My Dearest Friends, 

I hope this email finds you well.  

I will be celebrating my birthday soon, and I have decided to spare you the trouble of worrying what to give me.  

Last April, when I went home to Guimaras, I was approached by a Principal of a public elementary school. She told me of their effort to build a library and a computer center. She laments how her students graduate without ever seeing a single computer, or being inside a library. For their assignments, the students have to make do with their text books, but given the state of our public school system, there are just not enough books to share. And of course, given the quality of books approved (as evidenced by the scandals and hundred of factual errors, not to mention the grammatical errors, found on the books approved by DepEd), it is sad to know that these students are deprived of the opportunity to develop their full potential.  

Seeing the sincerity and the determination of the Principal, I personally agreed to help them realize their dream of a library and a computer center. They said they’ll be happy with just computer, but given that this will serve the entire school population, from Grades 1 to 6, (she will send the profile of the school within this week), I am thinking of working for at least 5 computers, if possible.  

In return, they promised to take care of this library. They already have the structure ready, it will be repainted and fixed by the bayanihan effort of the parents. They will also shoulder the electrical and other maintenance cost. And most importantly, the Principal agreed to make the library open to out of school youths and even students from other schools (almost all public elementary schools in Guimaras are without their own functioning library). This would mean that this library will not only benefit the entire school population and it’s future students, but the entire community as well.  

In this regard, I would like to appeal to your kind hearts for possible book donations. I know how hard it is for some of us to let go of our books as I am giving away 100 of my own books. But I just think of it this way, my loss is the gain of thousands of other kids, now and in the future. Eventually, it will benefit our country.  

Of course, you might do this as a birthday gift to me, or if you don’t like me that much (hehe), as a gift to the Filipino youth instead.  

Thankfully, Add Up! Volunteers decided to adopt this project as well. And Mother Earth Foundation agreed to allow our office in Katipunan to be used as drop off point. Cash and computer PLEDGES are most welcome now, but please hold on to your cash at this point. There are other ways that you can help, if you are willing. You can ask your own friends for their book donations. You can email me possible people that I can write (for computer and book donations, freight sponsorships, etc). You can volunteer your office to be a drop off point. Just email me and we’ll work it out.  

In return, you will have my utmost appreciation. All donations will be acknowledged in my blogs, and the school also proposed to have the list of donors posted at the library.  

For those in the Katipunan area, you may drop your books at Mother Earth Foundation, 59 C. Salvador St. Loyola Heights, Quezon City. Please look for Zen or Tin, Tel No. 9253829. Please remember to sign the record book. I will post regular updates and other drop off points soon in my blog, http://nobystanders.blogspot.com.  

Thank you very much for reading this long letter of mine, and thank you in advance for your support.

Patuloy na umiibig sa Pilipinas,
At naniniwala sa galing ng Pilipino,

Froilan Grate | GreenMinds
www.NoBystanders.blogspot.com