Philippine 'library home' stacked with books to encourage reading

MANILA — "A good book is easy to find" reads the sign on Hernando Guanlao's two-storey home located on the outskirts of the Philippines' main financial district which he has turned into a public library where anyone can borrow books for free.

Called the Reading Club 2000, Guanlao's library showcases a wide variety of books that he hopes will encourage reading, especially among the young, at a time when reading standards among Philippine students remains low.

"The books that one can see here are those used in K-12 (elementary), novels which students and enthusiasts can make use of," said Guanlao, 72, at his home crammed with thousands of books in stacks.

"There are also spiritual books for those who are looking for religious knowledge, hardbound and softbound books, autobiographies, and many different genres that one can enjoy, all for free."

Starting as a 50-book display on the sidewalk fronting his home more than two decades ago, Guanlao's collection has grown exponentially over the years, thanks to a steady supply of books from donors, some of whom opted to stay anonymous.

"They just leave boxes of books outside my house," said Guanlao, who has also started shipping reading material to public schools in far-flung communities.

Philippine students are facing learning setbacks, with mathematics, science and reading scores among the lowest in the world, according to the Programme for International Student Assessment.

Guanlao said: "My mission is to give away used and donated books to others at no cost and to promote education through literature."

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