Forum with Tony Meloto

Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane became hosts to RM Awardee for Community Leadership last Jan 25 - 28 sponsored by partners and friends of Gawad Kalinga in Australia. Whilst in Australia, TM as he is endearly nicknamed everywhere he goes, met with local partners and government officials to lay the direction for this year and the next two years of GK777. In this forum, the partners and workers of GK here in Australia were assured that GK work is continually expanding and more and more partners have been joining GK both in the Philippines and abroad. TM imparted the perspective of gaining corporate, academix and other religious organizations' participation in the work. TM also met with local GKAA officials to set the direction for GK1MB - one million GK builders under a volunteer program that will be launched shortly here in Australia. The local representative from Rockhampton also presented TM with a plan for GK Dreamtime - a program that will foster support and assistance by way of values formation, housing and education to the indigenous members of Australian society.

Sixty One YGATers for 2008

Sixty one young adults took time off from their work and some used the uni break to go to the Philippines to experience GK immersion through the YGAT (Youth Great Adventure Tour) program. The delegation was composed of three groups divided into Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. They were joined whilst in the Philippines by Tony Meloto who expound on the merit of experiencing life in the country where their parents were born. It was an opportunity to bring out the pride of the Filipinos and the land of our roots. More stories about their experiences will be presented in the upcoming GK HARVEST. This is a program produced by the YGAT delegates on 15 March 2008 at Doonside Tech. For details on this event contact: Jamike David and Kathy Santos, GK Youth Leaders at register@gkancopaustralia.org.

Bianca Romps Miss GK 2007

Bianca Lucas, Miss GK NSW garnered top fund raising dollars to win the Miss GK 2007 National Event held in Melbourne. Miss GK is the premier GKAA event participated by different states in the country. Last year, three states participated with Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales fielding in their candidates. Ms Anne Curtis graced the occasion that was attended by more than 400 guests. Miss GK is more than a beauty pageant in that candidates play an advocacy role in spreading the work of GK via fund raising events or awareness forums that they organize. Past villages constructed using MIss GK proceeds were GK Licad in Payatas (Miss GK Loredana Zedda), GK Panganiban (Miss GK Rachel Franze), GK Siruma and Panganiban Phase II (MIss GK Karla Magayanes) and for last year GK Marinduque (Miss GK Bianca Lucas). This year is the fifth year for Miss GK. Rules and terms of conditions can be found in the Mr / Ms GK 2008 link.

For a photo gallery follow the link to the GK Youth webpage.