Donita brings Christmas to Read-Along kids
(Here, only because my children’s book was mentioned. Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view_article.php?article_id=102944)
MANILA, Philippines — Christmas came early for the children who attended yesterday’s Inquirer Read-Along as television host and actress Donita Rose read the story of the Nativity, concerning the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and of Jesus’s birth in a manger.
The two other readers were 11-year-old Camille Rose Montecer and teacher Ma. Regina Corazon Sevilla who interpreted stories on what it takes to win life’s struggles.
The book “The Birth of Jesus,” as retold by Tanya Luther Argawal, was read by Rose to about 60 children in Taglish, or a mix of English and Tagalog.
Rose, a mainly English-speaking Amerasian, said translating the all-English text into Taglish was not easy.
“Some of the Tagalog equivalents of the words I needed to translate were even alien to me, like sabsaban[manger] and kapanganakan[birth],” she said.
“However difficult it was for me to translate the story, I still tried because I wanted the children to understand the story and the easiest way for them to understand was for me to use their usual medium,” said Rose.
Rose is one of the hosts of the ABS-CBN morning show “Umagang Kay Ganda.” She has acted in around 30 movies and was one of the first Filipinos to become a VJ for MTV Asia.
Although it was her first time to do a public storytelling for children, Rose considers herself an expert as she loves reading to her son JP.
“My husband Eric and I made a promise that we would read to JP every night so that we could instill in him a love for reading and the values that reading teaches,” Rose said. She added that she agreed to become a reader for the Inquirer Read-Along for the same reason.
Even as a young girl, Rose said she always valued reading. Her mother, Evelina, who was a teacher, showed her and her siblings that reading was educational but also fun, she said.
“When I was young I loved reading medical encyclopedias and historical books. I found them interesting and a good read,” she said with a laugh. “Now, I love reading inspirational books,” Rose said.
For Alitaptap volunteer reader Sevilla, it was her love of books that made her join Alitaptap, a group of volunteer storytellers who aim to spread the importance of reading.
“Books teach us a lot of things, especially values like discipline and patience,” she said.
Sevilla was the first female ROTC cadet corps commander at the University of the Philippines in Diliman but she chose not to go on to the Philippine Military Academy to train to be a soldier. Sevilla became a teacher instead.
She topped the 2004 licensure examinations for teachers with a grade of 89.8.
A second-grade science and reading teacher at Miriam College, Sevilla said she sometimes uses storytelling as a springboard for lessons.
“The students are receptive,” she said.
Sevilla read “Uuwi Na Ang Nanay Kong si Darna” (My Mother Darna is Coming Home” by Edgar Samar, a story about a child’s preparations for the homecoming of her mother who works abroad, and “Si Pilong Patago-tago” (Pilo the Disappearing Artist) by Kristine Canon.
The third reader, Camille, a sixth-grade student at the Ilugin Elementary School in Pasig, was the division winner of the “Big Ate, Big Kuya Storytellers Club” contest held earlier this year.
She read “Juan Tamad” by Rene O. Villanueva which tells the story of a very lazy young boy.
Digna Aquino, one of the organizers of the storytelling contest, was all praises for Camille.
“She is very intelligent and she knows how to follow instructions well. She is also very humble,” Aquino said.
Camille‘s interpretation impressed one of the girls in the audience who was three years older than she.
“It was fun,” said Cherin, 14, who attended the Read-Along session for the first time yesterday. “I really enjoyed Camille’s interpretation of the story. I don’t really like reading for leisure, but I think I may start now,” she said.
The sponsors of Saturday’s Inquirer Read-Along were Manila Genesis Entertainment & Management, Hands On Manila, God’s Special Children, Scholastic Inc., Krispy Krème, Digna Aquino of the Library Hub in Pasig and San Juan, and Alitaptap.
Singer-actress Karylle will be the reader at the next Inquirer Read-Along on Dec. 1 to be held at the National Bookstore, Quezon Avenue, Quezon City. Interested parties may call Ellen Caparros or Girlie Refran at 897-8808, local 329. Those interested in donating books to the program may e-mail inquirer-readalong@inquirer.com.ph. With reports from Kate Pedroso and Eliza Victoria
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