“Tony Meloto has intelligence and passion, traits which he surely put to good use. A true modern Filipino hero, he has helped so many poverty-stricken citizens, and has bridged the gap between the haves and the have-nots in the Philippines through championing the humanitarian goals of Gawad Kalinga.”

          -From the article, Tony Meloto –championing the plights of the poor through gawad kalinga foundation

For a man who was born with intelligence and wealth, he could have taken another path in life.  He could be a businessman, a politician, go abroad, and enjoy his life as an ordinary citizen. Instead, he has chosen the road less traveled, the way of altruism. He has been a catalyst in slowly paving the road for a dream of having a slum-free Philippines by serving the plight of thousands of poor Filipino people, building shelter for the homeless, and following the path of Christ by putting others before himself.

His work of emblazoning the hearts of Filipinos with the spirit of massive volunteerism has been very inspiring. It created a ripple effect in the society. His vision and mission translated into Gawad Kalinga has served as an inspiration for many, not only to those who have benefited from GK villages and programs, but also to those who volunteered to help build the communities.

Tony Meloto has embarked on a very difficult mission, but the fact that it seemed impossible to achieve the GK humanitarian goal never ceased him from working towards social transformation. Through his efforts as translated into Gawad Kalinga’s programs, he has gone beyond giving shelter to the homeless. He and his championed organization are already the prime movers of positive change in the Philippines. If only all Filipinos would heed the call to build the nation, the goal of Gawad Kalinga Foundation to build a better Philippines would soon be an outstanding reality.

At first, I was a cynic to the power of compassion and massive volunteerism, but when I got to join Gawad Kalinga Foundation and its pool of volunteer workers, I finally understood what it meant to become a person for others. Since that first encounter with GK, I have devoted myself to the work of a Philippine volunteer.

The whole idea of “self for others” did not come easily to me. In fact, I used to be one of those who only participates site building events and other projects for the sake of attendance. That whole “what’s-in-it-for-me” mentality changed when I became attached to a beneficiary family in one of the GK villages in Quezon City. I was so moved by how the movement changed their life and their attitude about poverty. Looking at them, you would never see a trace of hatred or ire for being poor. I thought it was because of the love and compassion surrounding them and I felt quite lucky to have been one of the individuals who have made it possible for them to live a better life.

Being a Gawad Kalinga Foundation Philippine volunteer requires a lot of work, but to tell you honestly, the amazingly good aura felt in the community makes me forget the long days of working. It is fulfilling to see improvements and developments not only in the structural side of the community, but also in the lives and attitudes of people there. I guess what Tony Meloto said about those living in the slum areas of the country is true. He once said in a speech that poor people are victims of their situation. I agree because it is really hard to find hope in your heart when you cannot provide enough food and proper shelter to your family. It is hard to be good to others when you don’t see goodness in your life. Those living in the shackles of poverty need to feel hope in their hearts for them to have the drive above the hard-knock life they have been enduring for so many years.

I used to have this messianic dream of changing the world and I did so many things just to achieve that goal. I studied hard, earned so much money, built a business, but never did I think that focusing on the improvement of others instead of only myself is the best way to achieve happiness.

Working with Gawad Kalinga Foundation, an organization that strives to help the poor is not only a moving, but also a learning experience for me. By devoting myself to the plights of the poor, I discovered many things about life and myself. It is an amazing feeling to go home at night knowing that you have been part of a grand revolution that could not only change the Philippines, but also the world.