By Jhon Aldrin Casinas
To encourage parents to bond with their children by teaching them how to read, the Marikina City government recently distributed free storybooks and two sets of school uniforms to all kindergarten students in public schools in the city.
Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro (Photo from Marikina PIO / Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro led the distribution of free school uniforms and storybooks from November 12 to 14.
Teodoro said the free books were for the parents to read to their children. He added that parents should spend more time to bond with their kids while they are still young.
The storybooks, he explained, were big, colorful and have a lot of illustrations which seeks to ignite the imagination of children.
“Kayong mga magulang, kayo ang magbabasa ng mga libro sa inyong mga anak at turuan silang magbasa (To parents, you were the one who will read the books to your kids and teach them how to read),” the mayor told the parents.
“Kahit malukot, masira, o maluma ang mga librong ito, ang importante ay nagamit ito at binasa. Ang importante ay naglaan kayo ng oras na makasama ninyo ang inyong mga anak sa pagbabasa ng mga librong ito para sila ay matuto,” he said in a statement.
(Even the books have been crumpled, damaged or worn out, what’s important is that the books were read. The important thing is that you have spend time with your kids to read the books so that they could how to read.)
Citing figures provided by the Department of Education (DepEd) office in Marikina, there were a total of 5,711 kindergarten students enrolled in public elementary schools in city for school year 2019-2020, the statement read.
Dr. Elisa Cerveza, assistant schools division superintendent in Marikina City, said that kindergarten students in 17 public elementary schools in Marikina each received the free two sets of school uniforms and storybooks.
The mayor distributed the storybooks and uniforms at Barangka Elementary School, Kalumpang Elementary School, Industrial Valley Elementary School, L. Victorino Elementary School, Malanday Elementary School, Marikina Elementary School, San Roque Elementary School, Sto. Nino Elementary School.
Distribution of uniforms and storybooks were also held at H. Bautista Elementary School, St. Mary Elementary School, Concepcion Elementary School, Parang Elementary School, Fortune Elementary School, SSS Village Elementary School, Concepcion Integrated School, Nangka Elementary School, Kapitan Moy Elementary School.