NegOr joins simultaneous nationwide book reading sessions

By Rachelle M. Nessia

DUMAGUETE CITY, Nov. 27 (PIA) -- The provincial government here joined the national observance of "Araw ng Pagbasa” (Reading Day), the official culminating activity of the National Reading Month this November, in a program held today at the Negros Oriental Convention Center. 

Gov. Roel Degamo led a storytelling session with around 20 Grade 3 pupils from public schools in the province as he read from a book about the history of Siaton town, the birthplace of the governor.

Nearly 600 school heads and supervisors from the different divisions under the Department of Education (DepEd) in the province sat in the audience as the storytelling session between the governor and the pupils took place onstage inside the convention center. 

The book reading was held simultaneously with a storytelling session led by Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III as he read a story to pupils of a Quezon City public elementary school. 

The event aims to promote the love for reading through simultaneous storytelling sessions. 

Provincial Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Salustiano Jimenez said the storytelling sessions hope to re-emphasize the love of reading among the students. 

"We have to stress the importance of reading now because most of the children don't read much anymore and they would rather spend time with their cellphones and computers," said Jimenez. 

He said some mayors from the local government units here, such as Siaton and Canlaon City, also led their own book reading sessions with pupils in their areas starting yesterday. 

This is the second year that Araw ng Pagbasa is celebrated nationwide, after the Department of Education in its new memorandum, Memorandum No. 182, s. 2012, renewed calls to emphasize the value of reading, according to a statement posted on the House of Representatives website. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)