The grandchildren of the late Cagayan de Oro Newsman Bienvenido “Ben” V. Emata Jr. is giving back to his home province of Misamis Oriental.
Dubbed Chapters of Change, the project entails the deployment of a mobile library dedicated to promoting literacy and igniting a passion for reading in underserved communities in the Philippines.
The ideas started from the grandchildren of Emata, Arianna and Oliver Emata Horsup, who have been regular visitors to Misamis Oriental. the home province of their grandparents.
Having the opportunity to travel across Mindanao, Visayas, and Luzon, they were stunned by the children’s interest to read, play and interact despite not having access to a library.
(photo courtesy of Stella Maries Emata Horsup)
“What initially began as an idea is now evolving into a reality. Turning pages, transforming lives – this is our story, “ said Arianna, the 14-year old president of Chapters of Change. Listen to more of Arianna’s journey from this video.
In an online post shared by the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, Arianna’s father, David Horsup, spoke highly of his daughter, and how she spent her summer vacation learning how to start a charity, Chapters of Change.
(Pictures courtesy of Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation)
“I remember shortly after we got back, Arianna mentioned she would like to help the children in these villages. She wanted to send books over and potentially set up a library. As we discussed this as a family we landed on the idea of setting up a mobile library service that would travel to remote villages providing them with access to books,” shared David. “She then decided she wanted to formalize this as a charity, so spent her remaining summer vacation researching how to set up a 501(C)(3).”
“We are happy to announce the launching of Chapters of Change Mobile Library on June 27, 2024 (Thursday), at Bird’s Nest Sanctuary,” said Lawyer Carl Cesar Rebuta, Chapters of Change board member. “On June 28, we kicked off for the barangay, school, and community visits of the Mobile Library in Brgy Pagawan Barangay Hall in Manticao with the SK and Pagayawan Barangay Council.”
Majority of the books are donated by famous children’s book authors of the US and from the school book drive.
“The focus is to improve literacy primarily of children, but it can also extend to young adults in remote parts of the Philippines,” David noted. “We are trying to help families break the cycle of poverty. If they don’t have access to resources, it is difficult for them to learn to read and ultimately get a good education. It is difficult for them to break this cycle.”
“Everything starts with reading, so if we can encourage learning through creating a passion for reading by giving them access to fun and quality material, we can potentially inspire their educational journey, and break the cycle of poverty for their families,” he added.
Bienvenido Valmores Emata, Jr. was born in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, Philippines on July 25, 1936. A journalism graduate, his newspaper the Mindanao Reporter was shut down with the declaration of martial law on September 21, 1972 and he had to pursue various livelihoods to keep his family afloat.
When he eventually became editor of the oldest newspaper in Mindanao, Ang Bag-ong Katarungan, a weekly newspaper based in Cagayan de Oro City, he got entangled with 52 cases of criminal libel, but prevailed after a five year legal battle. Meantime, he also became a newscaster-production manager of Newscope, the city’s first nightly TV newscast, and a radio station commentator with DXOR AM radio.
In 1986, Ben established his own weekly newspaper, The Headliner. The Manila-based national People’s Journal, took him as its provincial correspondent covering northern Mindanao when another national daily, Malaya, offered him a better income and benefits as its provincial correspondent for the same territory.
Ben was the recipient of the “Most Outstanding Editor of Region 10 Award” from the Federation of Provincial Press Clubs of the Philippines; “Most Outstanding Achievement Award” from the Philippine Army, “Most Outstanding Award” from the Philippine Constabulary, plus several others.
In 1989, he and his family immigrated to the USA where he got employed with the county assessor’s office in the County of Santa Clara, until his retirement 14 years later. In San Jose, California, where he settled, he studied paralegal and graduated with honors as a dean’s lister.
As paralegal, he handled immigration cases such as asylum, labor certification, permit to work, filing of petitions of alien relatives and citizenship, uncontested divorce and drafting of all legal forms.
In 1991, he put up the Filipino-American Headliner, the only Filipino-edited publication in the world-famous Silicon Valley. His “The Striker” became one of two regular columns in The Asian newspaper based in San Francisco. In the South Bay, he founded the Filipino-American Press Club of Silicon Valley and became its president for two terms.
Ben passed on March 1, 2018.
His former colleague in Newscope, Ann Gorra, wrote the following elegy on his online Tribute Wall.
“You will be missed, Ben. I always admired your tenacity and your work ethic. You embraced life whether in hardship or in wealth. You were resourceful and creative in finding ways to achieve your goal especially when it comes to raising your family. I will always remember, with fondness, your battered motorcycle, which was your service vehicle in Cagayan de Oro.”
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