About FLBC

Welcome to the Friends of Los Baños Children blog! The FLBC is an informal organization of committed people dedicated to improving literacy among children in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines.

In May 2002, we thought of establishing a library for Los Banos children, naming it “Aklatang Bayan ng Los Baños.” With the realization that we were not yet financially capable of creating and maintaining one, we opted to negotiate with Pastor Pepito Bato of the Evangelical Baptist Church (EBC) to open the children’s library at their school, Josiah’s Place. We also agreed to donate books and supplies on a need basis to the other schools in Los Baños.

The core group is comprised of Los Baños natives and has mobilized friends and fellow Filipino expatriates to collect books and other materials, to raise funds, and send them to the local partner, the Grand Harvest Christian Ministries, Inc. Books and other materials were donated to pre-screened "libraries" existing in schools and in the community. The organization continues to need volunteers to reach out to more children.

With the FLBC and friends' commitment for this project, we can reach out to the children in Los Banos and hope that through these books, their lives will be changed! Imagine children learning of many new things! Imagine them dreaming of wanting to go beyond elementary school!

Why books? 

Here are some facts to fully understand the needs of these children:

Los Baños has a population of 82, 027 and is located 63 km south of Manila, Luzon. It is famous for its hot springs, and is home to two world renowned institutions - the University of the Philippines (UP) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). It has 14 barangays: Batong Malake, Tuntungin-Putho, Anos, Bagong Silang, Bayog, Maahas, San Antonio, Lalakay, Mayondon, Bambang, Timugan, Tadlac, Malinta and Baybayin. Batong Malake is the largest area (31.32% of Los Baños, including UP) and Baybayin is the smallest (0.49%).

Outside the university and research campuses, there are 12 public elementary schools with their corresponding student populations (1995 census): Batong Malake (2,060), Tuntungin-Putho (508), Calara in Carbern, Anos (451), Bayog (810), Maahas (487), San Antonio (282), Lalakay (460), Mayondon (1,554), Bambang (449), Timugan (1,372), Tadlac (200), and Malinta. Baybayin children go to Timugan Elementary School. These alone account for 8, 633 school children. With a population increase of 5% per year, student population this year could amount to 12,799.

There are also profit and non-profit private elementary schools in Los Baños, with Maquiling School as the oldest private school owned and run by parents. Population statistics show that children 9 and below comprise a sizable 15% of the whole population of Los Baños.

It is ironic that with this great number of school children population, there is not one public library for children or adults in any of the 14 barangays of Los Baños! Moreover, all public elementary schools either do not have a library or are sorely lacking in books.

Who receives these books?

Church-related groups:

• Josiah's Place of the Evangelical Baptist Church (EBC, Bo. Batong Malaki) received additional books for their community extension through Christ the Good Shepherd Youth Centers along the "riles" (Bo. Anos), and Marymount Subdivision
  

Public schools in Los Baños:

• Lopez Elementary School (Bo. Batong Malaki)
• San Antonio Elementary School (Bo. San Antonio)
• Bagong Silang Elementary School (Bo. Bagong Silang)
• Paciano Rizal Elementary School (Bo. Putho-Tuntungin)
• Calara Elementary School (Carbern Village, Bo. Anos)
• National High School (Bo. Batong Malaki)

Private DECS-registered schools/learning centers:

• Kiddie Care Learning Center (Bo. Putho-Tuntungin)
  
• Hasik Elementary School (Bo. Bayog)
  

Thank you from Mailyn Redulla, 7 years old

Thank you from Mailyn Redulla (from 2007 report)

I am Mailyn Redulla, 7 years old, and in Grade 1. I would like to thank the people who gave me things for my schooling. Many thanks.

You are good to children like me. You are very kind. I will pray for you. I pray that you will be safe wherever you go and you will continue to help children like me.

Thank you.

In Filipino:

Ako po si Mailyn Redulla, 7 taong gulang, nasa unang baitang. Ako ay nagpapasalamat sa nagbigay ng gamit para sa aking pag-aaral. Maraming salamat sa inyo.


Napakabuti ninyo sa kagaya ko na mahirap. Ang bait po ninyo. Ipagdadasal ko kayo. Sana ay iligtas kayo saan man kayo naroroon at patuloy ang pagtuloy ninyo sa kagaya ko.


Marami pong salamat.

Thank you from San Antonio Elementary School

Here is a thank you letter from the mother of children donees at San Antonio Elementary School (from 2007 report):

I am Mrs. Myrna S. Redullo, the mother of three children who received school supplies. I would like to thank you for your help, whoever you are. You were used by the Lord.

Every year, I dream that there will be somebody to help my children in their schooling - even just one of them. It is extremely difficult for me to send them to school. I am not sure if I should be happy or not that my children are now in school, because I have 15 children. This is the first time I have received help for their schooling – just like my dream. So I am very thankful to you and to Mrs. C. Ilagan, the school principal.

I hope that you will help other children also with their school supplies. I know that you are helping other children like my children who are poor. For your help, I will frequently pray for all of you.

In Filipino:

Ako po si Mrs. Myrna S. Redullo, ang ina ng tatlong bata na napagkalooban ng kumpletong gamit pang iskuwela. Kung sino po kayo ako po ay taus pusong nagpapasalamat sa inyo. Kayo po ang naging daan na ipinagkaloob ng Panginoon.

Alam po ninyo, taon taon nangangarap ako sa aking mga anak sa isa man sa kanila ay magkaroon ng taong mapagaaral sila. Labis na po akong nahihirapan sa pagpapaaral sa kanila. Alam po ninyo hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ako o hindi, kasi po sa labing lima kong anak pa pinag-aral. Ngayon lang kami nakatanggap ng matagal ko ng pinangarap para sa anak ko. Kaya labis labis po akong nagpapasalamat sa inyo at kay Mrs. C. Ilagan (school principal).

Sana po hindi lang anak ko ang mabiyayaan ng ganito at alam ko po marami na po kayong natulungan na kagaya naming na kapos sa lahat ng bagay. At sa pagtulong ninyo sa kagaya naming at sa iba at sa bawat oras at araw, lagi po kayong ipagdarasal saan man kayo naroroon.