Adarna Group Foundation, Inc. envisions a Philippines where every Filipino child is a reader.

In the Philippines, early childhood care and development (ECCD) faces daunting challenges. The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) reports that early childhood is the most critical bottleneck in the education system, with persistent deficits in nutrition, early learning access, and foundational literacy. Close to 24% of Filipino children under five remain stunted, participation in formal early childhood care and development is at 18%, and many learners enter school inadequately prepared.

Through our programs for the first 1,000 days through the second 1,000 days of life, we directly address the interconnected challenges of nutrition, early learning access, and foundational literacy. Through our programs, AGFI support learning partners, expand children’s access to language and books, and strengthen reading readiness in the earliest years, remaining truly committed to our vision of making every Filipino child a reader. Moreover, we consciously build communities of literacy advocates through our Eager Reader Platform.

BIR

OUR VISION

Every Filipino Child a Reader

OUR MISSION

Promotion of early literacy with reading as a focus among 0 to 4 year old Filipino children in partnership with their parents, their LGU and community, and other like minded organizations .

OUR VALUES

  • Malasakit

    We place the child at the heart of our work and are committed to making growth opportunities accessible for all children.

  • Mapagkakatiwalaan

    We uphold respect, fairness, and professionalism, ensuring ethical and trustworthy service in all our engagements. We work with honesty, integrity, and transparency; protect data privacy and children’s rights; and remain compliant with all relevant laws, regulations, and policies.

  • Pag-ibig sa Bayan

    We work on the premise of a strong love for our country and in uplifting the lives of Filipino children through our programs and initiatives.

  • Husay

    We ensure that our operations and services are of the highest standards and are truly responsive to the needs of our stakeholders through well-researched and developmentally-appropriate interventions.

  • Masipag

    We value hard work, collaboration, initiative, and dedication in the service of all our stakeholders.

Adarna Group Foundation, Inc. is named after the Adarna bird, the mythical creature whose song could cure any affliction. Our logo–an image of this magical bird taking flight, its head turned to see where it came from–is the symbol of our dedication to the legacy of bringing the healing power of reading to Filipino children. And just like the Adarna bird, we look to our roots to give us direction as we take wing.

Accomplishment Reports

Board Members

  • Emelina S. Almario

    Emelina Almario

    President

  • Felicitas Rixhon

    Felicitas Rixhon

    Vice President

  • Vanessa Ann M. Estares

    Vanessa Ann Estares

    Corporate Secretary

  • Maria Lourdes de la Cruz

    Maria Lourdes de la Cruz

    Treasurer

  • Cristina Espino, MD

    Cristina Espino, MD

    Member

  • Member

    Reginald Andal

    Member

Team

  • Maria Concepcion Estrella

    Maria Concepcion Estrella

    Executive Director

  • Karla Mae Bolaños

    Program Coordinator

  • Agatha Jasmin Vargas

    Communications Coordinator

Our Impact

From 2022-2025, Adarna Group Foundation, Inc. has:

reached

4,599

Children

engaged

3,626

Learning partners

distributed

60,858

Reading materials

Together, we can increase our reach and deepen our impact in the communities we work with.