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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Legarda renews push for literacy boost, cultural pride among Filipino youth

Legarda renews push for literacy boost, cultural pride among Filipino youth

Published Jun 27, 2025 02:11 pm

At A Glance

  • Sen. Loren Legarda is now supporting the production of Wikaharian 2: an innovative educational video series designed to make learning Filipino language, culture, and values engaging and accessible for young learners.
Senator Loren Legarda has reiterated the need to raise the literacy levels of young Filipinos and instill cultural pride among them.
At the launch of Wikaharian 2, Legarda said it is important to prepare the country’s youth for global competitiveness by ensuring they can read, understand, and embrace their identity.
“Sa mga nakalipas na taon, kinaharap natin ang krisis sa mababang estado ng kakayahan ng ating kabataang bumasa at umintindi (In recent years, we have faced a crisis in the low state of our youth's ability to read and understand),” Legarda said at the launching event on Thursday, June 26.
Base sa naging resulta ng 2022 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) at sa inilabas na pag-aaral ng World Bank noong 2024 kung saan 91% ng mga batang Pilipino na sampung taong gulang ay hindi marunong bumasa at umunawa ng isang maikling kuwento na akma sa kanilang edad (Based on the results of the 2022 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) and a study released by the World Bank in 2024, 91% of Filipino children aged 10 cannot read and understand a short story that is appropriate for their age),” Legarda emphasized.
To help address the challenge, the NCCA—with support from Legarda—partnered with Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. (KCFI) to produce Wikaharian 2.
Wikaharian 2 is an innovative educational video series designed to make learning Filipino language, culture, and values engaging and accessible for young learners.
An animated series intended for Grade 2 students, Wikaharian 2 is a continuation of the first 50 episodes of the Grade 2 Filipino series produced in 2022.
The senator ensured there would be adequate funding for the production of Wikaharian.
In 2020, KCFI and NCCA partnered to develop 80 short video lessons, each 8 to 10 minutes long, with corresponding session guides. These learning resources used local stories, culture, and Filipino contexts as the foundation for teaching beginning reading to Grade 1 learners.
A study by the KCFI showed that the episodes significantly improved the learning not only of average learners, but also of at-risk readers or those who have high chances of failing academically.
“Hindi natin maikakaila ang krisis sa kakayahan ng kabataang bumasa at umunawa. Ngunit hindi rin natin isusuko ang kinabukasan ng ating kabataan. Kaya tayo naririto ngayon (We cannot deny the crisis in the ability of young people to read and understand. But we will not give up on the future of our youth. That is why we are here today),” said Legarda in her speech.
“Ang bawat salita at kataga, bawat kwentong bayan, at mga piraso ng ating kultura at kasaysayan ay hindi lamang bahagi ng kanilang pagkatuto, ito ay magsisilbing pundasyon ng kanilang pagkatao bilang isang Pilipinong may alam, may dangal, may malasakit, may pagmamalaki, at may buong tapang na harapin ang mundong punong-puno ng hamon at pagbabago (Every word and phrase, every folktale, and pieces of our culture and history are not just part of their learning, they will serve as the foundation of their identity as a Filipino who is knowledgeable, honorable, caring, proud, and has the courage to face a world full of challenges and changes),” she stressed.

Related Tags

Loren Legarda literacy remediation National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Wikaharian 2
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