De-stressing before their fundraiser in August 2009, officials of the Bayanihan Alumni Association USA, Worldwide (BUSA) and spouses enjoy their 10-day Carribean cruise on the Carnival Valor. Seated from left: Joji Miranda and wife Merdette, president of BUSA ’09, and board director Tom Matias (USA). Back row: Paquito Abacan (Canada), Bert Liwanag (USA) and wife Miah, Flor Hombrebueno (Canada), Tony I. Gomez (USA) and wife Belle, Evelyn Hombrebueno, Paquito’s wife Penny Abacan, and Bong Alferiz (USA).
Here’s an invitation from “diwatas” and “bayanis,” former dancers and musicians of the world-renowned Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Co., to join them at a “Magsayaw, Magsaya” fundraiser on August 8, 2009, 6 pm, patronizing a BUSA member’s Wherelse Ballroom at 1034 N. Citrus Ave., Covina, Calif. Hors d’oeuvres will be served from 7 to 9 pm.
The officers of BUSA are: President Merdette Villamora Miranda; Vice Presidents Nani Pengson, Southern California Region; Berna Baltao Dominguez, Northern California Region; Vee Neric Nyberg, East Coast Division; Rick Tuazon, European Division; and Paquito Abacan, Canada Division.
Secretary Sally Salcedo Manguramas; Treasurer Erick Tecson, who coined “Magsayaw, Magsaya”; Auditor Chona Gentelizo; Press Relations Officer Tony Gomez; Manila Liaison Nandy Abad, Sonny “Earl” Janairo, Bong Alferez, and Alex Yabut.
Permanent Founding Board of Directors: Chairman Chona Gentelizo; Tony Gomez, Joji de Leon, Bert Liwanag, Tom Matias, and Shirley Yaptinchay Eylam.
GAWAD KALINGA VILLAGE
Among many worthwhile projects that BUSA contributes to in the Philippines is the Bayanihan Alumni/WN Gawad Kalinga Village called “Munting Paraiso” which is located in Trece Martires in Cavite.
The initials WN stand for Ecky Warren and Jing Nolasco families who donated their land to house the GK Village.
“They are our partners in Munting Paraiso,” said project chair Inda Gage from Stamford, Ct. “The 1.5 hectares they donated,” she added, “is a beautiful piece of property, bordering a cemented highway, with accessible transport to town. I love the terrain, the hilly contours, the mango trees, a bamboo grove that dances with the wind and a little stream going through the property… a typical rural scenery in the Philippines – just the right setting for our Munting Paraiso, which translates in Filipino language as "Little Paradise."
Tony Meloto is the Gawad Kalinga Community Foundation and Executive Director, who received the Ramon Magsaysay Award, considered Asia’s version of the Nobel Peace Prize, in 2006. The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation recognizes Gawad Kalinga’s excellence in Community Leadership, “for harnessing the faith and generosity of Filipinos the world over to confront poverty in the Philippines and provide every family the dignity of a decent home and neighborhood.” This recognition also honors the heroism of thousands of volunteers, partners, and beneficiaries with the same GK vision: a nation free of slums. Tony Meloto also received the Magsaysay award in Community Leadership for inspiring countless Filipinos in the Philippines and all over the world to love their country and to take pride in their identity.
Gawad Kalinga (to give care) is an organized Christian-based movement that helps the poorest of the poor in the Philippines build holistic, sustainable communities. ANCOP (which means Answering the Cry of the Poor through faith and action) USA Foundation is the network of international organizations that supports the work of Gawad Kalinga in the Philippines and other Third World countries. ( HYPERLINK "http://www.gawadkalinga.org" \o "http://www.gawadkalinga.org/" www.gawadkalinga.org & HYPERLINK "http://www.ancopusa.org" \o "http://www.ancopusa.org/" www.ancopusa.org)
“Our village,” continued Inda, “was our answer to the call of Gawad Kalinga. This was also the project of former dancers and musicians of the Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Co. to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its founding last October 2007, by giving back to their country. On Oct. 12, 2007, around 80 Bayanihan alumni from all over the world came home to the Philippines and worked side-by-side with the beneficiaries (future residents) breaking grounds and starting the foundation of the first homes in Munting Paraiso.
Chary Lagdameo is the president of the Bayanihan Alumni Association (based in Manila) and the project coordinators in the United States are Joey Omila, past president of BUSA (from Florida); and project chair Inda Gage (from Stamford, Ct.)
“On behalf of the Bayanihan Alumni Ass'n.,” says Inda, “I am pleased, proud and grateful to inform you that on February 27, 2009, the keys to the homes at Munting Paraiso, our Gawad Kalinga Village, has been turned over to the beneficiaries. To date, 42 homes are occupied by families, with 10 more homes almost to the point of completion. Two capable and enthusiastic husband-and-wife caretaker teams are now in place, to help build community life at Munting Paraiso.”
Gawad Kalinga works with Mayor Jun Sagun of Trece Martires, Cavite, and he has been very cooperative with the Bayanihan village coordinators, according to Inda. The beneficiaries have been recommended by the Dept. of Social Services and are poor people who lived in the riverbanks of Cavite, whose make-shift homes of cardboards and raw lumber get washed out when the river overflows. They are very happy to finally have a permanent home of their own, away from the threats of flooding. These beneficiaries contribute hours of labor to construct their neighbors' homes as their required "sweat equity" by GK.
The first infrastructure, the Helena Z. Benitez Multipurpose Center, which houses the medical clinic is now completed and was inaugurated on June 20, 2009, in time for the former Philippine Senator Helena Z. Benitez’ 95th birthday on June 27th. Ms. Benitez is the founder of the Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Co. The building was funded by her niece Bebet Benitez McClelland in her honor.
A historical video of the Gawad Kalinga Village "Munting Paraiso" was prepared by Nitz Domingo, a volunteer who has planned the village with the Bayanihan alumni from day one, three years ago. According to Inda, Nitz has built this infrastructure with the help of employees and residents of the village.
OTHER MUNTING PARAISO PARTNERS (UP AND UE)
“Construction has been facilitated by UPAVE, University of the Philippines Alumni Volunteers for the Environment,” reports Inda, “our active partner right from the beginning. UPAVE, in collaboration with the GK team, designed the village and improved the original GK houses by lifting up the roof line to accommodate sleeping lofts with windows. Next in line to work on will be the playground, donated by Orchards Golf & Country Club, c/o Conrad Benitez, Bebet's brother. A lower school will be built, to be funded by Micky Jose and her Bayanihan friends.”
But that’s not all. For two years, a medical mission led by Ms. Ave Pimo, a retired New York City nurse and her team of doctors, all alumni of the University of the East Medical School, Philippines, have visited the village. In February, Ave, aided by friends who also are home donors (Bel Encarnacion and her family; Harvey Chua and Bebet), established a catalogue of medical profiles of around 200 residents. The new clinic in the multi-purpose center will be waiting for them next year when they come in February. Through Ave's efforts, a doctor in New York City is donating the funds for an annual stipend for a medical doctor (also a UE alum) who resides in Trece Martires to be on-call for the village residents. This is quite a boost in the health component of the community, thanks to Ave.
Bayanihan alumni all over the world must feel proud that their Munting Paraiso is a “reality, tangible, existing, with residents enjoying their generosity.” A BIG THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS!
“All our joined efforts have amounted to a construction of a village, to a community of families who will be thriving, happy and successful,” says Inda. “You have made a difference in the lives of our poor people in the Philippines. You have contributed to removing a number of families from their slum dwellings to a bright future at our Munting Paraiso.”
With all the mentioned infrastructures already funded, there are plans for a little amphitheater, as it is the Bayanihan’s hope to develop the cultural aspect of the village people.
For more information about the Bayanihan fundraiser in August, contact Pres. Merdette Miranda (951) 272-1259; Boardmember Tom Matias (213) 353-9475; or PRO Tony Gomez (626) 967-1030. For Bayanihan friends who would like to help, contact Inda Manuel Gage (203) 969-7305 or HYPERLINK "mailto: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " \o "mailto: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it *
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