Pinoy books donated to migrant workers' library in Israel

Philippine officials in Israel turned over at least 30 books donated by Adarna Publishing House Inc. in Manila to the Migrant Workers' library in Tel Aviv. Ambassador Petronila Garcia gave the books to Arteam Chairman Hadas Ophrat for the library near Tachana Mercazit (central bus station). "This new donation is composed mainly of children's books written in Filipino, including 'Noli Me Tangere,' 'El Filibusterismo' and 'Bantayog: Rediscovering Manila's Monument,' a publication of the Foreign Service Institute," the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a news release on its website. Ophrat noted that the Philippine Embassy is the first to donate books to the library, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. Arteam is an organization that collects books and reading materials from different countries through donations from government agencies and private companies. It is a non-profit organization composed of Israeli artists that spearheaded the establishment of the library near Tachana Mercazit (Central Bus Station). The DFA noted that the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) had previously donated some books for the library. The DFA said the library is open to the public, particularly to the migrant workers in Israel. "Its purpose is to encourage migrant workers and their children to read & discover other cultures, and learn more about their own cultural heritage," the DFA said. Garcia said that this endeavor is part of the Embassy's plans and programs for 2011 - plans to promote Philippine culture not only to Israelis, but also to children of migrant workers who may have little or no knowledge at all of their cultural heritage and roots. — AYA/TJD, GMA News