Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado praised the success of an international farming university, the Gawad Kalinga (GK) Enchanted Farm Village University on converging various nationalities and professionals as he also joined to build an inclusive community during the Cultural Night Governor’s Ball 2019 held at the GK Enchanted Farm at Barangay Encanto, Angat last Saturday night.
The annual Governor’s Ball 2019 dubbed as “Walang Iwanan, Transforming Communities Towards Zero Exclusion, Zero Carbon and Zero Poverty” aims to create a strong base for social entrepreneurs in the emerging economies of Asia.
In his speech delivered by Provincial Administrator Eugenio Payongayong, Alvarado said that the historic province of Bulacan joined hands with GK in transforming communities towards zero exclusion, zero carbon and zero proverty.
He commended all the men and women behind GK for endowing the underprivileged with the vision to dream and empowering them with the opportunity to pursue the dream.
“We strive to transform communities towards zero exclusion, zero carbon and zero poverty, with fervent hopes that is eventual success will kindle a radiant light that shall guide the world through the darkness of apathy, as we scale our way towards genuine sicial progress,” Alvarado said.
The said Farm Village University has now evolved into a self-sustaining community of former slum dwellers into an international farming university.
He said that the GK Enchanted Farm and the Farm Village University is the first of its kind in the whole world that now enjoys the trust and support of foreign governments, giant global corporations, international universities and foundations.
“Enchanted Farm has not only become a haven for economic enterprise, but more importantly, a beacon of hope for millions of people to chase their dreams and uplift their lives through determination and positive action,” the governor said.
It addressed the scourge of poverty by producing a generation of entrepreneurs and wealth creators that should make up for the scarcity of precious human capital and spur an honest –to-goodness social and economic development especially in the countryside.
He also said that the province of Bulacan takes great pride in the establishment of Enchanted Farm in Bulacan and regard it as a great testament to the indubitable spirit Filipinos possess.
It is attended by more or less 600 participants, such as heads of local and international corporations, universities and foundations from more than 24 countries particularly France, United States, Malaysia and Singapore. –ELOISA SILVERIO