LEGAZPI CITY – The presence of law enforcers in uniform quickly hushed the children.

No, they were not at the mall for peacekeeping duty. One of them was a guest reader who narrated to the young listeners the story of a mangrove ecosystem according to the creatures that depend on it.

“Ako si Mamang Pulis at ang kasama ko ay si Aling Pulis (I am Mr. Police and my companion is Madame Police),” Chief Supt. Paterno P. Bangui, director of the Philippine National Police in Bicol, introduced himself and Senior Insp. Marlyn Abah, chief of the women and children’s protection desk.

“Don’t be afraid of Mr. Police. Don’t be stubborn because our Lord said that we must try to be good and obey our parents,” Bangui told pupils of the Bitano Elementary School and other children who joined the second Read-Along session hosted on Feb. 21 by the Inquirer Southern Luzon at Pacific Mall in Legazpi City.

At least 120 youngsters attended, joined outside the reading area by parents and curious mall goers.

Heron and friends

Bangui said he had to be creative to ease the tension looming over the place when he was introduced as Bicol’s top police officer.

When the children relaxed, Bangui delivered his story titled “Bakawan (Mangrove),” written by Catherine Yu Untalan, Reena Rae De Leon Sarmiento, Mae Astrid Tobias and illustrated by Van Zeus Allen Bascon.

The story is about the adventure of “tagak” (heron) who brings to the mangroves “talangka” (crab), “bayawak” (monitor lizard) and “danggit (small fish species),” which were actually plastic wastes that humans throw indiscriminately near the shores.

Through the colorful illustrations from the book, the children were introduced to the fragile mangrove ecosystem that has become a repository of wastes that pile up over time without the creatures knowing that these are harmful to them and the environment.

Recycling waste

The mangrove creatures discover that the plastic wastes can actually be recycled after a near-death experience of the heron when it was caught in an oil slick.

Bangui said the read-along was a learning and inspiring event, which made him think of introducing the program to the PNP so that children would be aware of the law and its enforcement.

“One way of educating our children or the young is through storytelling like this, which I think is effective. I hope there are also children’s stories about law enforcement and crime prevention and protection,” he said.

Another guest reader, Karla Paula Henry, Ms Earth 2008, told the story of “Emang Engkantada at Ang Tatlong Haragan (Emang the Fairy and the Three Brats).”

‘Emang Engkantada’

The story about three brats who barged into the fairyland of Emang Engkantada and created havoc on the environment teaches the consequences of destructive practices.

The Miss Earth Foundation provided the children with practical tips, through simple actions and habits at home and school, to help preserve and protect the environment.

Ariel Esquivel, 13, said he had a regular subject called Drop Everything And Read (Dear), wherein the story of Emang Engkatada was told. He said it interested him because the story was retold by a beauty queen.

May De La Cruz, 12, said the read-along activity had taught her new things and that she planned to read more about the mangroves and learn more about their importance.

Kennard Destua, 11, said he could reflect on the lessons of the story about the waste that can be recycled and he thought of practicing waste segregation at home as much as possible.