A Toast for 30 Houses

On 18 February, AIR FRANCE KLM executives from headquarters in Paris travelled 35 kilometers north from Makati City to visit the site of the ongoing GK project in Bagong Silang.  It was the first time for Marnix Fruitema, Senior Vice President for Asia Pacific, and Bruno Georgelin, Area Commercial Director for Asia Pacific, to undergo an immersion during a tour of the community led by GK Founder and Chairman himself, Tony Meloto.  Inspired by the vision of Gawad Kalinga and its social impact, Fruitema committed to have 30 houses in the village by 18 February 2011.  Witnessing this announcement with a toast for success were colleagues from the local team headed by Cees Ursem, General Manager for South China Sea, as well as the ambassadors of Air France and KLM and a GK representative.

Plans of involving other AIR FRANCE KLM establishments in the project are brewing.  The company can be a conduit to communicate about Gawad Kalinga in countries where the two airlines operate.  The potential to also involve Filipinos living abroad in GK activities is enormous.  It is estimated that there are approximately a million Filipinos based in Europe, majority of which are living in Italy, Spain and the UK.  The airlines' inflight magazines - KLM Holland Herald and Air France Magazine will also publish articles about GK and its community-building programs with which the company's CSR initiatives in the Philippines are at parallel.

Currently, ground is being prepared for the next four houses to be built.  This time, volunteers from outside GK communities can also participate during the latter phase of construction.  Such was not the case with the initial houses.  Torrential rains during August until October last year inevitably hampered build timelines.  With the rainy season now behind, good weather will allow more volunteer activities at the site.