124 Filipino families celebrate Christmas in new homes

THIS Christmas, 124 Filipino families will enjoy a more joyful celebration in call their own, following the turnover of houses at the Manulife Muntinlupa Gawad Kalinga Village, which was completed in September.

The village is a project of Manulife, the city government of Muntinlupa, organization Gawad Kalinga (GK). Started in 2010, it aims to build comfortable homes in a safe community for some of the city’s underprivileged residents, many of whom work as janitors, drivers, or street cleaners. According to a 2015 study by the Philippine Statistics Authority, around 12 million Filipinos are living in extreme poverty, many of whom reside in unsafe living conditions.

Muntinlupa GK Village used to live in shanties located in danger zones, such as creeks that rise and destroy homes and property during storms. “

Part of the new community is the two- floor Child and Youth Development ( CYD) Center. It serves as a daycare and a social hall for various youth and community programs. It gives the community’s youth a place to learn outside of school and when their parents are at work. It also keeps them away from the dangers of the streets.

“Many Filipinos dream of having a home and giving their children a safe space where they can learn and grow as good citizens,” said Ryan Charland, Manulife Philippines president and