Gawad Kalinga Bayani Challenge 2011

When I read about the Gawad Kalinga Bayani Challenge 2011 some 3 months ago, I immediately decided that I’m gonna participate in the event. The only problem I had was that I had no sure team at that time. I was only glad when Team USC was looking for more people to join them. I did, even though I knew no one yet. Then I had my first build with the CWTS classes of Ms. Abrenica at GK Amazing Village (Budlaan, Talamban, Cebu City) at Andrew’s (GK USC Chapter president) invite some time February.

Almost two months after that, I joined team meetings. I had no problems with being the only girl in the team, but it’s a good thing that more joined in later. There were only seven of us who went to Bantayan Island a day before the event. We stayed in an elementary school in Sta. Fe. We spent the whole day cleaning the boy’s room where they’d live in for the whole week (April 4-8, 2011). The girls were to stay in the high school.

Shooing the mosquitoes away.

Dinner by the beach.

The first day of the challenge came and I didn’t know what to expect. Or maybe I knew but wasn’t quite sure if they were the right ones. There were a total of 1,700 volunteers (around 90 teams) from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, USA, Australia, and Singapore. Overwhelming isn’t it?

It’s actually the very first GK Bayani Challenge that aside from building homes, there were other activities (paraisong pambata, school build, village refurbishing, island greening, coastal clean-up, farm build, health mission) as well in non-GK communities, thus the theme Kalinga sa Bayan.

Upon arrival at the site for the home build in Madridejos, we immediately set to work under the scorching heat of the sun. We started collecting hollow blocks for the individual houses (ours and the rest’s) but since they were situated far, we had to do a human chain (like what we did during my first build). The rest of the boys were doing the concrete mixtures already.

With no specific assignments, I was jumping from one task to another. It was fun anyway. We ended the building day at 3pm and were back at the school by 4pm. There were beach competitions (dodge ball, beach volleyball, beach soccer, frisbee, Pinoy games) after a hard day’s work but our team was not able to register ahead. Hehe. More of our teammates came at night. We didn’t stay up late ‘coz we had to be early the next day.

The rest of the days were the same, only that the tasks got heavier, but of course, they got more enjoyable. We went swimming, too, when we felt like it. I worked myself out on the 3rd day, and as a result, I got sick the next day. Haha. There were Kalinga Nights in the evenings (duh) where GK speakers (Sir Tony Meloto [father and founder of GK], Patrick Doromal, Emong Dimaiwat, Melai Llegado, Mayor Munib [Sulu], Donna Unsad [Tiduray tribe], etc.) shared their inspirational experiences for the past years and talked about how it is to be a mabuting Pilipino and huwarang Pilipino. Here’s the line that struck me the most:

“Let’s create prosperity to end poverty. This I guarantee you that by 2024, this will be a prosperous nation.” -Sir Tony Meloto

I especially liked the parts where we were chanting, “Kalinga sa Bayan, Sigaw ng Kabataan. Kalinga sa Bayan, Sagot sa Kahirapan. Kalinga sa Bayan, Lakas ng Pagbabago“, the unity dance to the sound of Lipad Pinoy by Tropical Depression, and yes, the jamming session with 6cyclemind! But I gotta admit, I was kind of disappointed when Ney Dimaculangan wasn’t there (replaced by Tutti Caringal on lead vocals). Hehe.

Everything became a daily cycle — waking up early, preparing for and eating breakfast, preparing for the day, dancing, standing during the whole trip to Madridejos, building, eating lunch, building again, standing trip again, resting, preparing for and eating dinner, [everything else in between, i.e. talking & picture2x-ing], Kalinga Night, taking a bath, sleeping. For me, they weren’t just ordinary moments. I shared them with newfound friends, and they made it more exciting and pleasurable!

What more, we didn’t only have human friends. We had a chicken friend named Carol (for ‘Carolinian‘ since we’re Team USC 1)! Sad to say, though, we sold it at half the original price ‘coz we couldn’t kill it by ourselves and eat it.

Carol, our mascot!

On the last day of Bayani Challenge (Friday), it was announced that next year’s challenge will be in 5 different provinces — Occidental Mindoro, Masbate, Lanao del Norte, Compostela Valley, and Ormoc, Leyte! Just amazing! Where will we be? Where will I be?

I’m very thankful to my teammates (and the whole GK family) for such a wonderful experience! Tanya, Maloi, Mark, Kullen, Jen, Jurelle, Sir Dacs, CI, James, Kevin, Michael, MJ, Anthony, Benjun, Ian, Bubot, Kath, Billy, the other Billy (hahaha!), and the rest, you’re the best! And your titles won’t be forgotten! Haha. We may not have been able to finish building our house, but we sure built a big part!

We spent our last day (Saturday) in Bantayan Island at Sugar Beach Resort. It was a time for relaxing and bonding with friends (though we weren’t complete ‘coz the others went ahead).

Building sandcastle using real tools. Out of frustration?

The GK Bayani Sandcastle.

Bonfire!

We stayed overnight, and we left the island early morning on Sunday. When farewell time came, I left my GK team with a ‘goodbye‘ and a ‘see you next GK build‘!

Team USC 1.

Here are the videos of what transpired during the week:

You can read more about the challenge here.

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Mikyu. 22 y/o. From Consolacion, Cebu. Gawad Kalinga volunteer/builder. Semi-geek. Dreamer. Lover. Friend. Writing and photography hobbyist. Sucker for pens and papers. w/ Mumu. ♥

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