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| North Central (NC) Region |
| Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Nebraska, N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky |
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Gawad Kalinga: A Year In Review by Donna Reyes 2007 was another busy year for Gawad Kalinga (GK) advocates, partners and volunteers as they continue to spread their advocacy for the poor. As of August of this year, over 1,200 GK communities and more than 24,000 homes have been built by GK around the Philippines. To date, the Gawad Kalinga North Central team has funded 42 GK villages. These numbers translate to thousands of poor families, whose lives have been transformed — and GK promises that this is only the beginning. Paraiso in Chicago The showing of “Paraiso” highlights all GK events in the Chicagoland. Shown at the historic, Pickwick Theater in Park Ridge, Paraiso is a trilogy of GK stories that speak about the miracle of Gawad Kalinga. Due to its phenomenal success, neighboring states Minnesota and Indiana had their own premiere showing that attracted even more Filipinos, eager to hear the good news of GK. A Gathering of Hope Weavers GK volunteers from the Midwest attended what GK leader, Tony Meloto, described as “a gathering of hope weavers, dream makers and merchants of hope” — the Gawad Kalinga Summit in San Francisco in May. Meloto, who resigned in February as Executive Director of Gawad Kalinga, continues to be an inspiring force behind GK. Luis Oquinena is the new Executive Director of GK, while Meloto who says, “I don’t need a title to continue to serve”, prefers to be called a “GK Builder” and now concentrates in promoting Gawad Kalinga on a global scale. First GK Midwest Conference Gawad Kalinga held its very first GK Midwest Conference in September with Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist and GK volunteer, Jose Ma. Montelibano, as guest speaker. In this event where GK supporters from Indiana, Minnesota and Missouri gathered, GK also launched Gawad Kalusugan, GK’s health arm. More Heroes Ran About 60 Gawad Kalinga advocates ran The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon in October. These GK runners, hailed as heroes, continue to receive contributions, which they hope would be enough to build a GK village (which includes 30-50 homes). The World Famous Platters Sang for GK The World Famous Platters brought the “oldies but goodies” down the memory lane with hits from the 50s and 60s. Produced by the Lovely Ladies of the Orient for the benefit of Gawad Kalinga, this special event will continue to build a village in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija that George and Margie Boerema, Partnership Directors of ANCOP (Answering the Cry of the Poor, the resource generating arm of Gawad Kalinga) had started. GK1World, GK1MB Gawad Kalinga looks forward to the fulfillment of its vision to build 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities in 7 years as it celebrated its 4th year anniversary of launching GK777. In their anniversary celebration held at the SM Mall of Asia in the Philippines, they gathered thousands of GK volunteers, partners and workers with the theme, “GK1World: One Hope. One Vision. One Global Army against Poverty.” GK1World is expected to become a point of convergence as the young and old, rich and poor, Christians and Muslims, Filipinos here and abroad come together to celebrate the vision of a country free from poverty and hunger. In Chicago, GK brings us the same spirit of bayanihan, of being a hero for each other with the launch of GK1MB (GK One Million Builders) some time in April. Dylan Wilk, the British businessman who sold his company and all other properties to work full time for GK, will lead this gathering of GK heroes along with Nathan Mari, Gawad Kalinga’s new GK1MB National Coordinator. |