Panyaan Goes to Antique
A Report from Tiny Library
Not even the threat of a heavy downpour could dampen the enthusiasm and excitement of the children selected to be recipients of the book-giving activity of the Tiny Library team, supported by the Hamtic Municipal Police Station and its Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) officers and members last September 30, 2017.
The DepEd district supervisor and teachers chose to hold the book giving on a Saturday morning and requested the children to be in school for the event which started with a short speech about the reading advocacy of the Tiny Library by the mother of the late LtC Tiny Perez. She also introduced CANVAS and its 1 Million Books for 1 Million Filipino Children project.
The book entitled Panyaan: Three Tales of the Tagbanua” were individually given to 49 school children belonging to grades 3 to 6 in Barangay Caromangay’s multi-grade school.
After receiving their individual copies of Panyaan, the kids were ushered back to their rooms. They were thrilled to learn that they can write their names as personal owners of their books and bring them home. Many of them never owned a book before this.
It was observed that the kids knew how to handle the books correctly. Many eagerly opened the glossy colored pages; one kid excitedly read aloud. As the team were about to leave, one child verbally expressed his joy in receiving the book. Barangay Caromangay is one of the 47 barangays comprising the Municipality of Hamtic in the Province of Antique. It is a mountain barangay along the national road that transverses the Provinces of Antique and Iloilo.
On the same day, 35 grade 3 students from Lapaz Elementary School received their personal copies of the same book. The school principal was jubilant as this public school do not have a library hence students do not have easy access to printed reading materials. The grade 3 teacher said she will ask the kids to bring their books to school for their daily Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) hour.
Another 16 kids residing in Sitio Guibongan were also provided their individual copies. Barangay Lapaz and Sitio Guibongan are coastal areas in the Municipality of Hamtic. Residents are mostly marginalized fishermen.
On hand to facilitate and assist the Tiny Library team were officers and men of the Hamtic Municipal Police Station and its Municipal Advisory Council officers and members which includes the DepEd District Supervisor Mrs. Nicolasura.
Aside from the books, the kids also received gifts such as raincoats, pencil case sets with pencils, erasers, and sharpeners, and snacks.
