“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.”

Such were the words of George Raymond Richard Martin, an American novelist, short-story writer, television producer and the brilliant mind behind the hit series Game of Thrones.

Truly, reading plays an important role in shaping a person’s life, and the society as a whole. Reading allows us to explore new things, gain information and understand the world from various perspectives.

In 2008, former Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III declared November 27 as Araw ng Pagbasa to stress the vital role of reading. Thereafter, the annual advocacy program continues and has been adopted by the Department of Education (DepEd).

If you can’t decide on what book to pick up next, let your favorite PanahonTV reporters give you some ideas:

AMOR LARROSA

Amor is a senior weather reporter of the program. Seasoned at covering issues on climate change, disasters and preparedness, she goes by the title of Weather Lover and believes that, “Ang taong handa at mahinahon, kayang lagpasan ang hamon ng panahon”

What is the importance of reading?
Reading is the cheapest way to explore. It’s like having a special power to travel the world, meet people and discover new things for free. It is a sweet escape from the real world, but could also give you the chance to become a better person when you go back to reality.

What is the title of your favorite book?
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupéry

What is your favorite line from the book?
“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is not visible to the eye.”

What is the most important lesson from the book?
Dubbed as a children’s book written for grown-ups, The Little Prince offers a myriad of life lessons. This book reminded me that beyond the appearance, what is more important is what’s underneath. Most people prioritize how they look on the outside, without realizing that what’s inside their soul matters the most. Each one of us conceals a treasure that can only be discovered by the heart.

EUNICE JUNTAYAS

Eunice enjoys wearing many hats, including being a handicraft artist, storyteller, photographer, and most recently, Panahon TV’s latest weather reporter. Being a responsible broadcast journalist allows her to spread her eco-friendly advocacies, and inspire her fellow youth to embrace their uniqueness and creativity.

What is the importance of reading?
Reading is a shared experience. It connects us into a more solid foundation of learning. Books are beyond imagination; it could take us to places without minding the rule of time. Most importantly, it is like navigating through endless possibilities guiding us in everything we do.

What is the title of your favorite book?
The Holy Bible

What is your favorite line from the book?
“The Lord is my shepherd.”

What is the most important lesson from the book?
Our life has a purpose. The Bible gives specific answers to this life’s most difficult questions. I learned that there is a God who is so loving and who wanted to give us so much more than what this life could offer. Reading the Bible is a lifestyle.

PERSONAL CHOICE

Reading may be one of the cheapest ways to learn, but it can certainly make a person richer in all areas of life. When you read, you are not only limited to what you can imagine. The worlds, characters and ideals described in books, newspapers, magazines and other reading materials help us expand our understanding of what is possible.

One of my favorite books was written by Miss Universe 1999 First Runner-up Miriam Quiambao, entitled He Can Catch You When You Fall.

My favorite line from the book is: “Ever since I tripped and fell down at the Miss Universe coronation night, God has always been there to pick me up and redeem all the mistakes and falls I’ve made in the hope that it will inspire many to trust that, indeed, God can catch you when you fall.”

I personally love this book because it’s uplifting and inspiring. I admire how the author shared her life stories, which really encourage women to be honest and share the Truth. I’ve been through a lot when it comes to romance, failure and sadness, but this book reminds me that letting go and letting God would go a long way. Everything else will fall into place, in His perfect timing and His perfect Will.

Clouds are beautiful to behold, exuding an aura of peace and comfort. How often have we lied down on our backs to watch the sky to form whimsical shapes from these clouds? To me, they represent our lofty dreams, which may remain unreachable if we don’t take the first step to achieve them.

When I was still a Mass Communications student, my dreams were as numerous as clouds. Because I was often confused of which path to take, my father had to constantly remind me to “take one step at a time.”
A step is all it takes to begin a process. But in this fast-paced world, people often get impatient with taking time with the small steps. But these, I realized, teach us the importance of enduring a process.
I’ve been so used to running fast that I almost missed God’s “go-signal” and his full assurance that I would land my first job. Little did I know that all my dreams would converge at one point: being a weather reporter for Panahon TV.

My fist two weeks passed like a storm. I’ve always been passionate about television production, but learning it as an employee made me wonder if I was really cut out for this trade. Failing to instantly grasp the basics of my work, I got frustrated and blamed myself for not adapting easily. Still, God spoke to my heart.
“Yet man is born to trouble,
But if I were you, I would appeal to God;
I would lay my cause before him.
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted.
He provides rain for the earth;
he sends water on the countryside.
The lowly he sets on high,
and those who mourn are lifted to safety.”
(Job 5:7-11)

That moment, I came to my senses. I began to think and speak in positive ways, rejecting fear. It helped that my mom reminded me to be like David in the face of Goliath, and not to accept defeat in my mind.

In this ongoing journey, I am blessed to have helpful peers and superiors. They help me navigate this difficult road, teaching me that like gloomy clouds, hardships eventually pass. They remind me that I need to respect the time and effort to learn new skills. Like a diamond in the rough, I need these challenges to release my full potential.

With the help of the whole team, I am now engaging myself fully into the gift of serving people through weather forecasting. And I have to say that there are moments when I feel like a cloud myself—light, worthy of attention, and most important of all, moving with purpose.