BONTOC, Mountain Province – Child Development Workers in this capital town have learned new ideas and strategies in storytelling for the children using the mother tongue.
This is the result of the one-day Storytelling Training Workshop conducted by the Bontoc Municipal Government through the Municipal Library in collaboration with the Office of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer on May 7, 2021, at the Bontoc Municipal Capitol.
Adapting to the new normal, the implementing offices initiated the activity, dubbed “Bontoc Og-okhod Training Workshop” in celebration of the National Heritage Month. It is celebrated May of every year per Presidential Proclamation No. 439, s.2003.
According to Municipal Librarian Chamreine Casiwen, the activity aimed to update the Child Development Workers on the strategies in storytelling; promote local stories through storytelling to the younger generations; record video of local storytelling for future references; and promote awareness in celebration of the National Heritage Month.
Nora Burgan shared with the participants the Strategies in Storytelling, while Mary Ellen Ayochok talked about the Different Approaches of Storytelling. Both are teachers at the MPSPED Center.
As a gesture of gratitude for sharing their knowledge and expertise in storytelling, Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey handed over Certificates of Appreciation and tokens to the resource speakers on May 10, 2021, coinciding with the regular Monday Flag Raising Ceremonies.
Mayor Odsey, also a teacher by profession, acknowledges the need for teachers to level up their teaching approaches and techniques to encourage and motivate young learners. With this, he lauded the Municipal Library and the Office of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer for initiating the activity.
He added that this is an opportunity for the Child Development Workers to further hone their skills and knowledge through the use of other platforms such as storytelling videos on Bontoc folktales.
A participant thanked the implementing offices and the resource speakers for the new learning which she believes will further encourage the children to listen, learn and appreciate the Bontoc folktales using the mother tongue. By Alpine L. Killa
