INQUIRER president Sandy Prieto-Romualdez hands a Guyito doll, the paper’s mascot, to a young student of Miriam College during the Read-Along caravan yesterday. AUGUST DE LA CRUZ
MANILA, Philippines—Lessons on loyalty and kindness were the focus of Monday morning’s Inquirer Read-Along Caravan session at Miriam College, which was led by Inquirer president and reading ambassador Alexandra Prieto-Romualdez, seasoned read-along storyteller Rich Rodriguez and Sophia School principal Ann Abacan.
Attended by more than a hundred grade school students of the school, the session was the last stop of this year’s Read-Along Caravan, a series of reading sessions led by Read-Along reading ambassadors in various Metro Manila schools in the run-up to the Read-Along Festival on Nov. 12 and 13 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Romualdez read “Alamat ng Papaya,” written by Rene O. Villanueva and published by Lampara, about a benevolent queen saved by the loyalty of her people.
Harry Potter costume
Abacan kicked off the session with “Si Isem sa Bayang Bawal Tumawa,” which tells of how newcomer Isem transformed into a happier place this kingdom where no one was allowed to laugh.
Rodriguez, who surprised the kids by coming in a Harry Potter costume, capped the session with Adarna House’s “Filemon Mamon” by Christine Bellen, a story about a child who changes his ways to be able to play the role of Andres Bonifacio in a school play.
Romualdez, a returning read-along storyteller, came in full costume as Queen Lingap, the leader of the Pya-a, and gamely answered questions during a special open forum after her reading segment.
“It was fantastic,” said Romualdez, who added that read-along sessions had never failed to showcase the kids’ innocence and general interest in learning. “It reminds us what it was like to be that interested and excited. I was just very happy about the experience.”
During the open forum, Romualdez was asked what got her into reading when she was younger and what she reads now as Inquirer president and CEO.
“When I was younger, I was not very much into reading,” Romualdez admitted. “But when I was around your age, I discovered Nancy Drew, and it was then I started to love reading,” she said, adding that she now preferred reading nonfiction books.
Before the session, Miriam Grade School principal Dr. Gail Reyes-Galang challenged her students to practice their storytelling skills with their families as well: “Whatever you’re able to pick up today—style of reading, facial expressions, gestures—I want you to copy them. Then choose your favorite story at home and tell that story to your brother or sister, or mom or dad.”
“I like the Legend of the Papaya because it was about people who were loyal to their queen,” said Grade 4 student Akemi.
Her schoolmate Steffi, on the other hand, enjoyed Rodriguez’s story. “My classmates thought Kuya Rich was really Harry Potter,” she said. Asked the best lesson she learned, she said: “I learned that you have to read and read to do well in school.”
Monday’s session, hosted by Inquirer Libre editor in chief Chito de la Vega, was in cooperation with Miriam College.
Launched in May this year, the read-along ambassadors program features celebrities who have pledged to be role models for the youth and to promote love of reading.
Fourth ambassador
Romualdez was the fourth reading ambassador to read in a caravan session, after TV personality Kim Atienza did his bit at the Chinese International School on Sept. 4, beauty queen Anna Theresa Licaros at Assumption College on Sept. 16, and broadcast journalist Karen Davila at the Good Shepherd Montessori School on Oct. 14. Other reading ambassadors are singer Nikki Gil, actress Jasmine Curtis-Smith and Miss Earth Foundation executive director Cathy Untalan.
Schools interested in sending their students to the Inquirer Read-Along Festival, copresented with the Cultural Center of the Philippines and McDonald’s, may send an e-mail to festival@inquirer.com.ph or call Ellen Caparros at 8978808 local 329. Slots are on a first-come, first-served basis.