Families donate books to RP schools

Families donate books to RP schools

By Jennifer S. J. MacLean

In over a 10 – year period , the San Juan and Recinto families of North York and Scarborough respectively have been sending a sizeable number of books and teaching / learning materials to targeted schools and colleges in the Philippines. As a continuing gesture of giving back “ para sa kanilang pinagmulan,” the donations , a selected mix of new and used textbooks and other publications such as student workbooks , teachers’ guides, and curriculum instructional manuals were forwarded via door – to – door cargo shipments to various recipient – educationl institutions.

Just in March 1, 2007, the two families jointly shipped 118 books, monographs, and magazines to Tambo Elementary School in Lipa City, Batangas, through Major Cesar Recinto ( PAF ) . Previously, the same school received some 125 books in 2001. Similarly in November 2006, they added some 67 volumes to Guintas National High School in Antique Province under the initiative of Joyce Rodriquez of Brampton City. Also in the same year in July and August, they and forwarded to GNHS a total of 318 books.

The donations cover classified titles in elementary, secondary, and collegiate course materials in English, Literature, Education , Social Sciences, Mathematics, Science , Technology, and General References.
Other beneficiary educational institutions in the past , include: Camarines Norte State College, from 1999 to 2001: 633 volumes; Lakan Dula High School, Manila in 2001: 222 items ; Marikina College of Arts and Trades in 1999: 45 teachers’ references; Makati High School in 1999:38 titles; and FEATI University in 1996 and 1999: 258 selections.

Most of the donated teaching and learning materials are “ age- appropriate, biased- free , and curriculum- relevant”, according to Tony San Juan, a practicing Registered Teacher in Ontario and one of the initiatives’ benefactors. The continuing sources of books, dictionaries, encycopledias, learning cassettes/ tapes, and library materials are from the private collections of their respective families, friends, and personal libraries, as well as from ”garage- sale” and used – books sellers.

(PRESS RELEASE)