MANILA, Philippines – For instilling the habit of reading among children, the Philippine Daily Inquirer has been recognized as a “culture-friendly” media organization by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Philippine-International Theater Institute (ITI).

The Inquirer, which was cited for its Read-Along sessions, was among the recipients of the first ever ITI-NCCA Award for Culture-Friendly Media Institutions in a ceremony held Friday at the Premier Guest House in Malacañang.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita gave out the awards in behalf of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, along with NCCA Chair Vilma Labrador and United Nations representative Suneeta Mukherjee.

“We thought your Read-Along sessions were unique,” Cecile Guidote Alvarez, NCCA executive director and presidential assistant on culture, told the Inquirer, parent company of the INQUIRER.net. “It is a good program, and now it is being recognized by the highest cultural body.”

The recognition ceremony was in line with the celebration of World Theater Week.

The ITI originally marked World Theater Day on March 27 but Proclamation No. 1262 has decreed a weeklong celebration, with the NCCA leading the “interagency endeavor to use the arts for education, social action and poverty alleviation.”

Outstanding artists were also honored for their contributions in their respective fields.

Among them were glass sculptor Ramon Orlina, Rafael Pacheco, Leonardo Cruz and Ed Castrillo for visual arts; designers Ben Farrales and Pitoy Moreno for fashion design; the Mabuhay Singers, Josefino Cenizal, Dr. Alfredo S. Buenaventura and Nolyn Cabahug for music; Virginia Moreno and Juan S.P. Hidalgo Jr. for literature; Dr. Onofre Pagsanjan, Tony Fabella, Antonio Mabesa and Antonio Espejo for dance and theater; Bobby Mañosa for architecture; and Dr. Antoon Postma, and Rosalinda Orosa for cultural research and criticism.

Entertainers Dolphy, Willie Nepomuceno, and German Moreno were awarded for multimedia and popular art.

Special citations were given to the Spanish government and eight-year-old multi-awarded child painter Hamzah Marbella.

The other media outfits recognized as “culture-friendly” were television networks GMA 7 and NBN 4 and newspapers Manila Bulletin and Manila Times.

Nine provinces, 10 cities, and two municipalities nationwide country were recognized as “culture-friendly local government units” for their “dedication to the advancement and promotion of heritage, arts and culture.”

Their respective governors and mayors were likewise recognized as “culture-friendly officials.”

Those awarded were the provinces of Tawi-Tawi, South Cotabato, Antique, Bohol, Capiz, Cebu, Ifugao, Aurora and Batangas; the cities of Davao, Santiago, Muñoz, Urdaneta, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Pasig, Valenzuela and Quezon City; and the municipalities of Lapuyan in Zamboanga del Sur and Tugaya in Lanao del Sur.

All awardees received a Sarimanok trophy designed by National Artist for Sculpture Dr. Abdulmari Asia Imao, a medal courtesy of Tugaya Mayor Alimatar Guroalim and a certificate.

Intermission numbers livened up the ceremony – “Bahay Kubo” by the Cardona Youth Ensemble of Rizal, using recycled bottles as instruments, and a medley of “Ati” and “Muling Aawit ang Pasig” by the Gawad Kalinga Tatalon Performing Arts group from Quezon City.

The event was capped by a "kundiman" from the Mabuhay Singers.

The Inquirer Read-Along was launched in May 2007 by Inquirer Research, Library and Junior Inquirer to promote love for reading among children aged 7 to 13 through reading sessions with professional storytellers and celebrities.

Regularly held every second and fourth Saturdays of the month at the Inquirer main office in Makati City, it has since expanded to include sessions in the four Inquirer Bureaus, as well as out-of-office sessions in coordination with non-government organizations and schools in Metro Manila and nearby areas.

More than 70 Read-Along sessions have been held so far.

Saturday’s session, to be held at 10 a.m. in the Inquirer main office, will feature the band Skabeche, Sophia School teachers Ann Abacan and Nerry Denilla, and Alitaptap storyteller Rich Rodriguez.