By Danny Estacio LUCENA CITY, Quezon - The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Calabarzon has partnered with the Rotary Club of Lucena Circle (RCLC) for a reading program to teach 50 street children about street safety. (JUAN CARLO DE VELA / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Jail Officer Alain Abastillas told the children the importance of looking after their own safety. "They must refrain from entertaining strangers, particularly when they are walking on the streets," has said. Gian Matthew Flores, a Grade 4 student of Lucena West 1 Elementary School, was the storyteller in the “Makinig Kayo, May Kuwento si Ma’am, May Kuwento si Sir,” reading program, which is a monthly project of the RCLC in cooperation with the Reading Association of the Philippines’ Quezon Chapter, the Lucena City DepEd, SM City Lucena and Manila Bulletin. Flores narrated the story of Little Red Riding Hood, reminding his fellow youngsters not to talk to strangers nor trust people they don’t know and to always seek the guidance of their parents. The Grade 3 students from Lucena East 8 Elementary School listened to him, pitching in answers when BJMP personnel sponsored a question and answer segment and provided prizes for the children. RCLC President Irene Sisperez thanked the students and the school principal for participating in the project. “Kids, please continue to come to our reading project because like Matthew, you will one day, be the reader or storyteller to other children,” she said. The reading project was conceptualized to encourage children to enjoy reading books and lessen the use of gadgets.