In 2001, Japanese children’s author Tomo Matsui visited the city of Kidapawan, nestled at the foot of Mt. Apo—the highest peak in the Philippines.
It was his first step into Western Mindanao, a region long troubled by conflict between government forces and the MILF, an Islamic group previously classified as a rebel force.
At the time, more than a million people had been displaced by the violence. Along the dusty roads and scattered fields, children and their families were surviving in makeshift shelters built from branches and plastic sheets.
Tomo, who had dedicated his life to children’s literature, was struck by how the usual sparkle in Filipino children’s eyes was missing. These were children who had lost their ability to smile, their innocence overshadowed by the trauma of war. It was there, in the heart of a refugee camp, that he felt a calling—to read picture books to these children, to bring stories, laughter, and hope back into their lives. He also envisioned offering medical support, and eventually, a path to education.
Guided by that vision, and alongside his wife Aprilyn Matsui (now MCL’s Executive Director) and Noemi Pacete (now Administrative Officer), the Mindanao Children’s Library (MCL) was established in 2003.
Today, MCL stands on a peaceful two-hectare piece of land where around 60 children from Christian, Muslim, and Indigenous communities live together in harmony. Over 100 more children who live outside of MCL also receive educational support.
At the heart of MCL is the simple yet powerful act of storytelling through books, memories, and imagination—a tradition that continues to this day. MCL’s staff and scholars travel to remote villages, many home to Indigenous communities such as the Manobo tribe, whose ancestral lands have been pushed deep into the mountains.
Our scholars gather children, share stories, sing songs, dance, and offer snacks. While the children laugh and listen, our staff quietly assess their living conditions, identifying those who may need urgent help—whether it’s medical care, regular meals, or access to school.
Children who face severe hardship—those without parents, who can’t afford three meals a day, or live too far to attend school—are offered full scholarships all the way through college, and a place to stay at MCL.
In recognition of his deep contributions to the Manobo community, Tomo Matsui was given the rare honor of being named a tribal chieftain in 2018—an extraordinary title for a foreigner.
Over the years, MCL has also helped build daycare centers in remote areas, since in the Philippines, attending preschool is a prerequisite for elementary school enrollment. No matter how far or remote, we want every child to have the chance to learn.
To help restore the environment, MCL has started planting trees in the highlands of Mt. Apo. Years of deforestation have led to serious issues, including flooding downstream in the marshlands. Our efforts are still small in scale, but every tree planted is a step toward a safer, greener future.
We’ve also partnered with the Japanese government to rebuild a school destroyed in conflict and construct a school in flood-prone areas—where they also serve as an emergency shelter during natural disasters.
The decades-long conflict between government forces and the MILF slowly diminished over the years following the 2014 Peace Agreement. But long before that, MCL had been quietly building bridges—bringing together Christian, Muslim, and Indigenous children in shared spaces of learning, laughter, and peace. Our “Prayers for Peace” gatherings were small but meaningful steps toward a more united Mindanao.
At MCL, we stand firmly against war, killing, and violence. We believe in the power of stories, compassion, and community—and in upholding the human and constitutional rights of every person. That’s also why, as a policy, we don’t offer scholarships for criminology degrees. We believe the future of Mindanao should be built on healing, not punishment.
