More Gawad Kalinga houses up in Iloilo
Students, cops join hands in Sooc site
Iloilo City -- Saturday marked anew the sacrifices of the known and unknown heroes of the EDSA revolution that restored democracy for the Filipinos. The day meant new life for millions and the promise of a better future. Twenty years later, the day was to be marked by street protests with similar call for support in Iloilo City, the Ilonggo protesters enjoying the fruits of democracy, still seeking for that new life and better future.
Yet amidst the discontent and Saturday's frenzy, over 300 students from three Iloilo schools silently worked under the simmering heat of the sun as they stood alongside police officers and other volunteers. Their target - 34 houses for the city's 34 less-fortunate families. Their mission - to be part of the noble efforts of Couples for Christ's Gawad Kalinga.
They are the new silent heroes of a day best remembered for democracy and the Filipino spirit of brotherhood. Couples for Christ in partnership with the Iloilo City Government, Philippine Long Distance Company (PLDT), the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), the ICPO Women and Children's Concern Division, St. Joseph School, Westbridge School and SMART Communications brought together these silent heroes.
It was a sight to be remembered as members of the rescue group and students of the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (WVCST) tediously dug up holes for the foundation of the 20.8 square-meter houses one spot to another.
And yet another sight to behold as police officers in uniform laid down their firearms and took hold of spades to help volunteer students mix cement.
Westbridge and St. Joseph, two schools for the more affluent of Ilonggo families had at least a hundred in student volunteers present, seen actively helping and asking for more assignments.
Some five meters away in a fence facing the group, a single streamer acknowledges the group with simple words written - Gawad Kalinga heroes.
Engineer Nemia Mabaquiao said each house to be built will see P50,000 in construction materials while all labor components are to be free, 'labor of love.' The 34 houses are just the start as the woman engineer disclosed, some 100 more are up courtesy of SMART Communications. No further details were readily available on said SMART project.
Gawad Kalinga community in Barangay Sooc, Arevalo stands to be the Project 6 site in a series of similar housing projects established in Iloilo.