A Day of Wonder: The Carabao-Turtle Race

For our February edition of Cuenta Cuento, we shared the delightful story of “The Carabao and the Turtle Race,” a Filipino classic that echoes the themes of the Tortoise and the Hare. Our guest reader, Juan, was accompanied by Gel and Mae, who brought the characters to life using recycled-material dioramas and handmade headdresses. The children were completely immersed, learning the importance of humility and wit while enriching their Filipino vocabulary with words like kalabaw, pagong, and gumamela.

We started welcoming the kids with a coloring activity, where they could choose between print outs of gumamelas, hills, and a pond. After the storytelling, we asked the kids what they thought the lesson was, and they learned how it’s important to use your brains and ask for help when hard times come. 

We reviewed what sounds the animals made in the story, like how the kalabaw goes “gadong, gadong”, the turtle goes “kimi,kimi,kimi”, and the palaka goes “kokak”. The session concluded with laughter and play as the children participated in a "Find Your Pair" game, using the animal sounds learned to find their partner. 

It was a joy to see them interact with the props and continue their artwork after the story ended. At Museyong Buhay, we are honored to create these magical moments that connect the next generation to our rich cultural heritage.

-Juan

Storyteller of the Month

-Jocelyn, Mae & Angel

Participation, Props & Games