GAWAD KALINGA's mission has always been centered towards helping the marginalized communities, delving into projects catered on youth development and social entrepreneurship.
Among those projects that they've established stem from sports, where the org established the SipaG program, geared to teach marginalized children the art of football or futsal. Most of its graduates ended up taking their talents to Philippine colleges and universities, some are blessed with scholarship programs.
And things will reach a different level especially with GK announcing its latest project, SipaG Bubuyog FC.
What makes SipaG Bubuyog standout?
A football player's pathway in the Philippines follows the traditional route where players enroll in an academy or a program, hone their skills, and hope that an opportunity will arise from years of hardwork. In between, players need to balance their academics to get a higher chance of reaching a university or college.
SipaG Bubuyog follows a unique approach when it comes to developing aspiring football athletes.
"Here in the Bubuyog, this is kinda different in a structured way. In Gawad Kalinga, we have no football field, we have no access to venues, in the Bubuyog, we make sure that there is a path to a scholarship. We wanted to have a closed group with a structured training," revealed Marlyn "Bing" Importante, the Program Head of SipaG in an exclusive with SPIN.ph.
Training happens around three times a week, specifically Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and while most academies require students to pay for a fee, GK-SipaG's program is 100% free. There are even licensed coaches who were willing to do volunteer work to support the dreams of these marginalized kids.
Bing perfectly said: "It runs like an elite academy that acts like a charity."
But there are other important factors that make this program standout. Trung Nguyen, the General Manager of Philtech, one of the supporters and partners of GK SipaG Bubuyog FC, revealed some of the concerns when it comes to the development of youth football.
"There are programs that focused on just the childhood, there are teenage programs, like competitive clubs, there are university and high school programs, and the end goal for adulthood is to find a job but nothing is ever connected," he explained during the launch event.
He added: "You might start from here (childhood), but you don't know how to get there (adolescence). We want to connect it all together."
How was the program formed?
It all began when Bing and Trung were watching a game in the UP Stadium, and they started discussing their thoughts as to how they could develop players where they could end up fulfilling their collegiate dreams.
Bing told Trung her vision: "If I may dream big, I want to have a field where some kids who have talents, but no access (to a pitch) can go there to train and eventually become like them (collegiate football players)."
Initially, Bing only asked for a football kit, but Trung had other ideas.
"At first I asked for a kit, I didn't ask for anything bigger than this," started Importante. "He (Trung) said, 'I can do more. Let's do something sustainable because I have a dream and vision for the kids."
From this moment, both of them realized that their dreams intertwined. Since Gawad Kalinga and Philtech were in a partnership, both entities needed to benefit each other. Philtech will provide the necessary resources to Gawad Kalinga's SipaG project, so how will the latter return the favor?
Bing highlighted: "Actually they didn't (ask for a return), as of now. I'm still asking, I'm still sending them an email. What do you want since you support us? Do you want us to give you a tax exempt? Do you want us to process something? Until now, they said, 'It's ok, we'll just be there."
She further elaborated: "It's really from the heart, and I met the other partners and they shared their stories and how they do their CSR (corporate social responsibility). They even helped build roads from San Pablo, Laguna, Quezon Province, they do the small things and they make a difference."
A very passionate project
But at the end of the day, there's a broader vision that lies ahead. For Trung, his decision to involve Philtech goes beyond the field of play.
"It's a very passionate project. It is not just about soccer. At the end of the day, soccer is just a medium for me. The bigger thing that I really want to do here in the Philippines is leave a legacy, something that will grow and be better."
He told SPIN.ph: "I love investing in people and I got a chance to meet Bing and her team, and I saw the passion, dedication, and willingness to work hard and roll their sleeves and I believe that if you build a great team and everything else will come into fruition."
Trung's desire to support the cause stem from his background where he experienced what it felt like to be marginalized. At one point in his life, he lived in a dirt poor environment, where he had nothing to begin with.
And eventually he made his breakthrough, which pushed him to believe that others can follow the same path as well.
"I can relate really well and with enough hard work and enough goals, people can be given a chance that they can make it anywhere, and that's what motivates me, to create opportunities for the kids and have the foundation for them to do better."
Trung even narrated: "We wanted to help the unfortunate, help the needy, help the kids. In my kid's soccer team, there were a few scholars from GK, we asked them more about their lives. I had my HR team discuss on how we can volunteer and help the communities and then we met Bing and we learned more about their stories and it blossomed from there."
Building a brigher future
With this program underway comes a plethora of expectations and plans for the future.
For Trung, what matters most is the ultimate vision.
"I would love to see those kids, go to high school, go to college, have a job, that's my dream to be able to create something for them," he reflected.
And to achieve that vision, requires a degree of mentorship, the program's primary advocacy.
"I was fortunate to have a lot of mentors in my life to tell me what to do, and how to do, and what not to do. These kids now will have that opportunities as well, they'll have mentors and coaches, and hopefully they'll achieved the desired path."
Meanwhile Bing had broader perspectives ahead.
"Our goal is to replicate this one, not only in Metro Manila. Maybe if we have funding, we can provide access to the kids in Cavite, Laguna, Marawi or Mindanao, Capiz, Leyte, Bukidnon, etc. where we have football clubs there. Our dream is to showcase that this is feasible," she revealed.
As of now, the likes of Adamson University, and companies like Philtech, IT Managers, Inc., Albertsons, Collabera Digital, Cherry Turf, and Synchrony have joined the cause, and GK are hoping that more will eventually come to show their support.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
