Building Hope from the Ground Up! (@BayaniChallenge Week 3) #WalangIwanan

Fwd: #BayaniChallenge Week 3: Building Hope from the Ground Up

Negros Occidental. The youth painting Parao’s for fishing sailboats in Manapla, Negros Occidental. Our hope reminder that we will not leave them behind.

“San po kayo galing?“

“Sa Brgy. Sta. Rita“

“San po yun?“

“Mga 2 barangay bago neto.“

“Ano hong pakay nila dito?“

“Ah eh ano, maki-charge kami ng cellphone sa bahay ng nanay ko.“

They walked two towns to charge their mobile phone. The thing is, under current circumstances, guess that’s perfectly normal and acceptable.

The Bayani Challenge in ~99 other similar localities could seem like an elementary approach to rehabilitation. Along with other volunteers, you play with kids, do clean up drives, build houses, attend formation nights – something we haven’t done at least once in our lives, right?

But setting aside for now the road to get here (literally & figuratively), today we saw how Bayani Challenge was a barangay’s biggest ‘happening’ and most compelling reason to hope. Hope small, hope high – hope itself is always big.

Zamboanga. It is now eight months after the armed conflict, which left thousands of families homeless. While the loss, pain and fear may still linger, the spirit of Walang Iwanan now rises! 63 volunteers from Teach Peace Build Peace Movement from Luzon travelled to Zamboanga City with the help of the AFP. The City Govt, the AFP, PNP, Ateneo De Zamboanga, D’Alert, and other local volunteers are now starting to build homes for the conflict victims.

Southern Leyte. “Our new blood brothers. We had two short breaks from our full day of medical mission and paraisong pambata when our Muslim brothers dropped everything to pray. Their faith is inspiring.” – Dr. Jerome Paler, GK Southern Leyte

Negros Occidental. A treat for our volunteers after the mangrove planting in Manapla, Negros Occidental: fire hose bath. Fun under the sun!

Leyte. Credit Suisse all the way from Singapore, members of the AFP, seminarians, Team Butuan & GKom come together to build homes and exchange stories with volunteers and soon-to-be residents in Alang-alang, Leyte.

Leyte. A new village is rising in Palanog, Leyte. Making hope concrete to more families during the Saatchi-GK Village Groundbreaking Ceremony.

Iloilo. “Walang Iwanan para sa kalikasan!” The locals and volunteers chant during the tree planting activity in Brgy. Alpasco, Batad, Iloilo. What a beautiful country we have.

Eastern Samar. Site development ongoing for a GK community that can accommodate at least 100 families for relocation. Awesome venue for the day builds and evening sessions at Lawaan, Eastern Samar.

Cebu. Building homes, planting trees, playing with kids and rebuilding schools during the day, building relationships and dancing to our heart’s content during the night sessions.

Cebu. Seawall painting in Tabuelan, Cebu. Leaving a mark that hope will continue to shine through if we work together.

Capiz. On this site will soon rise a Gawad Kalinga community, lot donated by sisters from an indigenous group, Panay Bukidnon. Tapaz, Capiz is home to many IP Groups (38 out of 58 are IP Barangays). The inspiration that was built and sustained has now bear fruits in Capiz and will become a source of hope for many whose lives were greatly affected by Typhoon Yolanda.

Bohol. Grateful to our volunteer doctors and nurses who helped us in the medical mission in San Miguel, Bohol catering more than 1,500 people for Operation Tuli, Medical Check Up, Dental Check up and tooth extraction, and free haircut.

Bohol. Candle-lit boodle fight, only in San Miguel, Bohol together with the volunteers, locals and the Local Government Unit. Food brings people together.

Bayani Cruise. Over a hundred volunteers all aboard for the bayani cruise! Team North and Central Luzon ready to rebuild homes and build hope in Marabut, Samar and Lawaan, Eastern Samar. And the fun started the minute they left Manila Port with Bayanihan Race and Getting To Know You Games.

Antique. Roofless school buildings. A common sight no more. On-going school rehabilitation and activities with the kids thru Paraisong Pambata in Brgy. Latazon, Laua-an, Antique.