JHMC President Jamie Eloise M. Agbayani with Mr. Dhobie de Guzman, ABS-CBN- Northern Luzon and Ms. Maricar Docyogen, Bookends
Everyone recognizes the importance of reading but many dreads the idea of being in a library. Traditionally, library is a place where a student is expected to read silently while sitting properly fearing that the librarian is constantly checking on him.
This notion is what the JHMC wants to change as it hopes to educate every student including the OSY and the community through leisure reading.
In 2013, JHMC has been initiating education-related undertakings as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). During the first three (3) quarters of CY 2014, the Community Relation Division (CRD) of the JHMC had always been tapped for education-related activities within the JHRA and even by the other non-government institutions to assist and facilitate in various book drives.
With the above considerations, BOOKENDS, a shop that offers second hand books of many varieties, owned by Ms. Maricar Docyogen, and Berdeng Karunungan, Inc. of Mr. Dhobie de Guzman heeded the call for the establishment of the CRD’s “Recreational Library” in several barangays within the Reservation Area. They willingly pkrtnered with JHMC to assist JHMC by providing books and other assistance to ensure the success of the project. The activity formally opened in 06 November 2014 at the Bellhouse with above 40 students from Loakan-Apugan and Loakan-Liwanag areas.
The activity will be continuously monitored with the aim to further educate the youth within the John Hay Reservation Area. The activity started on 06 November 2014 with book reading activities during the weekends that ended on 13 December 2014.
The activity caters to almost 70 youth from three (3) selected barangays every week. It was observed that there are a significant number of interested kids who participate in the weekly book reading activity as reflected in the attendance. In attendance also are barangay officials and teachers who attend in the said activity.
Second, the participation and coverage by the media practitioners has contributed in the changing the “negative perspective” of the public of JHMC. This is evidenced by various requests for assistance different community-related projects, both inside and outside of the Reservation Area.
Some educational institutions expressed their intention of inviting JHMC’s participation in their future projects.
