Fernando Amorsolo Painting | Planting Rice (1947)
Every community has a heartbeat. Sometimes, we just need to slow down to hear it. 🌾
In 2019, before GAWI was even a dream with a name, founder Janica Rina was actively volunteering for Rice Pinas, a movement dedicated to uplifting Filipino rice farmers and encouraging a deeper respect for the food that sustains our nation.
Janica Rina standing beside local rice farmers from Aglipay Agriculture Cooperative from Nueva Ecija with her Rice Pinas co-volunteers Nonie and Ella.
As a core team member, she worked alongside passionate advocates to organize drop-offs, support local farmers, and help reconnect communities to the cultural and economic value of homegrown rice.
Janica Rina together with her sons Kali (6 months), Kobe (9 years old), and her Rice Pinas co-volunteers.
But Rice Pinas wasn’t just about promoting local produce.
It was about promoting local pride.
It was about reminding Filipinos that behind every bowl of rice is a family, and behind every harvest is a story of resilience, heritage, and hope.
Filipino rice farmers of Aglipay Agriculture Cooperative from Nueva Ecija.
The movement championed fair trade, transparency, and empathy, reminding us that our farmers are not statistics, but stewards of our land. That they are the foundation of our food, our communities, and our future. It taught us that choosing local isn’t merely a transaction, it’s a declaration of solidarity.
For Janica, this experience planted a seed that would later take root in her life’s work: the belief that advocacy begins with awareness, but thrives through intention.
Years later, that same heart for community continues to pulse through GAWI — a brand and philosophy that honors people, purpose, and planet. What began as participation in a cause has grown into a deeper calling: to build systems, products, and practices that nurture balance, dignity, and connection.
At its core, GAWI carries the same rhythm as Rice Pinas, one that celebrates Filipino resilience, craftsmanship, and collective responsibility. But it goes further: transforming those values into everyday action.
Through mindful creation, GAWI uplifts communities, honors heritage, and cultivates a culture of conscious living — where each choice, from how we craft to how we consume, is guided by intention.
Because true advocacy isn’t only about fighting for a cause.
It’s about living it — every single day.
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About GAWI
GAWI (Guided Actions With Intention) is a movement celebrating mindful creation and purposeful living. Through creative workshops, thoughtfully designed products, and advocacy-driven initiatives, GAWI empowers families, makers, and local communities to create with meaning and live with awareness.