Gawad Kalinga Expo 2006

We just concluded the 2006 Gawad Kalinga Global Expo at the SM Mall of Asia. Not even Tropical Storm Milenyo was able to douse despair over some 20,000 volunteers, friends, relatives, partners, and fellow nation-builders who joined in the celebration from October 6-8. With the theme the poWEr of WE, the event aimed to honor the achievement of the GK stakeholders but more important to inspire many other willing and able Filipinos to work for the restoration of dignity among their countrymen, especially the poorest of the poor.

Highlights of the event include:

The different homes showcasing the unity amidst the cultural diversity of our country (as depicted by an embellished GK house as part of the GK Highway of Peace [GK HOPE] from Camp Abu Bakar in Barira, Maguindanao);

Different fora on housing, health, livelihood, etc (shown in the photo is DOH Sec Duque while speaking in our forum on health and VP Noli touring the expo after the shelter congress);

The Parade of Heroes, participated in by thousands of volunteers and partners with the likes of Ateneo and La Salle, PLDT-Smart and Globe marching side by side and shoulder to shoulder with each other, all in the spirit of GK1MB (Gawad Kalinga 1 Milyong Bayani);

And a concert featuring various artists, like the Apo, Jericho and Heart, Sarah Geronimo, Gary V and kids, Bamboo and other bands.

To say that the event was tiring (from the organizers’ point of view) is an understatement. BUT if the expo was able to stir even just a small group of Filipinos into action, or even got them to thinking more of others and less of themselves, it surely is time and money well spent.

As GK always banners: Less for one’s self, More for others, Enough for all.