Publisher's Note

Publisher’s Note
It was 22 years ago when I arrived in Canada and chose Calgary, Alberta to be my home. Leaving my family and friends behind, it was a new adventure for me to be in a new country without knowing anyone. That was the time I looked for a Filipino community paper and never found any, [...]
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Page added on February 18, 2010

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A SPECIAL REPORT ON GK LOS BANOS VISIT

by C.K.

When ex-President Fidel V. Ramos came to Calgary last July 2009 to help with the fundraising campaign of Gawad Kalinga, my husband and I attended the Dinner-Dance event hosted by Philippine Honorary Consul General Felix Guerrero at the Polish Canadian Cultural Centre. I was aware of the programs of Gawad Kalinga and will always support GK for a good cause. When we were about to leave the hall, we noticed the folders with the pictures of the children who are looking for sponsors. Being that both our children are now grown up adults, I convinced my husband to sponsor a little girl, aged 4 and I will sponsor a little boy aged 5. We took home the folders and the forms to fill in so sponsor the children. It was finally in August 2009 when our sponsorship started for these children.

Then came the time that I decided to go to Manila for a 3 week holiday and one of my mission is to see our sponsosored children. Upon arriving in Manila, I looked for a contact in GK Los Banos who can help facilitate my visit to the children. With so much persistence, I managed to get hold of the GK Coordinator in Los Banos, Rey dela Cruz. January 3, 2010 I was accompanied by one of my former students to Los Banos where we will meet with Mr. dela Cruz. Once we got to our meeting point, Mr. dela Cruz took us with his vehicle to the GK Village in Los Banos. He arranged my visit to the children, namely Gabriel Abaño (now Bunyi) and Kathleen Sargento. When we got to the village, we headed to their meeting hall which they also as their classroom for their Kindergarten class. The children with their mothers came and met with me and it was such a joyful feeling to see them in person. As a true-born Filipino, I have the heart for my fellow Filipinos and before I can go and help other children from other nations, I would rather help children from my home country. The children had smile on their face seeing their sponsor come and visit them. I handed them a few groceries and some school supplies and a little token for them to buy a Christmas present they Santa missed to give them. I had a chat with the GK Coordinator about their school needs and made a little donation that they can use for buy what they need for school supplies for the children. It was such a wonderful feeling that you came a long way to see the other side of life with the residents of GK Los Banos. Before I left the village, Mr. Dela Cruz gave me a little tour of the whole village and showed me the 15 houses that was donated by our fellow Calgarian, Norma Mohirashi. It was indeed a worthwhile holiday when you do something out of the ordinary aside from enjoying the tropical weather out there and getting away from our cold winter. I have attached a short email I received from Mr. Rey Dela Cruz before I left Manila:

ear Sis,

We just love to have partners like you visiting GK. It was indeed our pleasure to show you around even though you stayed for only a short while. You made such a large impact on Gabby and Kathleen, as well as their moms. By the way, the husbands were not with us during your visit. Gabby’s dad is working in Saudi Arabia to make ends meet, while Kathleen’s dad is working in Bicol.

I do hope that you could help us, first in getting more scholarship supports for our kids, especially the two children of Alma Hernandez (the widow) and secondly for the completion of our chapel. Funds had almost dried up for the latter, but we are still working hard to complete it before June this year. Yesterday, we started the construction of our basketball court. We really need a sports facility to serve the whole village.

Good luck to your trip. We’ll keep in touch by email. God bless.

Rey

A SPECIAL REPORT ON GK LOS BANOS VISIT

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