Since June 2020, Transforming President (TP) Guia Lopez de Leon of the Rotary Club of San Pedro South (RCSPS) has been endorsing a “Book Drive for Charity” to be able to give the gift of reading to our youngsters.
Although some of her friends had already donated, it felt like it was not enough still. She wanted to give more especially to the Aetas that she visited in Pampanga and in Quezon. She wanted to give enough books for both Rotaract San Pedro South and Rotaract San Pedro All Star, too. Moreover, she wanted to give to the local schools and to even build a local library.
Fortunately, Past Assistant Governor (PAG) Fe Aquinde has been very consistent in following up the generous sponsors. In effect, Bato Balani donated another truckload of books to RCSPS this Rotary Year.
Established in 1991, Bato Balani Foundation Inc (BBFI) is a non-stock, non-profit organization engaged in the conceptualization and implementation of education development programs for its corporate benefactors. It was named after Bato Balani for Science and Technology, a publication of Diwa Learning Systems Inc.
Trivia: The Tagalog word balani by itself is not commonly used in conversation. Filipinos more often use the English word ‘magnet’ rather than the Tagalog word batubalani.
Auditor Anita Cruz joined Project Chair/PAG Aquinde in a courtesy call to Barangay Captain Ma. Rosario “Kitten” Campos. Aside from assessing the rightful beneficiaries, they asked for her signature in the “Certificate of Donation” to be given to Bato Balani. Meanwhile, PAG Aquinde was joined by new Rotarian Myrna Gundayao Guzman in picking up the books in Sucat, Metro Manila.
And on November 22, 2020, the Board of Directors of RCSPS identified their first four beneficiaries. They are Kanlungan sa Er-Ma Ministry, Inc., San Pedro Relocation Center National High School, Langgam Campus, Don Pablo Day Care Center, Canlalay Binan, Laguna, and an indigenous community.
As put in by Teacher Meo Gonzales, a new RCSPS member, “Reading can bring so much joy and happiness in our lives. Books are also a very rich source of information. The more books we read, the more we learn. And yes, reading can also enhance our vocabularies.”
Finally, every good book brings its readers to a whole new world. When we read, our imagination, our emotions, and our wits grow and soar high. Hence, with every page that we read, we become a better version of ourselves.
In fact, TP Guia and PAG Fe are coordinating for more books for future community library. And this, being able to share the Gift of Knowledge to the world, is one legacy of Rotarians all over the world.
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