The morning session saw select children from Barangay Port Area with guest reader Councilor Karel Anjaiza Sakkalahul, chair of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on women, children and family affairs.

In the afternoon, no less than than Isabela City Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman graced the activity for kids from Barangay Timpul. The Local Chief Executive was joined by Councilor Sakkalahul, Councilor Jay Casas and Barangay Chair Ibno Tura.

During her read-along, Mayor Turabin-Hataman paused at certain passages to highlight the values highlighted by the scenes. Later, during her remarks, she called on the parents in attendance to nurture a culture of reading in their homes as to propagate the objectives of the HAPIsabela Mobile Library.

Mayor Turabin-Hataman then led in the distribution of hygiene kits from the City Health Office, toys courtesy of the City Social Welfare and Development Office, and coloring books and crayons from the CIO.

According to City Information Officer Mendry-Ann Lim, the HAPIsabela Mobile Library project is meant to help lower the number of struggling and non-readers among young Isabeleños and to cultivate reading as a passion among children and at the same time make mothers as reading partners as designed by this GAD-funded initiative. She also cited the assistance of the Barangay Information Officers Network of Isabela City who were present to assist CIO during the entire duration of the activity.

The inclusion of the HAPIsabela Mobile Library in the slate of activities of this year’s edition of the Sakayan Festival is in keeping with Mayor Turabin-Hataman’s directive to make the festivity the “people’s festival” where all Isabeleños could participate and enjoy. (Words by Jackie Mae Bontia/M. Guerrero/Photos by D. Jalani and KJ Evardo, CIO)