GOING KRAZY AT GK

The reason why I wasn’t able to write any entries for one whole week was because of my CWTS class. For our CWTS, our instructor threw us to Gawad Kalinga (GK) having ran out of ideas for “fruitful” activities we could do for our summer CWTS class. At first I was apprehensive to do GK work. It’s not because I don’t want to help other people or because I’m “matapobre”, but because it is summer and the heat can get to you if you stay out in the sun for too long (as I know we would be since I had a previous GK experience during my high school years). Doing GK work is sooooooooooooo tiring! But the first week wasn’t bad at all. Actually it was a great experience, and I would rather return to our first site than do what we have to do this week (stay tuned for the whole story why I’m so pissed with my CWTS class this week…).

Part 1 (Pinagsama Village)

Monday – we went to the “showcase” village of Gawad Kalinga. The commute to the site from UP was an adventure in itself! It was somewhere in Taguig. It was so hard to find despite the fact that it was just minutes away from Market! Market! My group mates and I had to meet at the Guadalupe MRT station so we could go to the site together. Some people were naïve enough not to go with us, and so they got lost. Thankfully we were all able to reach the site safely and enjoy the two hour tour of the Pinagsama Village (which was actually quite beautiful, it’s a shame the building sites are not contained in one location and that the creek stank…big time).

Part 2 (Sitio Pajo)

Tuesday – our first day of actual manual labor was at Sitio Pajo. It was easier to get to the second site, just a jeepney from SM North and a tricycle ride. During the first day we were welcomed by Mabuhay Ladies who were also gracious enough to provide us with free transportation to the site that day. Our work involved carrying hollow blocks to the houses which were supposed to be constructed, unfortunately (or fortunately…hehehe…) it rained so we had to stop. When the rain stopped our time schedule for the site was also near the end so we just went home.

Wednesday – the second day was filled with more grueling physical labor. I sifted cement and cleared a pile of rubble using a pick and spade. It was really exhausting, especially since the sun was sizzling hot that day.

Thursday – we graduated from uber manual labor today…we shifted to painting the exterior of the finished houses. It was kind of fun, especially when you suddenly see specks of paint in different parts of your body, other than your arms. Woah! How did that get there? Check out my pics and look for that tinsy speck of paint near my eyes…I also learned new words today…ASAGI (courtesy of Audrey, ang diyosa ng Sitio Pajo) and GARBAGE (pronounced as /gar-baj/, courtesy of Rhyzl)…It rained again so we weren’t able to do much work…but still…we were somehow productive…especially during our la camputa moments…

Friday – finally our last day at Sitio Pajo! For the last day we continued on painting the exterior of houses (we were able to finish five houses), as well as help in the placement of the foundations of the new houses which would be built. We poured cement in and in between the hollow blocks. It was a great experience! The carpenters were great, always ready to teach us the correct way of doing stuff, the foreman was very sensitive to our needs (haha! whatever that may mean…), but the Mabuhay Ladies were a pain in the ass (despite their perpetual criticisms and comparisons to Ateneo…we forgive them…because we love our enemies…hahaha!)

Being part of the GK experience was one hell of an adventure!! Plus I get to meet new people and learn new stuff!

*thanks to Camille aka Abby for the uber great SLR pics (our la camputa moments during the third day…)

*thanks to my wonderful and crazy group mates who made each day a freaking fun fest! Audrey, Camille, Jihad, Alexis, Anne, Ela, Rona, Rachel, Niki, Queenie, Micah, Mafi, Rhyzl, Pat, Bianca, and Mark (our adopted group mate…)