Aquino praises GK’s example

Aquino praises GK’s example

President Noynoy Aquino said Gawad Kalinga (GK) continues to challenge and inspire everyone to go beyond charity and become their brother’s keeper through a culture of caring and sharing.

The Philippine president was keynote speaker at the close of the three-day celebration of Gawad Kalinga’s (GK) 7th-year anniversary held October 10. The GK Expo, carrying the theme of hope, celebrates the great spirit of the Pinoy in being extraordinarily generous when called to service.

President Aquino acknowledged the GK community “Bayanihan” spirit and stressed it sets an example to Filipinos to be results-oriented in bringing out the best of themselves and proactively contributing not only to building GK communities but to building the nation.

This spirit of working together celebrates the values instilled in every GK volunteer, to serve God and the community.

“Gaya po ng ginawa ng Gawad Kalinga (Similar to what GK has done), hinihikayat ko po kayong makipagbayanihan upang kumpunahin natin ang ating bayan (I encourage everyone to join in the spirit of communal unity to mend the concerns of the nation). Lahat tayo may magagawa (We can all contribute). Ang pagiging simpleng mamamayan ay hindi dahilan upang sabihing wala tayong lakas (Being an ordinary citizen is not a reason to say that there is no strength among us),” President Aquino said to over 45,000 people, GK residents, volunteers, partners, supporters, advocates and friends who attended the event.

Gawad Kalinga continues to challenge and inspire everyone to go beyond charity and become their brother’s keeper through a culture of caring and sharing.

This is the driving force behind Kalinga sa Bayan, a GK campaign seeking to build an enabling environment where Filipinos can respond concretely to the call to care for the country by helping end poverty in the towns and cities where they come from.

He also acknowledged GK founder Tony Meloto, father of Gawad Kalinga.

The President said he encourages everyone to carry on with their fulfilling vocation and to pass on the message of hope to all citizens of the world.

Gawad Kalinga’s 7th-year anniversary looks back on the past 7 years of GK’s transforming work with the poor (Social Justice phase) and ushers in the second phase of Gawad Kalinga, the next 7 years, which is the Social Artistry phase which seeks to empower and help poor Filipinos to fulfill their potentials with the help of fellow Filipinos all over the world who have not left their motherland behind.

GK Founder Tony Meloto declared that the “GK is God’s gift to the Philippines. The Filipino is God’s gift to the world.”

(PRESS RELEASE)