The television network known as GMA Network Inc. can be traced all the way back in 1950s as a humble radio station. The network grew and evolved, and in 1991 founded the organization that will eventually be known as the GMA Kapuso Foundation.
Founded by GMA News Anchor Carmela “Mel” Tiangco, GMA Kapuso Foundation had spent the last 27 years providing aid and helping the Filipino people in various and impactful ways.
Since it was built, the organization’s collected efforts both with and without several partners have provided free medical services, started feeding programs, planted trees and built schools and houses all over the country.
The organization began as a relief-providing group known as Bisig Bayan Foundation, later on changing their name to GMA Foundation and finally GMA Kapuso Foundation.
Since its inception, the organization has grown, launching several projects including free housing, medical assistance, disaster relief, educational and environmental assistance, and many others.
Operation Bayanihan is the GMAKF disaster relief program, providing immediate assistance and basic needs to victims of natural and man-made disasters all over the country.
Their health programs give free health services to indigent Filipinos. The Bisig Bayan Medical Assistance (BB), in particular, even have special health projects, most of which are in line with the monthly themes of the Department of Health. There is also the Kalusugan Karavan (KK), a continued medical mission into far-flung areas where basic health services are inaccessible.
The GMAKF also has the Give-A-Gift: Alay Sa Batang Pinoy Christmas Project, which has grown into four sub-projects focusing on different and specific needs of children. The four sub-projects are as follows; GAG: Feed A Child, GAG: Surgical, GAG: Kapuso Cancer Champions, and GAG: Distribution of Noche Buena Package.
Their education programs aim to provide means for students to have access to school supplies and schools themselves. Unang Hakbang Sa Kinabukasan, for example, donates a complete set of school materials in a UHSK backpack to incoming kindergarten and Grade 1 students from public elementary schools nationwide.
Their Kapuso School Development Project, on the other hand, give classrooms and sanitation facilities to underserved public schools constructed through the “spirit of bayanihan” as shown by volunteers. Finally, the Kulayan ang Kinabukasan sub-project is involved in repainting, restoring and repairing said constructions.
Several Kapuso Village Projects have also been done by the foundation, constructing more than 500 houses in total at 5 Kapuso Villages nationwide. Most of the houses have been turned over to people whose homes were destroyed in major calamities.
One of their most recently started projects, the Kapuso Tulay Para Kaunlaran Project was launched in 2017, and aims to reconstruct demolished bridges to connect remote communities to trade and learning centers.
Most of these programs are an ongoing effort, garnering support and volunteers from different parts of the country and from various walks of life.
Most recently, the foundation had wrapped up their program Ngiting Kapuso for Oral Health Month this January, where they provide free dental check-ups and dentures to indigent Filipinos. They had also provided tons of donations under their Give-A-Gift: Alay Sa Batang Pinoy project to schools in Datu Anggal Midtimbang and Datu Odin Sinsuat, areas in Maguindanao under armed conflict. The same program provided gifts to children in areas in Western and Northern Samar, which were affected by Bagyong Usman last December.
The GMAKF is now preparing for their bi-annual bloodletting project in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross and the Ever Gotesco Mall/Go Tong Foundation.
A complete list of their programs can be found on the official GMA Kapuso Foundation website, as well as the options to either donate to or volunteer for their programs.
