INSPIRING, IN SESSION | Actress-author Rita Avila is among the storytellers during the 13th Inquirer Read-Along Festival held at the paper鈥檚 Makati City office on Nov. 21, 2023. (Photo by EUGENE ARANETA)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� After almost three years of holding storytelling sessions online, the Inquirer鈥檚 long-running educational advocacy resumed in-person activities with the 13th Inquirer Read-Along Festival on Nov. 21.
Carrying the theme 鈥淐elebrating Life Through Stories of Inspirational People,鈥� the festival told tales of everyday heroes to more than 70 school children gathered at the paper鈥檚 Makati City office.
Featured storytellers included award-winning actress and children鈥檚 book author Rita Avila, Star Magic actor LA Santos, Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipino awardees Edgar Durana and Police Major Mae Ann Cunanan and veteran storytellers Dyali Justo and Ann Abacan.
Durana, a special education teacher and coordinator at Don Jose Ynares Sr. Memorial National High School, read the story 鈥淧apasok na kami ni Nanay sa Paaralan (My Mother and I Are Going to School)鈥� by Genaro R. Gojo Cruz, about a mother determined to finish her studies while raising her young son. Durana, who said his child-centered advocacy is aligned with the Inquirer鈥檚 read-along activity, told his young listeners that by always being 鈥渒ind and cheerful, helping others easily follows.鈥�
Santos advised the children to be 鈥済ood and to follow their heart鈥檚 desire (as it) can lead them to achieve their dreams.鈥� The actor read Krissie Zamora-Martinez鈥檚 鈥淏asurero ang Tatay ko (My Father is a Scavenger),鈥� about a young boy who takes pride in his father鈥檚 honesty in doing his job.
The third story also told of a child鈥檚 appreciation for a parent鈥攈er mother鈥攁nd the many sacrifices she makes while working as a tricycle driver. Justo read the heartwarming 鈥淏akit Hindi Naka-lipstick si Nanay? (How Come Mother鈥檚 Not Wearing Any Lipstick?)鈥� by Grace D. Chong, the last story in the morning session attended by students from Good Shepherd Montessori School in Pasig City and Chair of St. Peter School in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
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Officer鈥檚 tale
Abacan opened the afternoon session held for students from Do帽a Basilisa Yangco Elementary School in Mandaluyong City. She read 鈥淎ng Malaking Kahon ng Sorpresa (The Big Box of Surprise),鈥� written by Genaro Gojo Cruz and illustrated by Bernadette Solina-Wolf, about a child鈥檚 excitement at seeing his mother again after her many years of working abroad.
鈥淧atrolman Ngiyaw,鈥� a story by Rene O. Villanueva, with illustration by Renato Gamos, followed next and was read by Cunanan, a police officer. The story resonated with her, this head of Police Community Relations in the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said, adding that it reflects the hard work the police force is doing to earn the trust of the community.
In keeping with the festival鈥檚 theme, Avila read 鈥淕into鈥檛 Pilak (Gold and Silver),鈥� about the life of Olympic gold medalist for weightlifting Hidilyn Diaz. The book was written by Diaz and Eugene Evasco, and illustrated by Tristan Yuvienco.
Avila encouraged parents and children to read books together, saying this was a good memory that children will carry with them. The actress herself has written children鈥檚 books, including 鈥淭he Invisible Wings,鈥� 鈥淭he Tale of Bentot Lembot and Ging-ging Astig,鈥� and 鈥淭he Tale of Ronron Meron and Lala Wala.鈥� Her books have been nominated for the Jaime Cardinal Sin Catholic Book Awards.
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For National Reading Month
The Inquirer Read-Along Festival is an annual event organized by the Inquirer Read-Along team to celebrate National Reading Month every November.
Its 13th edition held earlier this week was in partnership with Metrobank Foundation, with its assistant executive director Joyce Dyan Tee, Inquirer president and chief executive officer Rudyard Arbolado, and Inquirer executive editor Volt Contreras formally opening the event. The storytelling sessions were hosted by Inquirer Read-Along volunteers Louie Bacani and Ruth Navarro-Mayo.