Siargao is the Philippines up-and-coming beach destination this summer!

Try stand up paddle boarding in Sugba Lagoon! This place was only thirty minutes away from Del Carmen town. Del Carmen is a developing municipality located in the island of Siargao, Surigao del Norte, Philippines. It is home to various unique natural wonders, including one of the most beautiful mangrove forests in the world.

Skyjet Airlines made its inaugural flight from Manila to Sayak Airport with DOTC Secretary Arthur Tugade, DOT Asec Fredrick Alegre, Skyjet Airlines President Dino Chua, Director Paul Soriano, Cong. Bingo Matugas and other dignitaries on board. The momentous Grand Launch today will create more opportunities for Siargao to be acknowledged for its renowned world-class beauty. Starting February 24, 2017 Skyjet Airlines will fly 4x weekly Manila to Siargao and Siargao to Manila. (Source: Gov. Sol Matugas)

FLIGHT SCHEDULE:

Schedule may change without prior notice.

All SKYJET flights from MNL depart from NAIA Terminal 4

Source: flyskyjetair

OVERALL ACTIVITY DESIGN

Bayani Challenge 2017: “Tatakbayani”

April 17 to 22, 2017 | Del Carmen and General Luna

Surigao del Norte, Philippines

I- Background

             GawadKalinga (GK) (“to give care in Tagalog”) is a Philippine poverty alleviation and nation-building movement known officially as the GawadKalinga Community Development Foundation Incorporated.  It is an alternative solution to the blatant problem of poverty not just in the Philippines but in the world.  GK’s vision for the Philippines is a slum-free nation through a simple strategy of providing land for the landless, homes for the homeless, food for the hungry and as a result providing dignity and peace for every Filipino.

            OUR MISSION.Ending poverty for 5 million families by 2024.

             OUR VISION.GawadKalinga is building a nation empowered by people with faith and patriotism; a nation made up of caring and sharing communities, dedicated to eradicate poverty and restore human dignity.

             GawadKalingaBayani Challenge is an annual summer adventure where we plant hope on ground by building communities and fostering friendships.  While it started as a call to respond a national disaster or calamity that hit a province or a region, it is a gathering of volunteers that celebrate the spirits of “bayanihan”, “padugo”, “walangiwanan”, “unasaserbisyohulisabenepisyo”, and “para sa Diyos at sabayan”.  Since it was first held in 2006, volunteers have looked forward to each year’s Bayani Challenge as their continuous heroic response, calamity or no calamity.

             GK Del Carmen is located at Brgy. Lobogon, Del Carmen, Surigaodel Norte.  With the full and active partnership of the Local Government Unit of the Municipality of Del Carmen together with local and international partners, it is now home to 68 Del Carmenon families.  The first batch of families where those affected of the road widening project of DPWH in the said barangay and the second and third batches already cater families from neighboring barangays.  To name, there are already three villages:  Berjaya GK Village (29 families), LBC GK Village (20 families) and Federal Land GK Village (19 families).  GK Del Carmen was started in 2013 and it was one of the host municipalities of Bayani Challenge 2013.

             GK General Luna will be located at Poblacion 5 General Luna, Surigaodel Norte.  General Luna will be one of the hosts’ municipalities of this year’s bayani challenge.  It will be the second GawadKalingamunicipality of Siargao Island. 

             Bayani Challenge 2017 National Opening at Siargao Islands, Surigaodel Norte.  LGU Del Carmen and LGU General Luna will be hosts to the national opening of Bayani Challenge 2017: “Tatakbayani” on April 17-22, 2017. 

II- Objectives

             With the vision of GK to end poverty for 5 million Filipino families by 2024, we acknowledge that GK cannot do it alone nor any individual can do it either. The Barangay WalangIwanan program is a convergence of multi-sectoral efforts to create a sizeable positive impact that is sustainable to a community that needs to be nurtured through the culture of caring and sharing. 

·         To mainstream the culture and sharing

·         To impart the GawadKalinga Way

·         To help end poverty for 5 million families by 2024

III.A-  SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES for GK DEL CARMEN 

Source:

Municipality of Del Carmen

Partner:

Federal Land GK Village, GK Del Carmen, Brgy. Lobogon. Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte, Philippines.

The ceremonial turn-over of the 20 units houses of Federal Land GK Village to the new Kapitbahayan homeowners. Present in the event is the good mayor of Del Carmen, Mayor JR Coro; the SDN GK provincial head, Tatay Efren; DC chief of police, PSI Nira Perocho; GK caretakers, volunteers and advocates from LGU headed by Sir Alen Escauso; and of course Kapitbahayan members from Berjaya GK Village and LBC GK Village.

Due to the unpredictable rain shower, we squeezed ourselves in their small "purok" or shed. Need to have a bigger space already to accommodate all 70 households when having activities such as turn-over ceremony.

Needless to say, the event was a success. The families were all smiles. Thankful for their early Christmas gift! Thank you sponsor. Thank you God above all. 20 more families will spend their Christmas this year under a roof that they can finally call their own.

Source: Karen