Happy 5th birthday to PDI Read-Along

GREEN READ. Inquirer society columnist Tessa Prieto-Valdes reaches out to a young girl during the Read-Along session at the Inquirer head office in Makati City on Saturday. Stories read were on beating all odds. RODEL ROTONI

Stories about beating all odds and overcoming challenges were at the center of Saturday morning’s Inquirer Read-Along session held at the Inquirer main office in Makati City, which marked the program’s fifth anniversary.

Another session was held at the Inquirer Southern Luzon Bureau at the Raul S. Roco Library in Naga City with readers from the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines.

Clad in a mermaid costume with matching green wig, Inquirer columnist Tessa Prieto-Valdes led the day’s readers in Makati, including regular read-along storytellers Dyali Justo of Adarna House and Ann Abacan and teachers from Sophia School in Meycauayan, Bulacan.

Valdes read Aklat Batibot’s “Sina Linggit Laban kay Barakuda” as retold by Tom Agulto and Rene Villanueva, a story about how a school of tiny fish found a way to defeat a common, giant enemy, before an audience of more than 100 kids from Virlanie Foundation, Hands-on Manila, ChildHope, Service for Peace’s Al-Salaam Community of Peace in Quezon City and St. Anthony of Makati Montessori School.

It was Justo who opened the session with a reading of Mary Ann Ordinario-Floresta’s “Kingdom With No Stories,” a tale of a  young girl who pursued her passion for writing stories despite living in a land where it is forbidden, sacrificing her life so other children may continue to enjoy her stories.

Stories galore

Sophia School principal Abacan narrated Victoria Añonuevo’s “Target: Odon, Ang Higanti ng Maliliit,” a story about how a group of small animals banded together to defeat an evil giant. Assisting Abacan were Sophia teachers Nerry Denilla, Lorna Darilag, Sally Villaruz, Ellie Carable, Doray Carable and Osang de la Vega, who acted out the parts of the characters in a lively chamber storytelling segment.

Valdes was accompanied by daughter Athena, who was celebrating her seventh birthday, to the session. A returning storyteller, Valdes asked some of the children to assist her in her storytelling and gave away cookies before the end of the session.

“I love attending the read-along sessions and I am very happy to be part of it,” said Valdes, who is part of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” which airs on TV5 on Sundays. “I am a regular suki. It is always fun and I am happy that I am able to help promote reading to the kids.”

Power of reading

Reading is for everyone, Valdez said. “It opens your imagination and brings you to different places. Today is particularly special, not just because the Inquirer Read-Along is celebrating its fifth anniversary, but also because I was able to bring my daughter,” Valdes said, adding, “I am glad that I am able to teach Athena the importance of reaching out and sharing one’s blessings by doing activities like the read-along.”

Children from Virlanie Foundation thanked the Inquirer Read-Along through a handwritten greeting card, which read: “Thank you Inquirer Read-Along for always inviting us, and for teaching us how to read in English and Filipino.”

“I enjoyed today’s read-along session because the stories were all interesting and it made me want to learn how to read at once,” said 5-year-old Ericka Nabi, who came to the session with her friends from St. Anthony of Makati.

Life lessons

Alyiana Regalado, 9, said she was happy to be part of the read-along, adding that her favorite story was “Target: Odon.” “The story taught me to treat everyone fairly, regardless of size. I also like the friendship between the characters and how that helped in defeating their enemy,” she said.

Virlanie’s Reynalyn Mapalad, 11, said she learned new things during the session. “The storytellers were all great, but the best story for me was ‘Target: Odon.’ Through this story, I learned the importance of standing up against bullies,” she said.

For 11-year-old Mohhamad Ryan Usudan, who came with the Al-Salaam community from Quezon City, while all the stories read were also interesting, his favorite was “Sina Linggit Laban Kay Barakuda.” “From this story, I learned that being big or small should not stop a person from achieving his goals,” he said.

Inspiring session

Meanwhile, Mohhamad’s friend Fatmashamzeda Pangcatan, 12, said her favorite story was “Kingdom With No Stories” because she understood well how sad life would be with no books to read. “I really love reading and it makes me happy when I hear new stories,” she said.

Observers from Laguna State Polytechnic University (LPSU) said the session was “inspiring.” They were students in a developmental reading class taking up Certificate in Teaching Proficiency. They were accompanied by their professors, Osnel Melodillar and Juanita Juanilla.

“It was inspiring. As a future teacher, I got tips on how to engage kids through reading,” said Rozhel Amante, one of the observers from LSPU.

“It is a very creative way of getting kids interested in reading—even the young ones who still do not know how to read are taught at an early age that reading is fun,” Amante’s classmate Dwane Arboleda said.

Dunkin’ treats

The kids received snacks from Dunkin’ Donuts and gift packs containing items given by the Rotary Club of Makati and Pilipinas Shell after the session, which was hosted by Junior Inquirer editor Ruth Navarra.

A special Inquirer Read-Along 101 workshop will be held on May 11 with Alitaptap Storytellers Phils. and the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center (NAPWC). A read-along session showcasing the results of the storytelling workshop will follow at 10 a.m. on May 12, also at the NAPWC.

A repeat of last year’s simultaneous read-along sessions with the Philippine Navy’s teleconferencing technology will be held on May 19 at Navy headquarters in Manila and eight other naval bases across the country.

220 Read-Alongs

Capping the monthlong celebration is the launch of the read-along website on May 31. Those interested in contributing content to the website can send their thoughts and photos about the read-along to [email protected].

Launched in May 2007 by Inquirer Research and Junior Inquirer, the program has held more than 220 sessions both inside and outside the Inquirer main office and participated in by thousands of children from all over the country.

For spreading the love for reading, the program has received six awards, including two trophies from last year’s Philippine Quill Awards, where it was named Overall Grand Winner in the Communication Management Division for staging 25 simultaneous storytelling sessions from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi in December 2010. With reports from Kate Pedroso, Schatzi Quodala and Marielle Medina, Inquirer Research