Los Angeles Book Collection

Many thanks to Josie Madlansacay-Chernoff and daughters, Nicole and Monica, for heading the Los Angeles Brownie Troop book drive.

The books have arrived Manila and here is a note from Synergeia:

Dear Ms. Josie, Monica and Nicole,

Thank you very much for the books that you sent this Christmas. The box just arrived at our office today! Your friends from Mindanao will surely be delighted when we send this package to them. Ms. Minotte Cuenca of Candlelight Books just sent us a box of books through her husband, Ricky. We promised her that we will send the latest batch of books to children of Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental (that is at the northeastern tip of the island of Mindanao where children have never had storybooks. They do not even have textbooks of their own! They have to share their textbook with 3 other classmates). Your gift will go a long, long way (figuratively and literally) to help disadvantaged children learn and love to read.

We are touched by your efforts. It is a gift to be able to share, more so at a young age. Please thank your Scout-mates and friends for us. We will let you know when the books arrive and send you pictures as well. Our deepest thanks too to your parents, who made it possible for this package to reach us in the Philippines as well as to Ms. Minotte for sharing our work with you.

God bless and wish you all the best in 2008!

Sincerely,

Trissa Manalastas

We went on an offroad trip to deliver workbooks to one of the farthest schools in Alabel. Banlibato Primary School only has Grades 1 and 2 and was established through the efforts of the Indigenous Peoples Development Program (IPDP, under the office of the governor) a few years ago. We crossed a snaking river 28 times and broke an axle on one of the Land Rover Defenders on the way. Many thanks to the Provincial Government for loaning us the Defenders. On the way down we also stopped at Sofan Elementary to deliver more workbooks.

P.S. Let me share with you some pictures of our children in Sarangani. These are photos of the workbook distribution in 2 schools. Synergeia provides each child with a workbook that complements the textbook they use in school. The books that you sent will enable schools to have their own reading corners so that children can keep on reading during and after class. You can share these pictures with your friends so that they can learn to appreciate the schools they go to. In Sarangani, children have to cross the river several times to get to school. Some kids have only one pencil for writing. It has become so short and worn out of use. Thank you once more for your generosity. Check out the pictures here.

Delta Post Neighbors

What a pleasure to meet some Delta Post neighbors, Christina and Heidi. Christina and her kids have donated a couple of books in the past. It was amazing to realize that Heidi and I live one block from each other in Antioch. How great is that?

In behalf of the Girl Scout Brownie Troop #31423 of Antioch, Christina and Heidi, along with Mikayla, Emma, Cameron, and Lauren, delivered donated books to Candlelight Books a couple of weeks ago.

Christina showing the girls where in the world map the Philippines is.

The girls sent not only books but best wishes through greeting cards as well.

Many thanks to all of you!

Community Library

Opened only on Saturdays, the children's community library in Baranggay Paltok has been a highlight of the children in the area.

The kids are most eager, lining up early, for the story-telling sessions, and of course, to browse the many colored picture books:



I will try to find out how we can send them more books for their library.

Synergeia Receives Books

Thank you, Candlelight Books!

It was a sunny day on July 18 when members of the South Upi Project Management Team (PMT) went to Cotabato City to receive a back-to-school present from Candlelight Books, USA. The drive from South Upi to Cotabato took 4 hours of travel on rough terrain but the trip was well worth it for 250 colorful and nearly-brand-new storybooks were waiting for new homes in the municipality’s elementary schools. The books were a gift from Candlelight Books, an initiative run by Ms. Minotte Cuenca from California, USA, to bring storybooks and learning materials to needy communities in the Philippines.

Colored story and picture books from Antioch, California donors and neighbors.

The members of the PMT were very pleased when the big balikabayan box revealed an assortment of books, pictures and even toys for storytelling. They were very excited especially since the need for such materials was raised to Synergeia during the teachers’ training held in April. Synergeia informed the group that unlike the first shipment of books, all Candlelight Books donations were sent to one municipality for this batch - to achieve scale and wider impact.

Children reading their local mimeographed textbooks.

The PMT held a meeting to discuss the mechanics of the storybook distribution. They decided to prioritize schools that already have existing mini-libraries to ensure that the books will be utilized and be maintained properly. Timaan Central School received 114 books while Pandan Elementary School received 130 books.

Students were very happy when the books were brought to class for reading sessions. Their eyes were bright with wonder upon seeing brightly colored pictures and reading about stories from other lands. Teachers expressed their deepest thanks to Candlelight Books and Synergeia, for providing them with these materials.

The PMT looks forward to helping the rest of the 31 elementary schools in South Upi to put up their own reading corners and libraries, with the support of partners.

Existing library at South Upi School in Mindanao--mimeographed, old and uninteresting reading material

South Upi, a fourth class municipality in the province of Maguindanao, is one of the newly opened programs of Synergeia in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). There are 1,312 grade one pupils in the municipality participating in a Synergeia reading program, which is supported by Telengtan Foundation. Half of the town is located along the coastal areas while the other half are locate in upland communities. Because of this topography, children have to travel several kilometers everyday to go to school. 90% of classes are multi-grade, meaning students from grades 1 to 3 are grouped in one class, as with grades 4 to 6. In an assessment examination, 9 out of 10 pupils can only read 3 out of 10 words correctly.

*Alvin Palao, Site Coordinator, South Upi, Maguindanao

Leaving with Books

My husband, Ricky, leaves for Manila today. He brings with him hope, optimism for a good project in the Philippines, and some books for Synergeia--to be brought to the elementary school provinces in the Philippines.

Many thanks to all our donors, this time to Ruby and Ed. They sent a lot of young boys' books: Goosebumps, Pokemon, science books, classics. It has become quite obvious that Ed's boys are very well read. Congratulations and more power!

Ricky will take the books in personally. It is my dream to one day bring the books to the children myself. Meantime, I am excited to receive pictures soon. . .




Also, don't forget, there will be an Antioch Library Book Sale this Friday from noon til 6 p.m.

See you there!

Books delivered to our porch

I would like to acknowledge our donors, Devin, Logan, and Mikayla, and mom Christina, for their usual kindness and generosity.

Look what they brought in:


Congratulations for having these beautiful books once.

Many thanks! Rest assured, these precious books will reach the children in the Philippines, who have no access to colored picture books like these.

Kids on my Mind

I am excited to ship out a new box by end of September. I can imagine the faces of the many children who will get a new book to read. . .

It's not too late! Just keep sending me your used children's story books. I will send another box out in January, too!

What Are Books Without the Light?

Rolex Laureate 2002 award-winning electrical engineer Dave Irvine-Halliday is a man with a mission: bringing light to homes, schools, and temples throughout the developing world.

In 1997, at a colleague’s invitation, electrical engineer Dave Irvine-Halliday spent his sabbatical leave from Canada’s University of Calgary in Nepal, helping the University of Tribhuvan in Kathmandu launch its electrical engineering degree.

(David Irvine-Halliday)

While there, he took a side trip into the heart of the Himalayas, on a trek along the Annapurna Circuit. Along the way, he visited a small village where he noticed that children were forced to study in the dark—or more likely, were not able to study at all—after the sun went down because there was no electricity.

Irvine-Halliday saw the light in his mission. If you were his wife, would you allow him to pour your family’s entire life savings, and the maximum limit on three credit cards into an organization that would Light Up the World?



Yes! Apparently, you would!

Working from his lab at the University of Calgary, he devised a plan for bringing low-cost lighting to villages without any reliable power supply: He would create energy with a pedal-powered generator, a hydro generator, or solar panels, then run lines into homes and connect them to low-energy (LED)lamps. In 1999, Irvine-Halliday went back to Nepal with his wife and one of his two grown sons to try out his idea. It worked.

By the end of 2001, Irvine-Halliday’s rechargeable, battery-powered, white LED cluster lamps were illuminating more than 700 homes, schools and other community buildings in remote villages in Nepal, India and Sri Lanka.

Today’s high-brilliance, white LED lamps can light a Nepalese village of 60 households consuming the same amount of energy as a single 100-watt light bulb in a Canadian home.

Light Up The World is not only donating light to the very poorest, but is also promoting job creation and assuring long-term viability for the project.Irvine-Halliday founded, financed, and turned-over Pico Power Nepal, a LED manufacturing firm, to Nepalese locals to ensure its sustainability and to generate employment and income in the area.

The average "one-time" cost of equipping a home with lighting is set to fall below $40. Not to mention the environmental benefits the system has versus the 300 million batteries discarded in Nepal each year, makes for truly a brighter alternative.

Light from kerosene lamps is poor, inefficient and unsafe. Toxic fumes inhaled because of close proximity to the lamp cause respiratory illness. Kerosene lamps also cause many fire catastrophes, burning both homes and bodies.
]
Check out the countries Light Up the World Foundation has impacted here.



Irvine-Halliday defines his success in his interview:

"I suppose success is when the 2 billion people in the world presently without any electricity of any sort actually have some form of safe, healthy, and affordable lighting. . .Light the Wolrd has refocused my life. I am turning 60 and this, without a doubt, is the next chapter in my life."

How can we change the world today?

First Book.Com

I came across an interesting site: First Books--giving children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. They are also coordinated with many publishing companies like
Random House, who has donated $1 Million Dollars to First Books.

"As publishing professionals who spend our days surrounded by and immersed in books, it is difficult to imagine a world without them," Random House chairman Peter Olson said in a statement.

How wonderful to know that books will always be shared and that publishing giants such as Random House care for those who have no access to books.

Second Synergeia Box Arrives!!

We just received the second batch of books - all 205 of them. The books are wonderful - some of which we left for reference/resource materials when we conduct trainings. In fact, there were flash cards and handouts as well - all will be useful in class and in the library. We decided not to segregate the books and send them all instead to one municipality. We segregated the first batch of books between two municipalities in Sulu and noticed that not all schools were able to receive books. We decided its best to send a big number of books to one site so that impact is felt and more students can benefit.


The second batch of books will be sent to South Upi, Maguindanao, ARMM. It is an upland community where we were surprised to learn, half of the grade 1 teaching force are men. (Based on our experience, grade 1 teachers are more commonly women). This is so because of the difficulty in traveling / reaching the schools. During our teacher training in April, the teachers from South Upi requested for storybooks so that there are materials that children can use to hone their reading skills. The Mayor of South Upi, Mayor Campong, will pick up the books and distribute it to pupils.



They will set up a system where books shall be provided only to schools that can ensure that the books are taken cared of and are accessible to children. In some cases, the principal / teacher bring the books home instead of putting up a reading corner / library. We want to ensure that the materials will be used in class. So rest assured, the books that you send will be properly utilized and taken cared of. We have requested them to send pictures so that we can forward them to you. Aboitiz (our carrier) will pick the box tomorrow from the office.

Thank you again so much for your continued support.

God bless you!

Sincerely,

Trissa Manalastas

THERESA ANNE F. MANALASTAS
Development Officer
Synergeia Foundation
Room 203 Ateneo Professional Schools,
Rockwell Drive, Rockwell Center , Makati City
Tel: (632) 898-2617, 898-3221, 898-2913

www.synergeia.org.ph

Sulu Image

Let us not forget the state of the Mindanao classrooms, neglected and dilapidated by war.

Any book donations for pick-up are always welcome!

Wish List

Some have written me to ask how they can help. There are so many ways, but I will choose the easiest one. Aside from collecting your children's used picture and story books and setting them aside for our December shipment, there is an interesting way (for those who have no time to wrestle in the library sale) to give to the Filipino elementary school children: Check out the Wish List.

I came across a book in Amazon.comthat was really a fun and educational read. Click on
Children Like Me by authors Anabel and Barnabas Kindersley.

The authors spent two years meeting and photographing youngsters from every continent and more than 140 countries. The volume is divided by continent, which is introduced with photos of children, their names, and nationalities. Then a double-page spread features pictures of each child's food, eating utensils, housing, school, friends, and family.

My kids and I had fun reading Edgar and Tata from Albay, Philippines. Clad in shorts and slippers, their favorite food is left-over oysters from their fisherman father's harvest and fried fish with rice.

The text gives the young people a chance to comment on their favorite games, friends, and hopes for the future. The final section includes excerpts from the Kindersleys' travel diary. This book is factual, respectful, and insightful. It provides just the right balance of information and visual interest for the intended audience.

The best thing is, you can buy it used for only $1.28. But shipping costs about $4. It is still a small price to pay for this treasure--one that will illustrate that, though, the children of the world are different, they are also the same.

Should want to send this book for a September shipment (we can't have too many!), please send it to this mailing address:

2036 Tupelo Way,
Antioch, CA 94509

And may God bless your generous and kind heart always!

Antioch Library Book Sale

I was lucky to browse the Antioch Library Book Sale this June. The selection made it effortless for me to choose, since all the children's books were educational. I had to wrestle my way in a bit to find the treasures that I will include in the next Candlelight Books box bound for the Philippine elementary schools in remote provinces.

All children's books were priced at 50cents for soft covered and $1 for hardbound. What a deal, indeed!

I am also exploring registering Candlelight Books as a 501c non-profit organization to benefit from free books or low price access from publishers and literacy foundations.

Here are the exciting book titles from the Library. Many thanks to my husband who contributed $10 worth.

Renowned author Patricia Polacco sends books

Renowned children's story author Patricia Polacco sent Candlelight Books 4 of her most popular storybooks: Meteor!, Rotten Richie and the Ultimate Dare,The Bee Tree, and Thunder Cake.



Her stories celebrate culture, diversity, and accepting one another. They tell of the warmth of the human heart and the tenacity of the human spirit.

I am so thankful for her book contribution and I hope that the Filipino children who will read her books will learn a bit of the diverse American culture and realize that, though the children of the world may be different, they are also essentially the same--in their hopes and dreams, in the games they play, in the innocence and kindness in their heats.

And so though the May box has left already, I will make sure the books will be with the next shipment.

Bears for Bicol

Check the arrival and distribution schedule for the bears sent out by UFAAA at Cathy's post,
Bearhugs For Bicol From America.

Hope to share more pics when they are distributed to the kids in Bicol.

Thanks so much to all in UFAAA who donated their bears and stuffed toys.

New Shipments

Two boxes went out end of April. Both of them are headed to my friends'--Angel's and Mari's--homes. They had pledged to distribute Candlelight Books. Angel will course the books through her Unang Hakbang Foundation (UHF) in Mandaluyong. UHF will in turn, will use the adult books in their adult literacy programs in Manila jails.

Mari will course her books through her aunt-nun in Hinundayan, Leyte--to be distributed to an elementary school there.

Meanwhile, we packed our last boxes out of our old address as we move to our new home. Mon Cargo Services picked up the boxes and charged $90 for both.




I was struck with what the Mon Cago guy had to say: "Buti pa yung mga box, makaka-uwi!" Then I felt homesick.

I await lots of pictures to share. . . .

The State of Siasi, Sulu Classrooms

This photo has saddened but inspired me to keep the Filipino children in Sulu in my heart. Their classrooms (if any) are in a war-torn, decrepit state; they probably enjoy the outdoor sessions, under the shady trees better. And yet, the kids are smiling, they seem excited and eager--making most of what they
have. . .

Because of them, I tell myself and my kids never to take what we have for granted. And during the hard times, I draw strength from these pictures and remind myself that so many have it harder, and yet they carry on like it wasn't. I miss this Filipino resiliency of spirit--enduring hardships so cheerfully. In a first-world country like the US, people are harder to please, many things are taken for granted, and reverence for our blessings is not a strong suit--it is easy to forget. . .

The Books Have Arrived!

Many thanks to all who gave away their books. Rest assured, they traveled a long way to the Philippines--and then a treacherous way by air, by sea, and by bus to very remote ARMM region in Mindanao.

The following post is a letter from Synergeia's Trissa Manalastas, relaying the good news of their safe and welcome arrival to the schools.

Here is our biggest reward: the biggest smiles of the kids, browsing our books--for class, for story-telling sessions, for recreational reading.


Indanan School, Sulu


Story-reading at Indanan





Siasi, Sulu


Siasi Reading Corner (needs more books!)


Siasi classroom Story-reading



Wonderful! Wonderful!

I plan to put a book box together by June. Let me know if I can pick-up any more children's books from your generous families.

God Bless your generous hearts always!

From Synergeia

Dear Ms. Minotte,

Your email just arrived in time. I just got back from a 12-day trip to
Cotabato City. We are currently conducting our teacher trainings in
April since elections will be held this May. I apologize for the late reply.

Anyway, I put together some pictures of our distribution in Indanan and
Siasi, Sulu. I included pictures of the schools as well so you can see
how our children are doing in the Sulu areas. As you can see, the
classrooms are in need of repairs as well.




We distributed the books to schools which has requested for more books as well (we were only able to give for two
schools).





An added information - if you've heard of the recent hostage taking in
Sulu by the Abu Sayaff, the hostages were taken in the area of our
elementary school in Indanan (see page 2 of the attached pictures). Better
education will really play a big role in promoting development and consequently,
peace in the Muslim Mindanao area. The hostage-taking incident happened a
month after we visited the area and distributed the books you sent us. We
prioritized these schools for book distribution also because they are
most in need of materials. I hope you will be pleased to know that your
donations have (literally) gone a long way (from Manila to the southernmost tip
of the Philippines) and will help children that need them most.

Please do continue sending materials. We will bring them with us when
we go on-site for our trainings. We truly appreciate all the support you are
extending from there and for our children in Mindanao.

If you like, I can send the pictures individually as well (in jpeg
format),just let me know.

Anyway, hope you are doing well. Thank you so much again for your
continued support.

Best regards,
Trissa

Adult Books

Adult books still pour in. Ooh, that didn't sound right--how about books for adults?

And because I couldn't refuse them, (some of them are true classics) lest the books are thrown away, I found a contact to donate them to Philippine prisons and correctionals.

"UHF provides literacy & art classes every 2nd & 4th Monday of the month at the Mandaluyong City Jail where we have former UHF youth and/or fathers of UHF kids. The jails have only Bibles to read, not that it's a bad thing. If you want, you can also send books to them through UHF," my friend, treasurer of Unang Hakbang Foundation (UHF) for street children in Mandaluyong told me.

Here is a slew of books for adults from my badminton friends, Joji and Ana K. She sent me great magazines, too! Many thanks to all of you. I will update you with pictures when the books get to Manila.





For my friends in the Philippines, please advise me if you know of an organization or prison/correctional, and elementary school that is in need of books. And for my friends and relatives in the States, please continue to put away your used children's books. I am gathering books for a shipment in May.

God bless your generous hearts always!

John Woods' Room to Read

In 1999, John Wood, then 35 and Microsoft's No. 2 in China, journeyed to Nepal with some 3,000 books in tow—not to read on vacation but to give to a school that could not afford any. The project was a joint venture between Wood and Dinesh Prasad Shrestha, a rural-aid worker in Kathmandu whom the IT executive had met earlier. It planted an idea. "We should get serious about this," Shrestha told Wood. "We should be more organized and do this properly."

Read more in Time Asia's article Asian Heroes.

John Woods: my hero

More Books

I love being a channel for books! People know me as a conduit for books for the Philippine elementary schools in remote provinces. Teaming up with Synergeia has facilitated delivery of the books even in the ARMM region and beyond. I am so excited for the pictures they will send us.

Books continue to pour in, magazines, too. I have tried to decline novels or history books but then it seemed such a waste. So now, I am exploring sending adult books to prison libraries here in the U.S or in the Philippines. Any suggestions?

In the meantime, blessings keep coming. My cousin, Franco, a professional graphic artist, sent me a logo he says I could use. Here it is, a candle under a rainbow. The rainbow feels like hope amidst diversity and distance.

I am making new friends in Craigslist, scouring the freebies some like to giveaway. I realize there are so many sources, I may never have to buy discount books again for this project.

I will post the Synergeia pics soon as they have advised me that the books have arrived already (after 1 month). Meanwhile, you might want to check out Asian HeroJohn Wood, once Microsoft China's number 2 man. He gave up his corporate career to bring 30,000 books to far flung provinces in China, consequently founding his Room to Read, providing children access to education, one child at a time, one school at a time, and one village at a time. Through partnerships with local communities they work to create educational opportunities and establish educational infrastructure. Their efforts are currently focused in Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and South Africa - all countries with a desperate lack of resources to educate their children. In addition to these countries, they continue to take on new countries and new projects each year.

Wow, what an isnpiration!

Beginnings

Sometimes, all you have to do is ask.

Looking back from last year, I know we would not have survived as new immigants without the Grace of God. People sent us clothes for the winter, toys for Christmas. I asked for a coat, I got so many resources to retire my 10-year-old coat with shoulder pads. I found a work-from-home job, just as I asked for. Two jobs, in fact! How's that for a bonus?

I sent out a plea for Bears for Bicol, expecting a trickle from the few Fil-Ams I knew--just to piggy-back on my friend's cause. That plea snowballed into bears that filled our living room. And they were all in good condition--clean and cuddly. We would come home from mass and find bears and books at our front door. I would get calls from people to pick up bears here and there. I was delighted to deal with a deluge of bears that will be sent out to Bicol. Our box was sent out last January 15 and will in Manila in time for the February Bearhugs for Bicol distribution.



Realizing all these resources and potential,I have been wanting to send the books to Philippine elementary schools in remote provinces where access is not easy. Inspired by Books for the Barrios, I knew that these books would need a guardian angel to be forwarded to Philippines, taken by boat, then by banca, then by truck or bus to a school that is only accessed by foot.



Praying for a connection, I chanced a show on ANC and found Synregeia.org--a group that laid down the foundation for encouraging Philippine local government units
to take responsibility,along with the community, in upgrading the basic education standards of their provice. In the show, Synergeia program coordinator Trissa Manalastas talked of teacher and parent training programs and how (because of synergy and cooperation with the LGU and DepEd) (PHP)P550 a YEAR can sponsor a child in remote Tawi-tawi, torn and displaced by war, to learn better reading and math skills.

I called Trissa and asked if she could bring books that I will send them to the schools. How wonderful that they had the access to move the books from Manila to the farthest province you can imagine, by air, by boat, by banca, and by truck, and then carried by 3 people up to the hilltops. The first batch of our books will go to 8 schools in the ARMM region: 2 in Tawi-tawi and 4 in Maguindanao.

I borrowed this picture from them to essay the condition of the schools in the most remote provinces in the Philippines, war-torn and neglected:



These conditions have moved me deeply because, by the way, that whole room is actually the whole elementary school--1st to 6th grades.

I am packing the books today. Books from friends, books I got in thrift stores or by standing outside of the county library when they do a clean-out. I realized the quality of these books when I know that many kids in the barrios have scarce reading materials--mostly on newsprint paper, mimeographed badly. These books I am packing are hard-bound, on white paper, with vivid colors, with dust covers. I am excited as I can actually feel the joy of the kids who will read these. I have come to meet with the UFAA (United Filipino Americans in Antioch) donated story books, chapter books, picture books.

When it is a win-win sitution, there is hardly any effort at all: connections are just made like miracles, the books will save landfill (and closet) space, and most of all, the books will be used by Filipino kids that badly need them. I can imagine the child examining the book cover, caressing the white pages, reading about other places, looking at big and colored pictures. . .

I am led to call my project: Candlelight Books, simply because there was a close-out sale on address labels with a candle design, that I can attach to all the books. Plus, the idea of the kids reading by candlelight, signifying how remote they are, is endearing to me. It remind me of hope and finding a way when we thought there was none.

You know it is God's gift when the timing is perfect, the people are generous and are so willing to cooperate, the end goal is simple but truthful and useful.

Candlelight Books is surely a gift from Him.

How can we change the world today?