With the theme “Reading for Everyday Academic Development,” Kaingin Week on March 2 to 4 advocated the importance of education by focusing on reading.
Kaingin Week included a story-telling workshop for the event’s volunteers, an exhibit, and alternative learning sessions sponsored by the Education Department.
The 28 children, who came from Marikina Heights, participated in a story-telling and reading session for the week’s culminating event.
Enjoyment in reading
Outgoing Kaingin President John Patrick Gonzaga (IV BS Mgt) and Vice President for Formations Romeo Arahan Jr. (IV AB Eco) decided that story-telling activities would reinforce the importance of education for the children. “We focused on reading because it is such a basic foundation in learning; you have to start in reading,” Gonzaga said.
On March 2, Kaingin’s story-telling workshop taught volunteers proper and creative ways of telling a story for a child’s enjoyment. Office of Student Activities Professional Boom Enriquez taught the volunteers.
During the culminating activity, Kaingin’s volunteers read four stories to the kids: “Ang Pambihirang Sumbrero,” “Ang Barumbadong Bus,” “Guess How Much I Love You,” and an impromptu story shared by a Kaingin member.
“After [that], we gave books to the kids so that they can continue the value of reading and learning through the books,” Gonzaga said in a mix of English and Filipino.
“We have this notion that kids would rather have toys than books but what I loved was right after they got the books, they were reading it already,” he added in a mix of English and Filipino.
Charmaine Carla Wong (III BS ME), a Kaingin volunteer, organized and participated in the story-telling session.
“I like to help others, and especially kids who need our help the most…just the thought of making them happy even for a while made me want to do it,” Wong said.
Gonzaga said that the children’s chaperone texted him after the story-telling session and said the children enjoyed the activity.
He said, “Nag-share daw sila, nagbabasa daw sila sa jeep. They really appreciated reading, na-appreaciate nila ‘yung impact ng story telling to them (The children shared stories, they read while riding a jeep….they appreciated the story-telling’s impact to them).”
School of fish
Kaingin Week’s exhibit, meanwhile, showed the situation of public school education in the Philippines. The exhibit showcased the advocacy of the org as well.
Aside from facts and figures, slogans were also displayed. From all the slogans placed in the exhibit, Santos and Gonzaga each picked their favorites: “Buti pa ang isda may school (Fish have it better because they have schools)” and “The mind is like a parachute, it works best when it is open.”
“They were just simple messages that are straight to the point and easy to understand,” Santos said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Good start
Office of Student Activities Professional Noelle Ria Marie Roa said that compared to last year’s, this year’s Kaingin Week was better.
“It was a very good start even if it was small scale…it is a good initiative to bring the kids, although compared to their area, there were few kids who came and few Ateneans became aware of it,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Santos was thankful for the students who took time to read the information in Kaingin’s exhibit. “I just hope that they did not just see and had fun but they won’t do anything, I hope that they were touched and [would] try to do something about it,” he said in mix of English and Filipino.
