Many major cities in the world have their public libraries, and they boast them as an important part of their community life and public identity. Malolos should have one!

More than malls and cafes, we need public spaces which promote literacy and knowledge, culture and history, and a sense of community. Establishing a public library will provide us that very much needed space. 

 

 

 

Malolos has a historically literary character. It is the birthplace of many men and women of letters and the arts. The great Marcelo H. del Pilar found Malolos as a town which became an audience to many of his written works. It was the site of many struggles, not only armed, but also of the intellect. The 21 Women of Malolos courageously asked that they be allowed to study the Spanish language by establishing their own school. Jose Rizal, upon the request of del Pilar, wrote a letter to these brave women expressing his admiration and support for their eagerness to bring literacy upon themselves and ultimately to all the Filipina.

 

 

 

It was the birthplace of the Universidad Literaria de Filipinas in 1899 which the University of the Philippines today can take its revolutionary roots from the time of the First Philippine Republic in Malolos and Barasoain.

Moreover, Malolos was the proud hometown of Prof. Gabriel A. Bernardo, recognized as the Doyen of Filipino Librarians and the Father of Philippine Librarianship, who painstakingly rebuilt the UP Library System from the ashes of World War II and promoted the professionalization of library science in the country. 

We ought to live up with the literary character and tradition of our city! Establishing a public library serves both symbolic and practical purpose for this literary endeavor. 

 

 

 

With the transfer of the City Government from the old Commonwealth Era Town Hall in the Malolos Heritage District to the MacArthur Highway, we urge the public and the local government to transform the old building into a public library. To house the city public library is the most fitting purpose for such a historic and architecturally significant structure. 

We are strongly putting forward the cause and the case for a public library in the City of Malolos! 

Images used: 

Old Malolos City Hall By Judgefloro - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, httpscommons.wikimedia.orgwindex.phpcurid=36384216

Barasoain Church from https://www.zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=File:Barasoain_Church_San_Gabriel,_Malolos_City,_Bulacan.jpg