Malaysian Government and Book Retailer Support Marawi Schoolchildren with Book Donation

CAGAYAN: In a collaborative effort to foster literacy and goodwill, the Malaysian government, in partnership with the Big Bad Wolf Books chain, has donated over 1,000 books to schoolchildren in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur province. Malaysian Ambassador Dato Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino highlighted the initiative’s aim to strengthen relations with the Philippines and enhance literacy rates in Mindanao during a symbolic book turnover event.

According to Philippines News Agency, this donation, facilitated through the Mindanao State University’s King Faisal Center for Islamic, Arabic, and Asian Studies, marks the beginning of a broader effort to extend book donations to schools across Mindanao. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has joined the project to identify additional schools in Lanao del Sur and beyond that would benefit from such donations. DSWD Undersecretary Fatimah Aliah Dimaporo emphasized the need for support in “torils,” boarding schools housing many disadvantaged children, including orphans, reliant on private contributions for educational materials. This initiative coincides with Big Bad Wolf Book’s 18-day sale event in the city, showcasing the company’s commitment to fostering a reading culture among the youth.