Former Tourism secretary Joseph Ace Durano sat on a multicolored rubber mat floor in Ayala Center Cebu and read the tale of “Magnificent Benito and His Two Front Teeth” to 30 children.
He read in English, then translated lines in Cebuano.
“I miss doing this. It brought back a lot of nice memories,” said the father of two daughters to whom he used to read stories 10 years ago.
He and Cebu Hold ing Inc. president Francis Monera took their turns yesterday as guest readers in the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Read-Along Program to promote literacy.
Durano asked questions later about the story, and children who gave the correct answer received toys as prizes.
“This is a commendable program. Although you get information these days and learning through television, reading is still required,” said Durano.
“For young children, the brain development that could happen through reading is different compared to just watching television.
Despite the presence of multimedia, he said reading “is still a typical part of culture.”
Asked later about possible plans to serve in government again in 2013, Durano said this hasn’t crossed his mind.
He said he was focusing on his wife Carmi and two children AJ and Cara. Durano, who resigned from the Arroyo Cabinet before the May 2010 elections, is also finishing his master’s degree in Business Administration in Ateneo’s Cebu campus.
“I will never shy away from public service. But it’s not necessary for one to be in a government position to serve the public,” he said.
“I’ve seen that politics is politics; public service is public service. You can do one without the other.” Durano said the Read-Along was an example of public service.
“There are many politicians who deal with politics alone, no public service. But there are also many who do public service without politics,” he said.
He, however, promised that he would never shy away from public service.