A NEWSLETTER FOR FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS OF BAGONG KULTURANG PINOY, INC.

Fall 2013 Special Anniversary Issue

The BKP Bulletin

15 YEARS, ONE BOOK, ONE LIBRARY AT A TIME

Over 248 communities served 180 libraries in schools and community centers opened Up to 120 Balikbayan boxes packed and sent annually Over 500,000 books sent Close to 2,500 teachers and volunteers trained Tens of Thousands of childrens lives touched!!!
"Books are very precious - some books can travel you back centuries and some take you into the futureIn some books you will visit the core of your heart and in others you will go out into the universeAnd let us not forget that even one book, one pen, one child and one teacher can change the worldAs one said, a room without books is like a body without a soulAnd I say a city without a library is like a graveyard." Malala Yousafzai, aged 16 Education Advocate, Womens Right Activist 2013 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee

forsaken) places, making onsite visits to libraries; and connecting with the children to show them that they matter. BKPs impact surely took time to ascertain, but under the guidance of well-intentioned teachers and other school officials, gains in students academic performance such as National Achievement Test scores (NAT) in a number of BKP-sponsored schools are rising. So here we are. Weve reached an important milestone - over half a million storybooks, one hundred and eighty libraries, dozens of supplemental student-focused reading programs for good measure and thousands of children reached. No doubt, these are the fruits of hard labor. But saving our childrens future - priceless. Thank you for making our vision come to life.

Inspirational words from the young and fearless Pakistani activist, urging the world to provide the underserved children with access to books to pave the way forward to global peace and prosperity. We, of course, share the same vision. It is a vision that has for many years been the strong foundation of our business model and strategy. Fifteen years, in fact; hundreds of hours sorting and packing books, training teachers, conducting workshops and other behindthe-scenes activities; thousands of miles covered collecting books, shipping to faraway (and many God-

- Nanette Flynn, BKP Newsletter Editor

DEVELOPING A NEW READING CULTURE, SAVING OUR CHILDRENS FUTURE

OVER THE YEARS, IN PICTURES

SAVING OUR CHILDRENS FUTURE, IN PICTURES

BKP COMMEMORATES 15 YEARS WITH ANNIVERSARY GALA CELEBRATION

By Weng Jimenez

The gala was meant to honor the work of all BKP volunteers! In my mind, that was our most remarkable achievement as an all-volunteer 501c (3) - that many people remained dedicated to the mission after all these years. The number of libraries we have helped open (180), the number of books we ship on average per year (50,000) and the number of children we have given access to exciting storybooks (over 100,000) - are just some of the benchmarks we have reached because of the dogged determination of our volunteers throughout the past 15 years! The event was highlighted by a keynote speech by our special guest of honor, Mr. Felipe Bong

Carino, Legal Officer and Head of Assistance to Nationals Unit, Philippine Consulate (NY), and the bestowal of awards to volunteers who have made special contributions to the organization, in one form or another. A short but wonderful entertainment was provided by the talented Mr. Jaime Blanche. All these made for a memorable evening. It is worth noting that several volunteers offered to give more of their time and effort to ensure the success of this special event. In the spirit of camaraderie, they managed to set up an elegant gala without inconveniencing the majority of the attendees. "Sparkle and Shine - and just bring a bottle of your favorite drink" they were told, a touching gesture.

Thank you to the Gala Committee and Gala donors: Fely Lambino, Reze Bruce, Myra Hontanar, Lillibeth Aristorenas, Lea Sison, Janeth Millare, Amy Vinluan, Nora Dube, Imelda Lane Smith, Rita Thorne, Cris Castro, Linda Ott, and to Lito and Mercy Lagman for donating the plaques.

Special thanks to our gracious hosts, Dr. John and Madeline Capino; and to Jason Smallwood and Peter Spear, who did the heavy lifting in setting the place for the event. Lastly, but certainly not the least, we thank and give credit to Angelo Bagalawis, for sharing his beautiful pictures!

BKP PARTNERS WITH THE PEACE CORPS

By Judi Babcock

Bicol Region on September 7th 8th and a 5th one on Sept 14th -15th in Bago City, Negros Occidental. Pending approval from the Peace Corps, a workshop may be held sometime in October. It was anticipated that several more Peace Corps volunteers would apply for workshops in their areas, but perhaps due to the required minimum of 100 participants and pre-arranged space, those applications have not yet been submitted. However, Peace Corps volunteers from Bohol, Cadiz City, Bago City, Tanjay City, Bulacan and Batangas did apply for and received some books. To date, 40 boxes of books have been sent so far to PC-related locations. One such location is the Padre Imo Luna Memorial Elementary School in Batangas.

BKPs association with the Peace Corps dates back to 2007, when we accepted the application of Peace Corps volunteer Julia Campbell to establish a library at Donsol National Comprehensive High School in Sorsogon. Applications from Bacacay and Santo Domingo in Albay, Roxas in Palawan and Zaragosa in Nueva Ecija followed. A presentation to a group of volunteers followed, which led to more applications for libraries. In the end, it was our work with Julia, along with other PC volunteers, such as, Jarod and Mariah Maggio, Jerica Ward, Pauline Ostenowski, and Emily Grund, as well as and their collective report about their positive experiences with BKP that became the impetus for forging our partnership. David Driscoll, another PC volunteer, also advocated for the partnership in 2006 when he was in Bicol to help the typhoon victims. Finally, in 2011, Jerica facilitated a meeting between BKP Philippines Executive Director Alice Quilicot and Peace Corps Philippines Head Monette Santos. In December 2012, the Peace Corps accepted a grant proposal submitted by Alice Quilicot. The plan was for the grant to be mobilized by BKP, Inc., to Peace Corps Volunteer sites throughout the Philippines to help in their library/resource center projects. It provided for First Steps to Engaged Reading (FSER) and Thinking While Reading (TWR) Workshops to be held in approximately eight areas for teachers, day care center workers and volunteers, whom the Peace Corps Volunteers would invite. BKP volunteers in the U.S. were responsible for sending books which would be distributed to the schools that sent attendees. As of July 31 of this year, workshops had been held in Bohol, Olongapo City and Bacolod. A th 4 workshop was likewise held in Albay in the
st

Below was what Peace Corps Volunteer Alice DeMatteo wrote in her e-mail when their box arrived:
The books have arrived! What excitement that created! The teachers were supposed to have a meeting, but skipped out because they were mesmerized as they looked at one book and then another. They said they had nothing comparable here, and that now they understand why Americans are such readers if this is what they were offered as they learned how to read. Alice DeMatteo Peace Corps Volunteer Padre Imo Luna Memorial Elementary School, Batangas

BKP MEETS WITH NGOs TO DISCUSS AREAS FOR COLLABORATION

Rowena Jimenez, Founder and BKP-US Executive Director; Alice Quilicot, BKP-Phils Director; and Rowena SySantos, BKP Business Development Director, met with several NGO officers last July to explore partnership possibilities with organizations working on similar causes. The BKP officers met with Margarita Delgado, CEO of Teach for the Philippines (TFP), and her assistant, Gloria Curry. One possible area of longterm collaborative work discussed is for BKP to continue nurturing the TWR environment in Sorsogon. When TFP branches outside of Metro Manila, they can also perhaps send their teaching fellows to BKP-sponsored schools. With TFP still very engaged in their current twoyear pilot program, however, Ms. Delgado stated that they will wait for their findings after which they will determine whether or not they will need a third party such as BKP.

TEACH FOR THE PHILIPPINES (TFP, formerly Sa Aklat Sisikat) TFP recruits the best Filipino graduates from topnotch colleges and universities in America to teach in impoverished school districts back in their home country. TFPs model banks on the formation of future leaders and policy makers. It equips these promising academic elites with a deeper understanding of the issues that persistently beset the Philippine Educational System by immersing them in it, as public school teachers themselves. TFP hopes that their experiences and reflections as teachers will define or at least impact their future decisions and actions as leaders in whatever field they may end up in. They are not necessarily expected to take on teaching as a lifetime career. These recruits are now in 46 public schools in Quezon City for their 2-year pilot program.

PHILIPPINE TOY LIBRARY (PTL) PTLs inception in 2012 came from a Facebook status and its mission started when a group of friends came together to give children from congested neighborhoods the experience of playing and learning in an educational environment. It is made up of volunteers who turn idle spaces in barangays, schools and parishes into fun and educational areas for the children.

Under the supervision of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), the group has so far established 32 playrooms which house areas for reading sessions, and more are being planned. These toys and books have greatly helped in keeping these children off the streets.

BKP has made a commitment to send books to PTL libraries and in turn, PBSP/PTL will explore the possibility of integrating BKP's reading programs into the countrys National Service Training Program (NSTP) initiatives.

AHON FOUNDATION AHON aims to bring books and children together by developing fully-functional public elementary libraries and that, through their work, ultimately contribute to raising literacy rates in the Philippines. An important component of their strategy is to involve communities of elementary schools in developing their libraries into a fun learning environment for their children. Through donations from Filway Marketing, Inc., libraries receive brand-new Time Life books which include encyclopedias, storybooks, multi-media kits and other types of educational materials. Certainly, AHON has made good on their promise to create libraries that entice children to visit and read books in. They have mandated certain design requirements such as visually appealing facilities for tables, chairs and book shelves. Their book displays are attractive and bright. Each of their libraries is child-friendly with colorful painted murals with assigned reading corners. These features help create conducive areas for reading and learning. Since AHON has been BKPs partner for a few years, this meeting was a reinforcement of both groups previous commitments to each others missions. At the meeting with Harvey Keh, Founder of AHON Foundation, BKP recommitted to sending more books in support of their libraries, while AHON will, in turn, help in developing more US chapters by providing BKP with potential contacts from other US states.

FOCUS: BROOKES POINT CENTRAL SCHOOL, PALAWAN

By Nila Momo, Principal

implementation with typical/average pupils under regular classes and children with special needs/exceptional children under the Special Education classes. In general, the school is implementing Inclusive Education catering children with diverse culture and learning needs. Brookes Point Central School (BPCS) was established in 1933. On August 3, 2012, the school was recognized by the Department of Education as SPED Center and is now on its full BPCS increased its National Achievement Test performance from 73.33% in 2011 to 81.39% in 2012 with a gain of 7.51%. This we owe to BKP and Open Heart Foundation who spent time and

effort in training our teachers and also the benefactors of quality books and references provided to our school library. UPDATES: During school year 2011-2012 our library was in a small room. There were few books yet in the library but pupils use them during their Pull-out reading class and Noontime Reading. Three (3) Balikbayan boxes containing various hard bound, colorful and glossy books and references were received by the school from Bagong Kulturang Pinoy. A much bigger spacious room for a library is needed. So last school year 2012-2013 the library was transferred to a standard sized classroom and hopefully will extend to the annex room if additional library supplies will be availed. Pupils frequent the library specifically during recess, noontime and after classes to read books. Usual use of the Library contributed to the increase in performance of the learners. Teachers, too, borrow references as supplement to the DepEd-issued textbooks and manuals. The training workshop on Read-Aloud Program with Concentrated Language Encounter conducted by the Open Heart Worldwide Inc. to teachers was of great help. Teachers practiced the techniques learned in actual teaching and still wished for more training-workshops from expert trainers for

a more effective teaching and learning, most specifically on the use of new technologies.

With the rapid advancement in Science and Technology, the Brookes Point Central School crave for equipment that the children and teachers could use in the teaching-learning process from generous individuals/benefactors. To the sponsors, overseers and personnel of Bagong Kulturang Pinoy, Philippines and Open Heart Worldwide Inc., Brookes Point Central School SPED Center administration and staff extend our profound appreciation to you all.
GODBLESS! Nila G. Momo Principal - III

BKPs CLE/FSER AND TWR READING PROGRAMS

By Weng Jimenez

Having Their Own Unique Features Allows BKP to Catch Those Who Are Being Left Behind
BKP helps train teachers to ensure that the children are reading, reading regularly and improving their reading skills using the storybooks we send them! Aside from giving children in low-income communities back home access to colorful story books, BKP helps train teachers to use the books that we send them. We have developed two reading programs: 1) the First Steps to Engaged Reading (FSER), which caters to the needs of young, beginner readers, and 2) the Thinking While Reading (TWR), which

targets older children who can sound out words but cannot understand what they mean. The FSER was derived from the Rotary International's Read Aloud methodology called Concentrated Language Encounter (CLE), which BKP partners have used since 2004. It recognizes the ability of children to conceptualize ideas and to use their visual, oral and audio strengths to develop their higher-level literacy skills, namely reading and writing. TWR, on the other hand, was constructed from various reading programs used in many public schools in the US, mainly in Massachusetts. In the Reading Buddies component, the students "read" books in pairs. The buddies first scan the pictures and discuss what the story may be about, based on the pictures. This Picture Walk ensures that the children are using the illustration to make sense of the story. They then

write their own version (in their mother tongue, if preferred) and read it out loud to each other. This builds their confidence as learners and helps make learning meaningful for the children. Finally, the kids take turns reading the English book aloud with their partners to practice their reading fluency. The teacher assists the class in preparing their Word Wall based on challenging vocabulary words from the stories they have just read. The class then engages in literacy activities and fun games to learn and practice their English and reading skills such as visualizing, asking questions, predicting, summarizing and making a connection. Storybooks are given directly to classroom teachers who participated in BKP workshops about FSER and TWR. Below is the chart that shows the programs individual highlights:

FSER (BKP-CLE) AND TWR

At A Glance, Whats Different, Whats the Same

FSER Pre-K through Grade 3 Picture Walk for the whole led by teacher

TWR Grade 3 through High School

Picture walk between more independent reading buddies Teacher reads aloud to the whole class Reading buddies take turns reading aloud Teacher leads the class in writing a class Reading buddies write their own version in version of the story their reading journals The students role play the story, learns The class creates a Word Wall to new words based on characters improve vocabulary The class may write a Big Book as a literacy Students play a literacy game or activity activity such as Word Ball, Taboo, Reading Theatres, Puppet Shows, etc. The students write their own books to Reading buddies do Reading Workshops share with their class and Literature Circles where they do literacy projects

CHERRY VINLUAN: TEACHING LIFE LESSONS

By Marie Lagman

Sharing Her Love for Books Earned Her Metrobank Foundations 2013 Most Outstanding Teacher
In the course of our work with volunteers, we often find ourselves working alongside many dedicated educators, skilled at stirring up all the enchantment and thrills of good storybooks, to the delight and wonderment of their students. One such educator is Cherry Vinluan, the awardwinning librarian-teacher in charge of BKPs Ruben R. Lagman Library at Guagua Elementary School (GES) in Guagua, Pampanga. Cherry was a classroom teacher at GES for 22 years before she was able to design and set up its library, through the sponsorship of BKP volunteer, Ruben Ben Lagman, an alumnus of the school. Books are her passion, surpassed only by her desire to share them with her students. I really love books because these are my companions ever since I was a young student, Cherry reveals. [They] guided and enlightened me. reference with the students of GES. Every day, she picks out a book from our Lagman Library and shares a story related to our lessons with these children.

Coming from humble beginnings, Cherry considered books her toys and her best friends. Her favorites were fairytales for they somehow transported her to distant lands and offered hope of happy endings despite the odds. Books enabled her to deal with the hand she had been dealt in life, eventually transcending poverty and creating a better life for herself and her family. Cherry summed up her parents bequest: The only wealth that my parents could leave us was our education. Cherry shares what has grown to be a trove of fables, fairytales, legends, fiction, non-fiction and

Describing herself a living witness to how the students have been enriched by the BKP books, she tells the story of Abigail, a painfully shy student who seldom spoke and was unable to mingle with her classmates. Cherry introduced her to the goodness of reading, letting Abigail choose books that spoke to her heart. The stories she read were so stimulating and inspiring to her that she started sharing them with others. Her confidence built and eventually, this young girl let her guard down. In the end, Cherry marvels, She was transformed. From being the most shy and the most silent in class, she became the most friendly pupilloved by all her classmates because she shared the stories she read. The impact the library has had on the daily life of GES students has been profound. Instead of heading directly to the play area after lunch, many students now go to the library and read books. This behavior has produced some of the areas best and most avid readers. As a result, GES has become a regular winner of the District and Division Read-a-thon contests. Currently pursuing her Doctorate in Education at Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University, Cherry has expanded her workplace beyond the confines of GES. She is the English

Coordinator of the Guagua East District and a Mentor of Mentors for the Department of Education. She is also an acclaimed trainer and facilitator of the Mother Tongue Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) program. In her spare time, Cherry teaches catechism to children at her church. She explains, Once a

teacher, always a teacher. Cherry feels it is equally important to inspire children about books as to educate them about God. It is her calling, she says. And, happily for the children of Guagua, they are all the better for it.

A SUMMER OF WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS

By Weng Jimenez

After 30 minutes in the small rickety tricycle driving over the unpaved rocky road riddled with gaping holes,
I had to ask: Why on earth are we supporting a small school in this God-forsaken barrio? The driver said it is where one of our Massachusetts-based volunteers grew up!!

June 21- July 26, 2013 - definitely an atypical summer for me. I helped run and manage eight Thinking While Reading (TWR) workshops in total: Cadiz, Negros Occidental (68 teachers under BKP-PC contract); Atienza Elementary School (formerly Baseco Elementary School in Tondo Manila - 14 teachers); Sorsogon (64), Bulan (70), Nueva Ecija (18) and Muntinlupa (three separate ones with 88 teachers in all). I met two groups of principals in Bulan and Sorsogon, where I presented an overview of the goals of the TWR Program and the components of the Reading Buddies system. My hope was that the administrators could support their teachers better by gaining a clearer and deeper understanding of the BKP mission. I also sat down with two Superintendents of City Schools, namely Sorsogon in Bicol and Muntinlupa City in Metro Manila, who facilitated our entries into the Sorsogon and Muntinlupa school systems, and helped us conduct the workshops with their teachers. Bing Fortin, Sorsoguena President, and I visited the City Mayor of Sorsogon and the Chairpersons of various local government committees promoting the welfare of Women and Children. We are forging partnerships with them to open a Municipal Library to meet the professional development needs of the city workers.

In addition, we hope to get the cities day care center workers trained in CLE/ FSER, as a condition of their certification. On the side, we discussed with the Sorsogon District President of the Rotary Club common grounds we might have and ways we can work together in promoting literacy not just in the schools, but also in the larger Sorsogon City community. The TWR Pilot implementation was also on my agenda. I worked diligently with twenty-two teachers and five Sorsoguena members involved in the implementation of the Mentoring Program of the TWR Pilot. Together we reflected, planned and strategized, and I provided support to their practice by doing demo lessons in eight of the classes involved. This gave me ample chance to observe hundreds of school children up close, listened to them read aloud, watched them struggle to decode and celebrated their attempts as budding readers and thinkers.

The teachers listened patiently and eagerly collaborated, their unwavering commitment to improve their teaching of reading was contagious. The children were adorable, with ages ranging from 9-12, they read furiously, chatted about the stories and their versions excitedly and engaged in their tasks resolutely, all despite the unrelenting heat and humidity. Everyones smiles belied the harsh learning environment that they contend with on a daily basis. I visited close to 20 schools, mostly TWR partner schools, including those in remote areas of Bulan such as Beguin Elementary School and Beguin High School, and most especially Jamorawon Elementary School. The level of poverty in these communities reminded me why we needed to work harder, and toil more effectively as a nonprofit proponent of literacy. The school facilities were in disrepair;

there was an obvious dearth of supplies in every classroom; the ventilation system everywhere was horrendously inadequate; and the roads leading to many schools will challenge even the most passionate of all dedicated volunteers. And then it was time to leave. There was still much to do. Five weeks still seemed really short even though I stayed two weeks longer than I did in 2012. I feel now that that will always be the case whether three or five weeks or maybe even months, time will always be short. Will there ever be enough time to do all thats needed to be done? Even after 15 years of involvement in promoting the BKP literacy mission, the sense of urgency continues. Many children still struggle as readers. Many more children are waiting for our help.

THE JOY OF GIVING BACK A FAMILY AFFAIR

Half A World Away, Three Generations Of The Lagman-Prouty Family Are Making A Difference
When Marie Lagman, husband Kevin Prouty, sons Ryan and Kyle, and her parents, Ben and Chit Lagman, signed on as BKP volunteers, they saw this as the perfect way of giving back to the less fortunate in the Lagmans ancestral province. Over the course of six years, their collective efforts have given the underserved children of Guagua, Pampanga, goodness beyond measure. Early in their association with BKP, the LagmanProuty family immediately fulfilled their dream of sponsoring a library at Guagua Elementary School (GES). This was, after all, the school that Ben and his 12 siblings attended growing up. What better way to give back to his old school than to provide Guaguas children the same chance for a better life? So, in 2011, they opened their first library, and the school honored Ben by dedicating the library in his name. Now growing up with this deep sense of social advocacy, Ryan and Kyle worked to help another school in dire need, the San Rafael Elementary School (SRES), also in Guagua. SRES serves some of the poorest children in town, an alarmingly high percentage of whom are malnourished and, sadly, a low percentage of whom continue on to higher education. Ryan and Kyle saw this as the opportunity to cosponsor their own library. Today, the Lagman-Prouty family sponsors two of BKPs most successful libraries. In fact, the GES library, under the tutelage of an award-winning teacher, Cherry Vinluan, has won top honors in both Regional and Divisional search for the Best Extensive Reading Center in Region III.

The Lagman-Proutys contributions to the welfare of the Guaguas underserved children are being felt throughout these school communities. The childrens appreciation for their benefactors has manifested in different ways. For example, SRESs 2012 school newsletter featured a poem by an 11-year old student entitled Thank You, BKP. Another student expressed her desire to return to the school someday as an accomplished guest reader. Marie compares the relationship with SRES to a mutual adoption, describing how SRES students have learned to call Ryan and Kyle kuyas. Theyve become part of our family and weve become part of theirs, she adds. During a recent visit to these schools early this year, both the teachers and students from GES and SRES showed their gratitude with rousing parades, song and dance programs and speeches of appreciation. It is important to mention how far-reaching their generosity is, as there have been other schools that they have set their sights on. In fact, they were far from novices when they set up GES and SRES. They were already and continue to be sponsors of a library in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, from a few years before. In addition, Sharon Morales, a former teacher at SRES, has been so inspired by her work with BKP that she is setting the same agenda for her new school, the Santa Ines Elementary School in Betis, also in Guagua. Their first collection of books was, in fact, received last June and we await their first pictures of the facility, after their

renovations are completed. Appropriately, it is named the Lagman-Prouty Library. Currently, they are working on a request from the former principal of SRES, Jun Sibug, Jr. to set a library at his present school, the San Vicente Elementary School, located in another section of Guagua. We applaud the vibrancy of the current LagmanProuty libraries, and celebrate their teachers accomplishments and their students achievements. We wish those involved in new ones much success in their worthy endeavors, and for their students to soar to new heights. On behalf of the children of Guagua and Bacolod, we express our deep gratitude to Ben, Chit, Marie, Kevin, Ryan and Kyle for their work in empowering these students and paving their way to a brighter future.

Dare to reach out your hand into the darkness, to pull another hand into the light. ~Norman B. Rice

BKP CHAPTER CORNER:

BKP-NEW YORK By Lorna Mesina-Husain
This group helped BKP Massachusetts and BKP Philippines collect children's books (elementary school level) for the Peace Corps project. The NY chapter invited schools, community groups, and individuals to help send books to 25 schools by end of September 2013. At least eight areas in the Philippines have been included in the original project document: Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Olongapo/Subic, Albay, Camarines Sur, Ifugao, Isabela and Batangas.

In addition, BKP-NY reached out to the Aeta settlement in Bataan with the help of Iskwelahang Pilipino of Boston, MA. This connection was fulfilled during the formers musical immersion program held last summer the Philippines. Through Sierra Jamir and her family, BKP-NY was able to donate books to the BayanBayanan Elementary School in Dinalupihan, Bataan. The books were due to arrive late in August, but the flooding as a result of tropical storm Trami, delayed their arrival.

BKP-CALIFORNIA By Carolina Clemente Leap

As the BKP California family grows, its list of libraries is also expanding. With the partnership with I Can Make a Difference in Zamboanga Philippines, we have established four mini libraries in two day care centers and two orphanages in the town of Talon Talon and Lapaz in Zamboanga City. Unfortunately, with the current ravage of the city, we were only able to unveil two of the four, prior to the rebels taking siege of certain towns in Zamboanga. We pray for peace, and the end of this siege, sooner than later. literacy. They recently opened the Bucana Learning Center and Library serving orphaned children.

The next library project will be in the Island of Samal. To this date, BKP California has established 24 mini libraries. The next project is the donation of medical textbooks and other college reference materials to Mindanao Western University. This is being made possible through the help of FILAMEDA (Filipino American Educators of San Diego County) officers Severino Reyes and this writer. Severino, an educator from San Diego State University was able to earn the textbook donations from SDSU. BKP California has two new board members: Genesis Walcher and Jaye Eugenio, who will be assisting in fund raisers. Their first project is a concert benefit featuring Rico J. Puno, Dr. Tess Mauricio and Ms. Walcher herself. Entitled "Music and Beauty," it will also feature an art silent auction donated by some of the master photographers from Byaherong Kodakeros. All proceeds will go to BKP California Inc.

The Philippine military partnership with 401st Infantry from Surigao Del Sur was such a success that we are very excited to collaborate with the military group Task Force Davao on a new project. It is the 10th Infantry Division, Philippine Army that, aside from their military duties, promotes and builds projects to assist and better the lives of people in Davao City and the Island Garden City of Samal. For their current project named ASTIG (Adapting a System for Independent Growth), their goal is to rehabilitate towns through promoting self-sustainable

BOOK DONATIONS
BKP is now in its fifteenth year. We have opened one hundred-eighty mini-libraries around the country. We are in the process of forming more partnerships with other organizations with similar missions so that we can be even more effective. We work to collect books not only for new libraries but to refresh collections for the established ones to the extent that we can. So new donations of books are always needed and appreciated. The books that we pack come from library book sales, school and scout group collections and private donations. This past year, our Book Donor Liaison, Liz Freeman, wrote approximately seventy thank you notes for books collected to those who held book drives and donated books. Regretfully, it is not always possible to personally thank each individual who made the contacts with those libraries and schools and those individuals who volunteer to carry those books around in their cars and into the Lynnfield Congregational Centre Church basement for packing. So Liz thanks everyone on behalf of the BKP Board and the many children in the Philippines who have benefited from all the collected and donated books. A gentle reminder If you collect books, please email Liz the name of the organization, contact person and address. It is especially important if the library carried its own special name to avoid confusion. If you need to reach Liz, her email address is LindenTree85@comcast.net

NEW DROP-OFF POINTS FOR BKP BOOKS

Name Keyks J-Mart Asia Store Filipino Variety Store Sure Pinoy Food Mart JnJ Turo-Turo Ipswich River General Store & Deli Pinoy Time Food Mart Karl and Ning Zuelke Gene and Evita Florendo Amy Vinluan

Address 333 Acton Road Chelmsford, MA 01824 120-A Water Street Salem, MA 01923 430 Essex St. Unit 5 Salem, MA 01970 145 Water Street Quincy, MA 02169 143 Water St Quincy, MA 02169 57 East Street Ipswich, MA 01938 555 Southwest Cutoff Worcester, MA 01607 11 Shattuck Street Natick, MA 2 Gould Road Lexington, MA 02421 208 Warren Street Needham, MA 02492

Contact Name Rowena Sy-Santos Dante Perinal Lourdes Bantayan Gras or Nita Awatin Jervin Erasquin Julius Pajarillaga Claire Gilardez, Israel Inciong, Dennis Chan

Telephone Number (617) 407-0232 (978) 767-9229 (978) 740-4080 (617) 328-8880 (617) 471-8876 (978) 356-1722 (508) 890-8600 (508) 843 0346 (509) 650-4245 (781) 266-8177 (781) 860-0988 (781) 559-3223

YOUR DOLLARS AT WORK SEPT 2012-SEPT 2013

Fundraising Event MISC/Office 4% Supplies 7% Book Shipping & Handling 33%

Book Shipping & Handling Operational Costs (Philippines) MISC/Office Supplies

Operational Costs (Philippines) 56%

Fundraising Event

BOOK PACKING SCHEDULE 2013:

September 28th October 12th November 9th November 23rd December 14th

Address: Centre Congregational Church, 5 Summer Street, Lynnfield, MA (Todd Hall in Lower Level) April 12th April 26th May 10th June 14th June 28th For questions, please call Judi Babcock on 781-123-4567 or email her at judibabcock@gmail.com. We hope to see you there!

2014:

January 11th January 25th February 8th February 22nd March 8th nd March 22

NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Rowena Jimenez Founder, Executive Director Judi Babcock Director, Book-Packing and Director, Volunteers Katrina Zuelke Secretary Michelle Ferreol Director, Marketing Janeth Millare - Treasurer Lea Sison Director, Library Operations Rowena Sy-Santos and Jep Santos Co-Directors, Business Development Ning Zuelke and Lilibeth Aristorenas Co-Directors, Fundraising Liz Freeman - Book Donors Liaison

THE YEAR AT-A-GLANCE

October 2012 BKP held a Halloween annual fall dance, its main fundraising event. BKP friend and supporter, Chef Jacky Robert, catered the wellattended affair. Benny and Lea Sison led a workshop at Santa Maria Municipal Hall, Sta. Maria, Pangasinan, sponsored by Mayor Teodoro Ramos, coordinated by Gloria Andrada with 37 participants. Amado Sison was their driver and photographer. They also cut the ribbon to open the community library at the Santa Maria Municipal Hall sponsored by Gloria Andrada.

December 2012 BKP received the award below from Philippine Department of Education Division of Northern Samar Catarman for its work.

February 2013 Ryan Prouty, along with his family, visited the Guagua Elementary School (GES) Library, one of the libraries his family sponsors. The LagmanProuty family has been long time benefactors of BKPsponsored schools in Guagua.

January 2013 Chef Jacky Robert of Bostons Petit Robert Bistro, assisted by Charmaine Gill, gave lessons on making lobster bisque, beef bourguignon and apple tarte tatin, part of the dinner he prepared for the guests. All proceeds went to BKP.

April 2013 BKP-CA certainly burned calories while spreading the love of reading during their Run and Dye 5K Marathon in San Diego, raising funds for bookshipping costs.

May 2013 Lea Sison accepting the Massachusetts Department Of Transportation Award on behalf of BKP from Secretary Richard Davey for promoting reading among poor children in the Philippines.

July 2013 Rowena Jimenez, Alice Quilicot and Rowena Sy-Santos at a business lunch with officers of the Philippine Toy Library.

June 2013 BKP celebrated its 15th anniversary with a gala at residence of Dr. John and Madeline Capino. (See related article on page 2.) We thank our gracious hosts for their hospitality and the gala committee for making this a successful event.

BKP officers also met with AHON Founder, Harvey Keh, shown below, in Ateneo University. AHON has been a long-term partner of BKP working for a similar cause. See related article on page 7.

BKP-CA also sponsored a fashion show featuring high fashion designs by famed Lou Razon and other upcoming designers. Entitled Fashion for a Cause, the events beneficiaries are BKP-CA and Ms. Philippines USA.

Also in July, Weng Jimenez oversaw the roll out of the new Thinking While Reading (TWR) program in eight locations but met with close to 20 TWR partner schools.

August 2013 BKP families and friends attended our annual summer potluck at Judi Babcocks residence. Weng Jimenez gave a presentation on her trip to the Philippines.

October 2013- BKP-NY held another successful Laugh for Literacy special Fil-Am comedy night in Greenwich Comedy Club in NY. Several Filipino stand-up comedians joined the effort to raise funds to improve literacy back home.

THANKS TO OUR EVENT SPONSOR

We wish to express our gratitude to Viridian Energy, for its sponsorship of our annual dance, BKPs main fundraising event of the year.

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