Education on the dock

CEBU, Philippines - Weeks from now, Cebu will be welcoming the sister ship of the popular floating library MV Duolos, which has gained high regard and anticipation from Cebuanos for several years that it docked at our shores.

LOGOS HOPE, the newest ship of GBA Ships, carries on the noble purpose of bringing education and knowledge to more countries around the world.

MV Duolos has been decommissioned due to its old age but Logos Hope promises to continue its legacy of delivering books wherever it is needed.

Logos Hope was constructed in 1973 with the name, Gustav Vasa. It sailed the North Atlantic routes as a passenger car ferry. In 1983, it was renamed Norröna and sailed in the seas of Faroe Islands and Denmark.

It was in 2004 when GBA Ships E.V. (previously Good Books for All), a non-profit organization based in Germany which operates ships that sail around the world to bring knowledge, help and hope, acquired the vessel and named it Logos Hope.

The ship underwent extensive renovations in 2005 to upgrade onboard accommodation and install a larger book deck.

Logos Hope, logos meaning word, thought, principle or speech in Greek, sailed into active service in February 2009. Felicia Thong, project coordinator for Logos Hope, shared in an interview with The FREEMAN that the ship has over 5,000 titles with a wide range of categories, including science, sports, hobbies, cookery, the arts, economics, medicine, dictionaries, languages and philosophy.

They have over half a million books sold on board, which is more affordable than prices at bookstores since the ship partners with publishers all over the world, getting the books at lower prices or as donations for those that have been removed from circulation after new editions have been released.

The profit they make out of the sale goes to the fuel and maintenance of the ship since all of their volunteers are not paid, said Thong.

Logos Hope has over 400 staff volunteers from over 45 nations, including some Filipinos and one Cebuano.

Thong said that visitors would have the chance to interact with their crew members and get to experience the happy community they have on board. Aside from the library, the volunteers would have time to chit-chat with guests in their international café, which was not offered in MV Duolos. Their café offers different kinds of food and drinks from different countries.

Souvenirs are also available on board like key chains, postcards and Christian CDs.  Logos Hope also extends literary aid to people in developing countries wherein they donate textbooks and reference volumes to individuals, schools, libraries, community groups, colleges and universities.

Thong said that this is why they are also seeking schools and organizations to partner with, to bring students in groups to the ship.

The ship would also have different events on board like seminars and conferences on different topics that are the main concerns in most countries like marriage, AIDS awareness or primary health care. Cultural programs are also prepared for selected days wherein the ship volunteers dress up in their respective countries’ costumes. 

Cebu would be the first stop of the new ship in the Philippines. They will soon be visiting Manila, Subic Bay and Batangas. Logos Hope would be officially opened to the public on January 11 to February 12, at the Malacaòang Port, Pier 1, with only P20 as the entrance fee.

The ship is open every Tuesday to Saturday between 10:00 am to 9:30 pm and 1:30- 9:30 pm on Sundays. (FREEMAN)