Gawad Kalinga Experience

Because of the GK orientation, I was inspired to do my part in GK, thus, when I learned that we will visit Gawad Kalinga Sum-ag, I was much exited. For the first time, I will visit, what Tony Meloto said, a “tourist attraction”.

When we arrived in the place, my first impression, it is not what Mr. Meloto mentioned that this place is a tourist attraction. The place is muddy, yet colorful, colorful, in a sense of the colorful houses. The place is deserted when we arrived, maybe because of the hours of continuous raining. After a few minutes, the children ran into the playground and started playing. The children are very happy on their place. Maybe that is what Tony Meloto mentioned about GK Sum-ag being a tourist attraction. It is not about the sights, it is about the people, the true tourist attraction; Happy people who are satisfied on their homes in GK.

Miss later on introduced to us the leader of the community. He oriented us on the basics of the community like how many families stayed in this GK village and where did they come from and how many houses are left. After the short brief, we proceed on what our miss first ask us to do, to mingle with the community.

I and my partner, at first are very shy on talking to then, until after a few minutes, our shyness suddenly vanished and decided to talk to the family inside the blue house. It’s a family of three, a mother, a father and a daughter. The father is away for work. We talked to the mother.

We found out that even though life is difficult, they are happy because of they are together living in a comfortable place. Even there are such problems arise in the community, they were able to talk it over. Their child, about six years old, dreams on becoming a nurse to help their family.

After we talked to the family, I reflected that people living in GK communities are not different to people living in luxurious communities and such. Like all of us, they experienced hardships and trials. Like humans do, they must strike hard for them to survive. In this world we live, are there any communities like this? Even their lives are difficult; they were able to overcome it. Remembering the smiles of the ecstatic children after the rain, I felt like, there is still much hope for our country.