Twelve young students made it to the semifinal round of the 5th Inquirer Read-Along Festival Storytelling Competition during the elimination rounds held on Saturday morning.

Sixty-six young storytellers from 16 schools in Metro Manila and nearby areas joined the elimination round held at the Inquirer main office in Makati.

The semifinalists were: Noah L. Roa and Michael Stephen Maglente, Optimus Center for Development; Jhoanne Rayel, Diliman Preparatory School; Aki Bukuhan, John Dewey School for Children; Jedric Luiz G. Aberin, Fernando Ma. Guerrero Elementary School; Edward Benedict Batac, School of Saint Anthony; Mikhella Kristel Roy, Gregorio del Pilar Elementary School; Reanne F. Mateo and Elizabeth Montano, St. Alphonsus Liguori Integrated School; Jewel Damsel Jastiva, A. Regidor Elementary School; and Shante Lheia Bigas and Christine Joy Liwanag, Comembo Elementary School.

Junior Inquirer editor and Read-Along host Ruth Navarra Mayo headed the board of judges, which included Inquirer photographer Grig Montegrande and Ang Pinoy Storytellers’ Posh Develos.

Storytelling club

After the elimination round, the participants were inducted into the Read-Along Storytelling Club, an umbrella organization geared toward promoting the formation of storytelling clubs in schools.

Other schools that participated in Saturday’s elimination rounds were St. Paul College of Bocaue-GSD, SDLJ Montessori School, Chiang Kai Shek College, CENTEX Batangas, Vergonville Elementary School, Victory Christian International School and Mandaluyong Elementary School.

Five finalists will be chosen during the semifinal round, which will be held on Oct. 24,

8 a.m., at the Inquirer main office on Chino Roces Avenue. The finals will be held on the last session of the Read-Along Festival on Nov. 7 at 3 p.m., at Silangan Hall of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.