Thousands Join Global Walk for Scholars
On August 21, 2011, an estimated 50,000 people (and a number of dogs!) from all walks of life and from the different parts of Manila and the neighboring cities, gathered at the grounds of one of the largest malls in the world, the SM Mall of Asia, for the ANCOP Global Walk. Started five years ago in the United States and Canada as ANCOP Walk, the annual event aims to raise awareness and funds for Couples for Christ’s work with the poor programs. This year, ANCOP Walk went global (several ANCOP Global Walks were also organized in the major Philippine provinces and key cities in the world) with the intention of promoting and raising more funds for the Child Sponsorship Program.
The Walk in Manila officially started at 5:30 AM after the opening remarks of Ricky Cuenca, Couples for Christ Chairman and exhortations from CFC Executive Director Melo Villaroman and ANCOP Chairman Joe Yamamoto. Members of Couples for Christ (CFC) and its family ministries namely Singles for Christ (SFC), Youth for Christ (YFC), Kids for Christ (KFC), Handmaids of the Lord (HOLD), and Servants of the Lord (SOLD), led the sponsors, local government units, government offices like the Department of Foreign Affairs, PhilHealth, Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the academe (Far Eastern University, Samson Institute of Technology) and many others who had signified their desire to walk so that a poor child may have the benefit of education.
Celebrities such as Bianca Manalo and Yul Servo, and media personalities like GMA 7’s Raffy Tima, Mariz Umali, and Sandra Aguinaldo, were also present. YouTube singing sensation Maria Aragon, official ambassadress of the Walk, was there. Young actor/singer Makisig Morales, who is also a YFC member, brought his entire family (his parents are active members of Couples for Christ). Kristine Dera and Biboy Bibbo of Yes FM lent their talents by hosting the first part of the event.
The ANCOP Global Walk brought together people who had a single goal – to help the poor. The Walk also became an occasion to enjoy fellowship with friends and family, who enjoyed the exercise together with their pets, who prayed while walking, who sang for fun and who challenged one another to achieve greater physical benefits from the walk.
Aside from the dogs, the little kids, the pregnant women, and the senior citizens who responded to the invitation to answer the cry of the poor, there were also physically challenged individuals who did not allow their disabilities to hinder them from becoming a part of the miracle that is the ANCOP Global Walk.
Mahlon Balitos, a CFC member from San Juan (Central A Sector), was a copra farmer from Western Samar. In 1999, a coconut fell on him, damaging his spinal cord and paralyzing him completely. His determination to live a normal life in spite of his handicap is manifest in his participation in the walk.
When asked what he enjoyed most about the Global Walk, he promptly answered “the challenge itself” and the knowledge that he’s helping the lesser of his brethren in his own little way. Mahlon is just one of the thousands of people who made a conviction to “be God’s kiss to the poor.” His story is just a piece of the bigger puzzle made up of different other stories of people who dared to make a difference.
The scene at the MOA was replicated in many parts of the Philippines. More than 50 provinces responded to the challenge to gather not just CFC members but corporate sponsors and individuals to walk for the poor. Abroad, Australia reported a large attendance at the walk along the famous Bondi Beach. Nigeria, Canada, USA and some countries in the Middle East organized their own versions of the walk, with CFC members in UAE holding a small prayer procession.
ANCOP Chairman Joe Yamamoto termed the exercise a “huge success” and announced that next year, the Global Walk will be on August 12. He said, “This has shown us that people, whether CFC or non-CFC, can and will get together if the common purpose is good.”
The event drew many corporate sponsors, including the media outfits such as GMA 7 for the Manila Walk and ABS-CBN for Iloilo. Other media sponsors were The Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star, Summit Media, Radyo Veritas 846, and the Manila Broadcasting Corporation (Yes FM 101.9, 96.3 Easy Rock and RHTV). Corporate sponsors include Banco de Oro, China Bank, Maynilad, Pocari Sweat, Petron, Yamaha, Tricom Dynamics and The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association of the Phlippines (CTFAP).
And like all CFC and ANCOP spearheaded events, the ANCOP Global Walk was capped by the celebration of the Mass by Bp. Jesse Mercado, Bishop of Parañaque. The Mass was concelebrated by CFC Spiritual Adviser Msgr. Allen Aganon and Fr. Rico Ayo, assistant to Bp. Mercado.
Truly, the ANCOP Global Walk was a success not only because of the people who worked hard to make it possible, but more importantly because of all the walkers who unselfishly gave their time, their strength, and their treasure, all for the love of the poor.
By Aiza Garnica
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