A simple lunch had been prepared inside the Hexagon Lounge of the RCBC Tower in Makati. It was a decidedly modest event marking the first turnover of funds from RCBC’s Diamond Card to Gawad Kalinga’s Kusina ng Kalinga. In one table, Gawad Kalinga Founder Tony Meloto was seated with RCBC chairperson Helen Yuchengco. Joining them was RCBC Bankard president and CEO Simone Javier Calasanz.
Just before the turnover commenced, a young lady in her early 20s arrived. Helen and Tony quickly acknowledged her, as she presented them with a package of what looked like fried chips. “Her name is Micelin Geloso, one of the graduates of the first Farm University,” explains Shanonraj Khadka, a member of the GK Enchanted Farm.
From Stealing Bananas To Selling Banana Chips
Micelin’s story is just one of many that inspires the people who work behind the scenes at Gawad Kalinga. It was also one of the reasons RCBC Bankard took the initiative to become the first credit card brand with a strong CSR in the country.
When Micelin was a child, she was caught stealing bananas for survival. Realizing her situation called for positive reinforcement, she soon became a scholar of the Farm Village University. Her exemplary performance later led to a scholarship in one of the world’s top business schools, HEC (Hautes Etudes Commerciales de Paris) in Paris, France.
Today, Micelin speaks fluent English and runs her own business selling banana chips. There are other budding entrepreneurs who grew up in the GK Enchanted Farm, whose stories are just as extraordinary. These stories emphasize the need to address poverty through education. “Our country faces several problems and we are blessed to partner with Gawad Kalinga in making life better for the less fortunate members of society,” expresses Simon
Shop, Swipe and Feed
It had only been several months since RCBC Bankard began working with Gawad Kalinga, more specifically, Kusina ng Kalinga. The project, which was initially formed as a response to typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), now runs 16 industrial kitchens nationwide to feed children. Simons declares, “Hunger ends where caring begins.” He explains that for every P100 spent using the RCBC Bankard, 20 centavos goes to Kusina ng Kalinga. Simon refers to the concept as guiltless shopping. “Our tagline reads: Making Your Life Better. This does not only apply to our cardholders but also to lives of the youth.”
It is not just about feeding the hungry. Simon explains that because of the kitchens set up in poverty stricken areas all over the country, children are able to go to school and perform better in class. “They are properly nourished and can focus on their books instead of worrying about where to get their next meal.”
The concept of giving back is also impressed upon the children who benefit from Kusina ng Kalinga. Volunteers now do not only consist of faculty or parents of the children. Most of the time, even those who once benefited from the generosity of others, take the time and make the effort to extend a helping hand.
Feeding 100,000 Children in 2017
Central kitchens partner with LGUs, schools and other individual volunteers in the distribution of food. Each kitchen can feed between 1000 to 5000 children each day. Meals are often vegetable-based to ensure that children are well nourished.
Tony reminisces, “When we began Gawad Kalinga, the end goal was to end poverty in the Philippines. We started by building houses and have now established over 3000 communities.” Gawad Kalinga has since expanded into other forms of community building in partnership with various groups, especially those keen on corporate social investment. “We improve value of land wherever we go. Not only that, we also restore the dignity of the poor.”
Kusina ng Kalinga is one project under GK that focuses on enriching lives of young children studying in public schools. Through volunteer work, donations, and more recently, the collaboration with RCBC Bankard, 20 more kitchens are set to be built, which will mean that a total of 100,000 children can be fed.
Developing A New Generation of Entrepreneurs
Tony emphasizes that apart from addressing hunger and providing the right education to mold young minds, the task of building a community extends to other areas of living. He gave particular focus on the young entrepreneurs who were educated at the Farm Village University.
“We want to make sure that our entrepreneurs are provided with the right bank facilities to save their earnings,” he says. He shares a theory wherein the rising middle class is often honed from those belonging to the bottom of the pyramid.
Following the formal turnover of funds to Gawad Kalinga, the small reunion had taken place between the young entrepreneur of the Farm Village University and young French volunteers. “Our foreign volunteers have also become our ambassadors,” comments Tony. “We are the biggest NGO in the world today. What GK did 20 years ago has triggered social movement to show greatness of the human spirit.”
Text by Bianca R. Salonga
