National LiteratureMonth
One of the sad realities that we face nowadays is that we have lesser time reading books. Gadgets, computers, and other mobile devices seemed to have invaded our culture and way of living that our fondness for literature has also been dwindling as years pass by.
While recognizing this as a challenge, each person is highly encouraged to develop a daily reading habit whether it is the newspaper or a book that can spark the intellect and imagination of its reader. Proclamation No. 968, s. 2015 declaring the month of April of every year As “National Literature Month” signed on February 10, 2015 states that “national literature plays an important role in preserving and inspiring the literature of today and in introducing to future generations the Filipino values that we have inherited from our ancestors.”
According to the abovementioned proclamation, the month of April marks the commemoration of the Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar Day, and the birth and death anniversaries of literary pillars like Emilio Jacinto, Paciano Rizal, Nick Joaquin, Edith Tiempo, and Bienvenido Lumbera and
other international literary celebrations like the International Children’s Book Day, International Day of the Book or World Book Day, and World Intellectual Property Rights Day are held in April of every year.
The initiative of the Anak Kapampangan, a group of working students from the province, was inspired from the community pantry first set-up in Maginhawa, Quezon City.
It aims to feed the hungry by providing in-kind assistance to needy persons while also encouraging others who have means to donate anything they can.
"My friends and I pooled our extra money to buy goods that we can share to the needy. I also posted the idea on Facebook which encouraged more friends to join the advocacy and share their blessings to others," said Anak Kapampangan President and Apalit Community Pantry prime mover Jed Yutuc.
As of Monday morning, several goods such as vegetable, eggs, biscuits, canned goods, milks and noodles are available for free at the community pantry.
Yutuc is hopeful that the pantry will be sustained through the bayanihan of the people, both givers and takers.
"As said by the pantry's motto, we hope people with financial mean can donate what they can while our beneficiaries only get what they need. We will never know what joy can we give to others with the simple things we donate," he said.