The joys of reading

I believe that we must all work hard to encourage reading. Reading is synonymous to learning. A famous writer once said, “The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Reading opens our eyes to the wonders of the world. It quenches our thirst for higher learning and enhances our mind to be imaginative and be creative. Unfortunately, a large part of our students these days have limited access to learning opportunities. Some students are non-readers, others can read but have very poor comprehension skills.

I laud the efforts being exerted by the Acts of Hope for the Nation (AHON) Foundation in improving the current state of our education system. AHON’s mission is to build a culture of learning among Filipino children by empowering the community towards developing an adequate public school library in the country. With AHON’s advocacy, I wholeheartedly accepted the invitation to become an endorser of this campaign. My photos are currently displayed at Fully Booked. Other reading advocates who are part of this campaign are Tony Meloto, Fr. Ben Nebres, former President Fidel Ramos, among others.

AHON, a non-stock, non-profit organization, is the social arm of Filway Marketing, Inc., the exclusive distributor of TimeLife books in the country. It started in May 2006 with the initiative of Hector Tagaysay, president and CEO of Filway Marketing, Inc.; and Harvey Keh, director for Youth Leadership and Entrepreneurship of the Ateneo School of Government.

By developing the libraries, AHON hopes to promote genuine love for reading among Filipino children. It believes that strengthening the reading and comprehension skills of students would help boost the quality of education in our public school system.

AHON recognizes the importance of community involvement and empowerment and hopes to foster unity and better relationships by engaging community members to work together for a common cause.

It has recently launched a book registry for public schools titled Bookworms Turn to Beautiful Butterflies. The book registry can be found at Fully Booked’s flagship store at Bonifacio High Street in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Anyone who visits the store can browse at the list of books needed by the schools, choose what they want to buy and donate to the school.

AHON encourages everyone to share its passion in promoting the love for reading among public school students. There are three ways on how to participate: Donate to AHON (donate reference books and story books to AHON and they will channel the books to various public elementary schools); Adopt a Library (sponsor the building of library in your areas); and Be a Volunteer (participate in different activities of AHON including library builds, training and workshops and other fundraising activities).

AHON Foundation is located at the Third Level Topy’s Place, Industria cor. Economia Streets, Bagumbayan, Quezon City. For details, call 683-0262 loc. 109, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.ahonfoundation.blogspot.com.

Shuttling Through Stage and Screen

FEU has recently launched the book Shuttling Through Stage and Screen by Tita Rustica Carpio. The book chronicles the significant events in her life as an artist and educator. Shuttling Through Stage and Screen can inspire other teachers to get out of their shell and excel in other passions which could be as noble as being a teacher. “We feel privileged to be finally publishing a book for Dr. Carpio who has worked with other publishers and universities before,” enthused Dr. Lourdes Montinola, chair of the FEU Board of Trustees.

Tita Rustica has just retired as a consultant of FEU’s President’s Committee on Culture which she also served as executive director for six years. She has been with FEU for about two decades. Tita Rustica was a pioneering teacher of FEU’s Speech and Drama Department in the ‘50s and the chairman of the Mass Communication Department upon her return in 2001.

Her professional singing career began on radio as early as 1947. She sang on radio programs in DZBB, DZFM, DZMB, DZMT, DZPI and DZRH. She also sang on popular shows like Student Canteen and Pista ng Caltex during the mid-‘50s. Her life onstage began almost simultaneously with her life as an educator. In the mid-‘70s, Tita Rustica started to shuttle through stage and screen. She has worked with renowned filmmakers like Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, Eddie Romero, Behn Cervantes, Jose Mari Avellana, Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Celso Ad. Castillo, and Carlo Caparas. She has pitted acting talents on the big screen with Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos, Fernando Poe Jr., Charito Solis, Vic Silayan, Eddie Garcia and Boots Anson-Roa.

Bravo, Tita Rustica!