MANILA, Philippines—It was a day of pets, songs and stories at Saturday’s “golden” Inquirer Read-Along session, the 50th since it was started last year.

The session, which focused on the values of perseverance, industry and love for animals, featured the pop duo MYMP. About 100 children also interacted with live animals such as rabbits, turtles and hamsters.

The event also marked the debut of Inquirer’s own storytelling group. Homegrown talents Riza Olchondra and Grig Montegrande together kicked off the storytelling session with Alberta Angeles’ “Ang Kamatis ni Peles,” a farmer’s story about hard work and patience. The book is published by Adarna House.

Juris Fernandez and Chin Alcantara of MYMP (Make Your Momma Proud) together read “Si Nanay Mining at ang Tatlong Kuting,” a story about caring for animals by Genaro Gojo Cruz.

Fernandez gave in to the audience’s clamor for a song, with her impromptu renditions of the group’s newest single, “Now” and crowd favorite “Get Me” at the end of their segment.

Montegrande capped the session with a wacky retelling of the fable, “The Monkey and the Turtle.” The charming and energetic rendition drew laughs from the children—and giggles from their mothers.

As an added treat, Tinky Cabanatan of Zooper Tours brought four rabbits, four chicks, two hamsters, two turtles and a lobster for the kids to meet. Before letting the kids play with the animals, she led a recital of the pet lover’s pledge: “I promise to be kind and gentle to animals.”

The kids repeated the words after her, their right hands raised.

Animals for malls

“Our program aims to make kids love animals more than malls,” explained Cabanatan, founding president of Zooper Tours. “We want them to love nature and the outdoors.”

Montegrande, who came to the session with wife Tsai and their two-year-old daughter Sophia, is no neophyte to storytelling. A former Alitaptap storyteller, Montegrande has been active in reading for underprivileged children.

Montegrande, a sales office assistant in the Inquirer’s Classified Ads section the past 13 years, added that it was the first time he put on his storyteller’s hat in the office.

For Olchondra, it was the second time she participated in the Read-Along. A reporter for the Business section, Olchondra is a former storyteller for Adarna House.

Olchondra said she injected mini-song numbers into her storytelling portion to keep the kids entertained and attentive.

It was Fernandez’ first time to read to children. Alcantara compared the experience to his stint as a Catholic catechist in Quezon City when he was in high school.

Keep reading

“Life is all about communication and information, and you can get a lot of information about everything from reading. So you have to keep reading,” he said. Fernandez added that reading was also important because it “enhances your vocabulary.”

Joylyn Galangue, a grade-six student from Maybunga Elementary School in Pasig City, said the Read-Along was “very enjoyable.”

“I had a lot of fun. It was very educational but it was not boring. I particularly enjoyed interacting with the animals. I am an animal lover myself,” Galangue, who has a cat and two birds, added.

Joining Galangue was school librarian Gracia Gerona, school newspaper adviser Myrna Visaya and other members of the school’s own storytellers club.

A nice experience

Gerona said the students did not usually get to attend events like the Read-Along. “This is a very nice experience for them. I hope that this experience teaches the children to love reading more, to persevere and to love animals,” Gerona said.

Yesterday’s session was held in cooperation with Hands-on Manila, Virlanie Foundation, Krispy Kreme and Zooper Tours. Books from Vibal Publishing were given away as prizes. As in previous sessions, the kids got a treat from Ronald McDonald House Charities of McDonalds Philippines, a regular partner of the Read-Along.

The Read-Along was launched in May last year by the Inquirer Research Department, Library and Junior Inquirer to promote the love of reading among children through storytelling sessions with celebrities and volunteer readers.

A special Read-Along session will be held on Nov. 14 at the Inquirer main office as part of an educational trip to Manila by elementary school students of Golden Harvest Institute of Learning in Pampanga. The session will feature GMA7 reporter Jiggy Manicad.

The next regular Read-Along session will be held on Nov. 15 at 10 a.m., also at the Inquirer office, and will feature Sophia School teachers. Interested participants may contact Ellen Caparros or Girlie Refran at 8978808, local 329. Slots are on a first-come, first-served basis. With a report from Schatzi Quodala, Inquirer Research