The Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. (KCFI) commemorates its 25th anniversary—celebrating a quarter-century of serving Filipino learners through multimedia educational content, early childhood development programs, policy advocacy, and community partnerships.
The milestone was marked by “25th Anniversary: Celebrating 25 Years of Knowledge, Inspiration, and Hope,” held in Makati City on November 27, which gathered representatives from the Lopez Group and KCFI’s key partners from the private sector.
In her anniversary address, Rina Lopez, president and co-founder of KCFI, reflected on a journey anchored on purpose, perseverance, and the belief that education changes lives.
“We were guided by an audacious question: ‘What if?’ What if we could harness media to democratize learning? What if we could bring excellent teaching into public schools—no matter how remote?” Lopez said.
Lopez emphasized how KCFI evolved from a pioneering educational cable channel into a national learning ecosystem—on-air, online, and offline—bringing content and training into communities across the Philippines.
She also highlighted the expansion of KCFI’s work in early childhood development (ECD) through programs such as Wikaharian, Ready, Set, Read!, MathDali, I Love You 1000, and the KCare Training Program, which equips child development workers (CDWs), barangay health workers, nutrition scholars, and caregivers with essential skills in early learning, health, and responsive caregiving.
A major national milestone recognized during the event was the passage of Republic Act 12199, which KCFI actively championed alongside government partners. The law strengthens the country’s early childhood care and development system, including provisions that support the professionalization, standards, and improvement of systems for training and assessment for the early childhood workforce serving children ages 0–8.
In a message read by the vice chairman of the KCFI Board of Trustees, Francis Giles Puno, chairman of the board Federico R. Lopez underscored KCFI’s commitment to educational equity amid shifting socio-political and technological realities.
“KCFI remained steadfast. It adapted, evolved, and innovated—always anchored on its mission to make learning inclusive and equitable,” Puno said, quoting the Chairman’s message.
He also emphasized KCFI’s focus on evidence-based pedagogy, values-driven content, and the integration of KCFI’s learner values: Responsible, Interdependent, Compassionate, Empathic, Community-Oriented, and Fair-Minded.
Both leaders affirmed that KCFI’s mission goes beyond content creation—strengthening teachers, CDWs, caregivers, and families, who bring learning to life for Filipino children.
Looking ahead: new initiatives
KCFI also unveiled forward-looking initiatives, including:
• a Philippine-built offline learning hub, set for pilot deployment—designed as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot and local content server for zero-internet access to KCFI lessons, with periodic online syncing for updates;
• GenSPARKKY, a national movement to be co-developed and co-launched with the ECCD Council—engaging parents, LGUs, and communities to nurture and protect the early years; and
• the responsible integration of AI-driven tools to support educators in curriculum mapping, content access, and monitoring—guided by strict commitments to child protection and data privacy.
Lopez also shared that she has proposed a K–3 Foundational Learning and Nurturing Care Act to DepEd, and that DepEd’s Legislative Liaison Office has begun convening stakeholder consultations—aimed at strengthening early literacy and numeracy and reinforcing nurturing care support in the early grades.
During the luncheon, KCFI honored 62 “Kampeon ng Edukasyon” awardees—donors and partners who have helped sustain the Foundation’s mission. Special recognition was also given to exemplary educators, including Gurong May K honorees Zarlina Bacadon (Misamis Oriental) and Jonathan Mayo (Batangas) through audiovisual presentations, representing thousands of teachers empowered through KCFI training programs.
KCFI’s commitment to producing world-class educational resources was further affirmed in 2025 through multiple recognitions. “Ready, Set, Read!” was named the National Winner for Best Children’s Program at the Asian Academy Creative Awards 2025.
Locally, KCFI won major honors at the 28th KBP Golden Dove Awards, including “MathDali Grade 1” (Best Children’s Program) and “Wow Bukidnon” (Best Culture and Arts Program). The Foundation also received the Outstanding Commitment to Child-Friendly Content Standards (CFCS) award from the National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT), with MathDali and Wikaharian cited for exemplary adherence to these standards. KCFI likewise received seven Anak TV Seal Awards 2025, for programs such as AgriKids, Estudyantipid, and Wikaharian, among others.
Throughout 2025, KCFI rolled out new original series and seasons, with strong focus on health, mental wellness, and financial literacy—including the launch of “Gen H: Generation Healthy” for Grades 4–6 in partnership with AIA Philippines, and “Kinder Yes!”, an early childhood program funded through an NCCT grant.
Long-running favorites also returned with new content, including additional agricultural literacy episodes for AgriKids with the Agricultural Training Institute, a new season of Estudyantipid with BPI Foundation, and expanded episodes of Wikaharian Grade 2 and MathDali Grade 1 to strengthen reading and numeracy, and completion of KCFI’s early English Reading Program—pre-reading for ages 3–5 and Ready, Set, Read! for Grades 1–3—funded by Bloomberry Cultural Foundation Inc;
As KCFI looks to its next 25 years, Lopez expressed gratitude to partners, donors, educators, and communities whose support made the Foundation’s sustained impact possible.
“Reach more. Teach more. Lead with heart. Strive for excellence,” she said. “Para sa mga bata. Para sa pamilya. Para sa komunidad. Para sa bayan. At higit sa lahat, para sa Diyos.”
For more information on KCFI, visit www.knowledgechannel.org or follow @knowledgechannel on Facebook, @kchonline on X, and @knowledgechannelofficial on TikTok. For other updates, follow @ABSCBNPR on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads, or visit corporate.abs-cbn.com/newsroom.
