Teodora Alonzo Elementary School, Project 4, Quezon City
27 November 2012

President Benigno S. Aquino III took the lead in the nationwide Araw ng Pagbasa on 27 November 2012 by reading a short story entitled “Halu-halo Espesyal” by Yvette Ferreol to the thirty pupils of Grade 5 – Masunurin at Teodora Alonzo Elementary School in Project 4, Quezon City.

He also listened to the three guest pupils from Cotabato City who each read a short story in the storytelling session. They are Nazla Nanading (grade 2 pupil from Usman Buanga Elementary School) who read “Si Hassan a Makamangun,” a Magindanawan story; Iyanla Faith Inta (grade 3 pupil from Sero Central School) who read “Ang Punong Kawayan” in the Filipino language; and Adnanina Ebus (grade 3 pupil from Sero Central School) who read an English story entitled “The Stone Cutter.”

President Aquino was joined by Education Secretary Armin Luistro, Quezon City District 3 Representative Jorge John “Bolet” Banal, Jr. and the school’s principal, Alicia Masubay.

The Araw ng Pagbasa is an annual reading advocacy that aims to promote and develop love for reading in elementary pupils and secondary students in both public and private schools nationwide. It is the culminating activity of the National Reading Month which is held every year in the month of November.

The National Reading Month is in support of the Ten-Point Education Agenda of the Aquino Administration, to promote the Every Child a Reader Program (ECARP), and to commemorate the birth anniversary of the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. who was born on November 27, 1932 and his ardent love for reading. With Ninoy as an inspiration, the Department of Education believes that this practical and creative tool to improve literacy is as much about Reading as it is about hope as reiterated on the writings of and about Ninoy.

This year’s theme is Nasa Pagbasa ang Pag-asa and various activities such as storytelling sessions, reading list preparation, readers’ training and readership development program have been lined up for the participation of elementary pupils and secondary students.

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