MANILA, Philippines?Stories on perseverance, determination and caring for the environment were the focus of back-to-back morning and afternoon Inquirer Read-Along sessions on Saturday.
The morning session, held at the Philippine Daily Inquirer offices in Makati City, featured actor Dennis Trillo, model Bianca Araneta, Sophia School principal Ann Abacan and Sophia School?s storytelling champions Ryan and Dominique Sarza and Kahlil Gibran Abacan.
The afternoon Read-Along, on the other hand, was part of National Book Store?s Children?s Reading Fair launch at SM North in Quezon City and featured basketball stars Jai Reyes of Ateneo de Manila University and Simon Atkins of De La Salle University, as well as singer-actor Jeffrey Hidalgo and Alitaptap storytellers Jeralyn Develos and Madeline Castillo.
During the morning session, Trillo read Rachelle Lansangan?s ?Neil and his Airplane to the Moon,? about Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon. Araneta, who came with her 2-year-old daughter, read ?Saving the Old Apple Tree,? by Time Life.
Sophia principal Abacan read ?The Thirsty Crow,? retold by Boots Pastor, while the Sarza siblings and the younger Abacan participated in the chamber storytelling of ?Ang Kagila-gilalas na Puno (The Spectacular Tree)? by Robert Magnuson.
Capping the morning session was a puppet show on the environment led by Miss Earth Philippines-Air Marie Razel Eguia and Miss Earth Philippines-EcoTourism Maria Venus Raj, who were the narrators.
Dream, work hard
Before reading his story, Trillo asked the children about their dreams and ambitions. ?If you believe and work hard, your dreams and ambitions will come true,? he told the audience of about 100 children.
There was a quiz and the winning team, led by nine-year-old Paolo Manabilang from Virlanie Foundation, will go on a behind-the-scenes tour of Trillo?s latest show ?Gagambino.?
Araneta, on the other hand, said the book she read was one of her daughter?s favorites. ?When she enjoys a book, she asks me to read it to her over and over again,? she said.
A sustainable lifestyle advocate, Araneta was featured in the book, ?YouthXchange Project: Practicing Sustainable Lifestyle in the Philippines,? by Young Artists Fellowship for the Environment, United Nations Environment Program, and the US Agency for International Development-Sustainable Energy Development Program. The book is set for release in November.
?A sustainable lifestyle [means] treading very lightly on this planet,? she said.
Storytelling kids
The brother-sister tandem of Ryan and Dominique Sarza, 11 and 12, respectively, came to the Read-Along with their mother, Sally Jane.
Dominique placed 2nd and Ryan, 3rd, in a storytelling contest at Sophia School in August.
Both said they were happy to read for other kids. ?It is a big opportunity,? said Dominique, who dreams of becoming a chef. ?You just have to be brave,? added Ryan, who admitted to being a little nervous before the session.
Returning storyteller Kahlil, now 9, said he was happy with his latest Read-Along experience as well.
Beauty queens Eguia and Raj read ?Eco-defenders: Tagapagtanggol ng Kalikasan,? accompanied by a puppet show performed by students from Makati High School. The story focuses on the importance of saving electricity, conserving water and adhering to the 3 Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle).
Saturday?s morning session was hosted by Junior Inquirer?s Ruth Navarra, in cooperation with Ronald McDonald House Charities of McDonalds Philippines, Virlanie, USAID-SEDP and Universal Robina Corp. The books read were published by Lampara and Inyan Publishers. Book prizes were courtesy of Vibal while AMSPEC gave out crayons. With Schatzi Quodala, Inquirer Research
(A special Read-Along session featuring Pinoy Dream Academy winner Bugoy Drilon will be held on Oct. 17 in Baseco, Tondo. The next Read-Along session at the Inquirer main office is set for Oct. 25 featuring MYMP. Interested participants may contact Ellen Caparros or Girlie Refran at 8978808, local 329. Slots are on a first-come first-served basis.)
