The Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. (PLAI) has chosen an Indigenous Peoples (IP) community in Barangay Latazon in the municipality of Laua-an in this province as the recipient of its book donations.

The donation consisting of five boxes of books for primary learners is part of the association’s observance of the 64th Public Library Day this Friday but will be turned over this coming Sunday.

It also serves as an outreach program for geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) in partnership with the provincial library of Antique.

Barangay Latazon Iraynon Bukidnon community leader Abel Pedro, in an interview, said they feel fortunate they were chosen as recipients.

“We need the reading materials for our school kids,” Pedro said in an interview Friday.

He added that their children are encouraged to finish school since not many of the IPs, especially adults, have received formal education.

Barangay Latazon is about 12.6 kilometers away from the town proper; learners need to cross the Cairawan River when going to school, which is risky when the water is high.

The Latazon Primary School offers only up to Grade 5; Grade 6 learners have to go to the town proper to finish their elementary and secondary school.

“We will really take care of the books,” Pedro said.

The learners will be treated to storytelling during the turnover, said Antique Provincial Librarian Grace Magullado in a separate interview.

The PLAI will also plant 55 seedlings of atis, guyabano and other fruit-bearing trees in the barangay.

In support of the book donation drive, the Antique Capitol Press Corps (ACPC) also donated one set of “Dorina” books.

Dorina is about the adventure of a little girl with different animal creatures, which is written in the Kinaray-a or Antique’s local dialect easily understood by the IP kids in Barangay Latazon.

Meanwhile, the Antique Provincial Library launched the “Istoryahi ko Nay” or the storytelling activity in Barangay Maybato Sur, San Jose de Buenavista as part of the Library Day celebration on Friday.

Antique Vice Governor Edgar Denosta read books to children attending the launching activity.

It likewise signaled the start of the library-on-wheels project, a once-month outreach program of the provincial library. The mobile library will be in Tibiao town on March 31. (PNA)