22 September 2008

THE READ PHILIPPINES PROJECT IN NEW SOUTH WALES

The Read Philippines Project in New South Wales was formally launched in August 2005 to encourage interest and awareness of Philippine cultural heritage by enhancing the existing collection of books and audio-visual materials on the Philippines in Australian libraries.

The project’s aim is to develop among young Filipino-Australians, their friends and the community-at-large greater interest and awareness of Philippine history, culture, values and ethnicity. This is an invitation to discover and explore the richness of the Philippines by making information on the Philippines readily accessible to the Australian public.

The involvement of the Filipino-Australian community in the partnership is a vital component in the success of the project. As stakeholders in the endeavour, the community can encourage Filipinos and Australians alike to support their local library by reading on the Philippines.

The Read Philippines Project involves the donation of educational/ academic books, videos and CD-ROMs on the Philippines to an “adopted” public library, in effect increasing the current Filipiniana library collection and providing quality information on the Philippines.

To sustain this project, a Filipino community organisation is tapped as a coordinator and a partner of the local library. As project coordinator, the organisation can solicit Filipiniana book donations, liaise with the local library in maintaining and updating the collection, and address enquiries and concerns regarding the Read Philippines section. The coordinator will also serve as a contact person for the library, the community, and the Philippine Consulate General in case of additional donations, information, or events connected with the Read Philippines section.

Books and other reference materials for donation will be further screened by the receiving local library for content and quality. Once accepted as part of the library collection, the materials will be duly labelled under the donating person/organization and the Project’s name.

Since the program’s launch, the Read Philippines Project has been adopted in the following cities throughout New South Wales. A number of cities are also expected to participate in 2008:

The following cultural activities have been undertaken as follow-up undertakings in support of the Read Philippines Project:

• In August 2006, the first-ever Read Philippines Filipiniana Book Fair was held at the Gough Whitlam Library in Cabramatta. The fair was attended a delegation of Philippine publishers and by the former Chair of the Philippine National Commission on Culture and the Arts Ambeth Ocampo.

• In December 2006, a film-showing and symposium on the Philippine National Hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal was held at the Blacktown City Library organized by the Sydney Chapter of the Order of the Knights of Rizal. A number of books on Dr. Rizal were donated to various Read Philippines Coordinators.

The names of current Read Philippines Coordinators and the corresponding participating cities are listed below:

Interested organizations or parties who may wish to organize the Project in their city may wish to contact the Philippine Consulate General at 9262-7377 or by e-mail at contact@philippineconsulate.com.au for further details.