"Heroes Journal" is a collection of personal sharings and stories of young Australians whose lives have changed because of their involvement in Gawad Kalinga (GK). GK does not only transform slums into colourful and productive communities, it does not only transform the poor into self-sufficient people with dignity, but GK also transforms its donors, partners and in particular the youth into selfless GK heroes. Be inspired... be captivated... relive those memories and share your GK experiences to others! If you would like to submit your own personal sharing or GK story, email gkom@gk-youth.org HEROES JOURNAL 2009: Stories and sharings from GK heroes down under Home Away From Home by MICHELL VICTORINO (CFC Singles for Christ) Last 8 June I entered one of the most dangerous places in Papua New Guinea; a town called Gerehu. Read more My GKYGAT Experience by JAM QUISUMBING "My first GK trip was in January 2008, with the very first GKYGAT group to build simultaneously as one team in three different..."Read more GK Harvest 2009 Sharings Booklet by GATers of 2008/2009 A selection of sharings from the various GATs throughout 2008 and 2009. Contributions coming from SFC, YFC, Young Once (YO) and GK Youth GATs.Read more Ian Gives Care - "Gawad Kalinga" by IAN IGLESIA "On January 18, 2009, 53 Australian volunteers put their hand upto help build homes and communities for the poor in the smallisland of Palawan..."Read more YFC GAT'09: Nothing to lose and everything to gain by CHRIS DE JOYA (YFC Melbourne) "It was during the trials that I was able to utilise the spirit of strength, love and self control to the best of my ability. I have come out stronger, prepared for 2009 and anticipating how my change will be perceived by the real world..."Read more YFC GAT'09: The truth never changes, but the truth will change you by AARON ESTRELLADO (YFC Canberra) "GAT goes for 16 days, but the friendship, relationship and bonds you have will last you a life time. It was humbling for anyone to single out anyone as inspiring because to me everyone has their own inspirational story... "Read more YFC GAT'09: Forward in Christ and Press On for 2009! by KRYSTLE ACIDO ANNE CASSAR (YFC Sydney) "This GAT was my third in a row to experience. I knew what a GAT was like, how it can be challenging, surprising, rewarding and also always unforgettable, thus I was so excited to go on this new adventure again... "Read more HEROES JOURNAL 2008: Stories and sharings from GK heroes down under GK YGAT Papua New Guinea 2008 by JOEKARL DIAZ "The experiences and stories of these new GATers and the relationships they developed, not just with the people of the GK village but also with those who worked for GK in PNG, were truly inspiring in their own flavours..."Read more GK PNG: From Sydney to Gerehu Stage 6, and back by ROSEMARIE DELA CRUZ "The next few days were filled with many different activities, including visiting the Botanical gardens with the village children, visiting the Australian Embassy, and we even visited a high school, where we shared with the students how they could also help the poor in their community... "Read more My GK Experience in PNG by LIBBY RAJAKONE "Dina Namona (Good Day) to you all! My name is Libby Rajakone and I am very proud to be part of GK YGAT and to have traveled on my very first rewarding trip to PNG this September 2008... "Read more GK YGAT PNG - A journey that will change my life forever... by LALAIH VASQUEZ "From the day we arrived in PNG, my heart was filled with love, from the people we met. I wondered how they did it, how they could show so much love to complete strangers, effortlessly and without any hesitation, without any words but by just simply showing it, it comes naturally to them..."Read more Share the GK Vision by ANNABELLE CAUCHI "The Papua New Guineans have become like my second family and I look forward to future visits over there. I encourage anyone thinking of joining the GK Y GAT PNG group next year to see how life-changing it will be, just as it was for me... "Read more PRIVILEGED by BRIAN CRUZ "This is the one word I choose to describe how I feel. I thought I was in for an adventure, what I experienced was a life changing blessing... "Read more My Cape Tribulation by CORINA VELASCO "Having seen the great transformation of slum areas in the Philippines, I was keen to see how GK was progressing in Papua New Guinea so I planned to join PNG GAT’08... "Read more Affirm and Honor by MIKE PADILLA "Working on the ground at the biggest GK site in the world and doing lots of office works drain me sometimes. My stay in Sydney [for the REVERSE GK YGAT] was an opportunity to recharge, sharpen my saw and draw inspiration... "Read more World Youth Day Sharing by LEI HALILI "I couldn’t have asked for more; walking with GK Youth, the Reverse GK YGAT delegates, YFC, SFC, including my 2 bestest buddies and sharing our laughters with thousands of other pilgrims from all over the world..."Read more Our Culture: The Great Adventure Tour* by CHRIS DAVIDSON "Philippines is a beautiful country, which is rich in culture and history. I just want to thank all those who were a part of this great work around the world and all those out there making a difference to those in need and in living simply..."Read more Highway of Hope by NATHAN MARI "The Good news is there’s HOPE! And the Hope of the Philippines is with the thousands of people who’ve heard this message of HOPE... and I am in the midst of the greatest miracle happening in the world today!..."Read more 7 Days in Cambodia... it was way too short! by KRIS ALEGRID "For the past 2 years I've been going on GK YGAT in the Philippines and now that GK is spreading to other countries, I thought I might experience the culture of another country where I’ve never been before..."Read more For Reflection: My GK Journey by NAMRATA KUMAR "This trip highlightened to me that working together transcends all boundaries of religion, nationality, upbringing or material possessions..."Read more Truly at Home - SFC WGAT by MICHELL VICTORINO "From the word go it was already an adventure. I know that no matter where God calls me to go I will always feel at home for His love can be felt from everyone I meet and the places I go to..."Read more Miss GK and her experience by JAMES PALOMO "Earlier this year, Bianca Lucas (Miss GK Australia 2007) travelled to the Philippines to participate in GK YGAT 2008. In her travels during her second GAT, she was able to re-experience and re-live the work of Gawad Kalinga..."Read more GK Papua New Guinea Great Adventure Tour by GERARD JOSEPH C MUSA III "We (GK) can do it anywhere” will always be a reminder to me – as a GK volunteer – to continue this GK great adventure, not only in Papua New Guinea or the Philippines, but to every poverty-stricken-area around the world... "Read more HEROES JOURNAL 2007: Stories and sharings from GK heroes down under My GK Journey A POEM by MARJAY BAGUS "God's call to action, help them out quickly, Those back home in need. The Village of Character, Iriga City. A flight of excitement and a bus ride of nerves..."Read more St Aloysius College GK Immersion 2007 by TOM HALL "It's the relationships we share with our family and friends that hold the key to happiness. May the houses we build stand as a symbol of unity between us, we gave your village something and in turn took a new outlook on life away.... "Read more Open your heart, Open your mind by TRINA ESGUERRA "My GK story; where do I start? It was challenging and fulfilling, amazing and chaotic(-ly fun). It was life-changing and I realised that when I returned home to Sydney, my clothes weren't the only things that no longer fit!... ... "Read more What a holiday! by GREGOR ERDMANN "For myself, it was just a holiday. The thought of helping people, building communities, and generally being a good boy simply didn’t cross my mind..."Read more "I will buy some Onions now" (Some of Miss GK 06 - Karla Magayanes' moments in GK) by MARTIN PONFERRADA "If you want to see results, if you want to get your hands dirty, go! If you happen to be looking for direction in your life, a purpose greater than a university degree, materialistic things, then go to the great adventure tour... "Read more More than just memories by CAMILO ("DONNIE") VELASCO "GKYGAT 07 was the revitalising experience that I needed in my life. I had recently finished high school and my HSC and enjoying my holidays prior to leaving for the Philippines..." Read more Straight from the heart of GK (An interview with Eleazar Arranz) by JOE OCONER "To be honest, I didn’t know the meanings of the words ‘bayanihan’ nor ‘bayani’ before going on GKYGAT. It wasn’t until I was on the build-site in Iriga and working with the local people that I witnessed the manifestation of these words through action..."Read more I came, I saw, I conquered! by ALVIN ("AYEL") DAYAN "Sometimes being ‘the only one’ can force you to dwell out of your comfort zone and be your true self. Sometimes being the only one can simply mean you spend the best time of your life with new people who are initially strangers, but to whom you get to know and consequently consider family..."Read more Proud to be Pinoy by ALAN LUCAS "I’ve always been proud to be a Filipino despite the current problems that exist in the country. However, going on this year’s GKYGAT has reaffirmed my pride in being a Pinoy..."Read more Hope to a place of despair by JOHN RODRIGUEZ "I honestly feel reluctant to submit this testimonial; the reason being that I don't feel a half page or so of writing is even close to sufficient to describe the life-changing experience that is GK YGAT. And the fact is that it isn't. ... "Read more Third time lucky by RHONA CUARESMA "I never expected that I’d be coming to the Gawad Kalinga Youth Great Adventure Tour (GKY GAT) in 2007. Having joined the group in 2005 and 2006, I knew that I’d be very lucky if I will be able to go the third time around. ... "Read more HEROES JOURNAL 2006: Stories and sharings from GK heroes down under GKY GAT PNG 06 Sharing by JOY LOPEZ "Imagine a place full of darkness, guns fired almost every day and night, lives of children and families feared every time they choose to step outside their shanty homes... "Read more The journey so far by SHANE HUDSON "I've never travelled before in my life, never seen inside an aeroplane, let alone been to an airport. I knew I wanted to travel but not just an ordinary vacation... "Read more We are family by JAMIKE DAVID "A year has passed and you know what that means. It's time to go on GKY GAT, the Greatest Adventure I'll ever have taken... "Read more A Humbling Experience by ADRIENNE VELLA "From 3-17 January 2006, together with my brother, David Vella, good friend, Amanda Bentley, and I were fortunate enough to travel to the Philippines and experience the rich culture and beauty of its people and land. And what an amazing and eye-opening experience it was!... "Read more Inspiration and Hope by CORINA VELASCO "GKY GAT 06 brought me back to my homeland after being away for 16 years. My family left the Philippines when I was 8 years old and lived in Brunei, for nearly 7 years, before migrating to Australia... "Read more Just like You... Just like Me! by JAMES LI "I've seen and heard a lot about the poor people of this world through television and the media generally. I've also read and listened to presentations through work about the experience of people who have gone overseas to work for the UN or the Asian Development Bank... "Read more Dreams do come true by RICHARD JOHN "Let me start with a brief introduction about myself and how I came to know about GK. I am from Fiji Islands, a member of Singles For Christ (SFC)... "Read more A New Dream by REGGIE SANTOS "The way that I can describe my recent trip back to the Philippines is something like a great movie. It was filled with mixed emotions, different experiences and outlook into life, only this time, I experienced this movie first hand, and the outlook of my life has now changed... "Read more Nothing can stop this juggernaut!!! by KATRINA ZABALLA "I was aware of what GK was, and knew it to be a program which built houses for the poor. Honeslty I was skeptical about GK itself, wondering how it would be possible to build houses for millions of homeless families and squatters... "Read more We are so blessed by JD (JONN DE LA PAZ) "I was lucky enough to be a part of the 2005 SFC World GAT where God truly opened my eyes... So I was a bit puzzled when I found myself again at the GAT in 2006." Read more Proud of being a true Filipino by LOURDES MANOTO "I always said from the start that I would come into Gawad Kalinga Youth Great Adventure Tour (GKY GAT) to learn more about the Philippines. I came into it not knowing anything about what I was getting myself into... "Read more Let's Chat!?! by LILIAN CHAN* "While living here, I always wanted to help the 'poor' somehow, but I had no idea how! So when people from GK came to youth group to give a talk, I was so touched by the idea of being able to help the poor in such a logical and practical way... "Read more Want to read MORE personal sharings and stories from GK Heroes Down Under? > > > Click here to read HEROES JOURNAL 2005 and 2004