New School Year, New Libraries for Nueva Ecija students

Posted by Herbel Santiago on 13 July 2011 | 0 Comments

Tags: Books, Reading, Library

Upon visiting Nueva Ecija, one will be greeted by the sprawling and never-ending sight of rice paddies. One of the top supplier of Filipino’s staple food, the rice, and other agricultural products, we cannot argue the importance of the province in our economy and society.

Notwithstanding the crucial role that our farmers play, it is with a heavy heart that we realized that much of their needs have been neglected. The education of their children remained askew, with the schools lacking a functional library and quality learning resource materials.

Responding to the overwhelming need, AHON (Acts of Hope for the Nation) Foundation decided to adopt not just one, but four, public elementary schools in Nueva Ecija. AHON, working hand in hand with the schools, is a non-profit, non-stock organization that labors to improve the literacy rate and quality of education in the country by helping public schools builds functional libraries.

Indeed, simultaneous with the opening of the new school year, we also inaugurated Mangino Elementary School and Malimba Elementary School libraries last June 6. We opened Pulo Elementary School and San Anton Elementary School libraries on the 7th of June. The libraries are greeted warmly and excitedly by the school principal, faculty, parents, community and DepEd officials and the students themselves.

En route to a new library

The procurement of the school library has been nothing short of challenging. Posed with the difficulties imposed by the lack of funds, each principal perseveres and dedicates the whole summer vacation into mobilizing its parents and teachers association as well as the community to put up and refurbish their libraries. They, as dedicated and passionate, contributed their time, effort and resourcefulness in order to make the library development project an astounding success.

The chaotic, dark and dingy rooms of Malimba ES and San Anton ES were transformed into beautiful and colorful spaces, conducive to learning and reading. The almost bare bookshelves of Mangino ES and Pulo ES were filled with highly-interactive and colorful Timelife reference books in English, Math and Sciences.

On June 1 and 2, we delivered the books worth almost half-a-million to each school. On hand to lend their help are the very supportive faculties, parents and barangay officials.

“Nakakatuwa na pinagtulong-tulungan ang pagbubuo ng library”, said former Mayor of San Isidro Sonia Lorenzo, “Isipin natin na ang AHON na kung tutuusin ay hindi naman tayo kilala pati ang ating mga anak, ay naglaan ng oras para mag-alay ng tulong sa atin. Tayo pa kaya ang hindi magmamalasakit sa ating bayan? At sa nakita ko, nakakatuwa na ang bawat isa ay may bahagi sa proyektong ito”

Former mayor Sonia Lorenzo, a Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance advocate personally recommended the four schools with the help of Mr. Louie Calison, DepEd District supervisor.

Mr. Hector Tagaysay, chairman of AHON Foundation, had said during the inauguration, “What we have given, hindi naman galing sa amin ‘yan. Galing ang lahat ng iyan sa Diyos. Ako at si Harvey (Keh), AHON’s executive director, we are just stewards. Nabuo ang silid-aklatang ito sa pagsisikap nating lahat”

Keh added that, “In AHON Foundation, isa lang ang hinihiling namin sa mga paaralan, ang masira ang mga libro sa kakabasa at kakagamit. Ang libro ay nariyan para basahin at hindi dekorasyon lang. Wala ring dapat na ipag-alala dahil papalitan ng AHON Foundation ang mga librong nasira”

AHON Foundation is the corporate social responsibility arm of Filway Marketing, Inc that exclusively distributes TimeLife books in the Philippines. To date, it has formally adopted 45 public elementary schools and donated books to marginalized and far-flung places in the country like Guimaras provinces, Aklan, Zamboanga etc.

AHON seeks to help more schools. Be part of us! You may help us by sending your donations in cash or in kind. You may also contribute your time as volunteers. For more information, please call (63 2) 545-5249, e-mail ahonfoundation@yahoo.com or follow us on our Twitter and FB page, AHON Foundation.