INSPIRING, IN SESSION | Actress-author Rita Avila is among the storytellers during the 13th Inquirer Read-Along Festival held at the paper’s Makati City office on Nov. 21, 2023. (Photo by EUGENE ARANETA)
MANILA, Philippines — After almost three years of holding storytelling sessions online, the Inquirer’s long-running educational advocacy resumed in-person activities with the 13th Inquirer Read-Along Festival on Nov. 21.
Carrying the theme “Celebrating Life Through Stories of Inspirational People,” the festival told tales of everyday heroes to more than 70 school children gathered at the paper’s Makati City office.
Featured storytellers included award-winning actress and children’s book author Rita Avila, Star Magic actor LA Santos, Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipino awardees Edgar Durana and Police Major Mae Ann Cunanan and veteran storytellers Dyali Justo and Ann Abacan.
Durana, a special education teacher and coordinator at Don Jose Ynares Sr. Memorial National High School, read the story “Papasok na kami ni Nanay sa Paaralan (My Mother and I Are Going to School)” by Genaro R. Gojo Cruz, about a mother determined to finish her studies while raising her young son. Durana, who said his child-centered advocacy is aligned with the Inquirer’s read-along activity, told his young listeners that by always being “kind and cheerful, helping others easily follows.”
Santos advised the children to be “good and to follow their heart’s desire (as it) can lead them to achieve their dreams.” The actor read Krissie Zamora-Martinez’s “Basurero ang Tatay ko (My Father is a Scavenger),” about a young boy who takes pride in his father’s honesty in doing his job.
The third story also told of a child’s appreciation for a parent—her mother—and the many sacrifices she makes while working as a tricycle driver. Justo read the heartwarming “Bakit Hindi Naka-lipstick si Nanay? (How Come Mother’s Not Wearing Any Lipstick?)” by Grace D. Chong, the last story in the morning session attended by students from Good Shepherd Montessori School in Pasig City and Chair of St. Peter School in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
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Officer’s tale
Abacan opened the afternoon session held for students from Doña Basilisa Yangco Elementary School in Mandaluyong City. She read “Ang Malaking Kahon ng Sorpresa (The Big Box of Surprise),” written by Genaro Gojo Cruz and illustrated by Bernadette Solina-Wolf, about a child’s excitement at seeing his mother again after her many years of working abroad.
“Patrolman Ngiyaw,” a story by Rene O. Villanueva, with illustration by Renato Gamos, followed next and was read by Cunanan, a police officer. The story resonated with her, this head of Police Community Relations in the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said, adding that it reflects the hard work the police force is doing to earn the trust of the community.
In keeping with the festival’s theme, Avila read “Ginto’t Pilak (Gold and Silver),” about the life of Olympic gold medalist for weightlifting Hidilyn Diaz. The book was written by Diaz and Eugene Evasco, and illustrated by Tristan Yuvienco.
Avila encouraged parents and children to read books together, saying this was a good memory that children will carry with them. The actress herself has written children’s books, including “The Invisible Wings,” “The Tale of Bentot Lembot and Ging-ging Astig,” and “The Tale of Ronron Meron and Lala Wala.” Her books have been nominated for the Jaime Cardinal Sin Catholic Book Awards.
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For National Reading Month
The Inquirer Read-Along Festival is an annual event organized by the Inquirer Read-Along team to celebrate National Reading Month every November.
Its 13th edition held earlier this week was in partnership with Metrobank Foundation, with its assistant executive director Joyce Dyan Tee, Inquirer president and chief executive officer Rudyard Arbolado, and Inquirer executive editor Volt Contreras formally opening the event. The storytelling sessions were hosted by Inquirer Read-Along volunteers Louie Bacani and Ruth Navarro-Mayo.