MANILA, Philippines - The Mandy Navasero Boracay Photo Safari recently held a Read-Aloud session with the Aetas of the Ati Tribal Organization headed by chieftain Delsa Justo in Boracay. Ati is an Ilonggo word for Aeta. In Justo’s tribe, there are 45 families (200 adults and children combined). The children heard three stories read by Nelson Demetillo in Aklanon, Glaiza Sambat of Patio Pacific Resort with Sebastien Stoeber, operations manager of Patio Pacific, and Renato Rosales.
Teacher Flordelyn Dalida of Ati Community Learning Center, the small school made of nipa and bamboo, received 2,500 books from Gig and the Amazing Sampaguita Foundation Inc. (GASFI), whose battle cry is for children to read 20 minutes before bedtime every day.
Books were distributed by GASFI in collaboration with Books Across the Seas. The GASFI Read-Aloud’s book-giving is part of the immersion program with locals, especially children, in all of Mandy Navasero Photo Safari destinations.