CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The wonderful world of reading opens anew to special children at SM City San Fernando Downtown as the mall did its turn to celebrate National Children’s Reading Day 2014.
“Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him,” quoted Mall Manager Lana Erroba of poet Maya Angelou in her welcome remarks to special students of the San Fernando Elementary School who came along with their parents and teachers.
The event’s guest speaker,Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin for his part underscored the need to “instil the love of reading in the youngest minds for the ultimate development of their intelligence,” even as he reminded parents “are as responsible as teachers” in that effort.
Featured celebrity story reader Albert Sumaya, aka Betong, of Survivor Philippines fame, read from the illustrated books Halimaw by Russell Molina and Piyesta sa Hardin ni Lola Benita by Eugene Y. Evasco.
Precocious kids in the audience interacted with Betong to the delight of their parents and teachers. The event was part of SM’s nationwide celebration of National Children’s Book Day set on the third Tuesday of July to mark the publication of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal’s Ang Pagong at ang Matsing at the Trubner’s Oriental Record in London, England.
