For the second time, Baguio City’s librarian is among the awardees honored during the 2022 Search for Gawad Parangal sa Natatanging Propesyunal na Tagapangasiwa at Tagapaglingkod ng Pampublikong Aklatan held at Sheraton Bay Hotel in Manila on Aug. 19.
In recognition of her efforts, Baguio City Librarian Easter Wahayna-Pablo garnered first runner-up in the nationwide search organized by the Asia Foundation and the National Library of the Philippines.
Pablo was given the same award in 2021. It is the first time for a public librarian in Baguio and the Cordillera to receive the prestigious award for two consecutive years.
The Baguio City Public Library was also awarded the Most Innovative Public Library Award-Library Programs and Activities Conducted (Inclusive).
Pablo is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Education Major in Library Science from Saint Louis University.
She also has a Masters in Library and Information Technology and graduated cum laude from SLU and a Masters in Public Administration from Benguet State University.
She also teaches review classes for board examination for Library Science.
She garnered fourth place in the 1999 board examination for professional librarians and passed the Civil Service Exam with flying colors.
Pablo has been with the city government for more than 20 years now and was appointed as head of the Baguio City Public Library since last year.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, she initiated school-based reading programs, barangay visits for the establishment of a reading center, in-house library orientations, and research for the library’s modernization.
During the pandemic, she spearheaded the establishment of the Public Library Virtual Reference Assistance and initiated Online Library and Information Services Month activities, online contests and trivia, book drive for reading centers in far flung areas in collaboration with Project 360, book lover’s club, and provided support to the city’s pandemic efforts.
She also initiated the story telling at the Children’s Park at Burnham Park every Saturday at 10 a.m. Parents with their kids are invited to participate in the activity at the park. – Press release