December 01, 2022 – The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday cited the significance of reading at an early age during the Araw ng Pagbasa 2022 celebration which served as the culminating event of the 2022 Pambansang Buwan ng Pagbasa.

“Importante na simula sa murang edad ay matutunan natin na mahalin at pahalagahan ang pagbabasa. Ang pagbasa ang nagsisilbing daan upang tuklasin ang malawak na mundo sa ating paligid at mas kilalanin ang sarili nating potensyal upang magsimula ng positibong pagbabago gaya ng mga paborito nating tauhan sa mga kuwento,” Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Gina O. Gonong said in her virtual message during the 2022 National Reading Month (NRM) celebration.

In the celebration, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte served as the first reading ambassador of the event to champion reading, literature, and literacy in the lives of the Filipino youth and communities.

Vice President and Secretary Duterte read stories for children titled Ang Kamatis ni Peles, Pitong Araw na Trabaho written by Virgilio S. Almario, and Ang Bungtod ug Ako (The Mountain and I); and encouraged reading among the Filipino youth.

“Sa pagbasa, nalilinang natin ang kakayahang magbasa, magsulat at magbilang na mahahalagang elemento ng pagkatuto at pundasyon ng habambuhay na pagkatuto. Instrumento rin ang pagbasa sa paglinang ng mga indibidwal na kakayahan na kailangan ng sinuman upang magtagumpay sa hinaharap,” Usec. Dr. Gonong added.

Carrying the theme “Rediscover the Legacy of Literature through Reading”, the NRM celebration promotes love for reading among students and raises awareness of the vital role of reading and literacy in developing critical thinking in the youth.

Meanwhile, other DepEd Executive Committee members who were also chosen as ambassadors for reading, Usec. Dr. Gonong, Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Epimaco V. Densing III, and Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn M. Sevilla participated in the succeeding storytelling sessions.

BLD Director Leila P. Areola, on the other hand, stressed the significance of declaring the celebration of NRM every November to promote the Bawat Bata Bumabasa program and cultivate a genuine love for reading.

“It is our fervent hope that our schools and learning centers will continue conducting the activities [Read-A-Thon, Share-a-Book, and Book Talk] we started and that we will continue to promote the love for reading among learners as well as the whole school community.”

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