Inquirer shares joy of reading with San Pablo City’s public schools

Philippine Daily Inquirer president and CEO Sandy Prieto-Romualdez says the Inquirer hopes to bring the joy and power of reading to as many as it could. ARNOLD ALMACEN/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

SAN PABLO CITY, Philippines—The Inquirer’s daily ration of free newspapers to all 243 public elementary and high schools and the city library here  is “helping tremendously in the efforts to enhance learning in the city,” a city library official said.

Rosario N. Robielos, supervisor-in-charge of the library, known here as the Library Hub, acknowledged the newspaper’s support during a thanksgiving ceremony last June 28 that was attended by over 100 school principals, school heads and city officials.

“We are happy that we are able to share our resources with San Pablo City. The goal is to bring the joy and power of reading to as many as it could,” said Sandy Prieto-Romualdez, president and chief executive officer of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, in a message read for her by Manuel Andrew Chanco IV, assistant vice president for circulation.

Romualdez expressed the hope that the Inquirer’s “small efforts will help readers become better people, better citizens and eventually create a better society.”

Erwin Reyes, circulation officer of the Inquirer for Southern Luzon, said the free copies which were first given on June 10, consisted of issues from Monday to Friday and Sunday and would be given for the duration of school year 2011-2012.

Robielos said the thanksgiving program also served to acknowledge the support given by the various donors to the three-year-old Library Hub, which has been refurbished to serve its clientele of young, senior citizens, students, out of school youths in Laguna and elsewhere or anyone “as long as they bring proper identification.”

First opened in 2008, the two-story library with a floor area of 302.25 square meters used to be an abandoned  municipal building until Mayor Vicente Amante provided a budget of P3 million for its rehabilitation.

Robielos said that with help from some institutions, particularly the Rotary International Club of Korea-San Pablo Chapter, it is now equipped with an electronic section on the first floor with 15 personal computers connected to the Internet.

Also on the first floor are the office of the librarian, shelves of reading materials and a “book clinic” where books are repaired.

On the second floor are the function room, “rainbow room,” named after the Rainbows Foundation, which donated  reference books, and an area for storytelling sessions.

Robielos also cited the support of Rural Bank of 7 Lakes, broadcaster Jiggy Manicad, Laguna Governor Jeorge “ER”  Ejercito and Mayor Amante for other donations to the facility.

Support from the various groups and individuals has helped the Library Hub earn second place in the 2009 search for best libraries nationwide, said Robielos.

Dr. Enrico T. Sanchez, schools division superintendent, exhorted the Library Hub’s donors to “keep on giving” and “keep on sharing.”

He said their support has made life more meaningful for readers in San Pablo City who come to the library.