Gawad Kalinga Tours Brought To Us By Mabuhay Restop

Wazzup Pilipinas !
 
Whoever thought that two of the best things I would love to do for the rest of my life would be found in one of the most unexpected places I could think of. When I stopped going to Manila after my college years, due to the terrible traffic jams and thick suffocating pollution within its busy and crowded streets, if not for the LRT train stations, I never thought I would come back again to be eventually part of an adventure I would forever cherish as part of my unforgettable memories.

Whew! That was a long statement coming from someone who's last visit in Manila was just to get an NBI clearance in Taft Avenue....which was also a nightmare for me due to the exhausting queues before finally getting the employment requirement that every new applicant needs to submit.

But my return to Manila was indeed a magnificent one because not only did I enjoy a wonderful musical comedy show, I also became part of a tour that renewed my vigor for some worthwhile advocacy.

 

 

The first part of our tour was at the Gawad Kalinga Pinagsama village in Tagig where we were treated with some filling breakfast treats accompanied by some musical entertainment from some youth of the Gawad Kalinga community. It was inspiring to hear from the people who have testimonials of both their generosity and their love and compassion for their fellowmen. I truly adored how moving and touching their stories were, and how I envy those who were given the opportunity to be of service to our "poorest of the poor" and helped improve the lives of these people.

I think the participants of the tour were more of the travel and tour operators, and the event was to promote tourism with a human touch incorporating the element of humanity and social responsibility and awareness. It was an honorable effort to try to sell and promote a tour where they combined leisure with advocacy.

 

We visited other areas in Tagig where there were several communities that benefited from the housing projects of Gawad Kalinga, and at each stop the organizers added an opportunity to mingle with the residents and get to know more of the community. Getting involved with the advocacy not only during the day tour but whenever we would like to continue. Everyone was invited to take part of a social movement.

There was also a room there dedicated for all sorts of handicrafts diligently made by members of the Gawad Kalinga community. Each item was with impressive features and detailed craftsmanship worth every centavo.

The best thing to think about with every purchase is you get to help sustain a community by supporting their livelihood.

 

 

Our next stop was at the Jack 'n Jill GK Village which was obviously sponsored in majority by the chips brand of Jack 'n Jill.

Yes, we see a lot of companies with their very own projects and advocacy programs. It is great to know that many value their social responsibility  to bring a good image not only to their corporation, but also to uplift the people and their community. There are already a lot of beneficiaries but there are still more that needs everyone's support.

 

 

 

  

Want to lend a helping hand in painting the community green or blue?

Well, everyone of us had the opportunity to take part in a movement to help beautify the community to make it more liveable and attractive for the residents. A few buckets of paint, some paint rollers, gloves and other painting essentials were provided to the participants to allow them to experience how it is like to take part of a social effort.

 

The first brush stroke was sensational! I could feel some sort of lighthearted feeling as if I am very proud of myself. To be part of a movement that caters to the least fortunate had always been considered as a heartwarming contribution to society.

Unfortunately I was not properly dressed for the occasion and had no spare clothes to use in case I get splattered with paint but the motivation was there to participate even for just a short while.

What is quite admirable is the presence of a Fil-Am representative who was already an active member of the Mabuhay Restop team. She showed everyone that every Filipino, in or out of the country, can continue to contribute to the welfare of his countrymen.

She was so commendable during the tour where she even handed-out potato fries and buko juice to the participants while the bus was en route to our next destination. She was also seen carrying the sound system so that the organizers could effectively communicate with the entire group. It seems she does not care how menial the work appeared to be, and that for her it was an honorable vocation.

Continuing further to more visits at Gawad Kalinga communities, what was noticeable in one floor of the establishment was the young child that I met who was previously playing at the corridors of the building. But probably due to shyness, he went inside his home, but continued to peek out from the windows.

I was able to convince the child to smile a bit for my camera, and from his face I could feel the appreciation he is able to play in a community that is safe and clean, and very much an ideal place to grow in.

I thought to myself "Lucky are the children who would have the same privilege as this child". Sort of tear-jerking but it was due to the reality that many of the children out there in the streets still lack a home they could be proud of.

Regardless of the rain that seemed to grow stronger as we neared our last destination, it did not prevent us from making a quick stop at a Human Nature store on the way. It boasts of products that made use of the members of the community as its employees and with some of the profits of the store returning to the community as well.

Many got interested in buying the various products that ranged from shampoos to shirts, and to other household necessities.

 

There was free coffee inside the store for everyone to enjoy. Perfect for the rainy day.
 
It was still a bit rainy on the way to the farm in Bulacan, and I think we even got a bit lost, but nature was on our side, for the weather was a lot better when we arrived the Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm.

On the road while on the bus, I had to have a drink again of the refreshing Bayani Brew juice drink to quench my thirst. This was my second time to taste this delightful drink, but another flavor this time. The first one was at the Mabuhay Restop in Manila while I waited for the Manila Vanilla musical comedy to start.

Both flavors were satisfying and you can't just get enough of this really tasty drink.

With my camera lens a little blurred due to the moist caused by the rain, I immediately took pictures of the Grassroots Kitchen at the Enchanted Farm in Barangay Engkanto ni Angat, Bulacan. Lunch was already prepared for everybody. Fresh mangoes and vegetables, and the golden salted eggs that were all harvested  from the farm were among the meal choices. All fresh and healthy for everyone to enjoy.

But of course, a few words from the people that form part of the Gawad Kalinga farm.

 

The all-time favorite "tinola" provided some sort of soup to warm our throats. The rain brought a little chill, add to it the air-conditioned bus we were in. I think I slept only for a few minutes while on the road, and it was way past lunch time, so the freshness of the ingredients that made up the meal brought fulfillment to our fatigue and hunger.

There seems to be a special aura surrounding the personalities of the people of Gawad Kalinga. You could feel the warmth that they emanate. From the way they talk (their choice of inspiring words) and by the way  they smile (so true and sincere), you feel like they are blessed with the motivation and encouragement to continue with their advocacy.

Above is a video where one of the Gawad Kalinga staff is discussing what GK is all about:

So before our groups separated to each go on a respective tour of the farm, we all had some ice-breaker just to set the mood. A cheer-leading competition was held impromptu, and guess who won?

Kudos to the best in choreography - the moves were A-OK!

But special mention to the most hyper-active among the group for leading a high-spirit for everyone in the group. She would  always be the most aggressive and the most friendly to approach each and everyone to ask his name and affiliation. Yes! Ma'am...I'm Ross from WazzupPilipinas, and I will write about this famtour.

The first culinary adventure takes us into where Gourmet Kesos are made. I was a bit surprised a mother with a baby sleeping on her shoulder would be our trainer. It was nevertheless entertaining and educational to see real people come up with award-winning recipes worth of praises.

  

So who wants to make his or her own "kesong puti"?

The procedure seemed simple enough, and was done in just a few steps. So imagine if many had this knowledge especially the housewives at home, then many would have sources of income to provide financial assistance to their daily needs.

My co-participants volunteered to make their own cheese. I could see them thrilled with the experience. It was such a simple task, but not many get to try preparing their own cheese at home.

Everyone got to taste from the free samples that were served to us.

 

 

After the cheese-making , the next part of the tour was the making of salted duck eggs.

These were no ordinary salted duck eggs like the red ones we often see coming from the small town of Pateros where the balut eggs are famous. The eggs here are colored yellow, and thus were termed "golden".

Though a bit more pricey than the usual "pulang itlog na maalat", the big difference is that they do not use the red dye to color their eggs but use the safer and health beneficial turmeric and yellow ginger, and the procedure is a bit more lengthy in time, but you are assured that the eggs are healthier because they're not as salty as the usual red variety.

 

 

As the name implies, the Bamboo Palace was a huge structure made mostly from bamboo. It's an ideal place to hold large gatherings and special events.Wide open spaces both in and out, the two-floored structure is a majestic place where many individuals could meet in comfort.

    

The Grass Villas provide some sort of sleeping quarters. Inside the ground floor of the villas are four sofa beds in a circular arrangement. The second floor could also be used as sleeping quarters but there are no beds and you have to share just one open space, and nearby there are three common shower rooms for every villa.

Meanwhile, the Grass Cabanas are for those who would like to spend the day just dreaming away in rest and relaxation.

 

This structure was very interesting for me. I think this is used  for bonfires and gatherings. You could all sit around the circular structure while a fire burns in the middle. Perfect for retreats or recollections.

 

The farm had a few vegetables planted all over the place. We were not really able to roam around the entire farm so I couldn't really tell how much the possible harvest that could be coming from the place. I need more time before I could give an estimate.

We were also suppose to do some planting and harvesting but due to the rains and the time lost due to losing our way, we had to skip those activity.

 

 

The Gawad Kalinga tours combines both tourism and advocacy in one. It shares to you the opportunity to witness the human drama of a community brought out from poverty with the help of sincere and generous individuals that offer their precious time, skills and financial means.

It is admirable that there are many individuals that share their resources for the betterment of their countrymen. I would like to believe that they are not a rare breed, and that majority of us are kindhearted by nature, and ready and willing to lend a helping hand whenever there is the need.

The Filipino is such a resilient race that no amount of poverty or disaster would ever bring him down, and the comfort of a friendly face gives more hope and assurance.

Join us in our Gawad Kalinga tours.

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