Philippine Information Agency: Press Release: BAYANI CHALLENGE

Friday, March 22, 2013

Press Release: BAYANI CHALLENGE

Pilipinas Natin Logo

1000,000 volunters to rebuild schols, homes in Bayani Challenge

QUEZON CITY (PIA) – The race is on 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 of 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 as 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.###

BAYANI CHALLENGE 2013: ISANG BAYAN, ISANG BAYANIHAN

THE BAYANI CHALLENGE

Bayani Challenge 2006: A Race to Rebuild a

Nation

Participants: 400 volunteers

Impact: 25 families given hope

Location: St Bernard, Southern Leyte

The volunteers provided food, medicine, and other relief services for families affected by a landslide, which covered an entire barangay in Ginsaugon, St. Bernard.

Bayani Challenge 2007: Rebolusyon ng Pag-asa

Participants: 3000 volunteers

Impact: 230 families given hope

Location: Camarines Sur (Goa, Calabanga, Naga), Albay (Taysan), Marinduque (Buenavista, Gasan) and Sorsogon, (PrietoDiaz)

The volunteers rebuilt and refurbished the homes and classrooms of victims of Typhoon Reming, which pummeled the Bicol and Southern Luzon regions in November 2006.