DIPOLOG CITY - The municipality of Katipunan will play host to the launching of “Bayani
Challenge 2013” with the theme, “Isang Bayan, Isang Bayanihan” come March
23-27.
The event, which will be launched simultaneously
in 34 provinces nationwide, embarks on charitable works like building houses
for the homeless, repairing schools, health missions, tree planting, coastal
cleanup, feeding program and many more.
Bayani Challenge, which was established in 2006 by
Gawad Kalinga, has been able to draw a throng of volunteers year after year. It
then became a multi-sectoral event supported by both the public and private sectors.
To refuel the frazzled souls of the volunteers,
they shall be regaled with sports competitions like basketball, dodge ball,
volleyball, soccer, frisbee, tug of war, and other pinoy games.
Volunteers will also compete in a bayanihan race and master kusinero challenge. In master kusinero
challenge, the volunteers will compete in cooking the best dish using
indigenous ingredients in the locality.
The other provinces where the simultaneous
launching of Bayanihan Challenge for nation-building will be conducted are Agusan
del Sur,
Antique, Basilan, Bohol, Bukidnon,
Camarines Norte, Cavite, Cebu, Compostela Valley, Davao del Sur, Davao
Oriental, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Isabela, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Leyte, Metro
Manila, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Oriental, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental,
Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Samar, South Cotabato, South Cotabato, Southern
Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Surigao del Norte, Zambales, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga
del Norte and
Zamboanga
Sibugay.
In 2006, the Bayanihan Challenge
took the lead in building houses for 25 families in St. Bernard, Southern Leyte
with 400 volunteers. It was dubbed “A
Race to Rebuild a Nation.”
Bayani
Challenge 2007:
Rebolusyon ng Pag-asa, was participated in by 3,000 volunteers to rebuild the
lives of 230 families
in Camarines
Sur, Albay, Marinduque and Sorsogon.
In Bayani Challenge 2008, which titled “The More We Sweat for Peace, The
Less We Bleed in War,” there were 1,500 valiant volunteers bringing hope
for 75 families
in Bukidnon
and Lanao Del Sur.
Bayani
Challenge 2009: Only For the Brave, Some 1,100 selfless volunteers reached out for 73
families in Sulu and Zamboanga City.
In
2010, the Bayani Challenge launched a project called “Explore. Build. Protect,”
with 1,200 volunteers
racing against time to build homes for 70 families in Palawan.
Bayani Challenge 2011:Kalinga sa Bayan, was
joined by 2,000
volunteers who helped out 130 families in Bantayan Island of Cebu.
Last year’s Bayani Challenge
entitled “Pilipinas Ngayon Na!,” there
were 10,000 volunteers helping some 2,000 families in Masbate,
Mindoro, Negros Oriental, Cagayan de Oro & Iligan.
Bayani Challenge is
the best time to be a Filipino, for nation-building and to drive people into a
spirit of volunteerism and move them to answer the call of bayanihan into a
single goal to bring alive people power in every province and every town.
The
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) through the office of
Undersecretary for Special Concerns Jose Mari Oquiñena serves as Bayani Challenge Event Head with Pilipinas Natin (PN) and Philippine
Information Agency (PIA) in partnership with Gawad Kalinga and other government
owned and controlled corporations, agencies, entities and private organizations
like the Department of Education (DepEd), National Youth Commission (NYC),
Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Health (DOH), TESDA, PAGCOR,
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), National Telecommunication Commission
(NTC), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), League of
Provinces, EDSA People Power Commission, Housing and urban Development Council,
Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), Radyo ng Bayan, LBC
Foundation, BERJAYA Corporation Berhad, Globe Telecom, People’s Television and
others.
Bayani Challenge for
nation-building seeks to drive people into a spirit of volunteerism by keeping people
power alive in every province/town.
To join and be part of this historic
event, the volunteers can participate individually or in groups by forming a
team of 15, register at http://bayanichallenge2013.blogspot.com and choose the
province they want to volunteer on the registration site. (PIA9)