500 poor students in Western Mindanao get books, school supplies

MANILA, Philippines - Help comes to poor students in Western Mindanao, amid renewed clashes between the military and terrorist groups.

The Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran Inc. (Kaisa), one of the country’s biggest Filipino-Chinese organizations, has donated 25 boxes of books and school supplies to two isolated communities in Zamboanga City and Zamboanga del Sur.

“Education is a good ingredient for lasting peace. Peace is not just the absence of war but a situation where everyone regardless of race, religion, ethnicity and class can live their lives fully,” Kaisa founding president Teresita Ang See said of their decision to help some 500 poor Mindanao children with their education.

Kaisa is responding to the request of the Kristiyano-Islam Peace Library (Kris) for help to Muslim children in a mangrove community in Layag Layag, Zamboanga City.

“We thank Kaisa for reaching out to these hapless kids who show true grid and determination by swimming their way to learning come hell or high water. There will be less violence in Mindanao if people there are less hungry, less angry and better educated,” said Kris founding president Armand Dean Nocum.

Nocum also thanked Asia Brewery Inc. chief operating officer Michael Tan for the transport of 25 boxes of books and schools supplies from Manila to Zamboanga City.

In Zamboanga, Nocum will be working with Dr. Anton Lim of the Tzu Chi Foundation, blogger Jay Jaboneta and marketing guru Josiah Go who raised funds to build boats and provide other help to the Layag Layag community.

Kris will also distribute the Kaisa books and schools supplies to help fill up the library of the Claret Mission Center of Claretian priest Larry Lorenzo in Tungawan, Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur,. The Tungawan library is the fourth Kris Peace Library put up in partnership with the Claretian Missionary Order and the Kapatirang Claretian Inc., an organization of ex-Claretian priests and seminarians. There are Kris Peace Libraries in Manicahan, Zamboanga City; Don Antonio Heights, Quezon City; and in Rodriguez, Ri­zal.  

Donors may bring books, school supplies and old computers to the Kris Library at No. 9, Doña Isidora street, Don Antonio Heights, Diliman, Quezon City or at Dean & Kings Legal PR and Communications Marketing at Suite 300, Kimvi Realty & Dev.’t Bldg., 1191 Maria Orosa street, Ermita, Manila. Donors may call 3393732/09228169510 or check their website at www.krislibrary.com.