Books for AsiaPhilippines

Donations of books for this program are madepossible through the tax-deductible contributionsof American publishers. At present, Books forAsia Philippines provides basic texts and supple-mentary reading materials for pre-schools and elementary, and high schools; collections for university law schools and business programs; andresource materials for nongovernmental organiza-tions. The donations cover a variety of fields,including governance, health, environment, infor-mation technology, social science, and interna-tional relations, and vary from year to year.

BOOKS FOR MINDANAO

Recognizing the great need for educational mate-rials in the conflict-affected southern Philippines,the Books for Mindanao program was started in2003 with support from the United States Agencyfor International Development (USAID). Everyyear, more than 50,000 books are delivered to1,500 poor schools in Mindanao in order toreverse the scarcity of educational materials inpart of the country. In partnership with USAIDand local government units, Books for Asia held anationwide series of highly publicized book distri-butions in various parts of Mindanao.

Around 5,000 schools in the provinces of LanaoDel Sur, Bukidnon, Surigao Del Norte, SurigaoDel Sur, Sultan Kudarat, Saranggani, Davao Del Norte, Davao Del Sur, Compostela Valley,Agusan Del Sur, and South Cotabato havereceived books assistance from the program.Another 5,000 school institutions, including pub-lic elementary and secondary schools, barangayreading centers, day care centers, and madaris,from major cities in Mindanao have been reachedto enable the youth to enhance their reading skills.Valued at $8 million, no less than 500,000 vol-umes have been distributed by the program as acontinuing effort to support quality education inthe region. The need for books in Mindanao haveincreased as educational resources continue to beextremely scarce.

WORKING WITH PARTNERS

Del Monte Foundation Inc. implements pro-grams that help beneficiary schools deliver betterservices to their students. In 2010, Del MonteFoundation partnered with Books for Asia toimprove educational opportunities in Mindanao.The partnership provided 12,600 new children’sbooks to nearly 250 public elementary schools inBaungon, Manolo Fortich, Sumilao, Impasug-ong,Maramag, Quezon, Kalilangan, and MalaybalayCity in the province of Bukidnon.

PHILIPPINES

A total of 33,000

books have been dis-

tributed to 500 public

libraries and barangay

reading centers nation-

wide through a suc-

cessful partnership with

the National Library

of the Philippines.

Since 2003, the

Foundation distributed

more than 500,000

books and reading

materials valued at

$8 million across

Mindanao with major

assistance from USAID

and in support of

quality education.

Books for Asia, a program of The Asia Foundation, regularly distributes books and other reading materi-als of all educational levels to 18 countries. Since it was first started in 1954, Books for Asia has distrib-uted nearly 45 million books and journals to more than 50,000 academic and non-academic institutionsthroughout Asia. In the Philippines alone, Books for Asia has distributed nearly 14 million books and journals to public and private institutions across the country, contributing to national development, inter-national understanding, and English-language literacy.

HEADQUARTERS465 California Street, 9th FloorSan Francisco, CA 94104 USATel: (415) 982-4640Fax: (415) 392-8863info@asiafound.org

WASHINGTON, DC1779 Massachusetts Ave., NWSuite 815Washington, D.C. 20036 USATel: (202) 588-9420Fax: (202) 588-9409info@asiafound-dc.org

PHILIPPINESP.O. Box 7072Domestic Airport Post OfficePasay City, Metro ManilaPhilippinesTel: + 63 (2) 851-1466Fax: + 63 (2) 853-0474tafphil@asiafound.org

www.asiafoundation.org

Sa Aklat Sisikat(SAS) Foundationaims to build a“nation of readers”through its SASReading Program,which nurtures chil-dren’s intellectual,ethical, and socialdevelopment. Tocomplement thisprogram, The Asia

Foundation provides children’s books to theirpartnering public elementary schools. This part-nership was created to improve the conditions ofthe Philippine’s over-burdened and under-resourced public school system. Fourth-grade

public school children are the main beneficiariesof this effort since it is at this age that they beginto read comfortably and reading habits areformed. Thus far, around 300 elementary schoolsin Metro Manila, Isabela, Cavite, Batangas,Pampanga, Bicol, and provinces in Mindanaohave received a total of 16,543 books and othersupplementary reading materials.

The Asia Foundation, through its Books for Asiaprogram, supports the Metrobank Foundation’sSearch for Outstanding Teachers. Through thisprogram Metrobank Foundation aims to promotea culture of excellence in the teaching profession.The Foundation supports this prestigious awardby contributing books and reference materials tothe schools of the award-winning teachers.

BOOKS FOR REMOTE BARANGAYS

To keep administrative costs as low as possible,organizations requesting books must either pickthem up in Manila or pay for shipment to theirhome province. Currently, enterprising individuallibrarians from schools and public libraries whovisit the Foundation office can select books andcarry them back at their own expense. Unfortun-ately, this system can exclude the poorest andmost rural libraries and schools in the countrythat have the greatest need for books.

Through partnerships, The Asia Foundation isbetter able to reach these remote areas. UnitedStates Peace Corps volunteers in the Philippinesfrequently connect with Books for Asia to deliverquality books and reading material to villageswhere they work. Peace Corps volunteers areinstrumental in improving the reading levels ofFilipino children.

Through a grant and strong partnership withKiwanis International Philippine South District,the project “Kiwanis Book Bank Program” hasbeen successful in reaching far-flung villages in thesouthern part of the country. All active Kiwanisclubs in the Visayas and Mindanao serve as a net-work to identify prospective book recipients.Kiwanis clubs also cover delivery costs of the booksto various remote school villages. To date, morethan 160,000 brand-new books have been distrib-uted to 2,500 public schools and institutions acrossthe Visayas and Mindanao as part of the organiza-tion’s continuing book distribution program.

05/2012

The Asia Foundation is

a private, nonprofit,

nongovernmental

organization. Through

its programs, the

Foundation builds

leadership, improves

policies, and strengthens

institutions to foster

greater openness and

shared prosperity in the

Asia-Pacific region. It is

funded by contributions

from corporations,

foundations, individuals,

and governmental

organizations in the

U.S., Europe, Canada,

Australia, and Asia, and

an annual appropriation

from the U.S. Congress.

FOR APPLICATION CRITERIA, PARTNERSHIP INFORMATION, OR TO MAKE A DONATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Mr. Efren N. Balajadia The Asia Foundation/Books for Asia Director, Books for Asia #36 Lapu-lapu Avenue, Magallanes VillageEmail: efren@asiafound.org Makati City, PhilippinesMr. Reynald S. Ocampo Tel: (632) 851-1466/Fax: (632) 853-0474Assistant Program Officer, Books for Asia www.asiafoundation.orgEmail: reynald@asiafound.org

“It was more than 30 years ago when I came toknow about the Books for Asia program. I sawat once the invaluable contribution of The AsiaFoundation could give in the laying of the strongfoundation for a stable Asia under a regime ofdemocracy and the rule of law.”— Hon. Hilario G. Davide Jr., Former ChiefJustince, Supreme Court of the Philippines

“The Asia Foundation’s Books for Asia programhas been a blessing for Metrobank Foundation’sOutstanding Teachers throughout the years.”— Dr. George S. K. Ty, Chairman, MetrobankGroup and Metrobank Foundation