Earth tales in Inquirer Read-Along fest

High-fives for Jericho Rosales PHOTO BY GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Nearly a thousand children from all over Metro Manila listened to stories about biodiversity and the riches of the planet during the two-day Inquirer Read-Along Festival last Nov. 26 and 27 at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center in Quezon City.

With the theme “The Filipino Child and the Stories of the Earth,” the festival featured more than a dozen celebrity readers. The event was a marathon of six storytelling sessions.

Miss Earth

The Nov. 26 sessions featured newly crowned Miss Earth 2012 Tereza Fajksova of Czech Republic, Miss Earth Air Stephany Stefanowitz of the Philippines, Miss Earth Fire Camila Brant of Brazil, singers Acel Bisa-Van Ommen and Julianne Tarroja, and “Unang Hirit” television hosts Suzi Entrata-Abrera and Luane Dy.

The Nov. 27 sessions featured celebrity readers Jericho Rosales, Gab Valenciano, Drew Arellano, Sef Cadayona, Enzo Pineda, and Noel Cabangon, who also treated the crowd to a mini-concert by singing two of his songs.

Day 1

The newly crowned Miss Earth 2012 beauties regaled kids with the story of “Amansinaya,” a story about a fishing community written by Eugene Evasco.

“The kids were very excited, which was exactly what we wanted. We want to make them interested about issues like taking care of the environment and about renewable energy,” said

Noel Cabangon employs music power.

Fajksova, whose arrival drew shrieks of delight from the kids.

Brant said the children were “very friendly and responsive.”

“I really like the partnership between the Miss Earth Foundation and the Inquirer Read-Along because it gives us a way to spread and call attention to environmental causes like sustainable energy to children,” Stefanowitz said.

Singers Acel and Julianne read Adarna House’s “Hipon and Biya” by Carla Pacis, a story about how two different sea creatures find a way to coexist peacefully, to an audience of deaf kids. They were assisted

by sign language interpreters from the Philippine Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.

“It was challenging because we had to make up for it in facial expression and large hand gestures,” said Acel.

“What I take from this experience is that every child is special and should be treated equally,” Julianne said.

Abrera, returning Read-Along storyteller and cohost of “Mars” television show, said: “This one is especially remarkable because it is a bigger event than the intimate setting in the Inquirer office.”

“The children were amazing,” said Dy of the “Balitanghali” news program. “They had a remarkable memory.”

Day 2

Cabangon, who read Rebecca T. Añonuevo’s “Ang Mahiyaing Manok,” said, “It’s always nice to perform in front of kids, especially when you can impart lessons to them.”

“Unang Hirit” stars Suzi Entrata-Abrera and Luane Dy are two animated readers at the recent Inquirer Read-Along Festival, held at Ninoy Aquino Park’s and Wildlife in Quezon City. PHOTO BY ANDREW TADALAN

“You are trying to entertain the kids while also hoping that they listen well and learn from you,” added Arellano, who read Evasco’s “May Alaga Akong Butanding.”

Rosales and Valenciano were greeted by loud shrieks from kids and adults alike. They read in tandem Virgilio S. Almario’s “Si Pilandok at ang mga Buwaya.” They were assisted by stage actor Francis “Chuck” Gomez along with 19 kids from the audience, who acted as the crocodiles in the story.

Pineda and Cadayona, mainstays of the weekend variety show “Party Pilipinas,” read in tandem Richard Reynante’s “Ang Huling Puno.”—Kate Pedroso, Schatzi Quodala, Marielle Medina and Ana Roa