The urgency is clear: in the Philippines, nine out of ten children aged 10 struggle with reading simple texts with comprehension. Programs like Bayan Ko, Titser Ko (BKTK) provide a concrete solution at the community level.

The BKTK program in San Mateo, Rizal officially began in School Year 2024–2025 and has since been rolled out in two batches. Each batch follows a structured 15-session format, aimed at helping struggling readers in the early grades catch up. In the first batch, 30 children enrolled and 27 successfully completed the program—a promising indicator of its impact. The second batch has seen a significant increase in participation, with 89 learners having completed the program.

A key factor behind the program’s effectiveness in San Mateo is the strong leadership of Angat San Mateo, the local implementing partner and a part of Angat Buhay’s Angat Bayanihan Volunteer Network. As an organization deeply embedded in the community and a member of the Local School Board, Angat San Mateo has successfully mobilized resources, engaged stakeholders, and ensured smooth coordination between schools, volunteers, and local officials. Their grounded, hands-on approach has created an enabling environment where both learners and tutors feel supported.

Within this community effort lies the potential for deeply human stories—whether it’s a volunteer tutor whose free time is now spent teaching eager readers, or a child who reads their first sentence after weeks of struggle. Angat San Mateo has many of these stories to tell, offering a glimpse into how real change begins at the grassroots.

Learn more about Bayan Ko, Titser Ko Program: https://www.angatbuhay.ph/bayan-ko-titser-ko-a-bayanihan-approach-to-uplifting-filipino-literacy/