The Iloilo City government proudly inaugurated the Molo Plaza Outdoor Library, marking the establishment of the city’s second outdoor library.
Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas, gracing the event as both a city leader and a mother, brought her daughter, Thea, to highlight the belief that when children are introduced to reading at a young age, their love for it naturally grows.
“Kanami gid ini nga proyekto kay bal-an man naton, ang mga kabataan subong indi na mahilig magbasa. Pero kon may mga open spaces kita, may mobile library kita, diri naton matudluan ang mga kabataan paano magbasa (We are excited about this project because we want to make sure that children are able to read and write. If we have open spaces, we have mobile libraries, we can teach kids how to read),” Treñas said.
“Collaboration is key to the outdoor library’s success.”
The lady mayor also highlighted the spirit behind the project, noting that collaboration is key to its success. The new space was constructed through the skilled craftsmanship of the Technical Institute of Iloilo City and made possible by the generous support of private partners and donors.
According to Joseph Martin Salas-Daza, whose family helped put up the library, it is dedicated to Lucrecia Layson Segovia, former librarian of the US Information Services (USIS) Iloilo, and Dr. Salvador T. Salas, a former city councilor and an avid reader.
Molo District, once revered as the “Athens of the Philippines” for its legacy of renowned scholars and leaders, serves as a fitting location for this literacy initiative.
The outdoor library stands beside the statue of pioneering Filipina suffragist and Ilongga Pura Villanueva Kalaw, further strengthening the district’s cultural and historical identity.
“Hopefully this little nook will become a contribution to a ‘city that reads’.”
“It is our hope that more people, especially the youth, will come, visit, and read here, and discover a new world of books and learning,” Salas-Daza said. “Hopefully this little nook will become a contribution to a ‘city that reads’.”
To note, the first outdoor library stands at Plaza Libertad in the City Proper, which opened in June.
The outdoor libraries form part of the City Government’s continuing efforts to promote literacy, encourage love for reading among the youth, and bring educational resources closer to the community.
