A mother’s promise, a nation’s promise

Every mother carries a promise in her heart: that her child will be safe, healthy, loved and given every chance to become who he or she is meant to be.

We remember the sleepless nights, the anxious mornings, the whispered prayers, the patient teaching, the feeding, bathing, comforting, playing and guiding that often go unseen. Much of a mother’s work is quiet, but its impact lasts a lifetime.

A mother’s love, however deep, should not have to stand alone.

Every child needs a mother’s care, but every mother also needs support: from fathers, families, communities, health workers, child development workers (CDWs), teachers, local governments and national systems that understand how crucial the earliest years of life are.

That is why this Mother’s Day carried even deeper meaning as we marked the first anniversary of the signing of Republic Act No. 12199, or the Early Childhood Care and Development System Act, on May 8, 2026.

This landmark law strengthens the country’s commitment to the holistic development of young Filipino children and recognizes the first eight years of life as a crucial stage in a child’s growth, learning and development.

The law seeks to address long-standing gaps in the early childhood system by strengthening support for children’s health, nutrition, early learning and overall development.

It underscores the importance of helping children transition smoothly from home to child development centers (CDCs), and eventually to the formal education system.

Equally important, the law provides stronger support for CDWs, who are often among the mothers’ first partners in the community.

By promoting minimum qualifications, access to training and assessment and certification, RA 12199 recognizes that those who care for and teach our youngest children need to be cared for, respected and equipped.

It recognizes the need for inclusion and support for children with disabilities, so that no child is left behind in the earliest and most formative years of life.

For us at Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. (KCFI), RA 12199 is especially meaningful.

It reflects years of persistent advocacy to place early childhood development (ECD) firmly on the national agenda.

I strongly advocated for ECD to be included in the work of the Second Congressional Commission on Education, or EDCOM2, because I believed then, as I do now, that the learning crisis cannot be solved if we begin too late.

In 2022, I hosted a dinner for members of the Asia Philanthropy Circle and invited key stakeholders in early childhood care and development, including Sen. Win Gatchalian and representatives of the ECCD Council.

Our discussion on the urgent gaps in the country’s early childhood system helped lead to the drafting and filing of what was then Senate Bill No. 2029, a proposed revision of the Early Years Act.

Through EDCOM2 and the legislative process that followed, I saw ECD become a true national priority.

For this, I am deeply grateful to Sen. Gatchalian, Rep. Roman Romulo, EDCOM2 and the many partners who listened, studied the gaps and helped move this urgent concern higher on the country’s reform agenda.

The work continues. KCFI is supporting efforts around Senate Bill No. 1853, the proposed K-3 Foundational Learning and Nurturing Care Act, which I had presented to Sen. Loren Legarda while also exploring a demonstration pilot in Quezon City.

But while laws can provide the framework, their real promise will be fulfilled in the daily lives of Filipino families.

Children grow in homes, barangays, CDCs, schools and communities.

It is in these everyday spaces that mothers, fathers, grandparents and caregivers make the small but powerful choices that shape a child’s future.

This is where programs like KCFI’s “I Love You 1000” and “Dok Ricky, Pedia ng Barangay” become especially relevant.

These programs focus on the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, translating scientific and technical knowledge into practical, relatable lessons for families.

“I Love You 1000” guides mothers, fathers and caregivers on essential practices such as breastfeeding, responsive caregiving, early stimulation and preventive health care from birth to age two.

“Dok Ricky, Pedia ng Barangay” uses situational comedy and commentary to help communities understand pregnancy, nutrition, health, early stimulation and child care.

Both programs carry an important message: a child’s development does not happen by chance. It is shaped every day by care, conversation, nutrition, play, protection and love.

This is also the spirit behind what we at KCFI call “GenSPARKKY”—a simple reminder that children grow through everyday moments of Sing, Play, Ask, Read, Kain, Kalusugan and Yakap.

These are not complicated acts. They are the songs sung while bathing a baby, the playful moments that build curiosity and confidence, the questions asked during mealtime, the stories read before sleep, the nutritious food lovingly prepared, the health habits faithfully practiced and the hugs that make a child feel safe and loved.

If you would like to help us create more informative and engaging learning materials for families and young children, you may donate to Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. through BPI Account No. 0201-0409-14.

Kindly send your deposit slip to [email protected] for proper acknowledgment. You may visit knowledgechannel.org to learn more about our programs.