Third time for GK- March 2009 round

For the third time I was able to attend the Home Building Program for Gawad Kalinga. Last week, March 2 to 6, 2009 I was on Calamba Laguna building homes not houses.

Our batch is just a small group composed of 16 Volunteers, Trenders from different offices in the globe. We have Trenders from Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, and the US. I met Program Managers, Marketing Assistant, Director, Accounts Receivable Assistant and fellow Technical Account Manager and of course my fellow Trenders from PH. We have Engineer from Consumer group, AV support team and from the IT department.

First time Trend Micro will held our program in Laguna and because the the main camp is in Batangas we stayed in a Hotel. We are lucky because we stayed in a Hotel with some recreational like pools, videoke and other outdoor sports like basketball.

Almost everyday, after the hard days work we go on swimming. One night we also do videoke. We also do basketball in the pool. Totally I really enjoyed the program.

What really touches me is this 3-4 year old boy who learned to do coloring. At first the boy does not know how to handle the pen and he colors overlapping the figure in the paper. We teach the boy how to handle the color pen and after a few minues he learned how to handle and to color inside the figure. I feel very proud myself and prouder with the boy for its like a new step in changing the future of this boy and I become the instrument for it.

First day of the build makes my body ache but I used to it as days go by. I got blister from our first day for we dig a ditch about 6 feet under the groud. I remembered Geoff one of the US volunteers joking and said "People are digging for Gold but we are digging for Shit." We also did planting and painting. We also help in bringing the mixed cement to the site.

We have many kiddie games and I did enjoy more when we did the Hephep Horay which is one of the games from Wowawe. We also did a Carnival Game and for our group we did the Balloon games. Other group did the pokpok palayok, hit the stack cans, and others. Its tiring but I enjoyed as well for we make so many children and people in Laguna to smile, laugh and appreciate our doings.

There are many things and stories I could tell but I will keep things on my own. I would like to share it but there is something which words not enough to explain.

For sure, if given another chance I will submit my application again.