Peace library opens in QC

MANILA, Philippines - A non-government organization (NGO) has opened a mini-library in Quezon City that aims to give poor kids in Metro Manila free use of books and research materials.

A-Book-Saya Group (ABSG) founder Armand Nocum said he converted the large garage in his house in Don Antonio Heights into a Kristiyano-Islam Peace Library where thousands of children’s books and other textbooks are freely available.

The ABSG also distributed hundreds of used textbooks and school supplies to poor elementary students in time for the opening of classes on June 6. Each child received four textbooks.

Some of the books were donated by the group Kabataang Inyong Dapat Suportahan (K.I.D.S.) Foundation headed by actor Diether Ocampo and Nocum’s relatives from Canada.

The ABSG, founded by Nocum and his Muslim wife Annora, is a non-profit organization that seeks to promote education and uplift the literacy of poor kids in Mindanao.

The foundation likewise launched a campaign dubbed “Be a Robin Book Volunteer Movement” to encourage the youth from well-off families to donate their books to the poor.

“No child will ever be deprived of books if only those who have them will share with those who don’t,” Nocum said.

Nocum, a former newspaper reporter, said aside from the books, they will also provide the children free Internet use. Two computers are available at the mini library.

In 2008, the ABSG established the first Kristiyano-Islam Peace Library in Zamboanga City with 5,000 books. The two-story library has been giving thousands of Christian and Muslim kids free use of books and research materials, free basic computer lessons as well as scholarships to 100 poor but deserving students.

Nocum said he plans to put up three more libraries in the country to bring the number of such facilities to five, which will represent the five veins in his heart that were repaired after he underwent an angioplasty procedure last year. Should the idea catch on I can do more,” Nocum said.

Nocum urged the public to donate used books, computers, school supplies and financial assistance to help them establish more Kris libraries as well as finance the schooling of ABSG scholars in Mindanao.

Donors may bring their books to the Kris Peace Library located at No. 90 Doña Isidora Street, Don Antonio Heights, Diliman, Quezon City.