Boy Scouts Open Children’s Reading Hub in Manila

Boy Scouts Open Children’s Reading Hub in Manila

Manila Mayor Lacuna-Pangan Praises Initiative

MANILA (22 May 2024) – Today Boy Scouts of America Troop 351, from Metro Manila, opened a new children’s reading hub at Antonio A. Maceda Elementary School in Sampaloc, Manila City.

The reading hub was the Eagle Scout service project of Benjamin P. Rush, an American citizen who was born and raised in Manila.

“One of the best ways to develop our minds and provide ourselves with vast information is through reading,” said the Honorable Mayor of Manila, Maria Sheilah “Honey” H. Lacuna-Pangan in a statement. “That makes our teachers and children here in Maceda Elementary School so blessed with today’s inauguration of the new Reading Hub through the generosity of the Eagle Scout Service led by Mr. Rush.”

“Even though I have a U.S. passport, Manila has really been my home growing up,” said Benjamin. “I’ve had a fortunate upbringing with lots of educational opportunities, but living in Manila my whole life I’ve also been aware that many children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds don’t have the opportunities I do.”

“Through this project I’m happy that our troop can provide more children in Manila with better access to quality books and reading materials, and give back to the Metro Manila community,” he added.

As part of the project, the scout troop led a drive for book donations, culminating in over 1,000 books for the new reading hub. Under the guidance of his scout mentor, Jedediah Estiandan, and his scout master Angelo Manarang, Benjamin also constructed bookshelves for the reading hub, and stocked the room with other furniture and educational games to create a child-friendly learning environment.

He said he wanted to create a space that’s fun for young students to help reinforce a love of reading and learning.

The host school of Boy Scouts of America Troop 351, International School Manila (ISM), donated books and furniture for the hub, and through this initiative, Maceda School has become a new recognized service partner of ISM, creating opportunities for fundraising and material support to maintain the reading hub and address other priority needs identified by the school.

At the reading hub inauguration, Benjamin highlighted the strong support of outgoing Maceda Elementary School Principal Jinabell Preito, new school principal Dr. Danilo B. Estavillo, and other school staff who supported and championed the idea of expanding the availability of books for Maceda’s young primary students.

Benjamin Rush has been involved in scouting since he was five years old. Prior to pursuing his Eagle Badge, he had previously earned the Arrow of Light, Cub Scouting’s highest award, and the Supernova Award, which recognizes superior achievements by scouts in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). He is currently the Assistant Troop Leader of Troop 351.