Gawad Kalinga now a ‘global brand’

Here’s a bit of good news that should make us proud to be Pinoys. I bumped into Tony Meloto of Gawad Kalinga over the weekend in Iloilo and he told me that the country’s most successful, most inspiring private sector anti poverty effort is now an international "brand". Gawad Kalinga’s approach and accomplishments in building houses for the poor, is now internationally recognized. One might even say the concept, based on self help and community involvement, can now be "franchised" to other developing countries with similar housing problems.

Tony didn’t say it in this exact terms but I guess Gawad Kalinga’s approach may be better suited to developing countries than Habitat for Humanity, among other international efforts. And that’s because Gawad Kalinga is sensitive to cultural and other factors that enable beneficiaries to keep their self worth intact. Ate Glue no longer has to import Hernando de Soto, as if we are bereft of good ideas on social development, to help her address the squatter problem in our cities and countryside.

Actually, Gawad Kalinga showed how to succeed in an area where government failed miserably all these years. That’s because the bureaucrats in National Housing Authority and other government housing agencies were never really interested in providing housing for the poor. I understand government now has some P50 billion in uncollectible housing loans to the poor. It would be interesting to see who got rich among the bureaucrats.

The other thing going for Gawad Kalinga’s international thrust is the Pinoy diaspora. The Pinoy’s native goodness and desire to give back to the community, made Gawad Kalinga a convenient medium. Tony proudly reported to me how groups of Fil-Ams, for instance, raise funds and thereafter ask him to build Gawad Kalinga villages in their hometowns.

Tapping the goodness of the Pinoy heart abroad is one reason why Tony’s British son-in-law and daughter are temporarily moving to Los Angeles for six months to better organize the many Pinoy communities in North America for Gawad Kalinga. The enthusiasm to become part of the Gawad Kalinga effort is very encouraging, Tony told me as we rode to the Our Lady of Candelaria fiesta in Jaro, Iloilo last Friday evening.

And to help further galvanize Pinoys abroad, Tony told me that they are going to have a world premier of "Gawad Kalinga The Movie" starring Cesar Montano. Over a dozen premier nights are scheduled in various US cities. Tony is only hoping that Montano does not decide to run for senator because that means the movie cannot be shown in the Philippines for the duration of the electoral campaign period.  

I am also amazed at how Tony’s immediate family committed themselves to the Gawad Kalinga effort. His children even gave up lucrative jobs and promising careers to help him spread the word and manage the best "global brand" to have come out of the Philippines. Well, at least the fruits of their efforts are now there for everyone to see.

In a sense, I admire not just the good intention behind Tony’s idea but the expert way by which he utilized modern marketing and brand management techniques to make it as successful as it is now. I guess Tony knew which buttons to push to make the Filipino want to be part of the Gawad Kalinga movement. Now, it is even a status symbol for families belonging to the country’s elite, as well as for the leading corporations to have a Gawad Kalinga village named after them.

For me, I think Tony’s secrets of success are: his own personal sincerity and a no nonsense approach to getting results as quickly as possible. Pinoys see in Tony what they want to see in their President — leadership by example and plain and simple competence in getting the job done… having something to show. This is why Tony has become a folk hero of sorts, the good news amidst all the gloom. Tony Meloto and Gawad Kalinga provide proof that we Pinoys can successfully address a social problem, if we only put our minds and efforts at it.

Hopefully, Gawad Kalinga will not go the way of many past great ideas that were initially successful, initially enthusiastically supported by our people but fizzled out in time, ningas cogon style. We also shouldn’t let Gawad Kalinga be a Meloto family project for all time. They need everyone on board and not just to write checks. We all have to show we care… may kalinga.

Grape juice

According to two articles forwarded to me by Dr. Ernie E, studies reveal that grape juice is good for cardiovascular health among other benefits, specially for those who are getting old. The first study found out grape juice seems to have the same protective effect against heart disease as red wine. Researchers at the Universite Louis Pasteur de Strasbourg were examining the effect on the heart of Concord grape juice.

"Grape juice can have a similar effect (against heart disease) as red wine but without the alcohol. That is a very important message," said Dr. Valerie Schini-Kerth, lead author of the study published in the journal Cardiovascular Research.

Red wine and certain types of grape juice have high levels of polyphenols, which block the production of a protein linked to cardiovascular disease — the number one killer in many Western countries. Polyphenols work the same way in red wine and in grape juice. The scientists were studying cells from pigs, which provide a good model for studying human cells.

The second study showed antioxidant-rich concord grape juice may help keep aging brains limber. The study — included mature rats nearing the end of their expected life spans. Researchers put the rodents through a series of tests designed to measure their short-term memory and neuro-motor skills.

"Concord grape juice appeared to enhance the cognitive and some motor skills in the test animals. In many of the tests we saw significant improvements or trends toward improvement," said lead researcher James Joseph, chief of the neurosciences laboratory at the US Department of Agriculture Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University.

Both studies were partly funded by grape juice maker Welch Foods Inc.

The hair dryer

Here’s a classic from reader Robin Tong.

A distinguished young woman on a flight from Ireland asked the priest beside her, "Father, may I ask a favor?"

"Of course. What may I do for you?"

"Well, I bought an expensive woman’s electronic hair dryer for my mother’s birthday that is unopened and well over the Customs limit, and I’m afraid they’ll confiscate it. Is there any way you could carry it through Customs for me? Under your robes perhaps?"

"I would love to help you, dear, but I must warn you: I will not lie."

"With your honest face, Father, no one will question you."

When they got to Customs, she let the priest go ahead of her. The official asked, "Father, do you have anything to declare?"

"From  the top of my head down to my waist, I have nothing to declare."

The official thought this answer strange, so he asked, "And what do you have to declare from your waist to the floor?"

"I have a marvelous instrument designed to be used on a woman, but which is, to date, unused."

Roaring with laughter, the official said, "Go ahead, Father.  Next!"

Boo Chanco’s e-mail address is [email protected]