Joey Albert

Confessing to a passion for public service at a recent press conference in Davao, Philippines, Joey Albert said she is spending much of her time travelling in Canada and Europe to solicit support for the Gawad Kalinga project which is pioneered by the Couples for Christ in the Philippines.

 

"There is a different satisfaction when you could help others," she said explaining the rewards of helping people without decent homes set up communities that are physically spiritually strong.

Albert said her battle with cancer gave her the inspiration to extend her hand to others.

"It was an opportunity for me to help other people and in a way is also helping you strengthen yourself," she said.

 

She said her participation in the Gawad Kalinga is to advocate to people abroad for their support that could be of help to Filipinos needing a home to live with their family.

The Gawad Kalinga communities, she said, are not only for economic transformation but the spiritual aspect as well.

 

Gawad Kalinga (GK), translated in English means "to give care," and it is an alternative solution to the blatant problem of poverty in the Philippines. The program is an integrated, holistic and sustainable plan to rebuild the Philippines by harnessing the best of a Filipino's faith and patriotism.

The daring initiative by Couples for Christ has now become a growing multi-sectoral partnership driven by a vision of a new Philippines with "no more slums."

 

Gawad Kalinga pledges to build 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities in seven years.

Albert was named a Kalinga ambassadress last year.

"As Kalinga ambassadress, I and the Kalinga people will visit Couples For Christ and Angkop groups in North America and Europe to solicit their support for Gawad Kalinga."

Albert and her family lost their Filipino citizenship when they acquired Canadian citizenship in 1998.

 

But now that the Philippine Government has recognized dual citizenship, the singer's family immediately applied and regained their Filipino status.

"I am happy and proud to be a Filipino citizen again," she told Funfare magazine.

 

Albert is taking an Early Child Education course at the Vancouver Career College in between doing her projects for Gawad Kalinga.

"I have a responsibility as a citizen of this country and you've got only one chance and I want to help my fellow countrymen," she said.

 

She also described herself as the "Messenger of Hope" and as a mother to young kids she told the press that God gave her the opportunity to take care of her children as she can cook, feed, bathe, dress and play with them in their home in Canada.

"I am happy that my kids will remember that I had cared for them," she added.

Albert took her two teenaged daughters Trixie and Margarita to her homeland because she wanted them to see that as Filipinos living in Canada, "they still have a responsibility to help the country of their roots."