VP Duterte releases new children’s book for nat’l reading month

Vice President Sara Duterte. FROM OFFICIAL FB PAGE

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President and concurrent Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Tuesday launched “Isang Kaibigan,” a new children’s book she wrote.

Duterte led the celebration of the 2023 Pambansang Buwan ng Pagbasa (National Reading Month) at the Esteban Abada Elementary School in Quezon City.

According to Duterte, she had always wanted to write. She recalled writing a poem after her ex-boyfriend in law school broke her heart.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa batang Pilipino (I thank the Filipino children). They gave me the inspiration to write that book,” said Duterte in her speech.

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Duterte said that the book is about a bird who had many friends, but after a tragedy, all of his friends left him. However, the bird was left with one real friend who helped him.

During the celebration, the Vice President read her book to students.

According to the Department of Education (DepEd), this year’s national reading month had the theme, “Pagbasa: Pag-asa sa matatag na kinabukasan.”

“This initiative aims to foster [a] love for reading among learners and enhance their understanding of reading and literacy as pivotal in cultivating critical thinking,” said the DepEd in a separate statement.