MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino spent time with pupils in Quezon City yesterday to commemorate the 80th birthday of his late father, Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
Aquino read to the students and answered questions on national issues ranging from China and the West Philippine Sea to corruption, Cybercrime Law and being the country’s leader.
Aquino and his sisters Maria Elena Cruz, Victoria Eliza Dee and Kristina Bernadette first attended Mass at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque in the morning before he proceeded to Quezon City to meet the students.
Aquino read to select students from all the over the country Yvette Ferreol’s short story in Filipino: “Halo-halo Espesyal.”
The students had assembled in a classroom at the Teodora Alonzo Elementary School.
The story was about a girl who had been sick for a week and who got well after her mother and grandmother took care of her, feeding her different kinds of food including halo-halo.
When Aquino asked the students what moral lesson they got from the story, one of them answered: “Masarap (delicious).”
Aquino explained that it was about the healing power of love and taking care of one another.
The “Araw ng Pagbasa” was the culminating activity for the National Reading Month. The event highlighted the month-long celebration to promote the love for reading and conducted through simultaneous storytelling sessions.
The program is part of Aquino’s 10-point education agenda promoting every child to be a reader.
Quezon City Rep. Jorge John Banal said the date was also special because it was the birthday of Ninoy.
Banal initiated the day of reading, drawing inspiration from the life of Ninoy, who found hope and inspiration in books and letters from his family during his incarceration in Laur, Nueva Ecija. – Aurea Calica, Sandy Araneta