MANILA, Philippines?How do you teach children that violence is bad? By reading them a story.

Some 40 children were treated to a special Inquirer Read-Along session on Friday featuring stories on children's rights and gender equality.

The session, held in cooperation with Miriam College?s Women and Gender Institute (WAGI), had former Miss Universe Margie Moran-Floirendo and Adarna reader Dyali Justo as guest readers.

The audience was composed of 9-12-year-old children from partner communities of Miriam College in Libis, Daantubo, Marytown, Kaingin-1 and Park-7, all in Quezon City.

Justo read Adarna's "Apolakus!" by Alice Mallari, a story about a boy who was bullied in school.

Both Floirendo and Justo read "Tahanang Payapa Para sa Ina at Mga Bata," a story prepared by Marita Pimentel, a faculty member of Miriam College.

The story had a lot to say: Violence is illegal. It also teaches children what to do and where to go when they experience violence, and urges grownups to be advocates of peace and to help those who are in need.

This is the gist of Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004, said WAGI executive director and former dean of Miriam College, Aurora Javate De Dios.

"Violence is everywhere. We want to make children aware of their rights and what they should do when their rights are violated," said Jean Franco, faculty associate of WAGI.

De Dios agreed, adding, "It is a very sensitive subject but it is important to educate children this early because they are at a critical stage. If they get used to being abused, they could grow up to be the abusers."

Floirendo, an alumna of Miriam College (formerly Maryknoll College), is an advocate of women and children's rights.

"Not only was I able to teach children about their rights, I was also able to show them that reading is an important tool to learning," she said.

Floirendo, 1973 Miss Universe and an active member of Habitat for Humanity, Tabang Mindanaw, Save Davao Gulf Foundation and the Mindanao Commission on Women, is a book lover.

"Storytelling is an art. Reading is a way of life. I am currently reading a collection of stories by Filipino authors," she said.

Her children, Monica and Gabbi, love to read as well. "I used to read to them when they were young. Now they are voracious readers," she added.

For her part, Gladys Famorcan, coordinator from Daantubo community, said: "The Read-Along session was a good way of teaching kids about their rights. When they get home, they can tell their parents what they?ve learned."

Friday?s session was part of the 18-day campaign against domestic violence by Miriam College and the United Nations Fund for Women, South East Asia program. The program started on November 25 and ends on December 12.

Activities included a conference on violence at the Sulo Hotel, a "write shop" for young women leaders on December 11 and 12 at Miriam College.

Last Saturday, a special Read-Along session was held at the Inquirer office in Makati featuring the comic tandem of Jose Manalo and Wally Bayola, actor and champion swimmer Enchong Dee, and child storyteller Abigail de Guzman. The session was part of the 7th Christmas celebration hosted by Hands-On Manila's Breakfast Club for street children.

The event, which was filled with games, dance and song numbers, served as an early Christmas party for more than 60 street kids from Guadalupe, Parañaque, Makati and Manila.

Manalo and Bayola did a tandem reading of Rene Villanueva's "Tiktaktok and Pikpakbum" while Dee read "Istariray, Ang Bituing May Buntot," a story about the star that guided the three wise men to the Child Jesus in Bethlehem. The story is part of Villanueva's "12 Kuwentong Pamasko."

Ten-year-old De Guzman, on the other hand, read "Ang Pambihirang Buhok ni Lola," also by Villanueva, which is about the resilience of Filipino women during crises. A fourth grader at Manggahan Elementary School in Pasig City, De Guzman recently placed third in a Metro Manila-wide story-telling competition.

As an added treat, Tinky Cabanatan of Zooper Tours brought a four-year-old albino python straight from Zoobic Safari in Subic for the children to see and touch.

Saturday's session was held in cooperation with Child Hope Asia Philippines, Krispy Kreme and Ronald McDonald House Charities of McDonald?s Philippines. Also among the sponsors were California Pizza Kitchen, Starbucks, Hot Loops Donuts, Mang Inasal, Pan de Pidro, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Co. and Cherry Yao of Molecules. Volunteers from the Inquirer and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. were on hand to assist the street kids.