Holy Child Central Colleges, Inc. (HCCCI), as the host institution of Book Nook Surallah in partnership with the National Book Development Board (NBDB), formally opened its yearly community extension program Hibla Lokal 2025 on September 26 at the HCCCI Basic Education Campus. With the theme “Reading the Future,” the program reaffirms the institution’s long-standing commitment to advancing literacy, celebrating Filipino culture, and fostering inclusive community engagement.

The inaugural session welcomed 25 children from the National Child Development Center (NCDC) Libertad. These young learners participated in a carefully designed program that merged reading, cultural heritage, and practical life skills, reflecting HCCCI’s vision of transforming reading into a dynamic experience—one that cultivates imagination, strengthens values, and connects children with their cultural roots.

The morning began with Ms. Joy D. Jordan, LPT, Kindergarten teacher of the HCCCI Basic Education Department, who guided the children through introductory exercises and interactive warm-ups. This was followed by storytelling sessions led by Claris Parcon Anating, a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education first-year student of HCCCI, who narrated Lumpia Lane by Caitlin C. Wu and Grace D. Chong. Additional storytellers Arnelyn B. Antonio and Jeaneva P. Dela Rosa also enriched the program with narratives that introduced Filipino values such as kindness, responsibility, discipline, and respect.

Adding further depth, the Book Lovers Club Officers of the HCCCI Basic Education Department performed a role play of Dako Nga Yahong sang Batchoy by Jennie Arado, illustrated by Rayah Dizon-Maniago. Under the leadership of their President, Hershey S. Gumacal, and joined by Julia Marie Posada, Kathlyn Canionera, Nathan De Leon, Jerome F. Siva, Gian G. Trespeces, Louise Gold Jamero, Jade Dominique Supangan, Kyan Del Rosario Satur, Kylle Matahali, Kirstine Dacutanan, and Lorraine Gabriel Orleans, the group captivated their young audience with humor, character acting, and creative staging.

The event was hosted by Henry Joey Esperilla C., who kept the flow lively and engaging. Supporting the program were Major Officers: Mark Angelo B. Dizon, Joylyn M. Nuñez, Maria Fernanda C. Toledo, and Jia Mei S. Camiring, alongside the leadership of Head of the House, Ronniel S. Casiro. To ensure safety, Rose Anne Marsha G., Mission Assistant Nurse, closely monitored the activity and supported the facilitators.

The program’s second half emphasized experiential learning through food-based activities. In a pre-reading extension titled “Piliin ang Tamang Sangkap ng Lumpia,” the children identified correct and incorrect ingredients, promoting critical thinking, vocabulary building, and awareness of nutrition and food safety. This was followed by a hands-on lumpia-making activity where children, donning aprons, prepared their own rolls. While the cooking was handled by adults for safety, the act of wrapping and presenting their lumpia instilled lessons in patience, cleanliness, teamwork, and cultural pride.

Behind the scenes, the activity was spearheaded by the HCCCI Library under Rosecil S. Bayot, RL, MLIS, Head Librarian, with the support of Jade Mariel E. Morales, LPT, Stella Sherinne D. Collado, RL, and partner librarian Justine J. Feca, RL of Santo Nino College Foundation, Inc., along with faculty members Mariel C. Dalipe, LPT and Joy D. Jordan, LPT. Leadership support was also provided by Jack Robin A. Lacerna, MMEM, Book Nook Area Coordinator for Book Nook Surallah and Director, International Relations and External Linkages at HCCCI, and with active support and engagement of Lowel D. Pasinag, LPT, MMEM, Principal of HCCCI Basic Education Department, who ensured the alignment of the initiative with NBDB’s national goals and HCCCI’s internationalization thrust.

Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Hibla Lokal 2025 clearly demonstrates how grassroots literacy programs can advance global commitments. By promoting reading, creativity, and inclusive learning environments, the program fulfills SDG 4: Quality Education. The integration of nutrition and food safety in activities, such as lumpia-making, reflects SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, showing how literacy can intersect with wellness education. Through the preservation and celebration of Filipino stories, values, and cultural practices, Hibla Lokal strengthens SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, highlighting how local culture contributes to social cohesion and resilient communities. Finally, by instilling cooperation, respect, and civic values in children, the program nurtures SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, preparing young learners to grow into responsible and peace-loving citizens.

As an annual program, Hibla Lokal—strengthened through HCCCI’s role as host institution of Book Nook Surallah under NBDB—has become a defining extension initiative of the college. The first 2025 session with NCDC Libertad underscored its transformative power: children are not only reading stories but also living them through actions, reflections, and shared experiences that bind them to their heritage.

HCCCI, together with NBDB and Book Nook Surallah, continues to aspire to expand this initiative, recognizing how vital it is for Filipino children to see themselves represented in the books they read. Stories that mirror their culture, values, and daily lives give them identity and pride, affirming that their voices matter. Hibla Lokal remains a bridge toward a future where every Filipino child feels seen, valued, and empowered through the power of reading.