GK Build at Melchora Aquino

1st GK Build at Melchora Aquino

Last Sunday (Aug. 31), marked the first ever Gawad Kalinga (GK) build I helped organize and participated in my new CFC chapter.

The GK site’s name, Melchora Aquino was taken from the street in front of the area divided by a canal which you could through several footpaths. Melchora was a heroic elderly lady who helped the Katipuneros during the Philippine Revolution before the end of the 19th century. In the midst of our country’s political and socio-economic problems, such heroism and patriotism of our revolutionary fathers needs to be revived from many of our countrymen.

Before I started my service at the Sta. Lucia chapter, several people warned me about the obstinacy of people in this particular GK site where there are around 89 beneficiary families on a 2,757 square meter piece of land. That day, I personally experienced a taste of what they meant.

Of course there several members of the CFC chapter present and a number of Youth for Christ (YFC) members in Sta. Lucia, majority of whom were not beneficiaries of the GK site.

The youth of Sta. Lucia help in transporting the construction materials

The soil and cement rubble are used as filler

in the ground work of some GK houses

There were residents there in their homes as expected. But the “bayanihan” spirit seemed to have taken a leave from these parts as many helped only when their houses were being built, later becoming invisible to provide assistance to their co-beneficiaries.

As we sweated out shoveling dirt among big cement rubble into sacks under a hot sun, you can even see some residents not far away from us, drinking the day away under the shade of some small trees. They didn’t make trouble for us, just plain apathetic and seemingly oblivious even to the physical exertion found in the faces of the young and heroic kids that carried the heavy sacks of soil to the houses being constructed.

YFC members mix gravel and cement

Still, when you serve, you don’t always get warm responses. I learned that when I started serving in GK Ruby where it took a lot of even younger kids to inspire some of the residents to pitch in during GK Build activities during the early days. But wherever I went, it was always one’s consistent example of loving and caring for others that made the long term difference. When people see that you are sincere, hearts change. At least some do.

Though the challenges may make me disappointed at times, it is the approval and happiness of God that I seek, the One who we ultimately serve.

Lunch time at a GK beneficiary’s home

That’s why in a special way I honor those YFC members who helped us during the build. They are an example for all of us. As long as the heroism, patriotism of our forefathers coupled with a strong moral and spiritual foundation that the community provides is nurtured in this youthful generation, there is great hope that these same YFC members will continue to be sources of light to the world… for Christ!

St. Paul wrote:

“Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity”. (1Timothy 4:12)


Amen to that!