ISABELA CITY, Basilan – The
provincial government of Basilan and partner organizations are expecting some
500 volunteers to converge at Matarling in Lantawan, Basilan for the nationwide
simultaneous Bayani Challenge 2013 where 30 houses will be built.
These 500 volunteers in Basilan were part of
the race for the 100,000-strong Army of Hope Builders who will enlist for the
8th Bayani Challenge scheduled on
March 23-27, 2013. A new kind of People Power will be manifested in 37 sites of
33 different provinces, as volunteers from across the nation will work together
to ensure that no Filipino will be left behind in the national pursuit for
progress and sustainable development.
Started in 2006, Bayani Challenge is touted to be the biggest volunteer movement in
the country after successfully mobilizing 10,400 volunteers last year in the
spirit of the quintessential Filipino trait of bayanihan. Driven by this year’s theme Isang
Bayan, Isang Bayanihan, volunteers sign-up in teams of fifteen (15) for a
5-day test of courage, endurance and love for country as they engage in varied
nation-building activities that include the construction and refurbishment of
homes and schools, education sessions for children, tree-planting, clean-up
drives, and health missions. Interested volunteers may sign-up either
individually or in groups of 15 by visiting the official Facebook page of Bayani Challenge: www.facebook.com/bayanichallenge.
Most of the Bayani Challenge Volunteers are youths who seek to counter the
apathy and materialism prevalent in our society by instilling lasting hope and
concretizing compassion into sustainable, positive action. Past volunteers have
attested that through this experience, they carried with them insights about
how today is the best time to be a Filipino. Their generation seeks to prove to
the nation that volunteerism is the key to the permanent dismantling of the
unjust structures that perpetuate poverty and injustice in the Philippines.
Serving the Nation will prove to be more fun
in the Philippines as well with the inclusion of marathons, a Master Kusinero cooking competition, sports
competitions and Laro ng Lahi games.
These activities aim to foster nurturing relationships between volunteers and
the members of the empowered communities.
Bayani
Challenge
is a multi-sectoral partnership spearheaded by Pilipinas Natin (the flagship volunteer program of the Presidential
Communications Operations Office). The vast network of private companies,
organizations and other government agencies includes Gawad Kalinga, Philippine
Information Agency, Department of Education, National Youth Commission,
Commission on Higher Education, Department of Health, TESDA, PAGCOR, Armed
Forces of the Philippines, National Telecommunications Commission, Department
of Environment and Natural Resources, League of Provinces, EDSA People Power
Commission, Housing and Urban Development Council, Union of Local Authorities
of the Philippines, Radyo ng Bayan, LBC Foundation, BERJAYA Corporation Berhad,
Globe Telecom, People’s Television and many others.
Just as millions of people gathered at EDSA
to achieve social change, Bayani
Challenge will be a revolution against poverty by building healthy, humane
and nurturing communities. The event is a challenge to every Filipino to put a
halt to bickering and complaining and grab the opportunity to be part of the
solution and become a modern day hero. (PIA9)