THE TUASON SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS IN BENGUET PROVINCE
December 13, 2010 - Jacksonville, FL - READ Philippines is pleased to announce the establishment of The Tuason Scholarship Program for high school and elementary students in Baguio City, Philippines. The purpose of the program is to assist financially challenged but deserving students with tuition and other school expenses and to encourage them to pursue their education.

Created with the financial support of the Tuason Family in the United States, the program is implemented by READ Philippines and currently supporting seventeen students for the school year 2010-11.

Information about the 12 of the 17 scholars is available here.

Nine of the seventeen scholars (and their parents) who received financial aid from
The Tuason Scholarship Program implemented by READ Philippines, Inc.

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MAYURO ELEMENTARY RECEIVED ADDITIONAL BOOKS FOR THE SCHOOL LIBRARY
December 2, 2010, Rosario, Batangas - READ Philippines donated additional books to Mayuro Elementary, a public school in Rosario, Batangas. The principal, students and students send their gratitude for the additional library resources. Click here to view the list of books. Photographs are available here.

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SCHOOL NEEDS BOOK TO REBUILD LIBRARY
November 4, 2010 - Madalag, Aklan - - Mr. JOSE NIRO NILLASCA, Head Teacher of Madalag National High School in Aklan, writes to READ Philippines:

I am the new school head of Madalag National High School in Region VI, Division of Aklan. The school has a student population of 679 during the school year 2010-11. In June 2008, Madalag sustained severe damaged from Typhoon Frank and is still rebuilding its library. Madalag, situated in the remote part of Aklan province, is a fifth class municipality. Madalag National High School has a student population of 679 this school year 2010-2011.

The library was totally damaged except a few books and reference materials that were salvaged from the foot-deep mud.

Damaged library at Madalag National High School, Aklan

There were lots of initiatives that were undertaken by the school and other stakeholders to restore the library, but our efforts were not enough. At present, our library cannot meet the needs of our students. Because of the lack of textbooks and other reading materials, our academic performance suffered as evidenced by the decreasing National Achievement Test Results.

We are looking for partners that can help us make our library more functional, one that can answer the needs of our students. We've learned about how your organization has helped other schools in different parts of the Philippines. I humbly appeal for support from READ Philippines and hope that our school could also be included on your list of beneficiaries.

Thank you and more power.

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3rd QUARTER 2010 REPORT ON SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
September 21, 2010 - Kidapawan City, North Cotabato - - EJ Matela, Program Director at MinLand Foundation, a partner organization of READ Philippines, writes:

Attached is a report filed by Payan Tagle-Tutol of MinLand on behalf of the MinLand LEAP Team (Payan, Alih, Joel, Nordz, Teray, Tisha, Cindy, Davie, Arvin, EJ). We are honored to be entrusted with your hard-earned money to support children in rural and conflict-affected areas who truly need your assistance and kindness.

We hope this report finds you in good health and cheer. Thank you.

EJ

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OUR LADY OF PIAT GRADE SCHOOL, CAGAYAN
October 11, 2010 - Piat, Cagayan Valley - - Sister Ellen Labrador, Our Lady of Piat School Director writes:

On September 15, 2010, one big box of grade level books was delivered to the Our Lady of Piat Grade School. The books received are very useful especially the short story books, which we let the children bring home for reading and return after two days.

The parents too were informed about the books from READ Philippines. Both parents and faculty are grateful for sending our school these reading resources. All books were placed in our mini library while waiting for our library to be constructed. Attached are several photographs.

Students reviewing the books from READ Philippines

Piat belongs to a 5th class municipality where 90% of residents are Roman Catholic. Fishing and farming are the main sources of income in this small town. During rainy season, especially when typhoon hits the island, the area is usually flooded. Parents of students at Our Lady of Piat, especially those living near the river, use the school as temporary shelter until water subsides and they are able to go back to their homes.

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MINLAND FOUNDATION SENDS TURNOVER REPORTS COVERING JANUARY-JUNE 2010
August 12, 2010 - Kidapawan City, North Cotabato - - MinLand Foundation, a partner organization of READ Philippines in Mindanao, reports on the turnover of books to twelve (12) schools:

Attached is our report covering the turnover of the educational materials  donated by READ Philippines to different beneficiaries.  The report covers January - June 2010. We hope you will find the report, prepared by Alih, helpful and in order.

We remain grateful for your continued support.  The commitment of READ and its volunteers inspires us to continue our work despite risks and uncertainties.

We pray for continued blessings, good health and good cheer for all the men and women behind READ Philippines as well as its supporters and donors.

Best regards,

EJ and the MinLand Family

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POBLACION ELEMENTARY, OCCIDENTAL MINDORO
August 3, 2010 - Occidental Mindoro - - Books for Poblacion Elementary School in Mindoro were turned over by staff of Donate-2-Create Project, an organization that promotes literacy among children in Occidental Mindoro.

Faculty at Poblacion Elementary receiving books from READ Phils.


Small library for students at Poblacion Elementary with books from READ Phils.


Students at Poblacion Elementary School

On behalf of Donate 2 Create Project, principal, parents and teachers of Poblacion Elementary School, I would like to express our thanks for the books from READ Philippines. The books are much needed because the school does not have its own library and students were borrowing books from the Barangay Hall which are not appropriate reading materials for kids. The teachers are so happy to see children's books and could not wait to share the stories in their reading classes. We wish you all the best for the coming years and  hope that you continue to help more children.

Truly yours,
Jeniffer Niggemann
Donate 2 Create, Occidental Mindoro

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MEMBERS OF FIL-AM CLUB HELPED PACK BOOKS FOR SCHOOLS IN THE PHILIPPINES
July 26, 2010, Jacksonville, FL - - Thanks to Pete Herrera and other members of the Fil-Am Club in Jacksonville, twelve balikbayan boxes of science, math, and reading books were shipped to schools in Luzon and Mindanao. The books were donated by St. Mark's Episcopal School. Special thanks also to Manny Eco for his help in picking up (loading and unloading) books from St. Mark's.

Pete Herrera and his friends came to UMAC warehouse to help pack books.


Pete Herrera brought cold drinks and food for volunteers.

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Move On Philippines is now known as
READ (Reach, Educate, Assist, Develop) Philippines, Inc.
www.readpilipinas.org

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LEARNERS EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
June 18, 2010 - Kidapawan City, North Cotabato - - For the school year 2010-11, READ Philippines will continue supporting the Learners Education Assistance Program (LEAP) in collaboration with MinLand Foundation in Kidapawan City, Philippines. LEAP provides college, high school and elementary students with financial support for basic necessities such as uniforms, school supplies and daily allowance for transportation and food.

Below is a report on this scholarship program for the school year 2009-10. Your donation will go a long way toward helping poor students in their pursuit of a better education. Please click here to download a brochure.

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2010 REPORT ON SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
May 11, 2010 - Kidapawan City, North Cotabato - - EJ Matela, Program Director at MinLand Foundation, a partner organization of READ Philippines, writes:

A happy summer greetings from North Cotabato! We are writing to provide an update on the Learner's Educational Assistance Program (LEAP) supported by READ Philippines during the school year 2009-2010. We also thank you for trusting MinLand Foundation to administer the distribution of your financial support.

In the last school year, a total of 11 scholars were supported by this small scholarship program.  Attached is a report covering all 11 scholars. On page 3 of the report is a summary of  information about the scholars, their parents and schools. Thank you letters from READ Philippines' scholars (3 girls), their report cards and some photos are also included.

Should you be interested in continuing your support for this program for the school year 2010-2011, MinLand Foundation would be pleased to facilitate the administration of scholarship funds. In the coming school year, we would like to support two college students from poor families.  The support will be similar to LEAP -- daily allowance for food and transportation and some amount for school projects.

Once again, thank you very much for touching the lives of children and their families in this part of the country.  Your financial support is giving hope and helping them face life with more options on how to make it better.

Best regards,

The MinLand Family
(EJ, Arvin, Alih, Joel, Nords, Ann, Payan, Tisha, Teray)

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FOUR BENEFICIARIES RECEIVED BOOKS FROM READ PHILIPPINES THROUGH THE ROTARACT CLUB OF MANILA
April 14, 2010 - Manila - Ms. Tiffany Go, President of the Rotaract Club of Manila, reports on the distribution of books from READ Philippines:

We would like to express our utmost gratitude to READ Philippines for choosing the Rotaract Club of Manila to help turnover book donations to the less fortunate kids in the Philippines.

Given the volume of books received, the Rotaract Club distributed them to four institutions under our Gift of Learning program and Response & Relief Program as follows:

1) Hospicio de San Jose which is home to 55 orphans, abandoned and special children. Books were donated to the orphanage's library.

2) AFP Medical Hospital - books were donated to the hospital's day care center serving 40 pediatric cancer patients undergoing treatment.

3) Chosen Children Village, a home for abandoned children with physical and mental disabilities. Books were donated to the Village's school serving 50 kids ages 3 to 15.

4) Tahanan ng Pagmamahal, an orphanage in Antipolo, Rizal damaged by Typhoon Ketsana in 2009. Books were donated to the orphanage's library serving 20 children ages 5 to 12.

Children at Tahanan ng Pagmamahal Orphanage

Click here to read the full report and view photographs.

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BUKAS PALAD FOUNDATION
February 22, 2010 - Tagaytay, Cavite - Four balikbayan boxes of books and school supplies were sent to a social center in Tagaytay operated by Bukas Palad Foundation. Below is the acknowledgement from Bukas Palad:

We acknowledge with much gratitude the delivery of 4 boxes of books and other school materials from READ Philippines  for our social center, Bukas Palad.  We have attached the list of the contents of the 4 boxes and some pictures before and after the same were opened by our staff.

The books will be very useful as reference and reading materials for the children in different levels from pre school to college who are being assisted by the Center.  You may be rest assured that these items will be put to good use particularly in developing reading habits of our children.  We have tutorial lessons every Saturday and we plan to set aside a few hours for reading.

Ma. Erly P. Erasmo, Coordinator
Bukas Palad, Tagaytay

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PROVERBSVILLE SCHOOL
January 27, 2010 - Angeles City, Pampanga - Ms. Edwina Arceo, School Director of Proverbsville School in Angeles City, sends the following report:

We waited until this time to report and send you pictures because we wanted to present the books to our parents in our last Parents-Teachers’ Fellowship for the SY 2009-2010 last January 22, Friday.   Our School Librarian, Ms. Rachelle, has also started taking an inventory of the books we’ve received so we could send you the list for accountability. Last Friday, she had the books and boxes displayed during the meeting for parents to see how we have been again blessed with a generous donation of books for the children’s library.  The PSI parents and guardians enjoyed looking at the books on display while waiting for the meeting to start.

Click here to read Ms. Arceo's full report.

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2009 Completed Projects
(click here to read Move On Philippines's projects in 2009)