BANGON, BAYAN! Beyond Bayani Challenge

One month after Bayani Challenge 2013, Team Human Nature reflects on their experiences in Cateel, Davao.

One month after Bayani Challenge 2013, Team Human Nature reflects on their experiences in Cateel, Davao.

When the heart of a hero is multiplied thousands of times over, what you get is an army of nation-builders, ready to serve those most in need of help. The Bayani Challenge 2013 volunteers from Team Human Nature offered 5 days to get down and dirty and raise the first GK village in Cateel, Davao Oriental, rebuilding homes that had been devastated by Typhoon Pablo – one of the deadliest typhoons to ever hit the Philippines, which left over 1,000 dead last December.

“There are no words for the devastation,” Darlene from Marketing describes, “Just in front of the house we stayed in – some of us camped on their lawn, or what was left of it – was the home of the mother of Tita Daday Miguel, our host, and it still hasn’t been rebuilt. Her mother died in that storm when the house collapsed. Their family survived only by hiding in the bathroom of their home. So many people are still living in tents.”

It wasn’t long before we learned that while these residents’ homes may have been ravaged, their solidarity had never been more intact, exuding resilience and resourcefulness in the aftermath of tragedy. People shared what they could, and even the people living in tents near the village who weren't beneficiaries pitched in building the GK homes.

Building Hope in Solidarity

“When I arrived in Cateel,” Froes from Warehouse describes, “Masaya po ako dahil yong hospitality at generosity ng pagiging ugaling Pilipino ay nananatili pa rin. Lalong masaya ako dahil binigyan ako ng pagkakataon na makatulong ako sa iba, hindi man sa financial, kundi ipinaramdam ko ang buong pusong pagsuporta ko sa kanila na hindi sila nag-iisa. (I was happy because they showed us that the hospitality and generosity of the Filipino people was really steadfast. I was even happier to have been given the chance to help others – although not financially – by giving my whole heart in assuring them that they are not alone.)”

“Noon naranasan din naming masalanta ng bagyo at maraming tumulong sa amin (When we [our family] experienced the devastation of the typhoon too, there were many people who helped us),” Diana from Warehouse recalls. “Kaya sinusuklian ko lang ang mga naitulong ng ibang tao sa amin. Ang saya lalo na’t kasama mo yung taong umaasa sayo at nangangarap na magkaroon ng bagong tahanan at bagong pag-asa. (Which is why I returned the favor [through the Bayani Challenge] by helping others. There’s something joyful about dreaming of a new home and renewed hope together with the people who depend on you.)”

The Heroes’ Challenge

Hearing different residents’ recollections of the storm motivated our volunteers to take on more than what they thought was possible. The challenge? To help build six houses in five days.

This ambitious goal spurred some volunteers to try to work as quickly as physically possible – but they soon realized that whether one team member worked faster than everyone else did not expedite progress, because each brick had to be laid carefully to form a solid, sturdy, and even structure all around. “The action of one, impacts not just the self, but the whole system,” Cat from Branch Operations explains. “It is not about how well one works, but it is how one sees how he or she is integrated into the community. In GK, therefore, no one is better or faster, no one is more important than the other, but the greatest measure of effectiveness, is how the team synergizes.”

Throughout the five days of labor, laughter, and the occasional lechon offered by generous hosts, Team Human Nature took on their challenge with the heart of heroes, building not only houses but bonds of fellowship and unity with the residents of Cateel as well. “Masarap sa feeling na nakakatulong ka na nag e-enjoy ka pa! (It’s such a good feeling to know that you’re helping others and enjoying it too!)” Mark, our Store Specialist, exclaims. “Baliwala ang init ng panahon at unos na naganap basta merong isang bayan isang bayanihan! (The heat of summer and hardships meant nothing because we were working as one nation, one bayanihan!)”

The challenge truly took on a deeper meaning as the days went by. “We were prepared to build houses for the people, confident that we’ll be able to finish six houses, but God had an additional purpose for us,” Jong from our Social Enterprise Division reflects. “He sent us to remind the people of Cateel that there are people who are ready to sincerely help them after the heartbreaking event – that this tragic incident opened up more blessings and opportunities for them. Simply to remind them that there is always hope and to inspire them to help themselves and the community to build up Cateel.”

Thinking Socially and Environmentally

But this enriching experience was not one-sided in its fruitfulness. “I most certainly thought we were to bring change to this community but this experience in the community definitely changed me,” expresses Leng from Research and Development. A deepened awareness of how individual actions and their social and environmental repercussions are intertwined, as well as the resolute hope that brings people together amidst catastrophe, were the main insights that our volunteers took away upon leaving the village.

Cateel is but one small town that is forced to bear the brunt of the natural consequences brought about by bigger, developed cities all over the globe, whose industries and commerce contribute greatly to the harrowing escalation of global warming and climate change. In light of the international celebration of Earth Day on April 22, our experiences with the people of Cateel are a testament to how we must urgently reflect on the environmental impact that we have as individuals, as well as the social resources we can use to rebuild and uplift the lives of people. "It’s a heartfelt feeling to see everybody united as one to help people and inspire them not only in words but in action too," reflects Jheng, another of our Store Specialists. "Even if we’re poor we can still help them as well.”

The Challenge Beyond Volunteerism

Human Nature shares the vision of Gawad Kalinga to give the best of ourselves to urgently and sustainably to uplift all of our people and build a world where our country’s most marginalized can grow alongside our most privileged, and where hope is inherited by all, regardless of social class.

“I am a proud believer of Gawad Kalinga because I can see that it is a solid proof that volunteerism really works – and it inspires people," explains Willie of our IT team. "I have always wanted to help the poor ever since I was still a child, and maybe this is my chance to fulfill part of that goal."

And what do our volunteers have to say about their Cateel escapade? "Even though this is my 3rd Bayani Challenge already, I felt as if it were the first," describes Joan of our Social Enterprise Division. "Each year offers a whole new experience and memories I'd treasure for the rest of my life."

“I would like to say thank you for those people who helped us, and gave me the opportunity to go to Cateel, Davao Oriental for Bayani Challenge 2013,” Froes says. “Kasama na kami sa kanilang panibagong pag-asa at kasiyahan na muling ibangon ang kanilang komunidad. (We’re now united with them in their renewed hope and happiness as their community rises.)”

Cateel’s community sentiment shines through in their slogan: “Bangon Cateel!” (Rise, Cateel!) It is a declaration, a command echoing the hope and resurrection of Eastertime that drew near, aptly, as Bayani Challenge drew to a close. Indeed, Typhoon Pablo brought death and great destruction to Cateel, but on the flip side, great good followed: an affirmation that they will not be left behind, an opportunity for Filipinos to take to heart our stewardship of the Earth, and a chance for people from all walks of life to discover what heroism is really about.

Bayani Challenge is not just an annual event whose energy quietly abates upon the return of the heroes to their everyday ordinary lives. The real bayani challenge is a daily task towards genuine development that one must consciously work towards and constantly replenish – a challenge that we all commit to tackle through our work, channeling the talent and energy together with fellow advocates to better serve our partner communities, so that the highest potential of even the most disadvantaged person may flourish. And we challenge YOU to do the same. :)

Want to be part of GK’s global army of nation-builders? Join a GK summer build and keep the bayanihan spirit burning. Visit GK’s official site for complete details and schedules.

Gawad Kalinga’s next Bayani Challenge will be held on April 12-16, 2014, in 300 sites around the Philippines. So start getting your team together because our nation needs more heroes like you!