TARLAC CITY (PIA) — The Department of Education (DepEd) Tarlac Province, in partnership with the Provincial Government of Tarlac and local government units, launched ARAL Wonderland, a fun-filled, interactive reading-themed park aimed at bridging reading gaps and promoting interest in reading among learners.
ARAL Wonderland, which ran from February 17 to 20, 2026, at Maria Cristina Park and Centro Organiko in Tarlac City, was part of DepEd Tarlac’s broader efforts under the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program to strengthen foundational reading skills.
DepEd Tarlac School Governance and Operations Division Chief Education Supervisor Joel Guileb explained that ARAL Wonderland, conceptualized by the Schools Division of Tarlac, was the culminating activity of the ARAL Program.
“Ang ARAL Wonderland ay isang reading-themed park na binuo dahil sa programang Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning ng Department of Education na nagpo-promote ng love for reading (ARAL Wonderland is a reading-themed park formed under the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning program of the Department of Education, which promotes a love for reading),” he said.
In addition, Guileb also mentioned that the initiative has come from DepEd Regional Director Ronnie Mallari, who happens to be the concurrent Officer-in-Charge on the Office of the Schools Division Superintendent of Tarlac.
The park featured 18 Wonderland-inspired reading pavilions created by the city and municipalities of the province.
Each pavilion offered reading activities aligned with DepEd’s key stages 1, 2, and 3, based on the learners’ grade levels, and was designed to make learning interactive and enjoyable.
“We want to build a generation of readers who love reading and will read forever,” Guileb emphasized.
Meanwhile, Tarlac Governor Christian Tell Yap said that ARAL Wonderland was a project that transformed the essential work of academic recovery into an inspiring journey for children and youth.
“By turning literacy into an interactive ‘Wonderland’ experience, we are not just teaching children and youth how to read; we are teaching them to love the process of discovery and learning,” he said.
As part of the department’s initiative, education students from both public and private teacher education institutions were also invited to participate in the event.
Guileb highlighted that this exposure allowed them to explore a variety of reading materials and activities, helping them prepare for classroom teaching.
Highlighting collaboration, Guileb also emphasized that one of the primary purposes of ARAL Wonderland was to encourage maximum community involvement.
“We want to instill the idea, the mindset, that teaching our students is not solely the responsibility of our teachers,” Guileb said.
ARAL Wonderland affirmed the department’s commitment to advancing education and fostering community engagement, as reflected in the active participation of students, educators, and other community stakeholders. (CLJD/AJRR, PIA Region 3-Tarlac)
