LINKS Philippines

10/08/2026

❤️ THE MOMENT WE’LL CARRY HOME | IBBY–ASAHI READING PROMOTION AWARD 2026

We stood on the stage in Ottawa holding an award that, in truth, belongs to so many people. 🇵🇭📚❤️

Our President, Ms. Maria Consuelo “Ningning” Doble, accepted the 2026 IBBY–Asahi Reading Promotion Award on behalf of LINKS Philippines and delivered our acceptance speech before the international IBBY community.

From Asahi Shimbun and IBBY, we received the shūgi-bukuro, our diploma as the award winner, and the certificate for the USD 10,000 prize that comes with this recognition.

But behind these certificates and this award is a 10-year journey.

A journey made possible by every LINKS volunteer who sorted books, painted libraries, facilitated activities, traveled to communities, carried boxes, read stories, and gave their time and heart to children.

By every teacher, parent, school, community, donor, partner, and supporter who believed in what we were building.

By every child who opened a book and discovered that there was a whole world waiting inside.

This award may carry the name LINKS Philippines, but the story behind it carries all of your names. ❤️

To everyone who has walked with us over the past 10 years: this moment is yours, too.

Thank you for believing in books.
Thank you for believing in children.
Thank you for believing in LINKS.

🇵🇭 From the Philippines to the world, we accept this honor with grateful hearts—and we keep going.

Ten years brought us here.

And this is only the beginning. 📚✨

Thank you, IBBY International, IBBY Philippines, IBBY Canada, Asahi Shimbun, the NCCA, City Government of Baguio, Consulate General of the Republic of San Marino - Philippines and everyone who made this moment possible.

09/08/2026

❤️ 𝐈𝐁𝐁𝐘 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 | 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

Day 2 was filled with learning, meaningful connections, and growing anticipation. 📚🌎

Our LINKS delegates attended “𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴,” gaining valuable perspectives on making space for Indigenous voices and stories in children’s literature.

We were also honored to have a short meeting with 𝗠𝘀. 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗯, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗜𝗕𝗕𝗬-𝗶𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿, and to share a meaningful conversation with fellow advocates for children and reading.

We were especially grateful for the opportunity to be interviewed by 𝗔𝘀𝗮𝗵𝗶 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗺𝗯𝘂𝗻, the award-giving body behind the 𝗜𝗕𝗕𝗬–𝗔𝘀𝗮𝗵𝗶 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱. Thank you to 𝗠𝗿. 𝗗𝗮𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝗡𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗶, 𝗠𝘀. 𝗦𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗼, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝘀. 𝗡𝗮𝗼𝗸𝗼 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗻𝗼 of JBBY for taking the time to hear the story of LINKS, Hooked on Books, and the communities behind our journey.

As we prepared for the awarding ceremony, we couldn't help but think of the 𝟭𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 who brought us to this moment.

This was more than preparing for an award. It was preparing to carry 𝟭𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲. 🇵🇭❤️

And the big moment was just around the corner. ✨

07/08/2026

07/08/2026

🇨🇦 IBBY World Congress 2026 | Day 1

Our first day at the 40th IBBY World Congress was filled with inspiring voices and new ideas. 📚🌏

We were especially excited to meet and reconnect with fellow Filipino delegates here in Ottawa. 🇵🇭❤️ It is such a wonderful feeling to see Filipinos coming together and representing the Philippines in this global gathering of people who share a love for children’s books, reading, and literacy.

Day 1 opened with a powerful and inspiring ceremony led by Jay Odjick, followed by a full day of inspiring speakers, resource persons, and conversations from around the world.

Our LINKS delegates attended sessions including:
📚 Inclusive Classrooms and Libraries: Best Practices�🎧 Hear The Future: Listening to Young Voices to Reimagine Children’s Media for a Sustainable World
Each session gave us new perspectives and ideas to bring home as we continue building libraries and reading programs that respond to the needs and voices of children.

In the afternoon, we were especially proud to attend the IBBY-iREAD Awarding Ceremony, where our President, Maria Consuelo “Ningning” Doble, received her diploma as a nominee for the IBBY-iREAD Award. ❤️📜

From learning alongside fellow advocates from around the world to proudly meeting fellow Filipinos, Day 1 was a beautiful reminder that our work in the Philippines is part of a much bigger movement for children, books, reading, and imagination.

And this is only the beginning! ✨
Stay tuned for more stories and moments from the IBBY World Congress!

06/08/2026

🇨🇦 IBBY World Congress 2026 | Day 0

What an unforgettable start to our journey at the 40th IBBY World Congress!

Yesterday, we arrived at Carleton University, completed our congress registration, and were overwhelmed with joy to find the official congress flyer in our registration kit announcing LINKS Philippines as the 2026 IBBY–Asahi Reading Promotion Award recipient.

Seeing our exhibit proudly displayed at the Nicols Building alongside our fellow nominees, and exploring the inspiring exhibits at both the Nicols Building and Richcraft Hall, made this moment even more meaningful. As we walked through the exhibits, we couldn't help but reflect on the journey that brought us here—a journey built by countless hands and hearts over the past ten years.

This moment would not have been possible without the dedication of every volunteer who has given their time, talents, and love to our mission throughout the last decade. Every book sorted, every library painted, every story read aloud, every activity facilitated, and every child encouraged to read has become part of this recognition. This honor belongs as much to our volunteers as it does to LINKS Philippines.

Our hearts are full of gratitude. Thank you to IBBY International, IBBY Philippines, IBBY Canada, Asahi Shimbun, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the City Government of Baguio, the Consulate General of the Republic of San Marino – Philippines, Primex Printers, Millie Monday, GlobalLink MP Philippines, and the many friends, partners, donors, and supporters—including those who wish to remain anonymous—who have believed in our mission from the very beginning.

This recognition belongs to everyone who has walked this journey with us. Together, we continue to prove that when a community believes in children, stories have the power to change lives.

06/08/2026

From the Philippines to the world. 🇵🇭📚

Seeing our award and nomination banners proudly exhibited at the 40th IBBY World Congress in Ottawa fills our hearts with gratitude. We feel so welcomed, celebrated, and inspired. 💙

If you're at the Congress, visit the exhibit at the Nicols Building until August 9!

Thank you to the organizers for making us feel so at home.

25/07/2026

📚✨ Five days of learning, sharing, and inspiration at Room to Read’s Aklat Lunduyan: National Training of Community Librarians in Bacolod City!

As participants from LINKS Philippines, we are grateful for the opportunity to learn from fellow community librarians, book champions, and literacy volunteers from across the country. From understanding the child reader and building reading habits to practicing read-aloud techniques and designing engaging library spaces, every session gave us new ideas to bring back to the communities we serve.

We were also honored to meet National Artist for Dance Agnes Locsin and hear the inspiring stories and experiences of community librarians working to bring books and reading closer to Filipino children.

A special thank you to Sir Al Santos for inviting LINKS Philippines to be part of this meaningful gathering. 💙

Madamo gid nga salamat sa buong team ng Room to Read and sa organizers. Thank you for bringing together people who continue to believe in the power of libraries, books, and communities to nurture young readers.

We go home inspired, grateful, and even more committed to building communities where children can read, imagine, create, belong, and dream. 📖✨

25/07/2026

Thank you, IBBY International, for this beautiful feature and for celebrating the work of LINKS Philippines. ❤️

We are deeply grateful to IBBY PH for believing in our work and nominating us for this award. Without your support, this recognition would not have been possible. ❤️📚

We can’t wait to see you and all the other participants next week in Ottawa! 🇨🇦

07/07/2026

Thank you, Tosot Philippines 🥰