READING PAL Ronnie Liang, guest celebrity reader, recording artist and also a licensed pilot, reads a story to children during the Inquirer Read-Along session at the Philippine Airlines Museum in Pasay City. 鈥擡ugene Araneta
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Inquirer Read-Along program reached new heights, as it were, as it found a partner in Philippine Airlines (PAL) for its latest storytelling session for children.
A session held at the Philippine Airlines Museum in Pasay City on Aug. 31 featured celebrity guest readers Jasmine Omay and Ronnie Liang, who are both pilots, and Read-Along veteran Rich Rodriguez.
Held as part of PAL鈥檚 Family Day activities, the event kicked off with PAL executive vice president and general counsel Carlu Fernandez giving the opening remarks, where he encouraged the young audience to develop a love for reading and learning.
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鈥淢y children grew up as book lovers and that鈥檚 something we cultivated when they were young,鈥� Fernandez later said. 鈥淚t serves a lot of purposes. It facilitates learning, creativity, imagination and innovation. All of these things serve children well when they grow up.鈥�
Taking flight
Omay, the Miss World Philippines 2024 First Princess, also leads 鈥淏ahay na Papel,鈥� an education advocacy project that helps children in indigenous communities in Tarlac.
For the session, she read Iris Gem Li鈥檚 鈥淭he Boy Who Touched Heaven,鈥� a fantasy tale about an Ifugao boy who, with the help of his family and some kind animals, was able to reach the sky.
Like the main character, Omay said, she was able to 鈥樷�檛ouch the sky鈥欌�� as pilot through a scholarship. When aspiring for high goals, the youth should not forget that the greatest lift they need may still come from their roots, she added.
Actor-singer Liang read 鈥淎ng Patsotsay na Iisa ang Pakpak (The One-Winged Patsotsay)鈥� by the late Rene O. Villanueva. It tells of a group of winged yet flightless creatures who discovered they could take off together like birds, despite their individual limitations, through mutual trust and cooperation.
Liang said the story packs an important message for children as it introduces them to the adage: 鈥淣o man is an island.鈥�
Inclusivity
Rodriguez, a professional storyteller, narrated Russell Molina鈥檚 鈥淎ng Madyik Silya ni Titoy鈥� (Titoy鈥檚 Magic Chair), which provided lessons on inclusivity and overcoming challenges.
It鈥檚 about the adventures of a young boy and his wheelchair-bound friend, Titoy, and their travels to outer space to underwater realms.
About 40 children of PAL employees were gathered for the session hosted by Inquirer Entertainment reporter Marinel Cruz and researcher Nathalie Grace Adalid.
Livestreamed on Inquirer鈥檚 social media platforms, the session was also the first to be held outside the newspaper鈥檚 Makati City office since end of the pandemic.
Launched in 2007 to promote the love of reading among children, Read-Along has become the company鈥檚 longest-running corporate social responsibility project. 鈥擨nquirer Research