In the case of the students of Rizal Elementary School in Gubat, Sorsogon, it used to be the other way around. There were no books because there wasn't a functional library in the first place. All that has changed now. Remember this Book Sharing Project a couple of months ago? Well, people heeded that exact call and generously donated large sums of money and boxes of used books.
The end result is a brand-new library with freshly painted walls, newly constructed wooden bookshelves, and, more importantly, endless rows of reading material that will make any kid beam with absolute delight and whisper to themselves, "So many books..."
The Kids of Gubat Sorsogon Decides To Read
The Bayanihan Library Project
This is the newly minted Bayanihan Library, bravely organized by an alumnus of Rizal Elementary School in close cooperation with active volunteers from a few other civic organizations, travel bloggers, random blog readers, social networking friends, and generous strangers who all eagerly became part of this wonderful undertaking. It humbly started with a simple idea which quickly snowballed into a physical reality far exceeding everyone's original expectations.
Just like any good book can incite an idea, a dream perhaps, or a new piece of knowledge which will kick-start a lifelong fascination—these are the exact things we fiercely want the young kids of Rizal Elementary School to experience. A solid book for each of them to read immediately after their class. A book for them to borrow and take home, to read silently in a quiet corner, with a feverish fervor and a running imagination that will actively help each of them nurture an idea or a burning desire to either become somebody else or successfully do a particularly great thing in the future.
Opening Worlds Through Reading
“I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.”
― Jorge Luis Borges
For these young kids, it surely would be. Soon they will be actively reading about the vastness of space, the intricate ecosystems of planet Earth, running their tiny fingers scanning numbers across thick encyclopedia volumes, and reading about various rare species of animals and plants. Through constant reading, their isolated world will suddenly become much bigger and far more vibrant.
“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.”
― Charles William Eliot
The entire section of fourth-grade students faced the two dedicated volunteers, Lauren and Dan, while they enthusiastically read a story aloud to them. At first, they were somewhat discretely uninterested, just passively going with the flow of that morning's mandatory school program. But as the real, undeniable power of a good book started to be felt—as soon as Lauren and Dan recited aloud the magical words from the story "Paradise of the Animals"—the blank faces of the students quickly turned into a highly interested, captivated lot. They started to collectively imagine the worlds unfolding alongside the story, and one could only wonder how truly powerful the narrative might be if they read it themselves.
The Enduring Inheritance of Books
“Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations.”
― Henry David Thoreau
When I was a young boy, my father's business office tragically burned down. According to him, he wasn't able to salvage highly important documents he deemed absolutely critical for his business. What he did successfully save, however, was a heavy bunch of thick, leather-bound encyclopedia volumes. I vividly remember coming home from my elementary class one day and seeing him going over that exact encyclopedia set, strictly telling me I should start actively reading it so as not to completely waste his dangerous physical effort of saving it from the fire. Which I did, and not too long after that, I suddenly became a sixth-grade expert on World War II history.
The new library of Rizal Elementary School now physically possesses that exact kind of infinite promise. To practically help turn the learning habits of these school kids for the better with the help of the pages from its books. They now have a safe second place to find quiet solace in once their respective classes are over. Formal learning should absolutely not stop at the classrooms; it should naturally continue at home as well. For these students to be completely able to borrow books and take them home would be the greatest first step towards attaining a significantly better quality of education.
A Community United
As deeply excited as we all were for the official opening of the library, I immediately noticed many of the students were accompanied by their proud parents during the event. All of those mothers had this wide, genuine smile on their tired faces, knowing perhaps that the difficult road to knowledge for their children had just gotten significantly easier to tread.
After a short program held on the school's grassy grounds where a few of the project's lead organizers took the stage to gracefully offer some inspiring remarks, a local priest solemnly performed a blessing ritual. Right after, three top honor students took the massive privilege of formally cutting the ceremonial ribbon, thereby happily signaling the official opening of the school's brand-new library.
The school principal proudly led the kids to excitedly tour their new library by lining them all up and passing in a circle motion inside the small room. An amused "wow" and "ooooh" immediately came out of the students' mouths as they pointed to each other the many colorful types of books which now fully filled their new sanctuary.
I stood quietly there and watched those kids, all giddy with bright, shining eyes, acting just as if they were running wild inside a toy store. They might never have all the expensive toys they want in life, but what they have here is far better than any temporary plastic toy in the world. I thought to myself, the world just got a little brighter for them.
I am writing this reflection almost a full month since a heavy busload of passionate volunteers and dedicated 'book sharing project' organizers departed for Gubat, Sorsogon. We have all since returned safely back to our houses, went straight back to our own daily lives, managing the day job, doing our hobbies on the side, and merely going with the mundane flow.
There has been just a tiny speck of change since then. And I don't mind that at all, as long as the kids of Rizal Elementary School—with the massive help of the physical books you all successfully placed on their library shelves—will experience a gigantic, life-altering change in their lives, allowing them to be fully educated and deeply inspired to accomplish much greater things in the future.
