PRESS STATEMENT FROM GMA-7:

"Jose Rizal wasn't born an adult. In studying our national hero and his life, we often skip the part where he was a kid.

"Rizal was once a child who like most of us, was fed fables, myths, and legends. 

"And like most of us, Rizal dealt with strict teachers he couldn't please, homework he didn't really want to do at first, and school bullies he really wanted to avoid but couldn't.

"Mga Kuwentong Pambata ni Jose Rizal will give viewers a glimpse into Rizal's childhood, the stories he loved as a child, and the stories he wrote for children as an adult.

"The GMA News TV special is a collaboration between highly skilled, professional child actors, visual artists, and the network's writers and directors who will jump at any chance to produce educational stories for children.

"Child actor Yogo Singh takes center stage as the young Jose Rizal, who finds himself alone and bullied as a student in Biñan, far away from his hometown, Calamba. Child actress Barbara Miguel takes on the role of Doña Teodora, who tutored the young Rizal and told him stories to give him an interest in reading. Carlo Lucano plays Paciano, while BJ Forbes is Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz, the young Rizal's teacher.  Dante Nico Garcia directs. 

"Illustrators Odessa Pacheco and Hubert Fucio will give life to the characters in Rizal's stories entitled Si Pagong at Si Matsing and Mariang Makiling, while clay animator Edwin Guillermo takes charge of giving life to the little Gamu-gamo (moth) that flew too close to the lamp. 

"Mga Kuwentong Pambata ni Jose Rizal airs  this Sunday, June 19, 7 PM , on GMA News TV Channel 11."

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