What is BKP?
BKP is an acronym for Bagong Kulturang Pilipino, a Tagalog phrase which translates to “the new culture of Filipinos.” We are a non-profit organization, driven through the efforts of volunteers, to benefit the poverty-stricken children of the Philippines.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to develop a reading culture and promote literacy among Filipino children in the poverty-stricken areas of the Philippines. Our goal is to help Filipino children acquire proficiency in the English language and develop critical communication skills that will provide them with better opportunities in the the future for economic, social and civic advancement in their lives.
OUR OBJECTIVES
We believe that children will become better readers when they develop an interest in reading and begin to read regularly. We also hope that participants will become proficient in English, which is predominantly used in the government, academic, commerce and business world in the Philippines and most countries in the world. The acquisition of good reading skills and proficiency in English will be these children's ticket to better economic, social, and civic lives in the future.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to develop a reading culture and promote literacy among Filipino children in the poverty-stricken areas of the Philippines. Our goal is to help Filipino children acquire proficiency in the English language and develop critical communication skills that will provide them with better opportunities in the the future for economic, social and civic advancement in their lives.
OUR OBJECTIVES
We believe that children will become better readers when they develop an interest in reading and begin to read regularly. We also hope that participants will become proficient in English, which is predominantly used in the government, academic, commerce and business world in the Philippines and most countries in the world. The acquisition of good reading skills and proficiency in English will be these children's ticket to better economic, social, and civic lives in the future.
ABOUT BKP - California
Bagong Kulturang Pilipino, Inc. is a registered non-profit organization whose overarching mission is to develop a reading culture among Filipino children in poverty-stricken areas in the Philippines. BKP California is a west coast chapter of the originally founded BKP Massachussetts by Rowena Jimenez. According to Ms. Jimenez, she founded this organization "as a personal dream that snowballed into a vision shared by many people." A dream that started over ten years ago, after visiting the Philippines with her children, she witnessed for herself the curiosity and interest of the young barrio children when presented with picture books as if the books were "the greatest novelty in the world." With that excitement, she set up a read aloud program at the nearest elementary school of her hometown of Barangka, Marikina. Upon returning to Massachussets in 1998, she earned overwhelming support from her friends and thus, BKP was created. BKP gained momentum within two years and was able to set up over 25 mini libraries. There are currently over 90 mini libraries throughout the Philippines that were set up and are being supported by BKP. Last year, BKP-New York was founded by Lorna Messina Hussein and Frederick Quijano with the same vision as Ms. Jimenez. BKP New York quickly gained partnerships with different organizations in the Philippines and has so far set up three mini libraries.
In late 2009, Carolina Clemente Leap visited the Philippines. As an educator, she also had a vision similar Ms. Jimenez with the hopes of helping Filipino children read their way out of poverty. After donating books that she purchased with her own money to her old elementary school in Quezon City and her mother's old elementary school in Samar, she promised herself that she would donate books to impoverished areas of the Philippines annually. After learning about BKP Inc., she decided to start the first west coast chapter in the area where she resides and teaches and created BKP California as a result.
In late 2009, Carolina Clemente Leap visited the Philippines. As an educator, she also had a vision similar Ms. Jimenez with the hopes of helping Filipino children read their way out of poverty. After donating books that she purchased with her own money to her old elementary school in Quezon City and her mother's old elementary school in Samar, she promised herself that she would donate books to impoverished areas of the Philippines annually. After learning about BKP Inc., she decided to start the first west coast chapter in the area where she resides and teaches and created BKP California as a result.
QUICK FACTS ON
POVERTY & EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES:
30% of children aged 6-12 are undernourished.
25%-35% drop out rate before the end of grade six.
Average ratio is 1 teacher per 50-60 students.
Extreme shortage of textbooks -
unfulfilled need of 21.5 million textbooks for 2006.
10% or 4,569 towns or villages are without elementary schools.
BKP California Board of Directors:
Carolina Clemente Leap
Carolina Clemente Leap is an educator from San Diego California. She is an English teacher, yearbook advisor, Asian Club advisor and tutorial intervention coordinator at a high school in Escondido, California. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English and Literature and Masters in Educational Administration from California State University San Bernardino. She has been involved in several teen volunteer programs while working in Los Angeles, such as; LA Teamworks, a gang prevention and community involvement program for high school and middle school students of Los Angeles urban areas; Intervention 8, a tutorial program for credit deficient eight graders helping them to move on to high school level skills. When not teaching, Carolina is busy raising her two teenage children, a 17 year old son, who is a senior in high school and a 14 year old who is a freshman in high school. When time permits, she and her husband travels, and at the same time she fulfills her other passion, which is crafting, interior decorating, writing, painting and photography. BKP California is a promise ‘to give back' to the country where she was born and raised. Carolina is the President and Director of Operations and Logistics for BKP California.
Contact: carolina@bkpcalifornia.org
Contact: carolina@bkpcalifornia.org
Janet Cruz Herrera
Janet is a young business entrepreneur. She has been running a family business of media and printing in Loz Feliz, California. Janet attended University of Southern California and earned a Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology. Janet comes from a family of creative people. Her brother is an actor and film producer in Hollywood and Manila. Her sister is a graphic artist. Janet herself has developed an excellent skills in public relation, production management and club organization. She has been a project designer, and co-producer of several entertainment events. She is currently an active member of Gawad Kalinga (GK USA), which means project to help. It is a non-profit organization whose mission is to end poverty for 5 million by 2024 in the Philippines, by helping build homes and shelter for the homeless and provide food for the hungry and poor people. Janet’s other passion is acting and singing. She has appeared in movies produced by her brother called “Gangstaz,” starring Todd Bridges. Janet is the Director of Membership and Cooperatives for BKP California.
Contact: janet@bkpcalifornia.org
Contact: janet@bkpcalifornia.org
Darlene Rabena
Darlene Rabena was raised within her family's elderly board and care facility in Walnut, California. She received her B.A. from University of California, Berkeley in Rhetoric and Social Welfare. Darlene was actively involved with UC Berkeley's Pilipino American Alliance, where she organized events to spread awareness of the violence against mail order brides, campaigned for benefits for World War II Filipino veterans, and directed various skits for Pilipino Cultural Night. In addition to working as a paralegal, Darlene worked as an independent contractor for the Screen Actors Guild where she authored a report titled From Dollars & Sense to Screen: The Asian Pacific Islander and the Entertainment Industry. She is currently a juris doctorate candidate for May 2013 at the University of San Diego Law School, and serves as the Student Board Member of the Filipino American Lawyers of San Diego. In her free time, she loves trying new foods, traveling, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. Through BKP, Darlene is trying to utilize her privilege of being born in America and having access to education to help those abroad reach their full potential. She is the Director of Finance and Codification for BKP California.
Contact: darlene@bkpcalifornia.org
Contact: darlene@bkpcalifornia.org
Kym Bisnar
Kym Bisnar was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She attended the University of California, Irvine, where she earned her B.A. in Sociology. Kym has been dancing for over fourteen years and was heavily involved in the Southern California dance community throughout college. She spent three years with UCI's award-winning collegiate hip-hop dance team CADC, four years as a company member with Mavyn Entertainment, a professional dance company based out of Orange County, and two years with Sheroes, an all-female dance collective. She is currently a Director for Marvels Dance Company, a youth dance company comprised of kids ranging from ages 10-18. Kym also served as a Board Member for Filipino International Film Festival Los Angeles (FIFFLA), a non-profit organization, in 2010. She has extensive experience in event planning and coordinating, marketing and public relations, and program management. Kym plans to attend law school in the future. Some of the charities she has been involved with include: Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Orange County, Orangutan Foundation International, School on Wheels, Families Forward, and raising funds for victims of 2009's typhoon Ondoy in the Philippines. Kym is the Director of Media and Public Relations for BKP California.
Contact: kym@bkpcalifornia.org
Contact: kym@bkpcalifornia.org