R epublic of the P hilippines

D epartment of E ducation
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF TAGUIG CITY AND PATEROS
WESTERN BICUTAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Phase I, EP Housing, Pinagsama,Taguig City

ENGLISH MONTH 2023: BOOK CHARACTER PRELIMINARY ACTIVITY

NARRATIVE REPORT

Theme: “English as a Global Language; Bridging Cultures, Connecting to the World”

In celebration of the English Month School Year 2023 to 2024, the English department and the school’s
Society of English Enthusiast (SEE) organized an event that flawlessly captured the theme of the English Month,
“English as a Global Language; Bridging Cultures, Connecting to the World.” The competition brought the
whole school a spectacular view of worlds and lives that can only be found on pages of books which the
participants were able to embody with their impressive portrayals and creative costumes.

The Book Character Competition commenced during the morning classes which started at 7: 00 am to
8:00 am for grade 7 class and immediately followed by the grade 10 class which started at 8:00 am to 9:00 am
and last the grade 11 class started at 9:00 am to 10:00 am. Since the Department of Education prohibited any
disruption of classes during academic programs, only the sections during and within English class were asked
to take part as the spectators and return to their respective classrooms after 50 minutes. Before the actual
commencement of the competition the participants were excused to gather at the Gazebo and do all the
preparations needed. The SEE officers and the English teachers did a roll call and checked the registration of
each participant before handing out their numbers. The participants were lined up according to the list while
some teachers and participants were still making extra preparations for the actual competition.

To set the stage, Mr. Dane Llabres delivered an opening remark that truly encapsulates the purpose of
the event. The preliminary activity of the Book Character Competition was called Ramparade wherein each of
competitor was given time to do a ramp walk on the stage and flaunt their costumes while doing it in character
and with conviction, then proceeded to a parade to the whole school wherein the competitors walked to the
hallways of the school and let all the students see their creative costumes. The Judges for the Ramp Walk part
were the English teachers of each grade level. To prevent a conflict of interest, the teachers were not allowed
to judge the participants from the section that they are handling. It was an arduous task for the teachers as
they all find the students highly driven, but they had to make the toughest decision and keep an honestly
brutal and meticulous process of judging the participants based on their costumes and how they project
themselves in-character. As the competition continued, the reactions of the spectators got louder and louder
as they saw more creative characters on stage.

In the afternoon session, the competitive atmosphere continued to intensify. Even before the
participants were gathered at the Gazebo, in every corner of the school there were students already wearing
their outstanding costumes and makeups. The afternoon Book Character Competition started with the grade 8
class at 2:00pm to 3:00 pm, followed by the grade 9 class at 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm and ended with grade 12 class
at 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The whole program of the afternoon session was the same as the morning, yet it was
undeniable how the number of participants and their energy were far more heightened than the morning
classes. The students were cheering louder, and the participants were more eye-catching and fiercer. The stage
was like a highly decorated set because of the participants in their stunning costumes.
Overall, the Preliminary Book Character Competition exemplified what it means to bring an immersive
experience to students. The enthusiasm that the students felt and showed were all evidence of how they were
fully engaged in different stories from the books that introduced them to diverse and distinct cultures.