SM Foundation donates books to CdO public schools, daycare centers

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines - In line with the city’s celebration of its annual fiesta this weekend, the SM Foundation, Inc. together with Bato Balani Foundation as well as other partners launched on Thursday a "Donate-a-Book" event with public schools and daycare centers as beneficiaries. Christina S. Angeles, senior project manager of SM Foundation, Inc. said the distributed books came from shoppers, publishing companies, private schools, and other agencies. So far, 18 provinces, including Davao del Sur and Misamis Oriental, have been covered by the foundation’s book donation program this year. SM Prime, mother firm of the foundation, operates shopping complexes in Davao City and this city and has reportedly purchased land in recent months in Tagum City, Davao del Norte and Gen. Santos City for planned shopping malls. The city currently celebrates its annual fiesta simultaneously with the Kagay-an Festival that showcases the culture of Northern Mindanao’s indigenous communities. The festival has attracted many tourists in the past, but this year the celebration has been adversely affected by Moro rebel attacks in nearby Lanao del Norte last week. — Penny Lyn P. Cunanan, BusinessWorld