Brigada Eskwela at Kapitbahayan Elementary School
DepEd NCR Launched Reading Nook: Read to Rise Program During Brigada Eskwela Implementation in Navotas
https://www.facebook.com/officialDepEdNCR/videos/1792098481766314
Kapitbahayan Elementary School, Navotas City became a bright corner of hope and literacy as DepEd NCR launched the Reading Nook: Read to Rise Program during the implementation of Brigada Eskwela on June 2, 2026.
The regional activity, spearheaded by DepEd NCR under the leadership of Regional Director and concurrent OIC-Assistant Secretary, Jocelyn DR Andaya, highlighted the continuing commitment of the education sector to make schools safer, more prepared, and more literacy-rich for learners.
The event was graced by His Excellency President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who personally joined the activity and took part in a storytelling session with learners. His participation brought national attention to the importance of reading spaces in schools and the role of storytelling in nurturing children’s imagination, confidence, and love for learning.
Anchored on the spirit of Brigada Eskwela, the activity showcased how school readiness goes beyond cleaning and repairs. It also includes preparing classrooms where children can read, listen, imagine, and grow. Through the Reading Nook: Read to Rise Program, classrooms are envisioned as more than instructional spaces. They become welcoming learning corners where books are within reach and reading becomes part of daily school life.
The walkthrough also featured the inspection of CCTV and school safety facilities, the Partners Booth Walkthrough, the Tara, Basa! Showcase, the Brigada Eskwela activity, and the Reading Nook and Storytelling Activity. Together, these components reflected DepEd NCR’s integrated approach to school opening preparations: safe schools, strong partnerships, active community participation, and focused literacy support.
Among the key officials present were President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, Secretary Francis Tolentino of DOLE, Secretary Rex Gatchalian of DSWD, Regional Director Jocelyn D. Andaya, Asec. Cilette Liboro Co, Asec. AP Bartolome, Dir. Jan Kevin M. Rivera, Dr. Meliton Zurbano, Schools Division Superintendent, and Dr. Floretta Quijano, Principal IV.
The activity was also supported by the local government of Navotas, represented by Mayor John Ray Tiangco, showing a strong partnership between DepEd and the city government in advancing learner welfare and school readiness.
For Navotas, the launch of the Reading Nook: Read to Rise Program was more than a ceremonial event. It was a clear statement that literacy must be visible, accessible, and alive in every classroom. With books, storytelling, safe facilities, and community support, every Reading Nook becomes a small but powerful doorway to bigger dreams.
Through this regional launch, DepEd NCR affirmed one urgent message: when children read, they rise; and when communities work together, schools become places where every learner can rise higher.
