It's with great excitement that I greet you on this very first GK Builders Bulletin in the US. We have some of the best communications people working to bring you the latest news. I would like to thank GKom for your hard work and commitment.

GK1MB (GK One Million Builders), the volunteer arm of Gawad Kalinga, is the place people go when they decide they want to do something for GK. The areas for volunteerism are endless, and so we encourage you to go online and become a GK1MB Builder on www.gk1mbusa.org/signup.

The GK Builders Bulletin is an online newsletter for all our volunteers. We hope to continue to share with you current events, stories and reflections from the entire country, and also the latest developments in South Florida. If you have anything to contribute you can send it to Celeste@GK1MBusa.org

On another note, we recently had a very exciting and successful Walk last Saturday. God blessed us with clear skies and the rain held back right 'til the end. Walkers became on the spot advocates as they then went around and talked to others about GK. Even a little girl as young as 6 years old, chased down a runner, only to hand her a flyer and invite her to know more about GK. It's as easy as that! When you have good news to tell, and GK is good news, it's that easy to tell the world about it. We need more people to tell the good news!

In a recent meeting, Habitat for Humanity (the most successful housing project in the world) shared with us that they have built over 45,700 homes in the Asia-Pacific region and served nearly 230,000 people since 1983. To date, Gawad Kalinga has built over 2,000 communities (about 100,000 homes). Together we have made an impact on the lives of more than half a million people -and we did all this in about half the time, having started in 1995. GK is now the most successful housing project and is continuing to receive international awards that acknowledge this remarkable achievement.

The GK Global Summit on June 12-14 2009 in Boston MA, will mark a new direction for the up scaling of our work in Gawad Kalinga. It's not too late to register so for more information go to: www.gawadkalinga.org/globalsummit for more information.

You and I have the very precious task of telling the GK story. Many of you are asking "What's next?" Tell the GK story. Tell it to everyone. It's a beautiful story. The Breakfast Forum we'll be having on June 20 at St. Max from 9am-11am will give you more insight into this next step. Join us!

Mabuhay!

Nathan Mari
GK1MB USA National Director
Miami Heats It Up!

It was a Sunday afternoon. We were watching the Filipino Basketball League in Hollywood, Florida. There were a lot of Filipino people from all walks of life. Young and old alike. I had a good time watching the games -all my "Kababayans" playing. I started imagining my own basketball team... playing here every Sunday afternoon, meeting old friends and having fun. I saw Mike Bilbao (former PBA Star), the Phiippine Basketball Association of South Florida) Commissioner and he asked me if had a team ready for the next season. Mike Bilbao is one of my GK friends. He said whenever I'm ready I have to talk with one of the league organizers. Talking to these people, I already made my first move. I got the team's uniform ready, made in the Philippines, and named my team GK Miami. I know everyone watching, will ask, "GK? What is that? Gawad Kalinga?" My vision is to promote GK with everyone I know, my goal is for GK to be recognized and for people to start talking about it. It's like having GK presentations every Sunday in the basketball stadium. My next step was to get players. I prayed hard to the Lord to give me players-- players that have the heart and compassion with the poor. I gathered eleven players who are ready to play and to be part of this mission. I gave them in our first practice the mission and vision of our team. Our GK Miami team is not after the championship. We're here to promote Gawad Kalinga through basketball. This is for the poor people in our country, who are homeless, hungry, sick and deprived of their human rights. We will do this for them because they're all special in our hearts. I told the team to be humble. It's not about basketball; it's how you play the game. My players give their time, effort, talent and always remember to serve the poor and be proud of GK. I gave each one of them a GK video to watch. I never stop talking to them about GK.

Joey M. Hachero
GK Worker
JEREMY MERCADO
is 22 years old and a graduate of Full Sail University. A young bayani at heart, Jeremy has chosen to walk the GK path. He leads GK Miami's Merchandising unit, plays in the Philippine Basketball Assoc. of South Florida for the GK Team, and is nationally coordinating an upcoming Youth Build in July - destination Palawan, Philippines.

How did you first hear about Gawad Kalinga?
GK was introduced to me in 2003 at a GK777 launch, but I wasn't fully immersed until October 2007.

What was your "GK Moment"?
I took a trip to the Philippines with no intention of helping out in GK, but I could not escape the sight of poverty everywhere I went. There must be a huge problem when there are armed guards at fast food restaurants and the sight of shanti's surrounding every corner. I realized how much better I had it in America and how blessed I was to have this opportunity to give back to my "homeland." A month after my trip I was invited to a GK Walk in October 2007 which opened my heart to the cause of helping the poorest of the poor.

What strengths or personality traits do you have that has helped you serve the cause?
It's given me the courage to speak to people, especially the youth, and to engage them for learning more about the nobility of this movement. I minored in recording engineering and entertainment, which I now use to contribute to GKommunications branch; I help with event management, marketing plans, and merchandising. My faith and passion for seeing the Philippines rise out of poverty is the main reason why I volunteer for this organization.

What are your hopes for the upcoming Youth Build?
I don't know what to expect. I just know it will be amazing. Though I'm going on this trip to have fun, I want to give my heart to the beneficiaries I see on these GK videos! The only hope I have is that the youth going on this build will have their hearts transformed with an urgency to spread the good news about Gawad Kalinga to the rest of the youth in their areas. The advocacy we do here in the U.S. will mold the youth to be the next generation of builder volunteers in this organization. I hope this build will take "volun-tourism" to the next level for future participants.