MANILA, Philippines?More than 2,000 children from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi were regaled with stories on the theme ?inspiring individuals and empowering communities? in 25 simultaneous Inquirer Read-Along sessions yesterday morning as part of the newspaper?s 25th anniversary celebrations.

Leading the more than 70 storytellers nationwide were Inquirer president and CEO Alexandra Prieto-Romualdez and her sons Luca, Ben and Nico, who did the honors at the Inquirer main office in Makati.

?I?m filled with pride, joy, excitement! What a great way to celebrate our anniversary week!? said Romualdez. ?Christmas came early to thousands of children today, thanks to the Read-Along team, Inquirer volunteers, and our valued partners SM malls, McDonald?s, Pilipinas Shell, Vibal Publishing and Adarna House.?

Most of the celebrities who graced the sessions were returning Read-Along storytellers like KC Concepcion at The Podium in Pasig City, Karen Davila at SM North in Quezon City, Sonia Roco at SM City Naga in Camarines Sur, Anna Theresa Licaros at SM Baguio, Jeffrey Hidalgo at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, and Krystal Reyes at SM Marilao in Bulacan.

The others were first-timers, like former Gov. Ed Panlilio in Pampanga, Gov. Gwen Garcia and Mayor Michael Rama in Cebu, Basco Mayor Demetrius Paul C. Narag in Batanes, Rep. Nancy Catamco in Cotabato, Vice Gov. Pearl Angelie Pacada in Tarlac, actor Ronnie Lazaro in Bacolod, theater artist Dessa Quesada in Dumaguete, medicine board topnotcher Chitra Punjabi in Baguio, beauty queens Barbara Salvador in Pangasinan, Yvethe Marie Santiago in Legazpi, Janelle Tee, Samantha de Leon, and Esperanza Odulio in Davao, and Inquirer columnist Cory Quirino in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Volunteers galore

Volunteer readers from all walks of life likewise took part, like engineer Nonette Zamora and Tarlac State University professor Grace Ann Hasegawa in Tarlac, artist Andy Alviz in Pampanga, writer Vic Nierva in Naga, theater artist and host Tony Yanza in Laguna, lawyer Asis Perez in Lucena, school owner Aveline Averilla-Jung in Legazpi, professor Panchito Labay of Marinduque State College and AB English student Arianne Kaye Sager in Marinduque, University of Santo Tomas communication arts students led by Jose Arsenio Salandanan, chair of the UST Department of Communications and Media Studies in Quezon City, artistic director Eric Divinagracia of the University of San Agustin Little Theater in Iloilo, and Department of Education assistant supervisor Edwardson Wee and Lt. Marcial Laconsay, civil military officer of the Marine Battalion Landing Team IV, in Tawi-Tawi.

The sessions also featured regular Read-Along partners and professional storytellers Ann Abacan and the Sophia School Storytellers in SM Marilao and Alitaptap president Rich Rodriguez, who read alongside Romualdez at the Inquirer main office.

The other Alitaptap storytellers featured in the nationwide sessions were Percy Gapas in Pangasinan, Ray Escasinas and Pie San Miguel at SM Mall of Asia, and Posh Develos at The Podium. Adarna storyteller Dyali Justo read to more than 100 students in Batanes.

Challenge

Romualdez recalled that last May, she challenged the Read-Along team to celebrate our 25th anniversary with 25 sessions nationwide.

?After months of planning and hard work, they made it happen?and more. I?m so proud of the Read-Along Team and volunteers because they brought the joy of reading to thousands of children. The idea that many children discover or rediscover the joy of reading through the Read-Along program fills my heart with happiness,? she said.

The books read were a mix of old favorites (like Richard Reynante?s ?Ang Huling Puno,? Christine Bellen?s ?Filemon Mamon,? Rene Villanueva?s ?Ang Patsotsay na Iisa ang Pakpak,? and Alice Mallari?s ?Apolakus?) and new books (like the story by Inquirer correspondent Tonette Orejas, ?Bakit Pumutok ang Bulkang Pinatubo,? and ?Learning to Care for the Environment? authored by the Climate Change and Clean Energy Project of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Young readers

In Makati City, 8-year-old Ben Romualdez read Adarna House?s ?Putot? by Mike Bigornia, assisted by his brothers Luca, 9, and Nico, 3.

Romualdez and Luca read ?Bandila: The Story of the Philippine Flag? by Merci Melchor, published by Tahanan Books for Young Readers.

Young readers and new books also took center stage in Tawi-Tawi, where four writers of the Kids for Peace Foundation read their book, ?Ang Unang Mosque sa Pilipinas,? before some 80 schoolchildren at the DepEd multipurpose hall in Bongao. The session was held with
USAID and Team Energy.

In Iloilo City, 14-year-olds Jared Pedroso and Aiken Micah Jay Posadas read children?s stories they wrote themselves at the SM City mall in Mandurriao before an audience of 87 children mostly from the Colegio de las Hijas de Jesus.

At SM City Lucena, Marianne and Ma. Denise Malvar read with their mother Annabelle a new story, ?Samu?t Saring Buhay sa Banahaw,? about the local landmark Mt. Banahaw.

At SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, 7-year-old Anika Viray, whose parents are both Inquirer employees, joined another Inquirer employee and volunteer storyteller Grig Montegrande in reading ?Mister Beetle?s Many Rooms.?

At the Peace Zone in Tulunan, Cotabato, 15-year-old Muchtar Nawal, a member of the Youth Advocates for Peace, read the book he wrote, ?Ako sa Gitna ng Gyera,? to about 40 kids from Bituan Elementary School.

Other highlights

In Basco, Batanes, Mayor Narag sang ?I See the Rainbow? to 125 Ivatan pupils who traveled to the capital from the towns of Mahatao, Ivana and Uyugan despite morning showers. It was the very first Read-Along session held in the Philippines? northernmost province.

Narag said he had never sung publicly before, not even during election campaigns, because he was certain it would end his political career. He said he finally took the plunge after realizing that the children and 30 English teachers and school supervisors had taken pains to reach Batanes National Science High School to take part in the session.

At SM City Baguio, Punjabi asked 62 grade schoolers of Saint Louis University and 13 kids under the care of government social workers what language they wanted their stories to be read.

?English!? the kids replied in unison.

The summer capital has encouraged an English-speaking environment both in school and at home because of its history as an American-built city in 1909. Indigenous Cordillerans of many generations have been fluent in English, a fact that has fascinated lowlanders for decades.

But Punjabi could not oblige the children. She and returning Read-Along guest Licaros gave them a taste of Filipino storytelling.

Silence and shouts

At SM City Tarlac, an initial silence gave way to roars of laughter and approval and then to shouts of ?Sugod mga kapatid (Forward)!? as the readers went about their task before 80 kids mostly from Batang-Batang and Sto. Cristo Elementary Schools.

In Pangasinan, some 70 students from Alaminos Central Elementary School learned about protecting the environment and empowering themselves to make a difference in their community through children?s stories.

The students, who were joined by children of employees of the Alaminos city government, were laughing and upbeat but listened attentively to reader Barbara Salvador, Mutya Tourism International 2010. (Salvador is to fly to Malaysia in a few days to represent the country in the Miss International Tourism 2010 pageant.)

?Among? Ed

In Pampanga, Narcisa Cubian, coordinator of the DSWD Reception and Study Center for Children, was close to tears as she watched 45 abandoned children under her care taking part in the Read-Along session.

?The Inquirer made these kids feel they are loved,? she said.

Guest storyteller ?Among? Ed Panlilio, who read ?Ang Huling Puno,? thanked the Inquirer for providing a rare kind of activity to the Kapampangan kids.

?It is very heartening for the Inquirer to do this in celebration of its 25th anniversary. It is helping the children become contributors to the development of nationhood,? he said, adding:

?Filipinos are not a reading people, and it?s important to instill in the young the value of reading.?

Alviz, the executive director and artistic director of the musical and performing troupe ArtiStaRita, read Orejas? story ?Bakit Pumutok ang Bulkang Pinatubo?? and made the kids feel they were experiencing the adventure of the story through techniques he learned in musical theater.

Orejas? story erased false perceptions about the eruption of Mount Pinatubo as it narrated the phenomenon through a scientific approach.

Family tradition

Bert Cayonte, a proud father of seven and one of the many vendors of the Inquirer for 20 years, and his wife took their kids aged from 9 to 4 to SM City Naga to join the Read-Along. Angelo, Abigail, Lyka, Anthony and Bea Cayonte were the only children of a newsboy to attend the event.

Cayonte said his kids, all honor students, had never missed any of the past Read-Along sessions. He said the activity was ?now a family tradition for us.?

?It has made them love reading and studying,? the father said. ?They get to understand their lessons well because it sharpens their minds.?

In Laguna, the kids who attended the Read-Along session were mostly children of members of Athika, an organization of OFWs. Others were children from Sta. Rosa, San Pedro and Biñan.

In Legazpi, the session was attended by some 150 kids, as well as sons and daughters of newsstand operators. Glenn Loquenario, 13, a sophomore at Malabog National High School, encouraged other children to read.

?Randomly reading the newspapers on my mother Gloria?s newsstand near City Hall has helped me master pronouncing the words and understanding their meaning, and learning a vast world of information for free,? he said.

Rama, Garcia, Lazaro

In Marinduque, the almost forgotten municipal library became a beehive teeming with 80 eager students and teachers of Santa Cruz South Central Elementary School and a number of volunteers from the Marinduque Youth Volunteers Corps.

At the Event Centre of SM City Cebu, Mayor Rama and Governor Garcia took time out from their schedules to read to about 70 kids, mostly indigents from remote barangays of Barili town and childcare institutions in the city.

At SM City Bacolod, actor Lazaro brought 134 children, many of whom came from three orphanages, into a world of magic and flying creatures.

Lazaro, who is from Sagay, Negros Occidental, and who was recently named one of the province?s Seven Outstanding Artists, paid for his airfare to Bacolod and thanked the Inquirer for giving him the chance to give back to Negros.

The session was cohosted by Dr. Alvin Parreño, Suntown Camp Foundation vice president, with the help of the Children?s International Summer Villages volunteers.

In Dumaguete, grade schoolers from Foundation University and Silliman University had no dull moment with the stories read by theater artist Quesada.

The kids were delighted to receive the giveaways from the sponsors?caps, lanyards, notebooks and toys from Shell, a book from Vibal Publishing, and a McDonald?s meal.

Lucy Torres? sis

In Ormoc, 90 first-graders from Saint Peter?s College, Ormoc Kinderlan, Ormor Sesan School and St. Anne?s Playschool were treated to two stories.

Richard Gomez, the invited celebrity reader, was not able to attend but his sister-in-law, Karen Torres, took his place and read ?Ang Huling Puno.? Drama Club members and high school students Hershey Tumulak and Mariah Bactul read the second story, ?Putot.?

At the Gawad Kalinga Center in Sitio Pasil, Barangay Kauswagan, in Cagayan de Oro, some 50 kids from the Gawad Kalinga Community gathered for the reading of ?Apolakus? by reporter and TV anchor PJ dela Pena and ?Learning To Care For The Environment? by Lily Gutierrez, the energy policy advisor of USAID?s Energy and Environment Office.

Eagle Center

At the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao, 48 children from Malagos Elementary School gathered near the cage of Scout Binay, an 8-year-old captive eagle.

Mutya ng Dabaw beauties Tee, De Leon and Odulio read ?Fly, Malaya, Fly,? a story about a young eagle?s escape from hunters, by Grace D. Chong and Juan Ruffo D. Chong. The Kaliwat Theatre Collective performed during the reading.

In Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, some 50 grade schoolers gathered with a score of teachers at the municipal gym. Three books were read: ?Ang Babaeng Naging Kalabaw? by Richelin Tolones, ?Ang Bagong Golis? by Bea Sapan, and ?Apolakus.?

Tolones herself read her story of how a woman in Carmen, North Cotabato, managed to pull along her family?s carabao in the rush to evacuate during the 2000 skirmishes.

Kauswagan Mayor Rommel C. Arnado read Sapan?s story, aided by illustrations from its ?big book? version. Dr. Maria Luisa Mutia, DepEd schools division superintendent in Lanao del Norte, read ?Apolakus? with the flair of a classroom teacher.

Reports from Kate V. Pedroso, Schatzi Quodala, Lawrence de Guzman, Fe Zamora and Jun Veloira in Manila; Juliet Cataluña, Vincent Cabreza and Yolanda Sotelo, Inquirer Northern Luzon; Russell Arador, Inquirer Central Luzon; and Melanie Briones, contributor; Shiena M. Barrameda, Paul John F. Barrosa, Juan Escandor Jr., Karen Lapitan, Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Rey M. Nasol and Gerald Gene R. Querubin, Inquirer Southern Luzon; Nestor Burgos Jr., Mars Alison, Carla P. Gomez, Alex Pal and Cris Evert Lato, Inquirer Visayas; Jeffrey M. Tupas, Cai Panlilio, Joselle R. Badilla, Julie S. Alipala, Ryan D. Rosauro and Rolando Pinsoy, Inquirer Mindanao