MAASIN IS GAWAD KALINGA CITY

"Every Filipino can be a hero for his country. We have to really see that it is not a liability but an asset," Gawad Kalinga Founder Antonio Meloto said

The City of Maasin had a commitment with GK to help in all its undertakings by mobilizing volunteers and contributing resources in providing home for the homeless, land for the landless and feeding the hungry.

Gawad Kalinga (GK) means to "give care" in Filipino, is officially known as the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, a Philippine-based international poverty alleviation and nation-building movement.

Maasin City hosted the GK Bayani Challenge which opened at the Anatalio Gaviola Plaza on March 23, 2013 which was held simultaneously in 37 GK sites all throughout the country. We help build houses at Josefina Village II at Barangay Combado near the Telecom tower overlooking the city.

The GK Bayani Challenge 2014 opened on April 11, 2014 at the Anatalio Gaviola Plaza.  Again, we had our House Build at GK Josefina Village II at Combado wherein we constructed 10 housing units for typhoon victims.  We mobilize our city employees and students of Maasin City to join the activities especially the House Build.

I gave a lecture on our Anti-Smoking Program on youth participants in one of the nights as part of the values formation.  Part of every GK Bayani Challenge are giving of lessons on love of God, country and of course other people in need.

The GK Barangay Walang Iwanan opened at the Anatalio Gaviola Plaza on April 10,  2015 in the morning.  We had coastal cleanup in the afternoon from Tunga-tunga to Asuncion and our group consisting of some city employees cleaned up Combado River.  I also talked on the Tobacco-Free Campaign during the final evening.

Chona celebrated her birthday at GK Village Combado on January 2, 2011.  We distributed gifts and bundles of joy.  It started a tradition of celebrating her natal day annually in a Gawad Kalinga community.

Then on the next year, Chona celebrated her birthday at GK Village Sta. Rosa on January 2, 2012.  Sta. Rosa is the smallest barangay in Maasin and the first GK neighborhood in the city.  Almost all inhabitants in the barangay are in the same GK settlement.

The following year on January 2, 2013, the gift-giving was held at GK Malinao, Bactul II.  Then on January 2, 2014, the celebration was back to GK Village Combado.  January 2, 2015, we were back to GK Village Sta. Rosa.