Kuwentong MMP: Bagong Simula para sa Magsimulang Magbasa
On July 31, 2025, the Adarna Group Foundation, Inc. (AGFI) initiated the implementation of the Magsimulang Magbasa Program in Anao, Tarlac. This milestone marks not only the launch of the program but also the culmination of months of thoughtful preparation, program development, and consultation with educators and community partners.
In partnership with LBC Hari ng Padala Foundation, the program aims to equip parents and child development workers with skills to nurture and foster reading readiness among children aged 3 to 4 years old. To ensure the program’s relevance and effectiveness, AGFI engaged in a series of consultations with esteemed educators and child development specialists. Among them were Teacher Fely Pado, former professor of the University of the Philippines - Diliman College of Education who authored a textbook on Beginning Reading; Teacher Ruth Martin De Guzman, head of Special Education Department of The Raya School and former executive director of Adarna Group Foundation, Inc. and; Teacher Micah Del Mundo, a licensed professional teacher of Family Life and Child Development, who mentors pre-school teachers, and has implemented as well as monitored various development sector programs. In addition, the inputs of child development workers themselves played a crucial role in shaping the program, particularly in aligning the program with their needs and experiences.
Grounded in the EDCOM II recommendations on strengthening the skills of CDWs in building foundational literacy skills, and aligned with the National Early Learning Curriculum (NELC), the program ensures that its approach is anchored in national education priorities.
Research consistently shows that the first years of life are critical in shaping a child’s brain development and learning abilities. With this, the Magsimulang Magbasa Program also aims to foster reading both in school and at home. Parents, as a child’s first teachers, play an irreplaceable role in nurturing communication. At the same time, CDWs, who serve as early learning facilitators in barangays, extend this support by providing structured yet playful learning environments. By capacitating these two groups, the program creates an environment where children are supported both at home and in their community learning centers.
The official kick-off took place through a Bridging Workshop—an activity that marks the beginning of implementation. Through this, the workshop brought together CDWs and parents to provide a space for participants to share experiences, deepen their understanding of reading readiness, and begin their journey in laying the foundations of literacy.
The bridging workshop is just the beginning. Over the coming months, AGFI, together with LBCF, will continue to conduct and monitor workshops and learning sessions. But beyond these, the team envisions taking the Magsimulang Magbasa Program further by exploring micro-credentialing opportunities for CDWs. This aims to empower CDWs by providing them with certifications that can strengthen their professional growth. Such a move aligns with national efforts to professionalize and upskill the early childhood workforce, ultimately benefiting the children they serve.
Want to know more about AGFI’s Magsimulang Magbasa Program? Follow our #KuwentongMMP journey and learn more about this initiative.