Read Philippines Project

The Read Philippines project is the brainchild of Consul General Maria Theresa Lazaro, the project was originally conceived by the Philippine Consulate General in New York in 2002.

Here in New South Wales, the Read Philippines Project was formally launched at the City of Fairfiled in August 2005, this project 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 project is an invitation to discover and explore the richness of the Philippine culture by making information on the Philippines readily accessible to the Australian public. Through this project it will promote greater interest and awareness of Philippine cultural heritage through donations of books and audio-visual materials that will made available through the local library.

Since the program launch the Read Philippines Project has been adopted in several cities throughout the NSW such as Blacktown,Parammata Campbelltown, Gosford, Penrith, Orange and Bathurst

I have been a part of the Read Philippines Project in Penrith, a city in the westen suburb of Sydney. The Filipino community is one of the largest ethnic community in the Penrith Area. The involvement of the Filipino-Australian community in the partnership is a vital component in the success of the project. As a stakeholders in the endeavour they can encourage Filipinos and Australians alike to support their local library by reading on the Philippines.

The Read Philippines 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.

The books in the photos are some of the resources that were donated in the Penrith Library thru Read Philippines Project. Now, the Filipino Australians , both young and old will be able to enjoy and read the many stories told long time ago, the heroes and their courages dees, the riddles and proverbs, read the origin of the different dances and know more about the Filipino culture, its people, the land and its rich history.

Thank You very much to Consul General Lazaro for giving us inspiration and encouragement, to Penrith City Council, the librarians of Penrith City Library, the Read Philippines Coordinators, to all the book donors and all the volunteers who have given their time and support to this very worthy cause.

Maraming Salamat Po !!!

07/16/08