It was a magical morning for some 500 children who were treated to tales of determination and sharing brought to life by their favorite fictional characters during Friday’s Inquirer Read-Along in Meycauayan City.
The session, conducted in partnership with Sophia School, was held at Bancal Elementary School to mark Philippine Book Development Month.
Featured storytellers were GMA-7 artists Kris Bernal and Hiro Peralta who read “Tiktaktok and Pikpakbum,” a story of two dog brothers who learned the value of sharing.
Sophia School principal Ann Abacan, with Sophia teachers Salie Villaluz, Doray Carable, Osang de la Vega, Ellie de la Vega, Lorna Darilag and Dhang Bernabe, delivered a funny rendition of “Beybi Bibi” by Leoncio Ricarte, which tells of a duckling’s quest to learn how to quack.
A parade of book characters by over 40 Sophia high school students kicked off the program. The Bancal pupils were delighted to see their favorite fairy tale princesses, Greek gods and epic heroes come to life.
Bernal and Peralta, main actors of the GMA-7 prime time soap “Little Nanay,” praised the students for their attentiveness.
“The kids were able to answer all our questions very well and we were glad when they said they watched our soap,” said Bernal, who plays a mentally challenged teenager in the drama series.
Asked what the kids should take away from the story, Peralta said: “We should shun greed and instead love our siblings.”
“In a family, each member should share their blessings and love. No one must be more privileged than the other,” added Bernal.
Josefina San Pedro, officer in charge of Bancal Elementary School, hoped the session would encourage the children to have fun while reading, “which could broaden their knowledge of their surroundings and increase their level of understanding.”
Despite a hearing disability, Grade 7 student Emmanuel Joseph eagerly took in Bernal and Peralta’s storytelling.
Emmanuel, signing his reply which was interpreted by his teacher Resty Relente, said he was not able to fully understand the story but he was glad to see the two actors.
Relente, who teaches Grades 7 and 8, said Emmanuel was a book lover, which put him on top of the class.
For second grader Sophie, the dog characters taught her that siblings should not fight but help each other.
After the session, the Bancal students partook of lunch courtesy of Sophia School students and parents, and Cafe Nenzo. The Metrobank Meycauayan-Malhacan branch and Flamebridge Publications provided prizes for the question-and-answer segments.
Friday’s session was the second special activity organized by the Inquirer Read-Along team to celebrate Philippine Book Development Month. The first event was the Read-Along Festival held on Nov. 6 and 7 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
The session was hosted by Junior Inquirer editor Ruth Navarra-Mayo and Abacan, and was held in cooperation with Marian Domingo-Antonio of GMA and Division Supt. Norma Esteban of DepEd-Meycauayan.