A Library School and An Art Building Grow in Quezon City! (1 of 2)

L-R Tessie Moran, librarian of NBS College, Elnora Conti and ZarahG

In a time when the political climate cast shadows of darkness within the country, and seemingly this stretches out beyond our shores, I see hope flicker in corners that need to be brightened even more. These corners are places where dreams are born and they take flight. A library school grows in Quezon City and an art building is in the works in UP Diliman.

Let me share about this new library school first and the second post will be about the new art building of the College of Fine Arts in UPD.

Right after the PBBY board meeting last June 18, I visited the National Bookstore College. There I met Madame Elnora "Ate Nora" Conti, former president of MAHLAP and former member of the PRC Board for Librarians. I call her Ate Nora, since, in PNU culture, we call our older alumni and upperclassmen "ate" and "kuya". Ate Nora and I were part of the group who gave birth to the PNU Library and Information Science Alumni Association. She was its first president and I was the treasurer. Neither of us is active in the association anymore, but it is our bragging right to claim that we set it up for future LIS alumni of PNU to continue its goals and objectives. Observing the activities and events the PNULISAA has organised in years past, they are doing a good job at programming professional development activities for its members. With a bit of inspiration, they can do more.

And so, this was our meeting point. It felt good to reconnect with Ate Nora after all these years. Seeing her up and about after life's challenges made my admiration of her grow even more. In NBS College, she is helping the young learning community grow the Library Information Science curriculum and program. You cannot really stop strong and determined women.

She gave me a tour of the new college which was located in the 4th floor of the National Bookstore building along Quezon Avenue. How it reminds me of Beacon Academy minus the green environment. As a start up, there is the promise of good things to come and dreams to be fulfilled. That makes start ups exciting places to work in. Knowing Ate Nora and our experience in PNULISSA, I understand why she is there at NBS College. I do recognise where the pioneering spirit comes from.

The NBS College exudes a modern and urban atmosphere that young city dwellers looking for a new place to learn and to be will find it there. The design of the rooms and workspaces reflects the city's character, big, bustling and proud. They will open their doors college students this August. Of the six bachelors degree courses they offer, Bachelor of Library Information Science is one. The college offers scholarships and grants for the pioneering batch.

NBS College bears the name of its popular bookstore as built by Socorro "Nanay" Ramos. But, NBS takes on a new meaning: Nurturance; Benevolence; and Service. It does sound like Nanay Ramos' life goals and mission-vision too, right?

For information, call 02-216-5716. Email is info@nbscollege.edu.ph. Visit its website www.nbscollege.edu.ph.

Music for a Cause: Songs for ERDA Tech Scholars

Mrs. Alma Rivera-Yu, a former co-teacher in Xavier School sent me her son's letter regarding a campaign for ERDA Tech. Niccolo, a grade 10 student in Hong Kong Academy, is in the process of completing his Personal Project (PP). In an IB school that runs the Middle Years Program, the PP is a required project that will help form skills essential for the next program in the IB Continuum, the Diploma Program. As for Niccolo, he works on what he loves which is music and pushes for a service component to help scholars of ERDA Tech continue their studies.

Here is Niccolo's letter, posted with permission from his parents, and information on how you can help him raise funds for ERDA Tech scholars.

Dear Tita Zarah,            

            I extend a warm greeting to you. I am currently a 10th grade student in Hong Kong Academy. During this period in our academic year, we are assigned to create a personal project. The personal project is a “student’s piece of work that is the product of the student’s own initiative and creativity” (International Baccalaureate). As I reflected on what my personal project would be, I wanted to incorporate both my interests and service learning together so I can enjoy the process and at the same time have the satisfaction of helping others in a significant manner.  Through your help and support, the success of my personal project can go a long way, particularly in lending a helping hand towards individuals who most need it.

            While coming up with an idea or theme on what my personal project was going to revolve around, I thought that music was most suitable. Music has always been a passion of mine. I thought that creating a music album with my five original compositions seemed like a fulfilling concept.  However, considering the purpose and impact my project would have towards others, I thought that a music album in itself would be rather shallow and irrelevant. Adding a service learning aspect would give my product more meaning as this would benefit others who need help the most. As I traveled back to the Philippines to search for a charitable organization I could work with, I stumbled upon a perfect opportunity.

            ERDA (Educational Research and Development Assistance) Tech is an institution that provides technical and vocational secondary education to students that are financially less privileged. The students are taught various technical skills that will allow them to be employable once they graduate. This allows them and their families to help fight the cycle of poverty. However, the students of ERDA Tech fully rely on scholarships. Students receive their education through ERDA Foundation’s efforts of bringing in sponsors to help raise funds for the school. Knowing this, I thought that fusing ERDA and my music album together as one project would result to an astounding idea.

            Selling my music album was the idea I came up with. I decided that all the funds that I generate out of selling my music album will be for the benefit of the students of ERDA Tech. This would provide them a better opportunity to finish their schooling and possibly lead to a better future. I wish that you would support this personal project of mine by purchasing my music album and possibly promote this to other people as well. With your strong support, we can help these children end their hardships and achieve endless possibilities.

       

Thank you very much.

Yours Sincerely,

Niccolo Yu

Grade 10

Hong Kong Academy

Note: The “Order Form” is attached herein and I look forward to your positive reply.  Kindly send in your order form to the following email address:niccolo.yu@student.hkacademy.edu.hk and niccolo_erda@yahoo.com

Reaching Out & Reaching In

In my last visit to Tanauan, Batangas for Sambat Trust's library project there, I had the chance to meet its scholars in Sambat Elementary School. There were around fifteen of them from the grade school level. I met them at the library that Sambat Trust had set up, one of the first libraries that grew in the community. Mrs. Delante, principal of Sambat Elementary School was so thankful of this donation to the learning community there.



When the scholars arrived, I asked them their favorite book. One girl replied, Sleeping Beauty. I could not help but fracture the tale from this well loved classic. Rousing herself to sleep, apparently the wicked witch died of a heart attack and the curse was broken, she fixed up her castle and freed the dragon in the dungeon. The prince came and proved himself worthy to stand as her equal by taming the dragon himself. The kids were amused. They waited for more so I rendered stories from my repertoire.

I realized my formal Tagalog is very rusty. Filipino that's spoken in Manila is a convoluted mix of English and Tagalog. Nevertheless, I knew the kids had fun from their authentic smiles and waves of goodbye. I came to Sambat to assess the status of the library and to continue its out reach activities there. I came back to Manila with the realization that there really is a reading problem in the country.

I ask myself where to begin.

Who is Sambat Trust?

For the past three months, I've been involved with school library development at Tanauan, Batangas through Sambat Trust, a UK based charity that supports literacy development and education. Below is a draft write up on the organization. It's growing and accomplishing great things in small but sure steps since the past three years!

Who is Sambat Trust?

The Pied Piper of Hamelin, a folk story, teaches implicitly the importance of keeping one’s word and fulfilling a promise. With a magic flute, the Pied Piper successfully rid the town of rats for a promised reward. Sadly, the town mayor failed to do so. As a result, the Pied Piper took away from the town, its most valuable resource – its children. Indeed, the town had been freed from pestilence but it lost its joy and its future.

Keeping one’s words is as precious as valuing children.

Sambat Trust UK, a charity devoted to support literacy and education, does both. It is true to its words and believes in upholding the basic right of children to proper education and access to schooling.

Reaching Out and Giving Back

Sambat Trust UK began scholarship programs for underprivileged children in Tanauan, Batangas in 2007. It has adopted thirty-six scholars, from grade school, high school and college levels in various barangays in the area. Its founder, Mr. Anthony Mariano believes that the cycle of poverty that permeates the way of life of his kababayans (countrymen) in Tanauan can be broken through education. By providing its scholars with books, school supplies and basic tuition fees, the Sambat Trust scholars could go to school. Thus, they are given the opportunity to develop skills necessary for living a full life.




As a second generation Tanaueno, Anthony Mariano would go home to the Philippines for vacations and holidays with his parents, Eligorio and Beatrize, who were former teachers. His parents have found work and have settled in London in the 70s but the Philippines remained in their hearts. Anthony recalled one experience related by his mum. This particular story made him eager to reach out and give back. His mum related that, in one particular holiday in Tanauan, she met children as young as six and seven years old working in the streets selling mats, rags and sampaguita. A couple of years after, returning for another holiday with relatives in Tanauan, his mum observed that the situation has not changed.

Finally, visiting Tanauan in 2007, Anthony had a first hand experience of the poverty that has been slowly eating the children and the youth of Tanauan away. He had the opportunity to visit government run schools in the district, particularly, Sambat Elementary School and neighboring barangays (villages). He got to see its library, met its principals and spoke with the mayor of Tanauan for possible charity work in the area. Undaunted, he gathered the help of friends and relatives, raised funds, asked for donations and set the gears in motion. In the same year, the Sambat Trust Scholarship Programme was born along with the Sambat Trust Library Project.



To date, Sambat Trust has built five functional libraries in five schools in Tanauan namely, Sambat Elementary School, Talaga Elementary School, Santor Elementary School, Banadero Elementary School and, its current library project, Wawa Elementary School. The stages and the progress of these school libraries are being monitored and supervised on a regular basis. Photos, articles and activities about the development of these school libraries may be read and viewed at Sambat Trust’s blog: http://sambattrust.blogspot.com/

A Glimpse of Joy

Joy Villaflor is a new scholar of Sambat Trust for school year 2010-2011. She is in fifth grade at Sambat Elementary School. She lives with her parents, Benjamin and Noralyn, and her three siblings, Zeus, Eyt and Adelene in a 20 sq. meter house made of wood and cement. Everything is inside that small space – living room, kitchen, bedroom and dining room. For water, they fetch from a well that they share with a neighbor. The government rural health unit provides the family with health care much like everyone else in the community.

Benjamin has no work at all since he has been sick for a while. Noralyn is a household help earning Php 2,000.00 per month. This meager salary goes to basic needs on food, clothing and provisions for shelter. Benjamin and Noralyn could only hope for a good education for their children.

Joy, their eldest, keeps their hope alive despite limited income and resources. She goes to school every day fueled with the same dream her parents have for her.

Step by Step

Setting up school libraries and funding scholars are but two of the basic strategies that Sambat Trust has put in place to achieve its mission. The future holds so many possibilities for its beneficiaries and foster children.

In the coming years, more literacy activities are envisioned to take shape in its adopted schools. Writing contests and reading recitals; book making projects and storytelling sessions are some examples. These are activities perfect for the schools with functional libraries. Parent support is essential too. A home-learning program for parents can help a lot in establishing a learning environment for children even before they go to school. The plausibility to conduct adult education sessions that will economically empower parents of scholars is a dream as well. Tutorial sessions for scholars are being considered too. It is not enough that they go to school. A follow through on the their academic and formative development is important for a holistic approach to learning.

Sambat Trust values children. And it will keep its word.