Cadiz Engages Lolas as Storytellers for Day Care Children for Free

The local government of Cadiz City has this astonishing and thriving program for day care kids and, perhaps, unique across the country.

This is the “Storytelling for Children,” an initiative of the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWDO) for 113 day care centers across 22 villages in Cadiz meant to celebrate life and learning.

Why?

Because the storytellers are lolas, who are retired school teachers and now members of the city’s Senior Citizen Association.

From Monday to Friday, each of the lola storytellers consumes 30 minutes just to tell a story for kids, for free.

The program has spelled a lot of difference not just on the reading habit, but also on moral attitudes of Cadiz kids.

This approach, said Irene Javelona, head of Cadiz’s CSWDO, connects two age groups that rarely interact meaningfully in today’s fast-paced world.

It also revives the Filipino tradition of “pagkukuwento”, Javelona added.

And what makes the program unique is that all lola storytellers are not just reading pages from a book; they are breathing life into values.

These lolas had once taught classrooms full of students, but now they teach from the heart, using storytelling as their medium.

Hence, this essence of power of shared life experiences.

“With every tale, they pass down timeless values – respect for elders, the importance of helping the family, and understanding one’s responsibilities as a child,” Javelona said, adding, “Storytelling is not just an entertainment, but a tool for teaching morals and building character.”

This initiative, therefore, is more than just a storytelling activity – it is a heartwarming movement that reconnects the young with the wisdom of the old, bridges the past with the present, and builds a future grounded in respect, responsibility, and love for family.

Likewise, this program is a gift to the elderly.

Because being retired educators who long to make a difference again, these lola storytellers, through this program, are indeed rediscovering their voice, their role, and their joy.

They are no longer sidelined by age; instead, they are seen, heard, and appreciated for the knowledge they carry.

Cadiz Mayor Salvador “Bading” Escalante, Jr. praised this initiative by offering a “high salute” to their lola storytellers.

“Yes, this program is beyond storytelling. Rather, this is also meant to address moral gap among Cadizeños” the mayor said.

Escalante vowed to further assess the program as this can be showcased as a model on storytelling initiative for all day care centers across the country.

“This is rare, but great,” Escalante concluded.* (BC)