This bookworm is a man for others

“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” — Dr. Seuss, I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! children’s book (1978)

Today’s young generation is amazingly technologically-savvy. Look around and see boys and girls surfing the Internet; observe how they embellish their mobile phones with the latest gadgets and accessories, and watch how people play heart-stopping video games like there is no tomorrow. Some parents are alarmed by the “high-tech” revolution. They see it as a problem because their children are not reading books anymore. But I believe that modern technology and reading can co-exist with a lot of guidance from parents and teachers in school. I also believe that there should be more effort to encourage reading these days. I also believe that modern technology cannot replace the experience, the joy, the knowledge derived from reading books.

This is the mission that lawyer Francis Padua-Papica would like to achieve for his countrymen — to uplift the love of reading books. A Bicolano based in the US, Francis has a lucrative career as a junior partner at Nordstrom, Steele, Nicolette, Blythe, & Jefferson Law Offices in Los Angeles, California. Francis could have splurged his earnings for personal luxuries like houses, cars and foreign travels but he opted to find a more meaningful way to spend his fortune. Francis knew he had a mission to fulfill in life. He decided to go back and share his skills and money with the children in Bicol.

In 1997, he established the Francis Padua-Papica Foundation, Inc. (FPPFI) to educate and empower the Filipino youth through various scholarships and livelihood projects. The Foundation has also incorporated the twin advocacy of literacy and leadership.

The Foundation’s Read to Live program is designed to supplement libraries in the rural areas and to promote literacy in the Philippines by increasing the children’s interest in reading books. Francis frequently travels back to the country despite his haywire schedule at his US-based law office. He visits distant schools where he distributes books and encourages schoolchildren to read. “Reading is important. It’s for everyone and not just for the nerds. Reading broadens the vocabulary and more importantly contributes to how people think about themselves and the world. Not everyone can afford to travel to learn about life first-hand. Most of the time, it’s only through the pages of books that people can reach all corners and cultures of the world,” Francis explains.

The Papica Foundation has launched a national short story writing contest by kids and for kids called Mga Kwentong Pambata ng Papica Foundation. Now on its second year, this year’s contest theme is Bayani ng Bayan Ko! (The Hero of My Town). Kids between nine and 12 years old can submit a story about a person who made a great influence on them and their town. Anyone can become a hero. Even an ordinary man on the street can be a hero with his valuable contributions to the community.

Francis attributes his successful life to his good reading habit which was honed while he was growing up. He is a self-confessed bookworm who enjoyed frequent visits to the library when he was a student. Francis leads by example and hopes that children will emulate and develop a keen interest in reading. “The only reason they sometimes do not succeed in life is because they lack direction and opportunity. What’s important is for kids to realize that they can make a difference,” Francis says.

Francis is a born achiever. He was a high school valedictorian at St. Paul Academy in Goa, Camarines Sur. He served as a student leader and received various citations and awards for his exemplary achievements in school. After high school, his family migrated to the US.

His path to public service was influenced by the tragic loss of his father while they were abroad. Being the oldest in the brood of three, he worked as a janitor to augment the family income. “It was a very humbling but worthwhile experience. We had no money and we had to survive. I had to work harder both in the workplace and at school to be able to qualify for scholarships. Otherwise, I would never have finished school,” he says. Francis’ hard work paid off when he graduated cum laude from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in History. He was also a Ford and Mellon Foundation Scholar and a recipient of Chancellor Marshall Award in recognition of his outstanding university and community service. He later attended Law School at Syracuse University in New York where he also graduated cum laude.

His dedication and unparalleled service to his countrymen was acknowledged when he became a Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Bayaning Pilipino awardee in 2004. Francis remains humble despite the accolades and achievements he received.

Who knows the future movers and shakers of our nation will emerge from the Mga Kwentong Pambata ng Papica Foundation short story writing contest winners?