Sharing the Light; Back and Brighter

After last year’s successful and award-winning run, the Supplementary Training to Reinforce Education of the Academically Gifted but Marginalized Students (STREAMS) and The Crusader Publication continue their “crusade to bring public high school libraries back to life” with the bigger and brighter Sharing the Light (STL) project.

With the partnership with Lumbia National High School (LNHS) now near completion with 1140 donated books and a fully furnished library, STL sets its sights to another partnership, this time with Camamanan National High School (CNHS).         

Refueling the flame

Winning the 2011 Magis Award for Best Community Project and completing their mission at Lumbia National High School did not keep STL from giving more joy, especially during this holiday season. Marilou Paller, school librarian at Camaman-an National High School, is eager to have her school be chosen as this year’s beneficiary. “What we wish for our library are reading materials and… physical facilities like the tables and chairs… kanang library jud siya, na mahitsura jud siya ug library,” shares Ms. Paller of the current situation of their library.

Of course, their wish is STL’s command. But the endeavor in providing these amenities is no easy task. From last year’s door-to-door scheme, organizers initially planned for ad solicitations to gather funding for STL. The attempt gained little success. Luckily, STL qualified for cash grants from two big companies in the Philippines: Globe Telecom and Colgate.

STL won a Php 25,000 grant from Globe Telecom on October. But another Php 25,000 would be added if the project could round up 200 Globe or Touch Mobile network subscribers to register for their text promos during an STL event.

Thus, the organizers planned a Youth Unity Fun Walk on November 26 using the initial grant given. Participating organizations, CNHS students, supporters, and the organizers themselves pledged to join in on the walk throughout Cagayan de Oro.

Catching fire

There were rough patches during the planning of Youth Unity Walk. The initial date proposed did not materialize due to some participating organizations’ last minute commitment issues. The organizers were disheartened, but they didn’t give up. The “Unity Walk” became a “Unity Day” instead, starting from the 7 am to 5 pm on November 26, allowing STL more time to gain the required 200 subscribers. Booths at the University Main Lane were open to receive book donations, too. “We took the setback as an opportunity to market STL–to gather supporters, more student orgs na gusto mu-lend sa ilang hand,” co-project head Glenn Goopio explains.

By 3:33 pm, 145 subscribers were listed. By 5pm, STL exceeded the 200 subscribers count winning them the Php 25,000 grant that was promised. “This experience has taught us not only the value of perseverance but the importance of quick thinking and most of all having a positive attitude… the event definitely changed my perspectivein achieving goals–that success after all is really just a matter of putting our hearts and minds into it,” Glenn shares.

A big surprise

While the grant from Globe was being competed for, the organizers decided at the last minute to join the Colgate Fresh U Project, which was also looking for studentrun projects it could support.

“We joined the Colgate grant [contest] because we thought we had a slim chance of getting the Globe [grant],” recounts one of the organizers. After massive spamming and liking from unrelenting supporters through Facebook, STL made it to the top 6 of Colgate Fresh U Project, receiving Php 50,000. Representatives from STL were flown to Manila for the awarding ceremony on January 6 at Route 196, Quezon City.

With two grants in the bag plus a group of dedicated members, STL is set for a bright future ahead. “Ma-conclude namo karon na AY kay in-ana ka active ang mga tao. Na tungod sa ilang pagka-active, possible namona ma meet ang timeline within one academic year only… and positive kaayo mi na ma-inherit ni siya na trend.”

Passing the torch

Beams radiated on the faces of the CNHS students as they welcomed STL committee members to their school for the initial turnover and Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing by Principal Apolinario Cagata and co-project heads Al Ron Casiño and Glenn Goopio last December 2. “To the students, this is for you. After the project, after the library has been improved, hopefully you can make use of your library,” says STREAMS president Harold Floren during his speech.

With everything set, the first and second phase of STL, which is the physical improvement of the library and skills enhancement for teacher librarians, will commence this January. This means CNHS students will soon be receiving their new set of books, tables, chairs, and teachers will get their librarian training. “Excited mi. Newyear, naa mi new library,” a student exclaims during the turnover. But according to Glenn, “It’s not so much about the physical improvements of library itself… [because] education is at its best to supplement the learning experience of the student.”

Apart from pursuing their project, the STL committee decided to lend a helping hand to another Colgate Fresh U top 7 finalist, DVSkwela, a fellow XU project that focuses on educational assistance to kids in Divisoria. ”Since the same ra man among cause, naka decide lang mi after na nakadaog mi na hatagan namo sila [ug] part sa among grant kay basically… among difference [sa votes] is only 100 plus,” Glenn explains. “The same ra mi’g cause, the same among school, the same reason nganong ga-conduct mi ani na charity. Murag mas nindot siya kung i-share pud namo.”

But it doesn’t stop there. You too can be part of the contagion. STL is still receiving book donations for the remainder of the academic year. Simply drop off your donations at StC 302.

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It’s beautiful and mesmerizing to see light in its different forms, floating paper lanterns, exploding fireworks, or a flickering candle. But what’s more beautiful is not just seeing but knowing, and for a change being part of how the flame came to be, how the warmth is spread and how the light is shared. C