Kids learn all about environment at PDI

MANILA, Philippines -- Two jeepney drivers who learn about the benefits of alternative fuels. Three boys who thoughtlessly destroy a fairy’s garden and then discover the importance of the environment.

These were the characters in the stories featured at yesterday’s Inquirer Read-Along session which focused on the environment.

Featured readers were the reigning Little Earth Angel of 2007, Denise Mikaela Abuan, and returning storytellers from the Sophia School in Meycauayan.

Abuan, a student at Roosevelt College in Montalban who turned 11 in May, read “Hari ng Kalsada,” a brainchild of the Sustainable Energy Development Program (SEDP) of the US Agency for International Development and US Department of Energy.

Abuan said she believed even children her age could help the country in small ways.

“We can plant trees [and] separate biodegradable waste from non-biodegradables,” she said with a shy smile.

The Little Earth Angel pageant is part of the Miss Earth Foundation activities and involves children aged 7 to 10.

Storytellers from Sophia School, returning for the third time to the Inquirer Read-Along, read Rene Villanueva’s “Si Emmang Engkantada at ang Tatlong Haragan” (Emma the Enchantress and the Three Bums).

Teachers Ann Abacan, Doray Carable, Ellie Carable, Lorna Mendoza and Osang de la Vega used the chamber theater format to bring the story of three wayward-boys-turned-environment-lovers to life.

Chamber theater is a method of adapting literary works to the stage with minimal sets. In the Sophia School’s production, each teacher read the part of a character.

After the reading, Teacher Ann asked the children: “Do we need a fairy to teach us how to take care of our environment?” to which the children replied a resounding, “No.”

“We choose stories where children will learn a lesson. In this case, the lesson is helping the environment, which people seem to have forgotten,” said Teacher Osang.

“Hari ng Kalsada,” written by Dhee Paredes, an information, education and communication specialist at the SEDP, was originally in English and was first read by US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney during the National Earth Day celebration on April 20. It was translated into Filipino by Paredes herself to better capture the hearts of Filipino children.

Thinking that a more visual medium would be more effective, Paredes decided to turn the story into a comic book, with her brother-in-law, Radel Paredes, a columnist of the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s sister publication, the Cebu Daily News, doing the illustrations. A cinema ad version of the story will be launched by Artistshop Co. Inc. in October. TV commercials and coloring books based on the story are in the pipeline.

Paredes said their organization decided to tap younger audiences through Inquirer Read-Along and other media in order to better disseminate information about biofuels and environment protection to the younger generation.

“It is important that children understand what biofuels are for,” said Paredes.

Coco-biodiesel, or coconut methyl ester (CME), and ethanol are considered to be ecologically benign fuels.

The Biofuels Act of 2006, passed in January 12 this year, provides that at least 1 percent of biodiesel be mixed with the diesel fuel sold in the country.

Other contributors to the program were Krispy Kreme donuts and Hands On Manila.

The Inquirer Read-Along program, which aims to impart the love of reading to children aged 7 to 13, is held on the second and fourth Saturday of the month at the Inquirer main office on Chino Roces Avenue in Makati City.

The next session will be on Sept. 22 and will feature Ms Philippines-Earth 2007 Jean Harn and Ms Earth-Water 2006 Catherine Untalan, also of SEDP.

Interested parties may call Ellen Caparros or Girlie Refran at 897-8808, local 329. Those interested in donating books for the program may e-mail inquirer-readalong@inquirer.com.ph. Eliza Victoria, Inquirer Research

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

Manawatu the best

By JUDITH LACY - Tribune

Miss Manawatu Claire Kirby thought she'd made too many mistakes to win another crown last Sunday - she was wrong.

She was named Miss Earth New Zealand at a dinner in Auckland and will represent the country at the international Miss Earth pageant, to be held in Manila, Philippines, on November 11.

The 19 year old's win was a double bonus for Manawatu with 2006 Miss Manawatu Rachel Crofts second.

Miss Kirby, who works at Passion Deli & Cafe in Feilding, told The Tribune she didn't think she had a chance of winning as she thought her hair and make-up didn't look the best. She also felt she'd made a number of "mistakes" including running late for the swimwear parade and, feeling flustered, struggling to undo the knot she'd tied in her sarong. The seven contestants also had to model ballgowns and cocktail dresses and give a three-minute speech - Miss Kirby spoke about her trip to India last year. Contestants were interviewed by the judges and asked about the message they would take to the environmentally themed pageant.

In the audience were Miss Kirby's family, Miss Manawatu franchise owner Kate Balfour and Miss Manawatu judge Diane Bate.

Miss Kirby will spend about three weeks in the Philippines preparing for the pageant and attending events.

Miss Crofts also won the best ballgown award. Two previous Miss Earth New Zealand winners have come from Manawatu - Rachel Tucker (2004) and Tiffany Pickford (2005).

Source: Manawatu Standard Tribune