• Click here to view the BLD GK Village Progress report on the construction of houses in the BLD GK Village in Davao with pictures of the BUILD activities for 4 weekends participated by student volunteers from different schools and campuses and the BLD youth.
• Click here to view the copy of the Program of Activities for the Culmination of GK1MB Build that will be held on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010.

Dear Brothers & Sisters

Below is an update on the Village of Angels in Lucena Ciy, Quezon Province (supported by BLD Toronto). You will note that  we have funded 23 of the 30 houses in this GK Village.

[CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS]

God Bless,
Bernie and Belen

Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 00:49:24 -0800
From: ROMY (GK Village Coordinator)
Subject: Village of the Angels
To: BERNIE CONSUL

Hi Tito Bernie,

I'm really sorry for the late reply. Village of the Angels is nearly finished.

First row of ten (10) Duplex Units: 100% Finished

Second row of another ten (10) Duplex Units: Almost done except for installation of doors & windows, installation of water closet, minor electrical works

Third row of remaining ten (10) Duplex Units: under construction (plastering/flooring, Installation of doors & windows, electrical works, painting, roofing)

Winner of the GK Walk 2009 top prize 

The GK Walk 2009 event held last August and September 2009 gave ANCOP International Canada a donation and pledge result equivalent to over 100 units of Ancop houses to be built in the proposed villages of the groups who participated in the event. There were over 2,000 solicitors who participated in the event coming from Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Victoria, Lethbridge, Winnipeg, Calgary, Fort McMurray, Montreal and Edmonton.

The draw of the prizes was done at the Casa Manila last December  and the winner of the first prize, a return ticket to the Philippines was the BLD Toronto group who in turn made a draw to award the winnings to a solicitor of their group. The BLD draw's winner is Mrs. Patria 'Pat' Lazaro.

The winner of the coveted First Prize is also one of the topnotchers in the solicitation of pledges during the recently concluded GK Walk 2009. Pat, together with husband Eric is a member of the Bukas Loob sa Diyos Toronto (BLD), a covenanted community composed of over 500 married couples in Greater Toronto, Ontario. In the GK Walk 2009, the BLD group raised enough pledges and donations, coming from various parts of the world including the USA, to a level of almost 20 housing units. This would be the group's third village. Pat is shown here in the picture receiving her award from Temi Pangilinan, President of ANCOP Canada, sponsor of the GK Walk annual event. Looking in are Pat's spouse Eric, who himself is one of the top 5 solicitors of the event and two of their lovely grandchildren.

The BLD leaders who spearheaded the group's efforts during the event are Bernie and Belen Consul, who are also among the leading solicitors for this event.

Brothers and Sisters,
 
This material and link below was provided to us by ANCOP International (Canada) Inc, BLD's main partner in our work related to Gawad Kalinga here in Toronto. Please take the time to watch the video.
 
Please remember that BLDs participation in Gawad Kalinga has directly impacted the lives of many poor kababayan in the Philippines.
 
For many of the poor in the Philippines going hungry is a daily fact of life. It is common for them to just have a meal of rice and salt, or even nothing at all. This was a daily reality for Antero Ely and his family until GK changed their lives.  

Click here to see how GK has helped Antero and his family.

Through Gawad Kalinga's multisectoral approach, local assistance was also provided by other partners. This includes Globe Telecom who provided capital for the vegetable farm, the Department of Agrarian Reform who provided seedlings and supplies, and Central Luzon State University for the farming know how, technology, and follow up.  

The Bayan Anihan food sufficiency program, combined with the shelter of GK homes and ANCOP-GK child education sponsorship shows that GK is not only about houses but providing the poor the means to uplift themselves.

BLD have been a part of this in a very special way. We are grateful to GK Walk participants and generous donors who have given to build GK homes. In the coming months, we will also be embarking on the Child Sponsorship Program.

Thank you for being part of the cause, for believing in the GK-spirit and for sharing your blessings.

We hope that you will continue to support the efforts of the BLD GK Ministry and please pray for the continued success of our work with the poor.

Mabuhay Po Kayo!
May you be blessed always!

Bernie and Belen Consul
Coordinators, Toronto, GK Ministry

Thank you all for your on-going commitment to the Gawad Kalinga. Each poor and homeless family we save and each milestone we reach, is only possible with your generosity and commitment.

The final figure is in from the recently held GK Walk: BLD was able to raise $28,000 which is equivalent to 11 homes.  

We want to especially thank the following GK registrants and advocates. They solicited pledges and a number of them joined the GKWalk. Some of them even walked as an ME Class, a good example of what we should all be doing next year. These GK Heroes have been the key elements to our many successes.  We salute you.

 Already on its 6th year, the GK Walk is simplifying the process and going eco-friendly by taking advantage of web technology to handle and process participants’ registration. The on-line registration process is very simple and user-friendly. It utilizes the globally accepted PayPal online payment system that accepts all major credit cards. PayPal offers a safer, easier way to pay on-line.

Upon successful registration, you will be assigned a unique registration number and receive an e-mail confirmation of your participation. Other features of the on-line registration include:

• Personal web page that allows you to track your sponsorship. Set up your fundraising goal and monitor your progress in real time.

• Personalized an e-mail invitation that allows you to invite sponsors and donors by sending invitations electronically. This is a good way of inviting donors to sponsor you without having to explain over and over again what GK is and what your objective is. It also allows you to reach a wider audience even from around the world at a single click.

• Participants search, by area or by name, which allows potential donors or sponsors to search for your name or for other participants they want to help.

• Download and print pledge form, if you prefer to solicit manually.

• Upload you photo or profile for easy recognition.

For those who are not comfortable with the web, manual registrations are still available. Registration forms are distributed and available with Bernie/Belen Consul of the BLDGK Ministry.

We are encouraging everybody to register and start inviting potential donors early. Registration fee is $20. This entitles you to receive the GK Walk Information Kit which contains the exclusive 2009 GK Walk t-shirt among others. The registration fee will increase to $25 after July 31st.

To register, simply go to www.gkwalk.ca

and click on ‘Register Now!’

For more info, please contact:
Bernie/Belen Consul
Tel# 416-297-9420
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Gawad Kalinga’s commitment and vision to uplift the lives of the poor continues to transcend faith, creed, background and wealth, as it inspires an outpouring of support from different Catholic organizations and Filipinos abroad.

One of them is the Bukas Loob sa Diyos (BLD), a Catholic organization with members all over the world, that has made GK a part of its ministry and poverty alleviation program. “Because helping the poor knows no boundaries — in creed, faith, background or wealth, the BLD found a common goal and has embraced the vision of GK in giving dignity and hope to the poor and homeless,” said Richard de la Fuente, BLD executive in the Newark-New Jersey district.

Click here to download the BLD GK donation form

By Eddy Co Chua
Sunday, May 4, 2008

I use the word "needy" because I think "poor" is inappropriate. The needy are poor only materially but are rich in character and other virtues that seem to evade many of those who have more.

The BLD-GK Ministry have recently received an advisory from Ricky Cuenca,
President and CEO of ANCOP International (Canada) Inc announcing the
unprecedented price increase to the cost of building GK homes.