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Philippine home-turned-library hopes to inspire reading

Article (news)

Reuters

<div><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">Just outside of Manila&#x27;s bustling business district, a local bibliophile has transformed his house into a space that allows people to indulge in one of his life-long passions -- reading.</span></div><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x:0;--tw-border-spacing-y:0;--tw-translate-x:0;--tw-translate-y:0;--tw-rotate:0;--tw-skew-x:0;--tw-skew-y:0;--tw-scale-x:1;--tw-scale-y:1;--tw-scroll-snap-strictness:proximity;--tw-ring-offset-width:0px;--tw-ring-offset-color:#fff;--tw-ring-color:rgba(59,130,246,.5);--tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-ring-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow-colored:0 0 #0000;box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;border:0px;line-height:1.5;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">&quot;My mission is to give away used and donated books to others at no cost and to promote education through literature,” said 72-year-old Hernando Guanlao, seated inside his two-story wooden house where thousands of second-hand books line makeshift shelves and are stacked in the hallways.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x:0;--tw-border-spacing-y:0;--tw-translate-x:0;--tw-translate-y:0;--tw-rotate:0;--tw-skew-x:0;--tw-skew-y:0;--tw-scale-x:1;--tw-scale-y:1;--tw-scroll-snap-strictness:proximity;--tw-ring-offset-width:0px;--tw-ring-offset-color:#fff;--tw-ring-color:rgba(59,130,246,.5);--tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-ring-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow-colored:0 0 #0000;box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;border:0px;line-height:1.5;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">What started more than two decades ago as a 50-book display on the sidewalk, Guanlao&#x27;s collection has grown exponentially over the years thanks to a steady supply of books from donors. </p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x:0;--tw-border-spacing-y:0;--tw-translate-x:0;--tw-translate-y:0;--tw-rotate:0;--tw-skew-x:0;--tw-skew-y:0;--tw-scale-x:1;--tw-scale-y:1;--tw-scroll-snap-strictness:proximity;--tw-ring-offset-width:0px;--tw-ring-offset-color:#fff;--tw-ring-color:rgba(59,130,246,.5);--tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-ring-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow-colored:0 0 #0000;box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;border:0px;line-height:1.5;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">His community library, dubbed the &#x27;Reading Club 2000,&#x27; showcases a wide variety of books in all genres that he hopes will inspire young minds at a time when reading comprehension among students in the country remain low.</p><div style="--tw-border-spacing-x:0;--tw-border-spacing-y:0;--tw-translate-x:0;--tw-translate-y:0;--tw-rotate:0;--tw-skew-x:0;--tw-skew-y:0;--tw-scale-x:1;--tw-scale-y:1;--tw-scroll-snap-strictness:proximity;--tw-ring-offset-width:0px;--tw-ring-offset-color:#fff;--tw-ring-color:rgba(59,130,246,.5);--tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-ring-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow-colored:0 0 #0000;box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;border:0px;line-height:1.5;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/01/13/24/meet-mang-nanie-the-man-who-turned-his-home-into-a-library">Meet Mang Nanie, the man who turned his home into a library </a></div><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x:0;--tw-border-spacing-y:0;--tw-translate-x:0;--tw-translate-y:0;--tw-rotate:0;--tw-skew-x:0;--tw-skew-y:0;--tw-scale-x:1;--tw-scale-y:1;--tw-scroll-snap-strictness:proximity;--tw-ring-offset-width:0px;--tw-ring-offset-color:#fff;--tw-ring-color:rgba(59,130,246,.5);--tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-ring-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow-colored:0 0 #0000;box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;border:0px;line-height:1.5;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">Philippine students are facing learning setbacks with math, science and reading scores among the lowest in the world, according to the Program for International Student Assessment. A student assessment conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also ranked the Philippines 77th out of 81 participating countries globally.</p><div style="--tw-border-spacing-x:0;--tw-border-spacing-y:0;--tw-translate-x:0;--tw-translate-y:0;--tw-rotate:0;--tw-skew-x:0;--tw-skew-y:0;--tw-scale-x:1;--tw-scale-y:1;--tw-scroll-snap-strictness:proximity;--tw-ring-offset-width:0px;--tw-ring-offset-color:#fff;--tw-ring-color:rgba(59,130,246,.5);--tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-ring-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow-colored:0 0 #0000;box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;border:0px;line-height:1.5;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/12/06/23/study-shows-filipino-learners-still-lagging-in-math-science-reading">Study shows Filipino learners still lagging in math, science, reading</a></div><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x:0;--tw-border-spacing-y:0;--tw-translate-x:0;--tw-translate-y:0;--tw-rotate:0;--tw-skew-x:0;--tw-skew-y:0;--tw-scale-x:1;--tw-scale-y:1;--tw-scroll-snap-strictness:proximity;--tw-ring-offset-width:0px;--tw-ring-offset-color:#fff;--tw-ring-color:rgba(59,130,246,.5);--tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-ring-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow-colored:0 0 #0000;box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;border:0px;line-height:1.5;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">Guanlao, nicknamed &#x27;Mang Nanie&#x27; by people in his community, believes many children don’t have access to books because of the costs involved, and says many of those living in poverty consider education a luxury.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x:0;--tw-border-spacing-y:0;--tw-translate-x:0;--tw-translate-y:0;--tw-rotate:0;--tw-skew-x:0;--tw-skew-y:0;--tw-scale-x:1;--tw-scale-y:1;--tw-scroll-snap-strictness:proximity;--tw-ring-offset-width:0px;--tw-ring-offset-color:#fff;--tw-ring-color:rgba(59,130,246,.5);--tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-ring-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow-colored:0 0 #0000;box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;border:0px;line-height:1.5;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">local book lover, Ron Castro, was on his way home for work when he stopped at the Reading Club 2000 to browse autobiographies and self-help books. He said he has been there three times after finding out about it through social media.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x:0;--tw-border-spacing-y:0;--tw-translate-x:0;--tw-translate-y:0;--tw-rotate:0;--tw-skew-x:0;--tw-skew-y:0;--tw-scale-x:1;--tw-scale-y:1;--tw-scroll-snap-strictness:proximity;--tw-ring-offset-width:0px;--tw-ring-offset-color:#fff;--tw-ring-color:rgba(59,130,246,.5);--tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-ring-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow-colored:0 0 #0000;box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;border:0px;line-height:1.5;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">&quot;This is a big help to the community and to the public,&quot; said Castro, borrowing three new books.</p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x:0;--tw-border-spacing-y:0;--tw-translate-x:0;--tw-translate-y:0;--tw-rotate:0;--tw-skew-x:0;--tw-skew-y:0;--tw-scale-x:1;--tw-scale-y:1;--tw-scroll-snap-strictness:proximity;--tw-ring-offset-width:0px;--tw-ring-offset-color:#fff;--tw-ring-color:rgba(59,130,246,.5);--tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-ring-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow-colored:0 0 #0000;box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;border:0px;line-height:1.5;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial">Guanlao vows that as long as people come to him to borrow books and others continue to donate, he will continue for as long as he can.</p><div style="--tw-border-spacing-x:0;--tw-border-spacing-y:0;--tw-translate-x:0;--tw-translate-y:0;--tw-rotate:0;--tw-skew-x:0;--tw-skew-y:0;--tw-scale-x:1;--tw-scale-y:1;--tw-scroll-snap-strictness:proximity;--tw-ring-offset-width:0px;--tw-ring-offset-color:#fff;--tw-ring-color:rgba(59,130,246,.5);--tw-ring-offset-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-ring-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow:0 0 #0000;--tw-shadow-colored:0 0 #0000;box-sizing:inherit;margin:0px 0px 20px;padding:0px;border:0px;line-height:1.5;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><strong>(Production: Adrian Portugal)</strong></div>

<p>Just outside of Manila's bustling business district, a local bibliophile has transformed his house into a space that allows people to indulge in one of his life-long passions -- reading.</p>

Just outside of Manila's bustling business district, a local bibliophile has transformed his house into a space that allows people to indulge in one of his life-long passions -- reading.