MANILA, Philippines — Some 50 kids and 14 adults received pointers on great storytelling during a daylong workshop on Saturday that kicked off this year’s Inquirer Read-Along Festival Storytelling Competition.

The 9th Read-Along Festival Storytelling Competition, where the winner will be crowned festival king or queen, is the highlight of this year’s read-along festival to be held on Nov. 22 and 23.

Storytelling techniques

Veteran read-along storytellers and festival competition judges Dyali Justo and Rich Rodriguez taught book-based storytelling techniques, as well as the proper use of body language, eye contact and facial expressions, voice, volume and diction, poise and pacing to participants.

“Kids have the biggest, best and brightest imagination… Sometimes when a kid goes in front [of an audience] to tell a story, they stop becoming a child,” Rodriguez told the kids during the workshop held at the Inquirer office in Makati City.

“The workshop will really help them a lot for the competition because it was interactive. They let the students practice body movements and proper use of voice in storytelling,” said Eufronia Natanauan, senior academic coordinator of Good Shepherd Montessori School.

Ten-year-old Axel Abejuela said she learned to be confident, imaginative and lively in telling stories.

“I really wanted to learn storytelling techniques because I love sharing stories to my classmates,” said 9-year-old Janelle Bautista.

The workshop was divided into three batches. The next two sessions will be on Oct. 5 and 12.

The elimination round will be on Oct. 26, followed by the semifinal round on Nov. 9. The finals will be on Nov. 23.
The grand winner will receive a medal, a stuffed Guyito doll and a cash prize. —Inquirer Read-Along Team