46th IB partners with Kiwanis International to distribute books to Samar schools

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
June 21, 2007

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  The 46th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, led by Lt. Col Luis Vincent Tacderas based in San Jorge, Samar has partnered with the Kiwanis International and Asia Books Foundation to distribute 11 boxes of library books to schools in Samar.

In a simple distribution ceremony for Kiwanis Book Bank Project, Marit Stinus-Remonde, Secretary of Division IA (Cebu and Bohol) a Danish national who is the wife of Cerge Remonde spearheaded the distribution.

Kiwanis International is a thriving organization of service and community-minded individuals who support children and young adults around the world. More than 600,000 Kiwanis-family members in 96 countries make their mark by responding to the needs of their communities and pooling their resources to address worldwide issues, said Ms. Remonde.

Ms. Milagros Fabilonia, principal of San Jorge Central Elementary School accepted the books for her 700 pupils.

Fabilonia said that the book-giving was very timely for the books issued to them by DepEd were damaged with the flooding late last year.

It was Tacderas who facilitated the distribution since it was him who was introduced to Remonde during the Asean Summit in Cebu. Tacderas then expressed his desire to bridge between Samar schools and Kiwanis for the noble purpose.

Aside from San Jorge, Daram, Matuginao and San Jose de Buan were also recipients of the books.

Remonde said that this event is under the Kiwanis Book Bank Project. The project does not require any counterpart from intended beneficiaries, it is just required that they have, and maintain a library.

Aside from distributing books, Kiwanis is also committed to support health and nutrition program that could otherwise affect children and their development.