A reader today, a leader tomorrow.
Reading opens doors to endless opportunities. Yet many young students struggle with basic literacy today. To address this crisis, United Print and Multimedia Group (UPMG) Philippines launched an annual campaign to inspire children to read, think, and share more.
Reading In Print And Online
Currently, seven out of 10 Filipino students lack basic reading skills. Furthermore, a report from the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) shows that many struggle to understand simple texts. Consequently, keeping up in class becomes a real challenge for young learners. To tackle this gap, UPMG Philippines created its annual Back to Basic Reading Campaign.
Through this program, publishers, educators, and students come together to rediscover the joy of reading. As UPMG President Vivienne Motomal explained:
What pushes us to do this is the need to improve children’s comprehension. They need to understand what they read and consume, whether online or in print, so they can form their own thoughts and become responsible members of society.”
Bringing Stories and Smiles to School
On September 7, the campaign marked its second year at Rosauro Almario Elementary School under the theme “Flip and Scroll: A Reading Quest for Every Kid on Pages and Screens.” During the event, Malaysian Ambassador H.E. Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino highlighted the power of books, stating:
Reading is the first step to learning, progress, and growth. It enhances your critical thinking.”
He even adds,
If you read today, you can be a president, a doctor, a lawyer someday — an important person who can make important decisions for yourself and for those around you.”
Meanwhile, Grade 3 and 4 students enjoyed an engaging storytelling session led by Therese Alebusa of Nameless Books. Later, over 100 attendees received donated children’s literature, a free lunch, and Yakult.
Commending the initiative, Yakult Medical Relations Assistant Myka Ronalou Estillore shared thanks for their invite. Further highlighting the belief that reading shapes the future.
Expanding the Advocacy for the Future
At its core, UPMG aims to build critical thinking, creativity, and confidence in elementary students. UPMG Treasurer Sherly Baula shared this encouraging message:
Remember, when you read a book, whether you flip through its pages or scroll on a tablet, as long as you read, you win. We hope today we inspired you to read more, think more, and share more.”
Looking ahead, the organization plans to expand its advocacy even further. For instance, an upcoming CSR project will invite people to donate reading materials to the Aetas of Zambales and St. Francis Learning School. This project will celebrate UPMG’s 25th anniversary on November 11.
Finally, this year’s event succeeded thanks to sponsors including the Embassy of Malaysia in Manila, Nameless Books, Lounge Cafe Bookstore, and Yakult, with support from the Ad Standards Council.
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