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 Christian and Muslim communities where kids either swim in sea water or rampaging mountain rivers to reach schools 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,” said Kaisa Founding President Teresita Ang See of their decision to help some 500 poor school children with their schooling.
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 who swim or wade their way to school for two hours daily.
“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 G. Tanfor agreeing to undertake the transport of 25 boxes of books and schools supplies 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.
In Tungawan, Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, Kris will help fill up the library of the Claret Mission Center of Claretian priest Fr. Larry Lorenzo so kids there will no longer have to walk hours over a combination of muddy, stony mountain terrain; and flood-prone rivers to reach the town’s public library.
The Tungawan library is the 4th Kris Peace Library put up in partnership with the Claretian Missionary Order and the Kapatirang Claretian Inc (KCI), 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.
Nocum said they need more book donations and asked donors to go to their drop off points at Kris Library, No. 9, Dona Isidora Street, Don Antonio Heights, Diliman Quezon City or at Dean & Kings Legal PR and Communications Marketing firm located at Suite 300, Kimvi Realty & Dev’t Bldg, 1191 Maria Orosa St., Ermita, Manila (please check Pls call me there at Tel 3393732/Cel. 09228169510. Pls look for Jess/Rose. Tnx.http://www.krislibrary.com/contact-us.html for map and direction).
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Reference: Arizza Nocum, 0999 560 9435, 352 2313 / 571 8997, arizza.nocum@gmail.com