November is National Reading Month in the Philippines.

Elementary
and secondary schools all across the country will be celebrating this
special month, thanks to the Department of Education’s Memorandum
#44-2011. The most exciting part of this month is National Reading
Day, also known as “Araw ng Pagbasa,” which falls on November 27th.
This day is especially important because it’s declared by Republic Act
10556, signed into law by the late former President Benigno Aquino III.

Sadly, in the past five years, many Filipino students have struggled
with understanding what they read. Vice President and Education
Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio mentioned that this problem got worse
because of the long school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But the good news is that National Reading Month reminds us of the
importance of reading in education.

Reading is like opening a door to a world of knowledge and

imagination. It helps us learn new things, improve our language skills,
and be better at understanding the world around us. So, during this
National Reading Month, let’s celebrate the joy of reading and
encourage everyone, especially the young ones, to pick up a book and
explore the wonders that lie within its pages. Happy National Reading
Month!