I was in my fifth grade when I first appreciate the comeliness of my school library. I started spending my afternoon there instead of my usual play on the raucous narrow street in my community. I don’t care if I miss the grouchy voice of the old lady who lives beside our home and loves to yell on us, due to the loud voices of my playmates (okay, including mine). I don’t mind them at all because I found a serene place where SILENCE becomes music to my ears.
I became familiar with the three school librarian; the arts teacher who I found out later, also a resident of my neighborhood, his office was located upstairs. inside the library and some male students (including my cousin) who actively participate in arts club.
Going over the mass of canvas, posters and streamers hanging around the arts club, and of course pictures of the previous leaders of my beloved country and historical places, I must say that our library was the very first museum I’ve been too.
But silly me, I don’t recall myself reading inside my then favorite hang-out. However, I do remember me browsing books from Filipiniana Section, I leaf through the pages of history and social studies books and wasn’t aware that eight years from that time, I am going to be socially aware and be active in the real sociology sense of the word.