The UPLB Ugnayan ng Pahinungód, implementer of the Reading Enhancement and Appreciation Development (READ) Project, simultaneously conducted the last reading enhancement session for six elementary schools in Laguna on November 22, 2024.

READ aims to enhance the reading skills of and cultivate a healthy reading habit among learners.

It was a project of UPLB Pahinungod since 2012 and has been incorporated as a component of the DUNONG Program, or the Department of Education-Laguna and UPLB: Nurturing Opportunities for the Next Generation Towards Ending Learning Poverty in the Philippines.

Under DUNONG, nearly 180 pupils from Grades 4 to 6 from six schools have participated in READ’s ten reading sessions since September 6, 2024. The sessions focus on nutrition, agriculture, values education, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 

The Pahinungód team visited the following schools to facilitate the culminating reading session: Maahas Elementary School and Paciano Rizal Elementary School in Los Baños; San Antonio Elementary School in Bay; Yukos Elementary School-Main and Manaol Elementary School in Nagcarlan; and Silangan Elementary School in Sta. Cruz.

Following READ’s 10th session, the team also facilitated a post-assessment to evaluate the pupils’ reading comprehension and the achievement of specific learning objectives integrated into the READ modules.

Pupils, teachers, and school heads alike expressed their gratitude and appreciation to the READ volunteers and staff during the closing ceremony, during which certificates of participation were handed to the pupils for actively participating in the project. 

UPLB Pahinungód also turned over copies of the READ Learning Module that the schools can use for their respective reading interventions.

“Hindi lamang nahasa ang aming reading comprehension skills, pati na rin kung paano kami maging mabuting tao,” a participant from Manaol Elementary School shared during the closing program. 

(We not only improved our reading comprehension skills but also learned how we can become good individuals.)

She quoted Dr. Seuss to conclude her message: “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

DUNONG program coordinator Rosario Bantayan congratulated the READ team and participants during the closing program at Yukos Elementary School. She challenged the pupils to make reading a habit, to study well, and to become good people. 

“Tatandaan ko ‘yon, pagbalik ko, tatanungin ko ang mga teachers niyo kung kayo ay nagbabasa palagi, kung kayo ay nag-aaral nang mabuti, at (kung) naging mabuting bata, anak, at estudyante (kayo).”

(I will remember this. When I come back here, I will ask your teachers if you still read often, study well, and have remained good children and pupils.) (Kurt Ivan Angeles)