It's just as Neil Armstrong said it when he took the very first human step ever to be taken on the moon: "That's one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind." Because thanks to the efforts of Mr. Erwin Olario, the KRIS Library in Manicahan has taken such a step.
Mr. Olario--an IT expert specializing in Geographic Information Systems--was recently vacationing in Bolong (only minutes away from our Library) when he saw a roadside banner about our advocacy. I had first gotten in touch with him when he e-mailed me offering his time as a volunteer to teach or assist children there. I had him contact my grandmother who is managing the Library so that we could accommodate him there. Having asked him to check out our computers in the library, I expected just an assessment. But what really touched me was that: Mr. Olario went further.
Over the course of the past weeks, he had visited the library several times to continue assessing how we could have our computer system improved. He had recommended the replacement of our current Operating System (Windows) to Linux so that we would have less problems with viruses and malware; he even conversed personally with our local technician, Kuya Julius, and left a trial CD to demonstrate the benefits of Linux. He had also recommended a digital system to track and catalog our books in the Library--which we could look into in the future. Lastly, and most importantly, he had also accomplished the installment of an offline version of Wikipedia to all the computers of the Library--giving our young beneficiaries access to more updated, more comprehensive, and more user-friendly references in their computers.
What Mr. Olario did was an inspiration. In a world dominated by profit-driven scientists, engineers, and professionals, he still found the precious time--during a vacation, no less--to lend his expertise to the less fortunate. Having done this, the KRIS Library in Manicahan is better-equipped and better-informed. Having done this, we know now that there is a need to prepare our Muslim and Christian scholars and students for the age of exponentially-improving technology.
What Mr. Olario did was one small step for the Library because I believe that more changed can be made. However, it was definitely one long leap for the kids who will benefit from it. It will be one long leap towards the future by the future of this nation.
Thank you, Mr. Erwin. :)
Mr. Olario--an IT expert specializing in Geographic Information Systems--was recently vacationing in Bolong (only minutes away from our Library) when he saw a roadside banner about our advocacy. I had first gotten in touch with him when he e-mailed me offering his time as a volunteer to teach or assist children there. I had him contact my grandmother who is managing the Library so that we could accommodate him there. Having asked him to check out our computers in the library, I expected just an assessment. But what really touched me was that: Mr. Olario went further.
Over the course of the past weeks, he had visited the library several times to continue assessing how we could have our computer system improved. He had recommended the replacement of our current Operating System (Windows) to Linux so that we would have less problems with viruses and malware; he even conversed personally with our local technician, Kuya Julius, and left a trial CD to demonstrate the benefits of Linux. He had also recommended a digital system to track and catalog our books in the Library--which we could look into in the future. Lastly, and most importantly, he had also accomplished the installment of an offline version of Wikipedia to all the computers of the Library--giving our young beneficiaries access to more updated, more comprehensive, and more user-friendly references in their computers.
What Mr. Olario did was an inspiration. In a world dominated by profit-driven scientists, engineers, and professionals, he still found the precious time--during a vacation, no less--to lend his expertise to the less fortunate. Having done this, the KRIS Library in Manicahan is better-equipped and better-informed. Having done this, we know now that there is a need to prepare our Muslim and Christian scholars and students for the age of exponentially-improving technology.
What Mr. Olario did was one small step for the Library because I believe that more changed can be made. However, it was definitely one long leap for the kids who will benefit from it. It will be one long leap towards the future by the future of this nation.
Thank you, Mr. Erwin. :)
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