Inquirer Read-Along turns 17: Of kids’ health and an actor’s regret

TURNING A NEW PAGE The Inquirer’s long-running educational advocacy marks its 17th year on May 7 with a session featuring professional storytellers Dyali Justo and Ann Abacan. PHOTO BY EUGENE ARANETA

MANILA-Philippines — Staying healthy and keeping illnesses at bay by minding what you eat and keeping your body clean. Such basic lessons are made more fun for children during the 17th anniversary celebration of Inquirer Read-Along, the paper’s long-running educational advocacy.

Held in partnership with McDonald’s Philippines and Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philippines Inc. (RMHC), the May 7 session featured McDonald’s “chief happiness officer” Ronald McDonald, veteran actor Ricky Davao, and professional storytellers Ann Abacan and Dyali Justo.

The program kicked off with a video message from RMHC executive director Marie Angeles, who underscored the importance of reading in developing children’s written and oral communication skills.

READ: Tales of everyday heroes at 13th Inquirer Read-Along Festival

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‘My mistake’

“Through reading, your imagination will also expand, build discipline and give you inspiration and courage in whatever you face,” Angeles said.

Davao, who returned to Read-Along for the third time as celebrity storyteller, narrated the story “5 Seconds Only” by Hannah Lyn Creencia, which told of a girl who fell ill due to food poisoning. It was an object lesson for kids — and parents — on being mindful of food safety and nutrition.

Earning cheers and rapt attention during his reading, Davao made extra references to the coronavirus pandemic, telling his listeners to take health precautions seriously — like washing hands thoroughly — even with the health crisis long past.

In an interview, he encouraged the children to develop reading habits while still at their age, saying his own failure to do so in his youth was one of his regrets as an adult.

“When I started directing in the mid-’90s, I realized my mistake of not reading a lot during high school and college,” he said. “I should have read more literature, for example. Only when I became an actor and director did I realize how important it was. So I’m sort of cramming now.”

Davao said he now also valued reading as an “exercise for the mind” that can help stave off the onset of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease (See related story in Inquirer’s Entertainment, Page E5).

Ronald McDonald read “Go!,” a story penned by Becky Bravo about a boy who would only eat junk food, an unhealthy habit that would make him miss out on many fun activities due to his low immunity and energy levels.

Dirty ‘metamorphosis’

Abacan and Justo read another book by Bravo titled “Just Add Dirt,” spicing up their performance with singing and dancing. “Dirt” is about a boy who ended up growing plants from various parts of his body after refusing to take a bath for several days.

The plants served as metaphor for diseases and other maladies resulting from poor hygiene. The illustrated story encourages children to keep not just their bodies clean but also their homes and rooms tidy.

The May 7 session gathered about 30 children from Good Shepherd Montessori School and La Paz Elementary School in Makati City. Inquirer Lifestyle writing editor Ruth Navarra-Mayo hosted the program that was also livestreamed on Inquirer social media platforms. —INQUIRER RESEARCH