Social and Spiritual

The GKYB 2007 program was both a social and spiritual experience.

From the very first time we landed, up to the last moments of our stay prior to flying home we sought help from God through prayers and learnings from each other through sharing of one's experience.

I remember the very first place we visited was the Parish church in Cubao, to ask for strength and guidance for the next 29 days of our stay in the Philippines. We couldn't also forget having joined the Monday assembly in the GK office which started with Praise and worship with all the volunteers participating. It was always a good way to start the day with checking in with the Lord! We realized that this was one way of regaining our physical strength which we continue to offer while doing the build.

Everyday prior to eating breakfast, the teams go for Praise and Worship and as one big family of almost 40 youth and adults, with our CFC Caretaker teams, together we heard mass in Imus. We were proud to have been acknowledged by the Parish priest as we were tasked to march during the offertory.

In the GK villages, we also realized in our rounds with the beneficiaries how thankful they are to the Lord and how the blessings that they received from Gawad Kalinga made them join Couples for Christ. One won't fail to notice their doors with CFC stickers neatly plastered and statues of Mama Mary adorned with flowers.

You can feel the heightened dignity as well as strengthened faith in and around the GK villages. A trait we can't ignore as everyone acknowledges the source of all the blessings that both the beneficiaries and the builders have received.

GKYB 2007 in Video : Episode 2 : Urban Farming

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Myths were debunked! When we had our 3rd day during GKYB 2007, we experienced urban farming and proved 2 things:

That urban farms can be done in Metro Manila and that the youth of today wouldn't mind working under the heat of the sun and getting their hands soiled. This video will prove that!

Watch out for our new-found friends who not only shared their time with us, but also their dreams of leading a better life, if given the chance. We shared with them a chocolate bar and lunch, although we hope we could share more! We could - with your help....

Music: Sowing the Seeds of Love - (Tears for Fears)

GKYB 2007 in Video : Episode 1 : Back in Manila

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We left more than a month ago. The date was July - Friday the 13th. (You know what they say about Friday the 13th.) Nonetheless, we were blessed that not a single misadventure happened. If a 3-hour delay isn't considered unlucky...or sitting beside a snoring Junnie for close to 12 hours isn't torture as well (you can ask Christine)- then it was indeed a Beautiful Day!

Whatever it was, the 16-hours on air, including waiting time, was well worth it. Enjoy!

Music: Beautiful Day (U2), Leaving on a Jet Plane, Manila (Amber)

Words We Learned from our GKYB 2007 Experience

1. sibol: cute kids who will want to cling on you all day long
2. sagip: slightly bigger sibol kids, who also want to play and help build too
3. siga: helpful gardeners who we're sure will be able to make their dreams come true, someday
4. Caretaker Team: our "genies" during the Build - whatever we wish, they give
5. Kapitbahayan team: aka good cooks, great sharers of their talents and time
6. beneficiary family: synonymous to hospitable families willing to open their doors to guests with great pride and uplifted dignity brought about by their beliefs that Gawad Kalinga program works

Of course, there are:

7. Heller!!!!: a kind of greeting for people with like minds; sometimes means, "ano ba yan?"
8. Lazies: families who never got the GK program imbibed into their household despite the various values formation processes provided
9. taho: selling this soya-based glutinous meal on a Saturday morning meant doing a job of one-man with 5 youths shouting "taho" at the top of their voice but not approximating the sale of the lone tahoman; can also mean, a camel stuffed toy given to Canada by our UAE friends
10. kuya: real male angel who will be there always for you; see 5 and 6; can also be Dondi, our service team caretaker, but Junnie is definitely older than Dondi...so this word is not appropriate
11. ate: female no. 10; Bai and Laksmi

There are more:

12. Peektyur Peektyur: this is meant to ask anyone to take a picture of Angel, our good friend from Syria, sometimes a serious pose, but more often than not, a picture Angel would want to be added to his growing modelling portfolio
13. Texas: where Norson comes from. Often is believed to be another country. for example: This is OHagan from the US, and Norson from Texas.
14. Wake Up Time: for some people, one hour after the agreed wake up time.

Lastly, GKYB 2007 stands for Gawad Kalinga Youth Build - a life-changing experience we will all remember for the rest of our lives!

Amen.

Angels In Our Midst

Name : Ate Bai Linda and Dondi
From : GK PMG and Service Teams, respectively
Sleeps : we don't see them sleep
Age : Youth na Youth


The best part of the Youth Build is learning the rudiments from those who have been there, who've done that and are willing to spend time teaching. Bai Linda and Dondi are the best in what they do.

If not for them, half of the time of the Build would've been spent finding our way, literally. They show us the ropes, teach us the tricks and of course - pay for everything that we need to spend on.

More than that, they were with us to share their passion for GK and why they're there inspite and despite of.

Bai Linda, the first Muslim, in a Christian-dominated movement, certainly allowed us to appreciate GK more and its ideals. She was the most patient and proved to have shown real love among all the participants, willing to share her time, her stories, and her food!!!
Ibang klase, ka Ate Bai

Don, or Dondi, was there since we arrived from the airport. He was our "big brother" who even taught us several words we never knew before, "Helller!". Always upbeat and on the go despite the circumstance, it wasn't complete when he had to join the Batangas leg instead of our build in Marinduque. (But he was there too, in the likeness of a small child, 'chong, kamukha mo talaga).

Bai Linda and Don were the real angels in our team. Without them, the build wouldn't feel complete. With them, our experience was a lot more fulfilling.

We hope to get in touch at least once in a while. Hopefully, til our next Youth Build - ulit! Hellllller!

It was a Joy-a with Tita Goya

Name : Gloria or Goya
From : Cagayan Valley
Sleeps : rather wakes up at 5am
Age : Is the most fit among the group - hands down


"I was compelled, no, forced by Maripi to join this group", quips Tita Goya, "and I was happy that she did!", she follows through.

God always has the best plans for the GKYB team. When everything turned out to be bleak as the number of youth participants dwindled down week after week, there were still those who believed that it was quality more than quantity that should prevail.

Tita Goya only made our Marinduque leg, but added more than just quality to the group - but also wisdom and a lot of patience and fortitude to endure.

The inspiration to always be on our toes, literally, waking up at 5am, limbering up at 5:30am and walking with our Yale walker, O Hagan for 3 kilometers at 6:30am, just made the youth seemingly the same lethargic age as I am.

It was also Tita Goya who held us together reminding us of things we sometimes forget - points that we needed to emphasize during our workshops and be the first one to provide the extra push and the tap in the back when we do well.

Yet, despite her maturity, she will be among the first ones to start some random "angel bashing" or sometimes get us ribbed with some side comments that we never anticipated.

It was great Tita Goya joined us in Marinduque. We couldn't imagine if the trip would be any different without her - maybe more quiet, more serious, and yes - more sleeping too!

Norson - Canada's Adopted Son

Name : Norson
From : Texas - another country apart from USA
Sleeps : with an Angel
Age : Don't be deceived by his boyish looks. But actually he really is a child-at-heart. MidEast Youth call him "Kuya Norse" - do the math

Norson heard about the GKYB program scheduled for July 2007 and started emailing Michele, GKYB's coordinator since early March 2007 for possibilities of joining in case there is no US Build/GAT. Monthly, he was diligent enough to inform us on development of his plans in the Philippines. In fact, in April, he had once said he wouldn't be able to join but in the end, last July 16, 2007, he was there as USA's gift to the Youth Build of Canada.

He wore the Canada cap for 17 days, didn't mind sometimes being introduced as part of Canada, went with us during the visit to the embassy (not the known club at the Fort) and CIDA and really was Canadian for most part of the build.

His being part of the build program added another dimension to our interesting group. He was the only YFC member, he added spice - the Texan point of view of things, and acted as our brunt of jokes about his lovelife and his patience to putting up with different personalities during the whole 2.5 weeks.

Overall, the first communication in March that ended with a great parting last July 31st wasn't for naught. We added a friend, a brother, an advocate of the GK Youth Build program in his hometown in Texas. Hopefully we will see each other in future builds and will not be "lazies" in answering emails.

We will miss you Norson! Good luck on your Campus-based U of T (Texas) plans of conducting a build soon!