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| MV Doulos Hope, the world's premier Floating Library (Image Source: Rappler/Facebook/Doulos Hope) |
Eighteen years since its last voyage back in 2006, the MV Doulos Hope made its grand return to the Province of Batangas on April 16, 2024 with its mission to share knowledge with the world and grow understanding about different cultures. The MV Doulos Hope is a 'first-of-its-kind' International Floating Library that docks in various ports across the globe for the purpose of sharing knowledge, help and hope. The name of the ship is derived from the Greek word "Doulos" which means "Servant" so it was nicknamed "Servant of Hope". Currently, it has visited more than 480 ports in 150 countries.
MV Doulos Hope was welcomed by Batangas Provincial Governor Hon. Hermilando I. Mandanas and Acting Provincial Vice Governor and 5th District (Batangas City) Senior Board Member Ma. Claudette Ambida Alday in a formal opening ceremony upon the ship's docking at the Batangas International Seaport in Brgy. Sta. Clara, Batangas City which was attended by MV Doulos Hope Captain Tom Dyer and Director Nathan Schmutz as well as various officials from the Batangas Provincial Government, Batangas City Government, Bureau of Customs, Philippine Coast Guard-Southern Tagalog, Philippines Ports Authority, Asia Terminals Inc., and pastors and spiritual leaders from in and out of the province.
The formal opening of the book fair was colorful and fun with the presentation of some of its international crew which includes twenty-two Filipino workers. There was also a symbolic exchange of gifts between the province and the ship followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony that marked the opening of the book fair to the general public. Captain Dyer proudly highlighted its library, which is considered the heart of the ship. It contains a variety of books comprising of children's literary pieces, fiction novels, home and industrial cookery, religious pieces and much more. Board Member Ambida, on the other hand, shared her experience when the MV Doulos Hope visited the Province of Batangas for the first time. According to her, the knowledge she learned from the ship is still with her until today and became a major part of her personal and political careers.
The MV Doulos Hope opened and remained in Batangas Port until April 28, 2024 where people from different parts of the province and different walks of life were able to explore a limited but satisfyingly intriguing selection of family-friendly books and merchandise at affordable rates with some making their visit a place to hang out and cool themselves off with their loved ones and friends amidst the intense hit. Owned by charity organization Operation Mobilisation and operated by its German affiliate Gute Bücher für Alle, MV Doulos Hope visited the province twice, in 1991 and in 2006, prior to its recent return. Its stay in Batangas City may be the ship and book fair's final stop for 2024 as it has already visited the ports of Subic, Zambales, San Fernando, La Union, and Manila.
(With words by Ornald M. Tabares Jr. and Crystal Mae G. Cabello, Batangas Capitol Public Information Office)
