Antonio "Tony" Meloto (born January 17, 1950) is the founder of Gawad Kalinga, a Philippine-based poverty alleviation movement.
Tony Meloto | |
|---|---|
| Born | Antonio Meloto January 17, 1950 Bacolod, Negros Occidental |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Occupation | social activist |
Meloto was named 2006 "Filipino of the Year" by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.[1]
Early life and career
editAntonio Meloto was born on January 17, 1950, in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, to a middle-class family.[1] He took his senior high school year at De Anza High School in Richmond, California, as an American Field Service scholar.[1] He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics degree from Ateneo de Manila University, studying as a full academic scholar and graduating in 1971.[1] He then took a job as a purchasing manager for Procter and Gamble.[1]
Couples for Christ and Gawad Kalinga
editMeloto became an active member of Couples for Christ in 1985 and quickly rose in leadership, having a key role in establishing CFC Family Ministries in 1993.[1] In 1995 he began a youth development program for juvenile delinquents in Caloocan.[1] The program evolved into Gawad Kalinga, a global movement for building sustainable communities within slum areas.[1]
In 2006 he was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership.[1]
Criticism
editIn May 2015, Meloto generated controversy for allegedly sexist remarks made at a conference at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.[2]