Former newsman who started 'Books-4-Guns' advocacy wins Smart's Tipid-Sulit Idol Search

MANILA, Philippines - A former newsman who built a library to help fight terrorism in Mindanao was among the 2010 winners of Smart Communications’ Tipid-Sulit Idol Search, a program that aims to support groups and individuals who take it upon themselves to help their communities.

The A-Book-Saya Group (ABSG), which was started by former newsman Armand Dean Nocum and his Muslim wife Annora, won in the “community group idol” category of Smart’s Talk ‘N Text Tipid-Sulit Idol Search.

Nocum, who embarked on the advocacy to “flood Mindanao with books” after leaving the media profession in 2007, thanked Smart and his colleagues in media for supporting the advocacy.

“I could not have built my library, received used computers and obtained tens of thousands of books were it not for my colleagues in media who brought the plight of Abu Sayyaf child soldiers/warriors to the people,” Nocum said during the awarding ceremony led by Perry Bayani, marketing head of Smart’s Talk ‘N Text group, at the Ynares Stadium in Antipolo City last Sunday.

Since its opening in April 2009, ABSG’s Kristiyano-Islam (Kris) Peace Library in Manicahan, Zamboanga City has recorded about 50,000 visits from students and their parents and teachers who read, do research, borrow books or avail themselves of the free use of computers.

Thus far, the ABSG has given out tens of thousands of books, textbooks and magazines to poor children; put 67 scholars to school; provided basic computer literacy program to thousands of children and their parents; and held basic reading sessions daily to help poor learners read.

The ABSG’s “Books-4-Guns” advocacy is aimed at helping poor Christian and Muslim children living in known lairs of terrorist and rebel groups see that there is a better and peaceful life outside the barrel of a gun.

The Christian-Muslim couple is hoping to entice poor Mindanao children to become professionals and not to carry on the life of terrorism, rebellion and criminality led by their parents and kin.

“One more doctor, engineer, teacher, nurse or call-center agent is one less bomber and kidnapper coming from suspected unstable and strife-torn communities in Mindanao,” Nocum said.

The Talk ‘N Text Tipid-Sulit Idol project aims to support the advocacies of 10 individuals and groups who exemplify the telecommunication company’s values of hardwork, ingenuity and perseverance in using limited resources to improve the lives of their families and communities.

Winners for the individual category were Vilma Bonifacio, Ana Maria Bacudio, Rosaria Decasa, Jovito Uy and Leonarda Dicdican.

Apart from the ABSG, the other group winners were Kumpas Kapatiran Upang Maglingkod sa Bayan, Damayan Barangay Tangos Inc., and Kadbayan MPC.

There were 3,000 individuals and groups nominated for the Tipid-Sulit Idol Search.

Individual winners received trophies and P100,000 for their advocacies, while group winners got trophies and P200,000 to finance their community work.