Baguio mall celebrates National Children’s Book Reading Day

SM FOUNDATION thru SM Cares’ Program for Children initiated the National Children’s Book Reading Day that takes an advocacy of promoting literacy and encourage children to develop their love for reading at an early age.

The National Children’s Book Reading Day is celebrated in SM Malls every 3rd Tuesday of July in commemoration of the publication of Dr. Jose Rizal’s classic, “Ang Pagong at ang Matsing’’. NCBRD was being held simultaneously in all 70 SM Supermalls plus SM China and SMDC Malls every 3rd Tuesday of July every year.

In SM City Baguio, less than a hundred elementary students ages six to nine years old participated on the book reading event. The students came from Mabini Elementary School, SPED Center, Baguio Central School, Lucban Elementary and Manuel L. Quezon Elementary School.

Girl Scouts of the Philippines- Baguio City Council president Leonila Lumibao was invited to read the book entitled, “Two Friends One World” authored by Ramon Sunico and Joanne De Leon. The story is about two friends, one blind and one sighted, tell stories of each other’s world and discover, in the simple act of sharing, a larger, more marvelous world where they both belong.

Ralph Guieb, GMA7 host also inspired the students by reading the 2nd book: “Piyesta sa Hardin ni Lola Benita”, a story about a boy who likes sweets learns to love fresh fruits and vegetables from Lola Benita's garden.

Both storytellers imparted to the students the moral lessons they could get from the two stories and encouraged the kids to make reading a daily habit.

Meanwhile all the students were given a book each from Vibal and Anvil Publishing, Inc. and school supplies from National Book Store as their mementos for the NCBRD celebration.

Also, Manuel L. Quezon Elementary School thru its principal Danilo Gayao received the 100 assorted books from SM City Baguio management to be displayed in their school library for students reading pleasure.

Annually, SM Supermalls celebrate National Children’s Book Reading Day as part of its campaign to instill good values in the hearts of children and widen their imagination to enhance creativity and intelligence in partnership with the Department of Education, Anvil Publishing, Vibal Publishing and SM Foundation.