The Philippine Embassy in Muscat recently established a Filipiniana library/reading room. The embassy hopes to create a deeper awareness and appreciation of Philippine culture and heritage among the Filipino community in Oman, especially the young people, by providing a place where they can read and borrow books about Philippine history, arts and culture, literature, religion, economy, government, and others. The embassy also aims to enhance the country’s image and goodwill by opening the library to the local community in Oman.

While the ultimate goal is to have an e-library which will be linked to similar institutions in the Philippines, the Embassy is trying to raise a sizeable collection of books and other printed materials by inviting donations from various foundations and organizations. During his official trip to the Philippines to attend the Regional Consultation Meeting for Middle East and Africa posts, Ambassador Joselito A. Jimeno campaigned for the embassy’s ‘Donate a Book’ project, where he was able to gather at least 100 titles for the embassy’s Filipiniana library.

The University Library of the University of the Philippines Diliman, National Historical Commission of the Philippines, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Ayala Foundation’s Filipinas Heritage Library were among the book donors.