— — The current look of the Blue Eagle Village can now challenge the stereotype that an area wrought in poverty are places that those of the middle class cannot enter. The community has changed from an area that follows this label into a community that could welcome volunteers with open arms. The stereotype, according to some, is something that is etched on stone or a permanent fixture. Someone gives it and a person does not go anywhere past it. And yet, as the new Payatas 13 has proven, things really can change for the better. A stereotype though, should be thought of as something that should be used as a hurdle. It is the one thing holding you back from making a difference. This label is not something that will define you as a person; this label will help you become a better person. In truth, if asked to go to the area, a person will just automatically scrunch their noses and turn away. That is the thing. The people who live here are people too. They are not the kind of people you should stay away from, in fact they are the group who others should start learning from.

— — In terms of its interior and exterior, the area has been further improved and developed as the years progressed. The place itself is now housing 186 families, give or take a few since the count could have been interpreted differently in a given survey. Before devoting most of their time to building the houses, there are four things that GK aim to focus on – health, education, livelihood and empowerment. Of these four things, the empowerment side would be the one that is not at all evident at times. But of course, these peoples believe in the bibingka metaphor – effort is to be given at both ends in order to determine how great the development will be. This has been fulfilled under the guidance of GAWA (GK Accredited Workers Association) who have taken the people under their wing and have taught them something more than earning – to give back to others what has been given to them. Evidence of their learning would be in one of their projects called Trese. This is a printing station where various members of the community were involved in and has been used by the GK itself, the Ateneo and even by the business Human Nature. Another thing is that the people have also been inspired to form their own businesses within and outside the area.

— — Additionally, Human Nature is a type of cosmetics store that has a café off to the side. The cosmetics they sell contain different resources found in the various Gawad Kalinga communities. Said products are also environment friendly, naturally made and, most especially, made by Filipinos. The store itself is not found in a GK community and cannot be found in the Ateneo campus. This could be because the purpose of the business is to be the middle person. Rather than going inside Ateneo or in a GK community, which could be hard to get into location-wise, Human Nature could be found in select areas.

— — Aside from the fact that Blue Eagle Village is all fine and dandy, others should not be so keen on remaining in their current state of affairs. This developed (and still developing) area should not be seen as an act of favoritism. Favoritism is in terms of having this area, Payatas 13, be “chosen” by GK to host a housing project and for Ateneo to adopt it in its partnership with GK. Others who are still developing should learn from their experiences and work to better their own villages. When looking at the Blue Eagle Village, the marginalized communities would see newly structured houses and an ordered people. Looking at their own filthy and chaotic places, the people should not feel inferior to the greatness that is the developed. Thinking on it, they would learn to give more effort and hope for their own changes in the society. They are seen as just penniless and incompetent peoples who cannot think for themselves. But given the opportunity, they can still give an effort to remodel their lives or they can even learn to stop doing things that would lead to illegal acts and instead, learn to start living (and actually living) for the rest of their days.

— — Still, that is not to say that the Blue Eagle Village is the only community that is enjoying the assistance of the Ateneo. There are also other areas that the Ateneans have helped develop in the past and present. Places such as Quezon City, Nueva Ecija and Bicol. The Ateneo has built over 800 homes and has assisted over 30,000 communities. In fact, they are open to more volunteers in order to broaden their horizons and to start helping more people.