Donita brings
Christmas to Read-Along kids
By Schatzi
Quodala
Inquirer
First Posted 02:27am (Mla time)
11/25/2007
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 Agarwal, 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 |