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.
