URDANETA CITY—Children may have easy access to technology with virtual games and social networking, but their interest can still be grabbed by good storytelling.
Students of MAV School of Multiple Intelligence cheered, laughed and commiserated with the characters of the books, “Why Do Birds Build Nests?” and “Bruhahahaha Bruhihihihi,” during a read-along session here last month.
The Inquirer supported the school’s literacy fair project when it celebrated “Core Smart-Word Smart Month,” one of the activities that encourages reading.
“We want to do away with the gadget fixation of this generation, and emphasize the love for reading and books,” said Marinez Villar, whose family owns MAV.
The schoolchildren have written their own books, and have drawn and composed their own storyboards.
“We have a home reading program with the students bringing home two books every week. They choose one book to make into a project, with them illustrating and writing the story. This improves their reading comprehension,” Villar said.
The school also held a parade in which students wore the costumes of storybook characters. The students narrated the story they selected, using props like boxes, pieces of cardboard, bottles and even small stones with illustrations.
Jeralyn Develos, also known as “Ate Posh” of Ang Pinoy Storytellers, read the book “Why Do Birds Build Nests?,” written and illustrated by Jomike Tejido.
It tells the story of Maya, a small bird with a very loud voice, which often nags other animals not to crush the eggs she scatters all over the forest. As a result, the animals could not run around and play.
Develos selected people from the audience to portray Maya, father sun, wind, leaf, snake, owl and deer, as she read the tale.
She also read “Bruhahahaha Bruhihihihi,” written by Ma. Corazon Remigio and illustrated by Roland Mechael Ilagan.
The book is about an old lady named “Mrs. Magalit” whom neighbors suspected of being a witch because of her appearance and how she laughed, until the story’s young protagonist learned to accept her for what she was. —YOLANDA SOTELO
