Singer and actress Hannah Precillas reads “Si Carancal Laban sa Bongbongeros,” which tells of how a pint-sized boy led the townsfolk in driving away fishermen who were using dynamite and destroying marine life. (Photos by Jam Sta. Rosa/INQUIRER)

Over 100 children were told of encouraging tales of courage and compassion during the second session of Inquirer Read-Along belatedly commemorating National Heroes’ Day.

Guest readers during the Saturday morning program, dubbed #TapangAtGalingParaSaBayan, held at Inquirer main office in Makati City were GMA-7 singer and actress Hannah Precillas, Metrobank Foundation’s 2018 Outstanding Filipino awardees Aimee Marie Gragasin, Lt. Col. Danilo Facundo and Police Sr. Supt. Pascual Muñoz, and veteran storyteller Dyali Justo of Adarna House.

Justo read “Ang Ambisyosong Istetoskop” by Luis Gatmaitan, which tells about a stethoscope who aspires to be famous in the world through an excellent European doctor, but ended up being owned by a Filipino named Dr. Jose Rizal.

Gragasin, Facundo and Muñoz read altogether “Si Pandakotyong,” a “Lola Basyang” classic story retold by Christine Bellen. It tells of a tiny and smart tailor who outwits gigantic monsters to win the heart of the lovely Princess Elpidia.

Precillas read “Si Carancal Laban sa Bongbongeros” by Rene Villanueva, which tells of how a pint-sized boy led the townsfolk in driving away fishermen who were using dynamite and destroying marine life.

For Precillas, Carancal proves that size does not matter to lend a big help to others.

“Just because you’re small does not mean you can be belittled by anyone. You can do something big for the benefit of others,” Precillas noted.

Students from different schools listen about heroic stories during the Inquirer Read-Along at Inquirer Main Office in Makati.

“Every person should be willing to take a risk and go out of his or her comfort zone to see what is beyond the horizon. Just as what ‘Pandakotyong’ did, he left his usual routine and did greater things, and it paid off,” Facundo said of the story.

For Gragasin, who teaches physics, heroism is about going beyond one’s limitations and doing things that would make an impact to the community.

“Humans are born imperfect and with limitations. So we should focus more on our abilities to become a better person for the people around us,” Gragasin said.

But being a hero does not always mean that a person has to sacrifice one’s life for a greater cause, Muñoz said.

Metrobank Foundation’s 2018 Outstanding Filipino awardees Aimee Marie Gragasin, Lt. Col. Danilo Facundo and Police Senior Supt. Pascual Muñoz read altogether “Si Pandakotyong,” about a tiny and smart tailor who outwits gigantic monsters to win the heart of the lovely Princess Elpidia. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER/JAM STA. ROSA

“Heroism could be as simple as doing things beyond what is expected from a person. Strive to improve yourself all the time so you could give everything even if it means sacrificing your time for yourself and family,” Muñoz said.

Saturday’s session, hosted by Inquirer Lifestyle Super’s editor Ruth Navarra-Mayo, was held in cooperation with Laarnie Luna of Metrobank Foundation and Wilfred Villaruel of GMA Artist Center. Kathleen de Villa and Rafael L. Antonio, Inquirer Research /kga