| MANILA, Philippines—Stories on traditional Filipino values were the focus of Friday afternoon’s special Inquirer Read-Along session held at St. Joseph’s College of Quezon City. Television personalities Louise de los Reyes, Alden Richards and Marc Abaya read stories about the values of thriftiness, honesty, friendliness and the importance of health from the book “Mga Kwento ni Lolo Pepe” by Linda S. Legaspi and Corazon D. Santiago. St. Joseph homegrown talents Oliver Sevilla and Juan Fernando Buniao, members of the Junior Faculty Circle, an association of Education majors, read in tandem “Ang Magkaibigan” by Angelita Aragon, a story about how two friends help each other. Veteran read-along storyteller Rich Rodriguez of Alitaptap, organization adviser and college instructor at St. Joseph’s, read “Isa, Dalawa, Tatlo, Mayroon Akong Regalo” by Christine Bellen, the story of a girl who runs all sorts of errands so she could save money to give her mother a great birthday present. The session was part of St. Joseph’s annual school fair, “Aming Tribo,” with the theme “Kulturang Pilipino, Ipagmalaki sa Mundo.” First-time storyteller De los Reyes used different voices in reading “Pepeng Mapag-impok (Thrifty Pepe),” which charmed the audience of around 70 students from St. Joseph’s College grade school and Our Lady of Grace-St. Joseph’s Learning Center in Barangay Obrero, Quezon City. “It was a fun experience. I am glad the kids seemed happy and energetic,” said De los Reyes, who plays the lead role in the GMA 7 afternoon drama, “Alakdana.” “I really enjoyed interacting with the kids,” she added. Her co-star Richards, on the other hand, is no stranger to storytelling. “I had a similar experience when I was in high school. I remember being very nervous then,” said Richards, who read “Pepeng Matapat (Honest Pepe).” Smartest audience “But today, I was comfortable reading to the kids. We’re thankful that they weren’t very hard to please. They were very accommodating,” he said. For actor-musician Abaya, who stars in the GMA 7 romantic comedy “I Heart You Pare,” reading for kids is different from performing before a concert crowd. “Kids are the smartest audience,” he said. Also a first-time storyteller, Abaya said reading for the kids was “very invigorating.” “I love kids,” said Abaya, who read “Pepeng Mapagkaibigan (Friendly Pepe).” “It was a pleasure to do this.” Sister Josephinie Ambatali, SFIC, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said the activity was an innovative way of getting children interested in reading. “I noticed that the storytellers tried to interact with the children according to what the story line was. They didn’t just tell the story, they dug deep into its values,” she said. Third grade student Kianna Blas, 8, said “Pepeng Mapag-impok (Thrifty Pepe)” was her favorite. She said that through the story, she learned the value of saving and being thrifty. She also recognized the importance of reading books. “When people read, they learn. And they can pass what they know to other people,” she said. Be helpful For Jonathan Menor, also 8, the story “Ang Magkaibigan” was his favorite. He said the book taught him to be helpful to other people. His classmate Rowena Lagang shared his view. “But my favorite storyteller was Ate Louise,” she said, adding that De los Reyes was not only very pretty but also very good in reading lines and changing her voice according to the characters. The grownups also loved the activity. Amelia Fabia, 57, who came as a guardian of the kids from Barangay Obrero, found the activity fun and educational. She said that having the kids actively participate in the read-along was the best part. For organizers like Grade 3 adviser Stella Faltoni, the activity was much fun. She said she liked it that the children participated fully and even the faculty members enjoyed the storytelling. She also commended the choices of “very value-laden stories” in the storytelling. Love of reading Sheryl Pacul, a Junior Faculty Circle member, said the activity was aimed at developing love of reading among their younger schoolmates. “I think the activity was successful,” she said. “Everybody enjoyed it, including the organizers.” Friday’s session, hosted by Junior Inquirer writer Ruth Navarra, was held in cooperation with St. Joseph’s College of Quezon City and the Junior Faculty Circle. The children received books courtesy of Vibal Publishing and snacks from McDonald’s-E. Rodriguez branch. The next read-along will be held on Feb. 26 at the Inquirer Library at 1:30 p.m. Interested participants may call Ellen Caparros at 8978808 ext. 329. Slots are on a first come, first served basis. |
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer
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