A hundred students from Andres Bonifacio Elementary School 2 and Living Stones International School yesterday took part in the annual National Book Reading Day of SM Foundation Inc., through its Cares program, with Bacolod first lady Elsa Leonardia and Hi-5 Philippines host Gerhard Pagunsan as storytellers.
 
The event was also in partnership with the Rotary Club of Bacolod-Central, with support from National Bookstore, Vibal Publishing, Titus and Jollibee, a press release said.
 
The students were invited to the Bacolod mall where they enjoyed book reading and storytelling sessions with the celebrity readers. They also received books and supplies as giveaways.
 
RCB-Central sponsored the participation of ABES 2, the club’s adopted school which has been a recipient of the organization’s Library Project and various health programs, the press release also said.
 
The National Children’s Book Reading Day is celebrated in SM malls every third Tuesday of July in commemoration of the publication of Dr. Jose Rizal’s classic, “Ang Pagong at Ang Matsing”. This is also part of SM Cares’ Program for Children that takes an advocacy of promoting literacy and encourages children to love reading at an early age.
 
RCB-Central president Sharon Parrocho expressed gratitude for the opportunity to partner with SM Foundation in realizing part of the club’s literacy programs. This is the second time that the club has partnered with the foundation, the first was the medical mission held recently in Barangay Handumanan, Bacolod, where hundreds availed of free consultation and medicines, the press release added.*