MANILA, Philippines?Ninety children, two leopard geckos, a blue-tongued skink and a bearded dragon attended the wild and wonderful read-along session on Saturday at the Philippine Daily Inquirer office in Makati City.

Featured celebrity readers were Kim Atienza, host of the TV magazine show ?Matanglawin? aired on ABS-CBN, and Miss Earth 2008 Karla Henry.

They were joined by storytellers from Sophia School, fourth-year high school students Rafael Antonio and Francis Lyn Samaco, who were accompanied by school principal Ann Abacan and teacher Salie Villaluz.

Atienza, more popularly known as ?Kuya Kim,? came with his wife Feli and children Jose, 6, Eliana, 4, and Emman, 3.

Atienza read ?The Gathering,? a book published by the Haribon Foundation, which talks about the importance of the environment and what people?especially children?can do to help preserve it.

As a special treat for the kids, Atienza also brought a few of his favorite reptiles: Two leopard geckos (they have spots and eyelids), a blue-tongued skink (this lizard has a blue tongue) and a bearded dragon (when annoyed, this lizard can puff up its neck).

?I told [the kids in the audience] if they listen to the story, they will get to see some exotic reptiles. Children have short attention spans. I had to give them an incentive,? Atienza said, smiling.

The father of three said he often read stories to his kids.

Fulfilling experience

?But this was my first time to read to so many children and in public. So I really prepared and familiarized myself with the book,? Atienza said.

Beauty queen Henry read ?Sa Bakawan,? which is all about the dangers of pollution and improper waste disposal.

The story was written by beauty titlists Cathy Untalan, Reena Rae de Leon Sarmiento and children?s writer Mae Astrid Tobias and published by Adarna House and the Miss Earth Foundation. It is part of Ronald McDonald House Charities? (RMHC) program called Bright Minds Read (BMR).

A second-time Inquirer Read-Along storyteller, Henry said she still found the experience fulfilling.

?It is very rewarding to see children learn from the story. Hopefully, they will take the lessons to heart,? she said.

She first read for the program in February in Legazpi City.

Rizal?s fable

Sophia School students Antonio and Samaco performed the popular Jose Rizal fable, ?Ang Pagong at ang Matsing,? with Antonio playing the role of the monkey and Samaco, the turtle.

Sophia principal Abacan acted as narrator.

Later, Abacan and teacher Villaluz read ?Lumakas si Subas,? authored by Susan Layug and published by the Nutrition Center of the Philippines.

The story, which underscores the importance of exercise, was performed by the two educators, which included a song-and-dance number.

Exchange students

Also in the audience were 16 exchange students from the Thai school Samroiyod Wittayakhom. The students, who were in first- and third-year high school, were guests of Sophia School in Meycauayan, Bulacan.

Sineenart Khongnomnan, English Program director, said her students really enjoyed the program. ?Filipinos are fun and hospitable.?

She said her students? month-long stay in the country was ?more than just an exchange of language and culture ... We will remember the friendships we have made here.?

Said Thanawat Phothirat, 15, a third year high school student: ?In Thailand, we have similar activities, but this is more fun because the storytellers act out the story.?

Favorite stories

For 8-year-old Stacey Evangelista of Paco Catholic School, her favorite story was ?Sa Bakawan? read by Miss Earth?s Henry.

?I like the story because it taught me the importance of recycling and to be kinder to Mother Nature,? she said.

Mikaela Tayag, 8, of St. Scholastica?s College said she enjoyed Atienza?s story best partly because he brought exotic reptiles.

Sponsors, next session

After the session, Atienza gave away copies of the books ?Deadliest Animals,? ?Dangerous Jobs? and ?Anting-anting at Agimat? based on episodes of his TV show ?Matanglawin.? The books are published by ABS-CBN and Sterling.

Saturday?s read-along session was made possible by Krispy Kreme, Hands on Manila, Virlanie Foundation, St. Scholastica?s College Manila, Kane Choa of ABS-CBN Corporate Affairs and Miss Earth Foundation. Vibal gave coloring books while the US Agency for International Development-Sustainable Energy Development Program prepared loot bags.

The Inquirer Read-Along was launched in May 2007 by the Inquirer Research, the Library and the Junior Inquirer.

March 28

The project received an award for excellence in November last year from the prestigious Philippine Quill, an honor given by the International Association of Business Communicators.

The next read-along session will be held on March 28 featuring the band Skabeche at the Inquirer office in Makati City.

Interested participants may contact Ellen Caparros or Girlie Refran at 897-8808, local 329. Slots are on a first-come, first-served basis. With a report from Cyril Bonabente and Kate Pedroso, Inquirer Research