Healthy Community, Greater Beginnings: Unang Isang Libong Araw in Cuyo, Palawan
The First 1000 Days of a child’s life serve as a foundation for growth and overall development. During this period, children form cognitive abilities and physical growth essential to their health and learning. As such, responsive caregiving and a safe and nurturing environment play a huge role in reducing the risks of developmental delays and help build a strong start for children.
Likewise, Adarna Group Foundation emphasizes the need to create an environment where community members and parents take active roles in child care and development through its Unang Isang Libong Araw (UILA) program. Aligned with Republic Act 11148, also known as Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act, UILA puts high value on nutrition and aims to create a healthy environment for both mothers and their children through capacity-building initiatives. Along with this, AGFI partners with organizations and stakeholders who share the same vision for early childhood care and development.
Unang Isang Libong Araw in Cuyo, Palawan
On May 7, 2025, AGFI and Andres Soriano Foundation (ASF) partnered to kickstart the implementation of the program in Barangay Manamoc, Cuyo, Palawan. Andres Soriano Foundation aims for the development of rural fishing areas through the accessibility of basic services and education. Recognizing the challenges in the community, such as insufficiency of reading materials for young children and the limited knowledge of the parents and the community on early childhood childcare, the community of Cuyo, Palawan, was chosen to be one of the program’s beneficiaries by the Andres Soriano Foundation.
The program implementation began with two workshops involving 20 healthcare workers on Day 1 and 23 families comprised of pregnant women and mothers with children aged 0-2 years old for Day 2. The first day of the workshop focused on training healthcare workers using the Maagang Pagkamulat ni Baby module. This session included discussions on the expected developmental milestones of children aged 0 to 2 years, and introduced them to early stimulation practices that the health workers could teach to families in their communities. The roles and responsibilities of healthcare providers were also highlighted, especially in promoting and advocating early stimulation.
The second day of the workshop was dedicated to parents and families through the workshop on Maagang Pagkatuto sa Panahon ng Pagbubuntis. This session explored the stages of fetal development and highlighted various early learning practices that can be implemented during pregnancy to support brain development and overall child growth. Parents were also encouraged to adopt responsive caregiving techniques and to appreciate the importance of early stimulation even before birth.
Both sessions received a positive response from the participants. For many participants, the context of early literacy and the first 1000 days of life is fairly new. Conversations with the community revealed that the workshops were relevant to their needs, while some expressed eagerness to apply this at home and share this with the community. Parents also expressed gratitude for the children’s books distributed during the workshop, which helped address the community’s limited access to developmentally appropriate reading materials.
The strong engagement and eagerness of the participants to learn demonstrated a promising start. With this, AGFI and ASF remain committed to support parents and healthcare workers through sustained efforts and regular training sessions. This initiative represents a step forward in reaching AGFI’s broader goal: to make every Filipino child a reader.