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| South East (SE) Region |
| Florida, Georgia, N. Carolina, S. Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama |
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GK Awareness in Georgia by Butch & Ida Gruta  GK777 was warmly welcomed by the Atlantans, best known for their southern hospitality. The Bikol National Association of America (BNAA), and the Philippine American Medical Association of Georgia (PAMAG), held their annual convention with only a week apart. The BNAA event was held at the Marriott Hotel in Duluth, GA last July 15th, while the Grand Hyatt in Buckhead graced the well-attended PAMAG on July 22nd 2006. Arthur Barlaan, GK Southeast Region Director, coordinated the event to Butch Gruta, GK GA Coordinator who put together the necessary materials for the video presentation, booth set-up and distribution of brochures and pledge forms. The former secretary of Agriculture in the Philippines, now a GK National Adviser for Productivity, Cito Lorenzo, spearheaded the launching. Mr. Lorenzo devotes his time advocating the program among his comrades in the business community, civic organizations and government institutions. As the keynote speaker to these two big events, Cito, shared his involvement and talked about the vision, principle and history of Gawad Kalinga. He told the delegates and officials of the two organizations how honored he was to be a part of the movement that is transforming the face of poverty in the Philippines. He dutifully reminded them the sad reality that plagued our homeless “kababayans” and a profound call to share their blessings with poorest of the poor. Present also in the two conventions were Dr. Jose (Jun) Raffinan and Cito’s wife, Malen Lorenzo. Dr. Raffinan, of Tampa Florida, is the Southeast Regional GK Partnership Director and has been an instrument in bringing and assisting the couple in Georgia. Both organizations expressed their support in the works of GK and hopefully seeking their way to be partners in building villages in the Philippines. |