GK Youth Build Goes Blue in Payatas

GK Youth Build joined Ateneo de Manila in their feast of St. Ignatius celebration with GK Bayanihan Build and here's their account.

The Ignatian Spirit Lives On!
GK Bayanihan Build for the feast of St. Ignatius

By: Leigh Hernandez & J. Michael Go

The notion of men and women for others was exemplified Last July 31, 2008 as strong rains and a school holiday did not hold back volunteers from the Ateneo to answer the call of service. Around 200 Ateneans worked with 200 Gawad Kalinga beneficiaries to build houses for the poor to celebrate the feast of St. Ignatius.

This is the first time for a GK – Ateneo Bayanihan Build to be held in two simultaneous sites. GK Molave (Payatas, Quezon City) in partnership with the Ateneo Alumni Association (AAA), was able to accommodate a community of Atenean nation builders and even prepared non-stop presentation for them. A ceremonial demolition of the Wall of Poverty was held as a highlight of the build. Picture a wall painted with the words "Garbage," "Stealing," "lack of Education," "Poverty," "lack of Unity," "Hopelessness," "Drug Pushing," and "Unemployment" was torn down by volunteers and beneficiaries as a symbol of a new life they have in GK.

The Ateneo volunteer contingent in GK Molave was composed of builders from the Office of Administrative Services (OAS), Psyche, Oberlin Philippine Immersion and Cultural Program 2008, Ateneo Residents-Students Association (ARSA), and GK Youth Build-Canada.


The other build was hosted by the GK Pinagsama Villages (Taguig City). This event marks the common journey of the City Government of Taguig and the Ateneo in building a first world Philippines by eliminating the gap between rich and poor. The grand vision of Taguig City is to compliment Bonifacio Global City with Taguig GK City. The Taguig GK City features a 10,000 strong socialized housing build the GK way this is the city's statement that they will not leave behind the poor as they pursue development.

Volunteers from Youth for Christ, the John Gokongwei School of Management and the Ateneo Graduate School of Business took part in a build of over 4 GK Pinagsama sites (GK Philam Doctors, GK Zonta of Makati, GK International School Manila and GK Jack & Jill).

The grand army of nation builders which Ignatius envisioned came to life in Payatas and Taguig that day. Although the sudden rain in the afternoon put most of the work in a standstill, the greater work was done early on with the impression made by the participants to the communities. Participants matched the efforts of the skilled laborers and beneficiaries with most continuing work under the rain – a true testament to GK's approach to nation building which is to leave no man behind. The Bayanihan Build did not stop even as the rain poured The bad is a blessing in disguise because it allowed the volunteers to build not only houses, but most significantly, relationships with the beneficiaries. The day ended with the volunteers and beneficiaries sharing stories and exchanging heartfelt thanks for the memories made. An Ignatian mass was held in both sites to cap off the day's events.

More than building structures that will provide homes for the people of Molave and Pinagsama, the relationship building which transpired during the feast of St. Ignatius has made a home in everyone's heart.