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| National Capital (NCR) Region |
| Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia |
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Progress Report ... GK Hampton Roads Team by Peter and Sol Montilla Two years ago, a group of daring members of Couples for Christ met to form what is now known as CFC-GK Hampton Roads Team. We sat our goals,our mission and vision for our group in this area...that is to create awareness about Gawad Kalinga here in Hampton Roads and beyond. And to become GK Village Builders!! Quite an ambitious goal with no money to start with except with our faith that somehow our friends and associates will open their minds and hearts for the poor. Well, I am happy to report that as of this date, we have completed the first village we named-Hampton Roads GK Village I located in Matawe, Dingalan, Aurora province.None of us knew where in the world that was at the time. The beneficiaries are victims of typhoon and landslides,the tribal people called " Dumagats". It is located in a scenic place that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Then, we sat our sights on doing a second village when we had generous people who committed to pledge for a GK house. Though,we had a GK site reserved for us in Agusan del Norte in Mindanao, we missed the opportunity to start our second village there due to lack of funds to start the first 10 houses. Although there were 30 other pledgers listed, it remained a pledge and the funds did not come in. We only received enough to cover the first 30 houses for the first village. But the Lord has other plans for our group.When I went home to the Philippines this Jan 2008, Santa Justina, Buhi, Camarines Sur GK site came up as being ready for partnership which means the site plan and Community Developmnent plan was completed on a 3.8 hectares of land which will accomodate at least a hundred GK houses. The land was donated by the grandmother of Nancy Onquit Blanco who was a former resident of Va. Beach now residing in Buhi. And on a weeks notice ,I was invited to do a ground breaking on the site which was held Feb.9, 2008. Needless to say, Hampton Roads GK Village II found a new home where it will rise this year. We are committing to build the first 30 houses in this location. We hope to see other groups get involved in joining us in that beautiful piece of land close to Lake Buhi..where the smallest fish in the world grow in abundance. Part of my agenda when I went home this year was to join a GK Bayanihan Build which I did in Orion, Bataan. Little did I know that because of what I experienced and witnessed during the build, that I got inspired to do more than what I have done so far.That evening after I left our group from the build, I told my sisters that I will donate to GK the only parcel of land which was my enheritance from our parents. I had originally planned to name it Montilla-Obedoza GK village but I dreamed of my late father that night and he whispered in my ears that the village I was thinking of to donate will be named after him " Don Anacleto Obedoza GK Village". The very next day, I went to visit the piece of land with my sister. It was my first time to see it as I was never interested until GK came along. It is an agricultural land full of eggplants about 500 meters away from the main road in Barangay Piaz, Villasis, Pangasinan. We met with the Mayor of Villasis and made partnership with the local government. The Deed of Donation was completed before I left the Philippines early this month. And so Villasis, Pangasinan , my place of birth, will have the 3rd village, a Legacy Village to honor my father. It is almost 2 hectares and will accomodate at least 50 GK houses with enough room for a Multipurpose building and livelihood programs such as fish pond and vegetable garden for the community. A lot has been done, but a lot more needs to be done. The problem of poverty in our country is massive and it needs massive effort to lift it out of the third world and restore the dignity of our poor brothers and sisters. Join us in making the goal of GK 777 for 2010 ... 700,000 homes, in 7000 villages in 7 years! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! This year, Gawad Kalusugan USA was launched, which is the health arm of Gawad Kalinga. It is focused on building healthy communities towards a healthy nation, where families live in good health and the over-all well being of every child, youth, adult and elderly is a priority. I encourage all our medical professionals to work as a team and help us implement a new culture of health consciousness to change the slum environment that breeds disease. For those who want to partner with GK/GKAL, we welcome you with open arms! To see our group on the news click here http://www.filamtelevision.com/newsite/download.html Click on Episode #3 Intro Gawad Kalinga |