Early lessons of moving on

CEBU CITY—The storybook is about perseverance. And it is something that 11-year old Princess Aying can relate to very well.

Princess, who lost her home in a fire last year, listened attentively while businessman Jay Aldeguer and his 9-year old daughter Ariana read “Ang Kamatis ni Peles” during the Inquirer Read-Along session at the Cebu City Public Library on Osmeña Boulevard.
She said she liked the story because it taught her not to give up, just like what she did when all her family’s belongings went up in smoke during the fire at their home in the city’s Barangay Sambag Uno in October last year.

“Except for our birth certificates, everything was burned down. For weeks, we stayed at the barangay gym and received canned goods and clothes from other people. I also lost my books,” Princess said.

The situation was difficult for her parents who do not have full-time jobs and have four children to raise.

But like the grasshopper Peles in the story, Princess said her family did not give up. For her part, she decided to study well so she can proceed to Grade 5.

Princess was one of the 70 children who participated in the Inquirer Read-Along session on Saturday. The event was organized with members of the Friends of Cebu City Public Library and the Zonta Club of Cebu 2 to celebrate the 92nd anniversary of the library, also known as the Rizal Memorial Library.

“This is a good way of letting the children know that we have a public library in Cebu. With this, we hope that more people will visit us,” said librarian Rosario Chua.

Chua has been working at the city library for 30 years. She has witnessed how reading flourished and later dwindled.

In 2008, the city government announced plans of closing the only public library to give way to a government museum. But strong public reaction and media exposure saved its fate, which led to its current renovation.

Chua cited the need to make noise about the presence of the library to generate more interest. And the read-along is one great way of bringing in interest to the facility and reading in general.

The young listeners were treated to a quick tour of the place to orient them about the different sections.

City Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña also read “Ang Huling Puno (The Last Tree),” a story about how young children saved the remaining mango tree in their city. The story was written by Richard Reynante and illustrated by Arnold Nuestro.

Osmeña narrated the story in English and Cebuano and gamely asked questions to the children.

Jay and Ariana Aldeguer took turns in reading “Ang Kamatis ni Peles,” which was written by Alberta Angeles and illustrated by Renato Gamos. Ariana read the English version while her father translated and explained parts of it in Cebuano.

Before reading the story, Jay told the children: “Even if it’s a Saturday, the day when you are supposed to sleep and rest more, you are here. Your presence is a sign that you are interested to learn. This is something that you should always keep on doing.”