GIFT FROM ANGELS Some 150 kids at the Inquirer Read-Along session receive stuffed toys from Guardian Angels of America Foundation, a volunteer group of Filipino-Americans dedicated to helping unfortunate children. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
Kindness, for Christian, 12, and Jhon, 11, means being good even to bullies.
That’s what the two boys learned from Alice Mallari’s “Apolakus,” a book that tells of how the weakling Dadoy overcame bullying in school.
“Apolakus” was one of three books that veteran storytellers read to 150 children from the Tondo, Pandacan and Paco districts of Manila during the pre-Christmas celebration of Inquirer Read-Along on Saturday at the Inquirer main office in Makati.
Tales of selflessness enlivened the session that was part of the program’s theme “#ReadAlong4Kindness,” a takeoff from the “#ReadAlong4Hope” theme of the read-along festival in October.
Saturday’s featured readers were veteran storytellers Dyali Justo of Adarna House and Rich Rodriguez of Ang Pinoy Storytellers, as well as child actor Sebastian Vargas Jr.
Justo read “Estrellita, the Little Wishing Star” by May Tobias, which tells of how Estrellita sacrificed herself to become the star that the orphan Noel wished on to get well.
Rodriguez read “Apolakus,” while Vargas read “Super Ningning” by Liwliwa Malabed, which tells of a girl who was bullied but managed to overcome her insecurities by making friends.
Aside from listening to inspiring stories, the children also received stuffed toys from Loi Herrera, head of Guardian Angels of America Foundation (Gaaf), an initiative of Filipino-American volunteers dedicated to helping less fortunate Filipino children.
Saturday’s session was held in cooperation with Gaaf, the Educational Research and Development Assistance Foundation Inc., Arwin Atentar, Lala Salanga and Ivy Pagute of Urban Poor Associates, Ikon Solutions Asia Inc., Wilson Lee Flores of Kamuning Bakery, Margie dela Vega, Chito dela Vega, Robert Jaworski Abaño, TJ Burgonio, Edlyn Burgonio and Bayani San Diego.