Celebrating Sis. Lyn Meloto’s birthday @ GK Concepcion, Tarlac

Celebrating life at GK Concepcion (Tarlac)

Bro. Omin del Castillo and I attended a post-birthday celebration for Sis. Lyn Meloto held at GK Amalia Village in Concepcion, Tarlac last July 10.

The trip to Tarlac gave me another opportunity to meet new friends across the country, some acquaintances even coming from other countries.

The occasion also introduced me to Gawad Kalinga’s Bayan-anihan (BA). GK’s food sufficiency program, BA is a multi-sectoral partnership between Gawad Kalinga, the Department of Agriculture (DA), various local government units (LGUs), Association of Colleges of Agriculture, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) like Couple for Christ (CFC).

Globe Telecom, one of the country’s leaders in telecommunications has been a strong partner in the implementation of GK programs including Bayan-anihan. Working together with community residents they have set up one in GK Amalia, putting up since 2008, no less than 35 Bayan-anihan farms nationwide.

When we arrived at GK Amalia, a fairly good sized GK village of around 150 families, we were warmly met by their Kapitbahayan leaders and CFC brethren who were with Bro. Tony Meloto, Sis. Lyn’s husband and GK founder.

GK friends from France introduce themselves

There were several French nationals at the GK site during the festivities. They readily joined the games and danced to the delight of the village residents. Eena Meloto informed me that they were students who came to the Philippines to learn more about Gawad Kalinga.

The GK site was bubbling with children

The site’s plaza ‘fountain’

The celebrant is joined by me, GK Amalia Project Director and CFC Bro. Arnold Capati, Shawn Raydo UCLA – Public Health Grad student and CFC couple Bro. Nonoy and Sis. Malou Zapanta

The French enjoyably danced and played in the parlor games during the program

Sis. Lyn joins the GK partners from Globe Telecom in a dance

PD Bro. Arnold talked about the fruits of GK in their community

Mabuhay ladies perform a traditional dance….

…then asks the French guests to dance as well

Bro. Tony Meloto, Gawad Kalinga Chairman, spoke to the people

French guy does a handstand

Lunch time!

For a seafood and pasta lover like me, the food was divine

GK advocate and former Dept. of Agriculture Secretary Sito Lorenzo and his family arrived

Globe brought the delicious catered food from the famous restaurant Antonio’s

Photo ops with the Meloto and Lorenzo couples

Belated happy birthday, Sis. Lyn! The weather was extremely humid but the equally warm smiles and hospitality of our GK partners made it a lot more bearable. Our trip to Tarlac was definitely well worth it!