THE Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) has partnered with the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) to promote Philippine literature among Filipino youth overseas.
The CFO signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Thursday with the PBBY to establish a framework for engaging young Filipinos abroad through reading.
CFO Secretary Dante Ang II said the initiative serves as a “bridge” connecting Filipino literature to youth born and raised outside the country. It reinforces the CFO’s mandate to maintain cultural ties between overseas Filipinos and their motherland.
”My dream is to help the young members of the Filipino diaspora discover our rich literature through this partnership,” Ang said in a statement.
PBBY Chairman Paula Reyes said the partnership reflects a shared goal of making books accessible to all young Filipinos, regardless of their location globally.
The CFO said the MOU is aligned with its portfolio of cultural diplomacy programs designed to connect second- and third-generation Filipinos with their roots.
Ang and Marita Del Rosario-Apattad of the CFO’s Project Management Division signed the MOU, alongside Reyes and Frances Ong of the PBBY.
For children of immigrants, access to books mirroring their heritage is vital for identity formation, offering a tangible, immersive connection to their history that fleeting social media often lacks, the CFO said.
”This effort to nurture a reading culture with distinctly Filipino content comes amid global concerns about declining reading habits in an era dominated by instant digital media,” it added.
The CFO oversees Sentro Rizal, established under the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, which serves as the primary repository of Filipino art, culture and language resources located in Philippine embassies and consulates worldwide.
The CFO also conducts cultural immersion initiatives such as the Youth Leaders in the Diaspora (YouLead) platform. Through YouLead, second- and third-generation Filipino migrants are brought closer to Philippine history and culture.
