Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treรฑas proposes the establishment of shrines in different parts of the city honoring of heroic Ilonggos.
The Iloilo City Public Library (ICPL) is now housed at Dr. Graciano Lopez Jaena Learning Resource Center and Museum, named after the noble son of Jaro, situated in his former home in Fajardo Street.
Lopez Jaena was an editor and orator whose writings and literary works rallied against Spanish invaders.
"After this, we will have an Avanceรฑa shrine and library in Arevalo. We will allow the younger generation to know more about the important persons in their districts who contributed a lot to our lives today. We are what we are because of what they did for us during their time," Treรฑas stressed.
This will pay tribute to Arevalo's pride Ramon Avanceรฑa, the former chief justice of Supreme Court.
With the redevelopment of the La Paz plaza in the works, Mayor Treรฑas revealed that it will also host a library.
City Librarian Marion Aguirre said they have purchased new books to be delivered soon. This, after they have updated the collections and to return to stockroom the worn-out and unserviceable ones.
Aguirre said there have been many requests for ICPL to open on Saturdays. She added the plan to extend the weekday services will be presented to the mayor for approval.
They also entertains online queries via their Facebook page. It promotes love for reading among children and helps students in their research.
ICPL joined the World Read Aloud Day Febuary 2 with Iloilo River Plains Integrated School as representative. They also sent the recorded presentation to LitWorld, an international organization based in New York, USA.
ICPL proposed to the mayor to join the 63rd Public Library Day of the National Library of the Philippines. Its proposal is in lieu with the 2022 Istoryafest in collaboration with Philippine Librarian Association Inc.-Western Visayas Region Librarians Council (PLAI-WVRLC).
"We will compile our online videos and show the films to all pediatric vax sites for kids to learn and be entertained," said Aguirre.
Text and Photos Courtesy of the Iloilo City PIO and Mayor Jerry Treรฑas FB Page