The Visayan DAILY STAR is nominating the Gawad Kalinga moving spirit, Antonio Meloto, for a Nobel Prize, its president and editor-in-chief Ninfa Leonardia said yesterday.

Leonardia made the announcement during the celebration of the STAR's 25th or Silver anniversary where Meloto was the guest of honor and speaker. Meloto who used to be the executive director of the highly successful project of building houses for the poor in the country, is now in charge of the GK global partnership and advocacy campaign.

Meloto, in his speech, lauded the DAILY STAR for being a respected advocate of truth and for its continued support for GK in its campaign to provide hope to the poor through homes that allow them to live in dignity.

GK's battle cry is "No more slums, no more squatters," he said.

Meloto who has expanded the GK campaign to raise funds for homes for the poor to Filipinos living in other countries said, "We are opening the floodgates for patriotic Filipinos abroad."

He said it costs $1,500 to build a home for one poor family and donations made in the United States, Canada and Australia are tax-free.

At the recent premier of the Gawad Kalinga movie in Los Angeles, Meloto said GK was able to raise P45 million and in San Francisco P20 million.

Meloto said he is committed to campaigning for houses for the poor to be built throughout the Philippines and at making GK a model to be adopted in countries like Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and East Timor.

After his talk, Leonardia also informed Meloto that the DAILY STAR is linking up with the GK to build what is to be called the Silver Star Village in Bacolod City, and that preliminary coordination had already been made with those in charge of the project in Bacolod City.

She said the STAR board would like this to be its contribution to the effort which, at the same time will commemorate the milestone that is the newspaper's 25th year.

STAR chairman of the board Primo Esleyer thanked all those who came for their continued support for the STAR while Modesto, Saonoy, a key pioneer of the STAR, declared yesterday's newspaper as the first issue for its golden anniversary.*

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