Project LaTAG: Dreaming of a more literate Philippines

Alvin Rex Lucero

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'We dream that someday, libraries will be common sights even in the most remote communities. One library in every community in the Philippines'

After finishing college, I felt I had nowhere to go. I just earned a degree in Political Science and Law School was quite uninviting that time. Like many college graduates, I was faced with uncertainty. I was in a crossroad and I knew that the decision I’d make would change the course of my life. I had two options – I can to pursue further studies and land in a high paying job or I can go back to my first love and let time pass. I chose the latter.

Reading was my first love. It had been a hobby since I was 3 years old and I considered books as my guiltiest pleasure. During that time after graduation, I encountered a deep longing to just be with sweet words written in old and musty pages. I needed to pick up my first love where I left it. I needed to go back.

Finally, the time came for me to execute my plan. I left Zamboanga City and went eastward. With just a backpack and a few clothes, I decided to settle in Pagadian City to start a quiet life.

The first two weeks were great. I had constant hops on coffee shops and restaurants, where I engaged myself with amazing gastronomical treats. My friends were just around the corner waiting for a go signal on where we’ll eat and drink next. I was living an exciting life and it disoriented me from what I was really supposed to do.

My days became bitter as I experienced the harsh realities of life. I lost some friends as I lost track of my finances. I couldn’t sustain a vain life full of luxuries and extravagance anymore. Without any income and with my daily spending, the money intended to fund my quest to be with my first love was gone. Thankfully though, this situation brought me to where I was supposed to be in the first place.

Finding my first love and more

I decided to start buying books from what was left of my money. Due to the sudden depletion of my budget, I found myself in the bargain section. On the first dive, I found a 1970 classic book by Stephen Covey entitled Seven Habits of Highly Effective People sold at PHP 99. I took it. Then I searched again.

I failed to find a book that suited my taste so I ended up exploring the shelf section instead. I was randomly rolling my eyeballs on the colorful books displayed in the shelf when a blue-colored paperback book caught my attention. It was The Pilgrimage by Paolo Coelho. I was a Coelho fan when I was in college and I collected all his books except for one The Pilgrimage. It was like luck guided the direction of my vision towards the sought-after literary piece.

The two books were extraordinary. They taught me that the choice I took on pursuing my first love was shallow but that it can be deepened. They ushered new ideas on how I can expand my plans to not just benefit myself but others as well. The ideas were incubated and a movement of promoting reading though generosity was hatched. Project LaTAG (Leadership Through Action and Giving) was born.

Books for all

Project LaTAG was intended to promote leadership and reading through giving. Our movement is simple yet effective. Our volunteers gather books and other educational materials from generous individuals and bring it to communities where reading is considered a privilege rather than a hobby. Project LaTAG identifies itself as a conduit between the generous and the child in need.

But our task does not end in delivering the donations. We also conduct reading sessions, story-telling and other workshops so the children can adapt to the culture of reading.

We have a vision. We dream that someday, libraries will be common sights in barrios like basketball courts that proliferate even in the most remote communities. One library in every community in the Philippines.

BETTER FUTURE. The 40 students from Dipili Elementary School supported by Project LaTAG. All photos from Alvin Lucero.

We were resolved with our goals until we realized that the money from donors were no longer sufficient for the ever-growing movement. We had to look for ways to generate funds for the organization. Great ideas were born out of our great time of need. In order to bring the advocacy closer to the youth and to help come up with enough money to fund Project LaTAG, we started Stelle Trainings. 

Stelle Trainings is an organization which specializes on equipping our youth to become agents of nation-building through capacity-building initiatives. We started formulating training modules and  designs geared toward youth leadership. We went from one school to another to present proposals.

Getting nods from school heads was hard specially since we were a new organization, but we eventually weathered the storm. After months of establishing our presence, we are now making ripples in Zamboanga del Sur.

Project LaTAG and Stelle Trainings continue to grow. After only a year, we were able to build a school library and train at least 1,200 student-leaders. We are also currently building 3 more libraries and supplying school needs to 55 children in Region IX.

My decision of pursuing reading grew to become a movement in the Zamboanga Peninsula. Now, it’s not just about reading for pleasure. It’s about teaching others how to read for them to have a better future.

Reading taught me to dream not only for myself but more importantly, for others. Now, I want to see a library in every community, and a more literate Philippines– Rappler.com

Alvin Rex Lucero is currently the Executive Coordinator of Project LaTAG and the Chief Training Officer of Stelle Trainings. He is from Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur. Interested to help ProjectLaTAG? Contact him at alvinrexmagbanualucero@gmail.com.

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