Books for Banilad: Sharing the Magical Gift of Reading

The Banilad Elementary School (BES) in E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental, recently became the grateful recipient of a vibrant collection of over 200 children’s books. This initiative is a core part of the support extended by the Klaus Hoffarth Center for Critical Thinking, which aims to sharpen the functional literacy and critical thinking skills of young learners.

Students from BES enjoying the new additions to their library.

The project serves as a bridge between communities, with many of the books traveling all the way from Manila. These donors generously parted with their beloved books from their own childhoods or those of their children to ensure these stories found a meaningful new home. By sharing these treasures, the donors allow emerging readers in Negros Occidental to discover the same sense of magic and wonder they once experienced.

The Banilad Book Drive poster which encouraged other parents from Metro Manila to donate their pre-loved books during the Christmas break.

The arrival of these books provides essential resources for elementary school students who continuing, or even just beginning their reading journey. Books donated range from children’s classics like Dr. Seuss and Roald Dahl, to easy reads like Archie Comics, to useful references like National Geographic Kids. While most books are in English, there are also some in Filipino.

BES Principal Albert Oliva, and teachers Emily Aranda and Francis Villanueva unbox the first batch of donated books with Project Director Mian Arcega.

Beyond simple reading, the Klaus Hoffarth Center intends that these materials lead to deeper inquiry and analytical discussion in the classroom. Teachers of Banilad Elementary School are now equipped with a diverse range of titles to help foster a genuine love for lifelong learning among their students. KHC also developed a simple borrowing system that allows BES students to take the books home and enjoy themselves with their families.

KHC established a simple book borrowing system to encourage the students to take home the books and continue reading at home.

These reading materials will also be used in the supplementary tutorial hours funded by the KHC for students who are functionally illiterate in their pilot cohort of Grades 3 and 4 students. Tutorial sessions on digital literacy will also be given. This project will be monitored for three years, ensuring that the impact of every donated page and every tutorial hour is maximized for the students' academic growth.

In 2025, the KHC donated gadgets for students to enhance their digital literacy skills and to prepare them for the use of Khan Academy modules in partnership with DepEd, who are now training public school teachers, including those of Banilad Elementary School. KHC also intends to upgrade the school’s library facility within the year, giving students a conducive space to nurture their love for books and reading.