GK HOPE BALL 2012
The road towards a better nation cannot be built by one group alone; individuals from all walks of life must work together to make it possible.

In an effort to bring together all sectors of society—the elite, the poor, the media and major corporations, in working towards the goal of nation-building, Gawad Kalinga (GK) created the Hope Ball, an event that defines high society’s call towards creating hope and a brighter future for the country.

Now on its third year, the GK Hope Ball continues its mission of gathering the country’s elite to address the pervasive problem of poverty and work towards a better Philippines. Its past two incarnations have gone a long way in raising awareness and support for impoverished communities in Sulu.

This time, the GK Hope Ball shifts its focus to the old capital of Manila, Intramuros. The Walled City is currently facing problems of overcrowding and deterioration; more than 3,400 informal settler families are currently occupying public and private lands in the area.

“Intramuros is the soul of our people, and yet here, we have informal settlers who are living under subhuman conditions,” said Gawad Kalinga founder Tony Meloto at the GK Hope Ball press launch on October 3 at Barbara’s in Plaza San Luis. “This is a poor reflection of our soul as a nation.”

Working together with the Intramuros Administration (IA), Gawad Kalinga began the Kalinga Intramuros (KI) campaign, with the goal of restoring the radiance of the Walled City. Both parties plan to relocate these families to a GK Village in Trece Martires; the village will be funded by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and will be built on a piece of land donated by the Cityland Development Corp.

Ultimately, the campaign aims to generate enough support to transform the slums of Intramuros into beautiful and sustainable villages, provide the relocated families with sustainable means of living, and reestablish the old capital as a center of business and culture by means of social tourism.

The 3rd GK Hope Ball aims to build advocacy, raise resources for Kalinga Intramuros villages, and generate support for sustainable tourism development in the Walled City. This year, the event is being chaired by GK champion Pinky Antonio and is being mounted in partnership with LifestyleAsia and The Peninsula Manila.

“With the funds that we will raise through the Hope Ball, we will be transferring 100 families who are currently residing in a property owned by the TUCP [Trade Union Congress of the Philippines],” said Jose Capistrano, Intramuros administrator and co-chair of this year’s Hope Ball.

Additionally, in cooperation with the Fashion & Design Council of the Philippines led by JC Buendia, the Hope Ball will also feature a one-of-a-kind Philippine couture fashion show directed by Jackie Aquino. “We will be having a 30-minute show featuring different interpretations of the Filipiniana attire,” shared Buendia.

He added, “Gawad Kalinga has provided us with an opportunity to give back through our art. We have provided training in dressmaking for women residing in the communities, and provided weavers with more jobs by using native materials in our creations.”

Once again, Gawad Kalinga will unite the Philippines’ elite to work together as champions for the cause of eliminating poverty, and the restoration of a living national treasure.

“If we restore Intramuros, then we become whole as a people and as a nation,” said Meloto.
Kalinga Intramuros is a campaign by Gawad Kalinga and the Department of Tourism (Intramuros Administration) that aims to encourage every Filipino to care for Intramuros.

For further questions, call Cat Turingan at 0917-8917109, or send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .