To drive up the love of reading among children, Insular Foundation headed down south of the map.

The Foundation brought its storytelling workshop and storytelling caravan titled 100 Years of Insular, 100 Beloved Filipino Children’s Stories  to Digos City, Davao Del Sur to mark the exemplary performance of the city’s public schools in the National Achievement Test for SY 2009-10.

The two activities, which are part of the foundation’s literacy efforts, were held in partnership with leading Filipino publisher Adarna House on September 20-23, 2011.

Fifty-five elementary and secondary educators from the district participated in the free storytelling workshop. Facilitated by Adarna House storyteller Jay Menes, the workshop equipped the educators with useful techniques that they could use to make their storytelling sessions more engaging, and thus inspire their students to discover literature on their own.

Meanwhile, the storytelling caravan visited seven schools in Digos that were among the top performers in the National Achievement Test for SY 2009-2010. These schools were: Necencio Isidro Elementary School; Balabag Elementary School; Ramon Magsaysay Central Elementary School; Igpit Elementary School; San Miguel Elementary School; Digos Central School; and, Don Mariano Marcos Elementary School. 

Hoping to spark the interest of children to read Filipino storybooks, Insular chose a hundred children’s stories from local publishers. Some of the titles were, Ang Pambihirang Buhok ni Racquel (Adarna House), Sandosenang Sapatos (Hiyas), Si Carancal Laban sa Kidlat (Golden Salakot), Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin (Anvil), and The Brothers Wu and the Good Luck Eel  (Tahanan). A story is told only once during the caravan.

More than 2,500 Digos school children enjoyed the storytelling sessions which were conducted by Adarna House’s storytellers.

Insular’s storybook Christmas in February (Adarna House) was also related during the storytelling session. Written by May Tobias-Papa, the book imparts the basics of financial literacy to children. A savings notebook was also given to the children for them to live out the lessons of the book by helping them keep track of their savings and expenses.

The Insular Storytelling Workshop is now on its 5th year and has benefited educators, volunteers and students from public schools and non-government organizations. Meanwhile, the caravan is on its second year. Last year, it was held in 10 different schools in Batangas, Bataan, Cavite, and Iloilo.

DepEd Region 11 and DepEd Digos City lent their full support in making the two activities a success.

Photo 1: Storyteller and Workshop Facilitator Jay Menes (seated, center) poses with Ms. Sollie Bernandino-Oliver, LLB, MESE, DepEd Education Program Supervisor for English, Elementary Level (seated 3rd from left), Mrs. Ofelia C. Quisumbing, DepEd Education Program Supervisor for English, Secondary Level (seated, 5th from left ), and Digos City educators.

Photo 2: Facilitator Jay Menes (extreme left) coaches Digos educator on big and small movements as part of the techniques on lively storytelling.

Photo 3: The Insular Life Storytelling team, from left: Fiona Fajardo (Adarna House), Dyali Justo, Myra Sepe, Claude Despabiladeras, Michelle Santos (Insular Foundation), Jay Menes, Noynoy Bonanciar, and Kristine Michelle Tingzon (Insular Foundation).

Photo 4: How do you travel on a chair? Stephen Bonanciar tells the story of a boy named Titoy in Ang Madyik Silya ni Titoy to Grade 2 students of Digos Central Elementary School.