Kay Ngitngit Man Librohan, Little Free Library Charter No. 16075

Librohan is a favourite story that my nephews- Gio and Johann and my daughter Jea loves. It’s a happy story that they ask me to tell again and again. The story is about my brother and a Mickey Mouse watch. My father gave me that watch when I was in Grade One. Even though Mom practised me in telling the time, I still get nervous when someone asks the time. Thus Pops gave it to his favourite son, m

y baby brother who would wear the watch the moment he jumps out of bed. When asked what time it is, Caloy who was then barely two years old would wittily reply “ngitngit man” (meaning it’s dark). This delighted everyone who would again ask my brother the time. And so the punchline “ngitngit man”. I guess it’s ok to say nigtngit man if you’re a cute two year old, but not for someone who is grown-up and doesn’t know his ABCs and 123s. So this little free library, a happy place where kids can play and read books aims to promote literacy, a sense of community and the importance of staying in school. It’s also our little way of sharing our little corner on this earth, of sharing my Nook and my brother’s Kindle, here in the slum area of Tanke. Quotes:

“Here was one place where I could find out who I was and what I was going to become. And that was the public library.”- Jerzy Kosinski

“When you are growing up there are two institutional places that affect you most powerfully: the church, which belongs to God, and the public library, which belongs to you.”- Keith Richards