While others spend anniversaries and special occasions in plush places, Tony Meloto, the Gawad Kalinga executive and Ramon Magsaysay Awardee, spent his 59th birthday on Jan. 17  with beneficiaries of the GK program – at the ERH GK Village in Barangay Sum-ag, Bacolod City.

The birthday gathering was a ‘gift’ of Globe Telecom which has an existing partnership with GK – through the productivity center for livelihood programs. Twenty GK beneficiaries who were trained in the center helped cook and served the food for 450 residents of the village and their 100 visitors. The beneficiaries’ participation in the food prepeparation were part of their practicum which, Meloto said, was “the best gift” to see that people wo once came from squatter areas and he once helped and served are now serving and helping other people, not themselves.

The occasion, it turned out, was not really for Tony, but more of an event  “to honor everybody who have helped in the building and maintenance  of that community”with the celebrator reiterating the appeal for GK supporters to continue in efforts toward greater sustainability.