Being Crazy & Brave @ GK Bayani Challenge 2014 #WalangIwanan

#TeamBogoCebu #TeamGKCebu #TeamBangus

Just because someone was brave enough to do something you wouldn't, doesn't make them crazy. For all the heroes who stood up for us, do we consider them crazy? People get killed everyday for various random reasons, are you crazy for going outside and do whatever you want anyway? The people  who invented our gadgets (phones, computer, and the like technologies) took a chance and invented something good; the people jumping out a plane took a chance & was included in one of the most amazing videos to watch; to the person who took that chance in asking a celebrity to take a selfie/photo with.

To all those who was brave or crazy enough to wear their hearts on their sleeves and told someone how they feel despite the chance of being rejected, but did it anyway. People think you are crazy simply because you took a 5 day vacation leave just to serve and volunteer, but I think it's simply being brave. Brave enough to go against the norm, or the flow.

Kuya Jerdie sharing/talking during the 'Kalinga Night' about his own crazy passion and admiration of volunteers. I guess the best quote we can use here is this: "Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. But the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do." - Steve Jobs

As for us, we took a chance in volunteering our time to make a difference, even if our impact was not immediate, we still did it anyway believing that one day our small acts of kindness will change someone's life forever.

This year's bayani challenge targetted over 1million volunteers in 12 provinces for 2 months of nation building!

This was the most interesting Bayani Challenge for me because it was the last week of the whole Bayani Challenge leg for this year and my first time joining without a group and the first time that it was immediately after multiple calamities both natural and man-made.

My call to the north: These events brought the Filipino to it's core - relationships that refuse to leave each other behind #Resiliency #WalangIwanan

For me, the choice location for this year was for both convenience and availability but also it was one of the areas hit by Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan as well. We, me + 1 invited colleague from my workplace decided to take the June 8 -12 (last leg) for Bogo City, Cebu, although I really wanted to check out Bohol this time but that can wait! The Cebu Location Bayani Challenge description was also quite interesting: "Exhibit a bayanihan spirit that refuses to be conquered." #AWESOME

What we did and expect on the next 5-day Bayani Challenge:

Day1: Paraisong Pambata Day in various schools in different barangays (Stress Debriefing for the kids) - Photo by: Andrew Entera

Day 2: House Build @ Yolanda Village in Bogo City. Well you can actually choose which activity you want to join in and there was always house builds going on everyday.

Day 3: School Refurbishing and Painting @ Barangay Cumbado Elementary School - which was on top of a really steep and sloped hill. Children here are very healthy indeed!

Day 4: Coastal + Street Clean-up and Mangrove Planting (10,000 propagules successfully planted). Kuya Nenu and Barbette with their 'planting styles'

Kalinga Night sessions every end of each day. GK Volunteer-future scientist Rosa B. sharing her life story and relating it her assigned topic on 'Pananalig sa Diyos.' Stories like this touch and inspire others by giving them a different lens or perspective about their life as well as in trying to pursue their goals for the present!

So we took various shapes and forms of transportation which was very fun and interesting!

We danced with each other through the 'chicken dance' and the 'Unity Dance'

Capturing the moment: Group Photo-Ops @ Cumbado Elementary school

Of course taking action pics and #Selfies!

We took a moment during Independence Day.

And don't forget the #Groupie with old and new volunteer-friends!

Day 5 was basically the preparation for the culmination event for the Gawad Kalinga Cebu Leg. Normally these legs ends with a group celebration with a Boodle Fight! But since Bogo is known for 'hilo' (poisons), people here would rather not take the risk of having a shared meal - which is very understandable of course (cultural thing and minimize the risk for officials, guests and volunteers)!

I was only able to help the preparations to an extent since I was heading home in the morning of Day 5 since I had to rest and be back in action for work the next day! #HanapBuhayProblemsAndDuties But I was told and saw their pictures that it was a success!

I almost forgot, this was the main source of energy for the volunteers for the whole week - Bangus!! Bihon with bangus, gulay with bangus, fried bangus, escabecheng bangus and many more variations! Special thanks to the nanays who cooked for us as well as one of the volunteers, kuya jojo! Hence #TeamBangus

Well, we used our own resources to travel in this far location in the north and volunteers mostly tend to share resources, thankfully we had a sponsored food source, it just so happens it was all bangus, so if you want to help in someway, perhaps you could help in the nutrition of volunteers? A well fed volunteer is a happy volunteer I'd say! jhahahahahah

About GK Bayani Challenge:

The Bayani Challenge is a 5-day adventure of nation building and making hope concrete for the poor. The program seeks to build relationships among different sectors, groups and nationalities, creating peaceful and more caring communities that are ready to help during disasters or regular volunteer activities. To gather and inspire volunteers who are key players in innovating and implementing plans that address poverty and other social challenges. It also raises extraordinary resources that complement funded or unfunded programs of the local government.

This is once again, one of my unforgettable experiences thus far, not only did it re-invigorate me to pursue my passions, interests, hopes, goals and dreams, but it also gives me hope - that we can truly change or influence our surroundings slowly but surely, for the better! So what are you waiting for?

Join us next year, and be of service to our community, country and world!

"Attract what you expect, reflect what you desire, become what you respect, mirror what you admire."