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Fourth-Gen Female Idol Makes Political Remark Sharply Opposing Lim Young Woong’s - KoreabooGETTING HIGH ON BOOKS The Tanggew: Community Library, Eco-Cultural Learning, and Resource Center recently facilitated book donations to the Sangguniang Kabataan of Barangay Ambasing in Sagada, Mountain Province, in time for the opening of a reading center in the upland village. —Photo from Tanggew Facebook page MANILA, Philippines — Libraries have played a pivotal role in shaping communities and civilizations, serving as gateways to acquiring knowledge and as cultural hubs that connect the past and present, ensuring that history and learning are passed down to future generations. But, reality check: according to a 2023 research report by the National Library of the Philippines (NLP), the total number of public libraries in the Philippines makes up only 3 percent of the ideal as prescribed by law. Most of these libraries are managed by the offices of the heads of local government units (LGUs), while other libraries are managed by various national and local government offices such as the National Library of the Philippines, Public Information Office, and local Tourism and Cultural Affairs agencies. A few more libraries in the country are under the management of civil society organizations or private or nonprofit organizations. The report also highlighted that while many libraries fall under the supervision of LGUs, they often lack the necessary resources and support to sustain the library’s operations. The NLP said there may be a need to clarify the role of public libraries in local government plans to help improve their sustainability and effectiveness in serving local communities. READ: The library’s place in a democracy Another study, the National Book Development Board 2023 Readership Survey, found that only 18 percent of the surveyed adults and 12 percent of the surveyed children were aware of public libraries within their cities or municipalities. Of these, only 51 percent of adults and 60 percent of children reported having visited these libraries. We talked to four such libraries—two public and two independent ones—to learn about the common challenges they face, how they work to help shape and empower their communities, and how these avenues for public learning can continue to play a role in national education, literacy, and community-building. As the highly urbanized home to a wide array of government offices, vocational schools, and educational institutions, including the main campuses of the University of the Philippines-Diliman and Ateneo de Manila University, and also among the wealthiest cities in the country, Quezon City has taken the right course of maintaining and supporting an active library for its residents. With around 32 branch libraries spread across the districts of Quezon City, including its main hub in City Hall, the Quezon City Public Library provides various activities for its many visitors. The main library continues to find ways to foster literacy and learning, such as conducting reading tutorials for students. Mariza Chico, the officer in charge of the Quezon City Public Library, said over 699 beneficiaries have benefited from program, which this year finally saw a standardized model for tutorials. “Public libraries serve as a source of credible information and a free force in developing literacy in communities,” said Chico. “As a center of information, public libraries not only provide equitable access to library materials, but also programs and activities that elevate the literacy level of people belonging to a particular community, especially those who are underserved.” Chico, who became officer in charge in 2020, recounted how even during the pandemic, the library was able to keep its community alive through the efforts of its staff and by providing online services such as tutorials and digital resources. PASSION FOR CULTURE, LETTERS IN LA UNION The Alfredo F. Tadiar Library, once the residence of the Tadiar family (left, top photo), now stands as a testament to its rich history, offering a space for various community activities and cultural events. —Photos from Alfredo F. Tadiar Library Facebook and Instagram accounts Developing a digitized library is ongoing, said Chico, to enable the institution to adapt to the fast-changing technological environment and to bring the benefits of the library’s resources to many more constituents. Visit QC Public Library FB page, email [email protected] , or visit Gate 3 City Hall Compound, Diliman, Quezon City, 1100 Metro Manila. Located in Tutuban Center Mall in Tondo, Manila, is the Sentro ng Karunungan Library, one of the affiliated public libraries of the National Library of the Philippines. On the mall’s third floor, past the shops and restaurants down below, the library is a quaint, quiet space with tables and desks for private reading and discussion, shelves of books and periodicals, and a coffee nook for visitors who would like to stay a little longer. After moving to its current location from an old facility in Tayuman, the library now focuses on providing a space for relaxation and learning for all sorts of visitors, from children with special needs to out-of-school youth. The library also offers digital literacy classes for senior citizens. Darwin Besorio, who started working at the library in 2018 and currently serves as the librarian in charge, wants Sentro to become the go-to review center for students and a sanctuary of other learning resources aside from books. CATCHING UP ON TECH The main Quezon City Public Library near City Hall is currently taking steps to become a rich source of both printed and digitized materials. —Erin Alcala “Students, out-of-school youth, senior citizens, children, and even informal settlers, they can all come to the library,” said Besorio, who recalled the challenging times they had promoting the library. The staff handed out flyers and visited schools to spread the word, and these days harness social media to continue to make the library present in the minds of readers and visitors. “I’m fighting for the library,” said Besorio. “For whatever it can give back to the community.” Visit Sentro ng Karunungan Library FB page, email [email protected] , call 0966-2640944, or visit 3F, TMX, Prime Block, Tutuban Center Mall, Tondo, Recto Avenue, Manila. The Tanggew: Community Library, Eco-Cultural Learning, and Resource Center was born out of countless cups of coffee and spirited discussions among a group of passionate individuals committed to making a difference in their community. Established in 2019 in Northern Sagada, Mountain Province, this community library was created to serve as a vibrant hub for learning, cultural exchange, and community empowerment. With 46 community volunteers, ranging from children to adults, Tanggew promotes collaboration and knowledge-sharing through various activities such as the Read Aloud Program and the establishment of community book pantries. Alma Toyoken, chair of Tanggew, said the initiative is focused on reviving the spirit of volunteerism in an era dominated by capitalism. At the heart of this vision is a deep commitment for the well-being of the communities in Northern Sagada and other indigenous communities of Mountain Province. RICH BREW FOR THE MIND A cup of coffee can make a good book even better. At Sentro ng Karunungan Library, visitors can take their pick among various blends in sachets. —Erin Alcala Tanggew is temporarily housed in one of the oldest homes in Barangay Bangaan, Sagada. The library’s resources are supported by partnerships with organizations like Library Hub Philippines and with local community members. Aside from using books as resources, Tanggew is looking to develop the concept of a human library, where older Sagada residents are treated as “living books” or oral historians who can share their firsthand knowledge of the region’s culture, history, and traditions. Visit Tanggew Community Library FB page, call 0915 -0282225, or visit House No. 189, Barangay Bangaan, Sagada, Mountain Province. To honor Alfredo F. Tadiar, a lawyer, educator, and a pioneer in alternative dispute resolution in the Philippines, his daughter, Neferti Tadiar, converted their family home into a library as a lasting tribute to her father’s legacy and commitment to education. Founded in 2017, the Alfredo F. Tadiar Library (AFTL) is an independent research and resource center in San Fernando, La Union. When it first opened, Neferti said the response was overwhelming, particularly from young creative individuals who expressed their longing for this type of space in the area. “I didn’t know there was that demand [for the library], that young people were looking for this,” she said. Neferti, also an educator, now serves as director of the AFTL. Like Tanggew, AFTL is supported by a dedicated group of volunteers. They organize regular community discussions and events, helping foster a vibrant, collaborative environment. AFTL also regularly hosts book launches, art exhibitions, and public forums, offering a platform for local artists and writers to share their work and engage with the community. SHELF LIFE (From left) Inside the Tanggew: Community Library, Eco-Cultural Learning, and Resource Center; Quezon City Public Library; and Sentro ng Karunungan Library. —Photos from Tanggew: Community Library, Eco-cultural Library, Learning and Resource Center facebook page and Erin Alcala The library’s strong social media engagement has helped it attract a diverse range of visitors, from locals and seasonal tourists to international guests. Its well-curated collection includes an extensive Filipiniana collection, making it a valuable resource for researchers and scholars. Said Neferti: “Libraries change people and empower people, because they give information [that allows] them to decide for themselves and to learn their own histories.” Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Visit Alfredo F. Tadiar Library FB page, email [email protected] , call (072)888 0795, or visit 1 F. Ortega Highway, San Fernando, La Union, Philippines.Homelessness much worse than before COVID leaves agencies battling a perfect storm

BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the gates of the capital and that government forces had abandoned the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The capture of Homs is a major victory for insurgents, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said Homs falling into rebel hands would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. For the first time in the country’s long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The rapid rebel gains, coupled with the lack of support from Assad's erstwhile allies, posed the most serious threat to his rule since the start of the war. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. In a statement issued late Saturday, the participants affirmed their support for a political solution to the Syrian crisis “that would lead to the end of military activity and protect civilians.” They also agreed on the importance of strengthening international efforts to increase aid to the Syrian people. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria; Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad; and Josef Federman and Victoria Eastwood in Doha, Qatar, contributed to this report.