Spread knowledge; take the ‘Share a Book’ challenge
The Department of Education (DepEd) recently launched the Share A Book challenge to highlight National Reading Month (NRM) this November and at the same time expose the Filipino youth to the wonders of reading and the wealth of knowledge that can be extracted from different books.
DepEd pointed out that the Share a Book challenge hopes to spread the love for reading by urging the public to donate books to children in public schools. Anyone who has books to share can take part in the challenge using social media.
By using #ShareABookPH, interested donors may post a picture of a story book that they will donate to a public school. They can then tag or invite their friends and challenge them to likewise donate a book or two.
The Manila Bulletin, the Philippines’ leading national newspaper, fully supports and endorses the NRM and its aims and objectives.
Importance of reading
As an educator himself, DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro believes that the love for reading should be instilled among young children as early as possible. Reading, he added, is very important especially for very young children because it helps them develop good habits which, later on, can help them in their studies.
To intensify its campaign for spreading the love for reading among students, DepEd recently kicked off the month-long celebration of the NRM by simultaneously reading stories to students nationwide.
The NRM, with the theme ‘“Nasa Pagbasa ang Pag-asa,’ likewise supports the Ten-Point Agenda of President Aquino. It also aims to commemorate the birth anniversary of his late father, Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. who was born on November 27, 1932 by celebrating his “ardent love for reading.”
“Reading opens up worlds we don’t know and it will take us to any imagination,” said Luistro. “There are books that can take you wherever you want,” he added.
“We encourage all students to read one book that they really like,” Luistro said. “If you can do that, you can go wherever you like at you can fulfill all your dreams,” he added. If he were to recommend a book for first time readers in line with the celebration of the NRM, it would be “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
“I would recommend [The] Little Prince for first time readers in elementary [because] it is funny and witty, insightful and deep,” Luistro said. “It was one of the first books I have read when I was a young boy,” he added.
Luistro also urged everyone take on the #ShareABookPH challenge by “donating a story book in any public school and change a child’s life.” Those who are not interested to take part in the challenge may also directly drop their donations at the nearest public school or at the DepEd Central Office in Pasig City.