Kids, pick up a book and read
It’s not only in the womb can women cocoon precious lives. In their hearts, minds, and passions, women have generously inspired young, impressionable individuals to greatness and fulfillment.
Just recently, our very own tennis prodigy Alexandra Eala, inspired no doubt by her own sporting heroes, will now become an inspiration for a new generation of kids who will look up to her as the “mother” of their just-birthed dreams of court glory.
Greatness and fulfillment don’t always have to land in the headlines. Everyday acts, even the simplest ones, like reading, can give birth to the loftiest of dreams. The New York Public Library, for instance, has its “Reader’s Champion” by the name of Jennie Maas Flexner who created the New York Public Library’s Readers’ Advisory in 1924. Flexner believed that connecting readers to the right book should be at the center of the librarians’ work.
In the Philippines, we can look to our literacy champions, many of them women—academicians, librarians, and civil society members–advocating the habit and practice of reading and the importance of literacy.
My grandparents from both sides were professors and teachers, and they were my parents’ biggest influences, from whom they developed the love for reading. That love led them to long and fulfilling careers in public service. In turn, my parents inspired me to spend more time reading than watching TV. Little did I know then that this habit of reading would eventually serve me well in my profession as a journalist, reporter, and now as a columnist.
This was particularly the reason why, out of all the simultaneous motoring events last Friday, I chose without hesitation a book donation and storytelling session for kids at the Quezon City Public Library-Libis branch, organized by Ford Philippines in collaboration with the Library Renewal Partnership.
A handful of us members of the motoring media and officers from Ford Philippines loaded assorted books and reading materials onto two Ford Next-Gen Ranger 2.0L pickups (one a Wildtrak 4×4 10-speed AT and the other a Ranger Sport 4×4 6-speed AT). There were three of us women volunteers from the media: Me, Sam Pineda of Top Gear Philippines, and Jessica Pag-iwayan of the Manila Bulletin. There was also Leah Huang of Ogilvy & Mather (O&M) Philippines. There was no problem climbing up the Rangers’ pickup bed, despite our petite Asian frames. The rear box side steps on both sides of the vehicle directly attached to the frame made that task easier.
The men in the team also lent their minds and muscle. There were Edward Joseph “EJ” Francisco and Herbert Haber of Ford Philippines, the latter of whom took the time to explain the salient features of the Ranger to us, Alec Jacomina and Carlo Loyola of O&M Philippines, Aries B. Espinosa, TessDrive.com editor-in- chief, and book donor Quintin Pastrana. Pastrana is the founder and managing director of Library Renewal Partnership, a non-profit, volunteer-run organization that helps local Filipino communities open libraries and communicate education centers. The books that he donated come from here and abroad. Quintin, a graduate of the Oxford University specializing in Literature/Creative Writing, is also an entrepreneur and has extensive experience in the energy and mineral sector.
At the Quezon City Public Library-Libis branch, we were welcomed by Libis barangay captain Nina De Jesus, a staunch advocate of reading. Hosting the event was Kagawad Jai Catapang. What makes the QC Public Library-Libis branch stand out is that this air-conditioned venue for learning is open 24/7.
After turning over the books to the library, I was asked to read a children’s book to the 20 or so kids who attended the ceremony. I read “Ang Malikot na Bulate (The Wiggly Earthworm),” a science storybook in Filipino and English published by Rex Bookstore.
To make the story more engaging (because kids today are exposed to multimedia), Mr. Espinosa “acted out” the bulate character, which elicited some giggles from the young audience.
Despite the humid summer afternoon that made us break into some serious sweat loading and unIoading the books, I personally felt fulfilled. Not only was I able to donate some of my own reading materials (a collection of comic strips from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals or PETA, illustrating the lives of cows, chickens, goats and pigs, emphasizing the fact that they were sentient beings who felt pain and emotions) and Inquirer Guyito stuffed toys sent by Inquirer marketing officer Dolce Amamio-Abuan, I was also able to entertain the kids through storytelling and impart upon them the importance of reading as a foundation for all learning and communication. Reading actual books, I told them, leads to deeper comprehension, better retention, and a more immersive experience than reading online materials on electronic gadgets.
Ford Philippines certainly chose the ideal vehicle to bring both humans and books from the book pickup point at the Manila Boat Club in Del Pan, to Barangay Libis in Quezon City. The new Rangers didn’t feel like trucks at all. Loaded or otherwise, the ride felt comfortable all throughout. Even in narrow streets, I didn’t feel intimidated driving the pickup, thanks to the 360-degree camera. The liftgate tail assist made it easy for us to load and secure the books.
Despite the heavy Friday traffic from Las Piñas City, to Quezon City and back, the fuel consumption in my WildTrak 4×4 unit was a respectable 10 to 12 km/liter, which included a considerable amount of idling time while the books were loaded and unloaded.
So, how about you, when was the last time you actually picked up and read a book?
