to put up in all the eleven municipalities of ComVal.
Uy said the province received pledges of 26 GK houses for the province during the GK Global Summit in Singapore, after rendering his favorite song “Munting Hiling,” which he said touched the hearts of the summit participants.
Recently, the ComVal Team emerged as champion for completing first the construction of their assigned house within five days at the GK National Build in Bantayan Island, Cebu.
Meanwhile, the province has agreed to host the 2012 GK National Build. It can be recalled that in 2010, the province was also the host of the Highway of Peace, an annual national GK caravan. (IDS-ComVal, Grace Almedilla/PIA-11, Carina L. Cayon)

Team Comval champions in house building
by admin on May.01, 2011, under Volunteer Support
by Mai Gevera
DAVAO CITY, April 22 (PIA) – Team Comval championed in house building as the team finished first in building a house in barely five days in the recently held 6th National GK Build at Bantayan Island, Cebu.
Gawad Kalinga is a partner of the administration of President Benigno Aquino III in building houses for the homeless poor. Local government units also embraced the GK way of house building as their strategy in helping the poor build a home.
The 6th GK Bayani Challenge 2011 is a 5 day journey of love of God and country towards rebuilding a nation through building of homes, island greening, farm build, health mission, school build and paraisong pambata. Last April 4-9, about 1,700 volunteers rocked Bantayan Island and built hope and new found relationship with the people of Sta. Fe, Madridejos and Bantayan.
For the province of Compostela Valley, this has been the priority project of teh current administration embracing the GK way to provide houses especially those who have been victims of landslide and other calamities.
Provincial USWAG-GK Coordinator Raul Timogtimog said that Team Comval has had a good experience in building houses in the past.
The staging of the GK Build was held in the three towns of Bantayan. Twenty houses were built in Madridejos where Team Comval was stationed. Eight houses were built in Bantayan while the town of Sta. Fe was made as the base camp for Bayani Builders.
Aside from the House Build, there were other activities initiated in said period such as the Farm Build, Island Greening, Repair and Repainting of Schools, Medical Mission and others.
Country’s leading educational institutions also sent their entries for the 6th National GK Build like the Ateneo de Manila University, De la Salle University and Siliman University. Some teams from the international community like United States of America, Australia and Singapore also joined the competition.
These are among the official entries sent by 30 provinces nationwide.
Of all entries, only Team Comval finished building a house within five days as set by the contest organizers.
The said competition is in line to Gawad Kalinga’s vision called GK20124, a 21-year vision which provides the roadmap towards a First World Philippines. The emerging Asian model for development is unveiled to the world at the first GK Global Summit in Boston, with friends from India and Columbia in attendance to see how this Asian model for development can be adopted to end poverty in other developing nations in the world. (PIA-11/Mai Gevera/PR)
