IT WAS AN OLD HOUSE, A Bahay-na-bato on a corner lot, 29 Mendoza Street, Brgy. Paltok, San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City. Engineer Edward Abiad and his family were moving away, but his mother, Narcissa, did not want to sell the house. She wanted to convert it into a community library where the children of Paltok could learn to read and read well.
Now, through the efforts of Laging Pahinungod, a volunteer organization of the University of the Philippines Diliman, Narcissa's long-cherished wish is coming true.
The Aklatang Pambata will soon be Paltok's own community library. The University of the Philippines Interior Design Class 179 is designing and renovating the ground floor of the Abiad house.
Built in the 1930s, caretaker Eduardo Estrella said the Abiad house was originally a vacation place for the family. Bahay-na-bato structures Estrella said, were common until after World War II.
The ground floor was designed as a "silong" or shed, while the second floor served as living quarters. Films like "Tanging Ina" and "So Happy Together" were shot on the second floor.
Edward entrusted the house to Estrella as they were members of the same UP Diliman fraternity, Beta Epsilon.
Community project
"The idea is to set up a library and to make it a community-based endeavor," said Alistair Troy Lacsamana, Laging Pahinungod member and the project's overall coordinator.
The community was involved in planning, getting the books, sourcing funds, as well as recruiting volunteers. Secondhand textbooks, he said, were solicited from the Cartwheel Foundation.
Pahinungod wanted Aklatang Pambata to be a model community library that could be replicated in other parts of the country.
Prof. Lourdes Vargas of the UP Integrated School and one of the project's major players said people who heard of the project, also wanted to start libraries in their areas.
In July 2004, Aklatang Pambata got 25 boxes of used textbooks from the Cartwheel Foundation. Lacsamana said they hoped to get more children's story books for story-telling sessions.
The Aklatang Pambata, he added, would also be a reading tutorial and resource center.
Two elementary schools will be the main beneficiaries of the library: the Bayanihan Elementary School and the Paltok Elementary School.
Even before the ground floor's renovation, story-telling sessions were organized.
One session had children of elementary age as story-tellers.
Important
Sharon Betan, mother of one of the child storytellers, said having a community library was a worthwhile endeavor. "Reading is very important, and to have a community library would really help enhance the reading skills of children."
Her daughter, Sierra, was a finalist in a story-telling competition sponsored by the National Book Development Board (NBDB). The other story-tellers were Nelson Capila Jr. and Czarelle Guerra, winners in the NBDB contest.
The three are Grade 5 students at the UP Integrated School. Capile and Guerra told stories in Filipino: "Ang Mahiyaing Manok" and "Ang Batang Ayaw Maligo," respectively. Betan's story was "Bruhihi, Bruhaha (Mrs. Magalit)" in English.
"It seems that the children find stories in Filipino more amusing," noted Vargas.
Asked if his school had story-telling activities, a boy named Lorenzo said: "Hindi po. Binebentahan lang kami ng libro pero walang nagkukuwento." (No. They just sell books but no one ever tells stories.)
Lacsamana related they did not have enough money to sustain the renovation.
The Interior Design 179 class estimated the renovation costs at P1.2 million. The class had collected only P280,000, so they are looking for sponsors.
The volunteers are also coordinating with the Sangguniang Barangay and kagawad for support to the project.
Vargas said they were not worried about lack of volunteers. "People always come to help. And I am encouraged by those who eventually stay on to help with the project."
The Laging Pahinungod now has 40 volunteers.
Despite the obstacles, the group remains optimistic.
"I always get a different sense of satisfaction and fulfillment when I see that the children are happy," said Lacsamana.
