GKYB Core Team Invited to Ancop-GK Visioning Process

GKYB Core team members were honored to be invited to the Visioning Workshop held at Scarborough last April 19. The event was well attended. Active volunteers, advocates, CFC, SFC and YFC members and of course Ancop-GK officers were one in mind, body and spirit to come up with the vision and mission of Ancop-GK.

"I fully believe that this communion of hearts and minds is a sanctification process and the highest form of connecting all parts of the body with the will of the Holy Spirit, in unison and perfection of the will of the Father.", as Ricky Cuenca, President of AICI, mentioned.

The 6-hour session was an exercise to really center our minds and hearts to how we see Ancop and GK-Canada in the current and coming years.

Greg Forbes facilitated the activity well that we all felt what Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt the power of a few people to transform the world, indeed it is the only thing there ever was."

The GK Youth Build Core Team feels honored by the invitation. Junnie, Michele, Maripi, Peachy and Lori were there to represent the youth volunteers sector of the community. We will continually pray for the success of the GK-Ancop as we will uphold its mission in GK Youth Build!

P.S. As if the morning and afternoon sessions weren't enough, we only had 3 hours to change to our dancing shoes as we hit the floor til midnight during the GK Night of HOPE at Rembrandt in Scarborough. This time, it was less work, more dancing!

Our First Formation Day

The rains stole the thunder away. Yes it did! Last April 12, one of the best contents for a formation that most of us never heard was participated by 11 youth participants, Core Team members and guests at the Good Shepherd Convent at Dufferin and Good Shepherd Court.

Thanks to Lori for putting up 7 modules that will surely prepare the youth volunteers and participant to their journey of not just going back to the Philippines - but also preparing them for challenges in life.

This prompted for the group to unanimously want to share to at least 2 more friends in the next Formation day in late May or early June. We want to share the great experience with more of you. This time, rain or shine, promise? :)

(Click Play to view and listen to the video of Lori's introductions)

GK Youth Build Supports Highway of Peace (H.O.P.E.) Caravan

GK Youth Build Canada is supporting the 3rd Bayani Challenge dubbed as H.O.P.E. 2008 - Building the GK Highway of Peace, an event where nation building is an adventure pushed to the extreme. GKYB team will be represented by good friends who we met from last year's GK Youth Build activities.

Shown here with Junnie who was in the Philippines til April 8 is Jonas, our host in the GK Urban Farm from Cainta.


Of course, who will forget Kuya Dondi ? Both Jonas and Dondi will be part of a team who will join in building communities in the province of Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur on April 21-25, 2008 for 5 grueling days of back-breaking work, tears, laughter and many unforgettable experiences.

The theme for this year is "the more we sweat for PEACE, the less we bleed for WAR".

We will be there praying for you guys - Dondi and Jonas!


Here's the GK Youth Build 2007 contingent with Jonas (far left) and Dondi (behind Jonas) in last year's activity in GK Selecta Village in Cainta.

Meet and Greet :: March 2008

What an enriching day it was. You can sense from our smiles how we were enriched by those who came and shared, including the 4 ones who left prior to the picture taking. We shared and laughed, compared, and validated our experiences bringing us back to a place that has changed our lives - a visit to a Gawad Kalinga village.

As one sharer mentioned, I hope everyone experiences this at least once in their lives...it is totally rewarding.

Thanks to all the sharers, including Seanna, Edelyne, Therese, Peachy and Elvie. More Meet and Greet meetings in May!

Save the Date :: March 15, 2008

Title: Meet and Greet 2008
When: Sat March 15 2 – 5pm
Where: St. Joseph's Workshop
259 Traders Blvd. E. Unit 12,
Mississauga L4Z 2E5

How to get there:

From 407/401 - Exit Hurontario and proceed South. Traders St will be on your left with the Hilton Garden Inn as your landmark. Turn left to Traders.
Proceed to 259. Parking for 20 cars are at the side and at the back.

From 403 - Exit Hurontario and proceed North to the direction of Highway 401. Bear to your right - just after the Highland Farms (Watline St.). Traders St. is on the right. Proceed to 259. Parking for 20 cars are at the side and at the back.

What to bring:

Bring a friend and share this meaningful summer with them in the Philippines

Download the latest GKYB Newsletter from here!

GK Youth Build Presented in GK Walk Launch

The Walk is On! Yes, the GK Walk 2008 promises to be bigger and better this year as announced in the recent launch last Saturday, February 24, 2008.

It was a fun-filled afternoon of presentation of new GK videos, sharing from GK advocates and rah rah rah from top honchos Ricky Cuenca, and Consul General Hon Alejandro Mosquera. The Organizing committee headed by Bro Rico Tingin was successful in putting up the great launch meeting/party all rolled into one!

GK Youth Build was well represented by Junnie and Michele, Elvie, Therese and Mica. The 3-hour presentation focused on the importance of GK Walk (to GKYB, it is very important as it was from after the GK Walk 2006 that GK Youth Build was conceptualized) and how it will play its role to propagate the ideals of Gawad Kalinga.

The 10-minute sharing of GK Youth Build elicited a lot of interest from parents of GK advocates and hopefully will result in more youth volunteering and participating in the next GK Youth Build this summer 2008.

As Junnie and Michele pointed out the GK Walk, just like the GK Youth Build is full of Fun, with your Family, Friends and should be done with full Faith!

See you on September 6, 2008!

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See GK Youth Build's album of GK Walk 2007 here!

Planning for 2008 Begins

Last January 12, the GK Youth Build held its first General Assembly. Despite the inclement weather and an imminent snowstorm, there was a handful of core members, youth participants and volunteers on hand to map out the course of GK Youth Build 2008. Watch out on this space the events that will be lined up starting March 2008.

We're all very excited! We hope you are excited too.



From left to right: Therese, Lori, Christine, Michele, Elvie, Beth, Michaela, and Mrs. Canlas, standing: Junnie


Look at that Pancit Tray beside Therese - yummeeh!