Alden Richards journeys across the country to uncover the realities behind the Philippines’ worsening learning crisis in “Rebuilding Broken Rooms: A GMA Public Affairs Education Special,” airing this Saturday, August 8.
Despite years of efforts to improve the country’s education system, millions of Filipino children continue to struggle with basic literacy. According to the World Bank’s 2022 data, 91 percent of Filipino children aged 10 are unable to read and understand age-appropriate text. As students progress through school, learning gaps continue to widen, underscoring the urgent need to address the country’s education crisis.
For Alden, the documentary is deeply personal. Having left school at a young age to help support his family, he understands the value of education and the opportunities it creates. Through the years, he has remained committed to giving back by supporting nearly 50 scholars and helping build schools in underserved communities.
Now, he hopes to use his voice to amplify the struggles of Filipino learners.
“Gusto kong magamit ‘yung boses na meron ako para maipalaganap ‘yung mensahe na kailangan marinig ng sambayanan. Gusto ko maging part nung advocacy para mamulat natin ‘yung mga tao sa kung ano ba talaga ‘yung sitwasyon ngayon,” he shared.
The documentary begins at Tinungkaan Elementary School in Alabel, Sarangani, identified by EDCOM II as the school with the highest percentage of struggling readers in the country. Every student is classified as a low-emerging reader. Together with Teacher Gerwin, Alden witnesses the daily journey of children who cross rivers and climb mountains just to attend classes held in makeshift classrooms.
In Tondo, Manila, Alden visits Rosauro Almario Elementary School, where seven out of every 10 students struggle with reading comprehension—the highest rate of low-emerging readers in Metro Manila. He meets Grade 2 student Jannah Will, who has yet to read a complete sentence. Financial hardship also affects her education, with some school days missed simply because her family cannot afford transportation. Adding to the challenge, a nearby school remains closed after it was destroyed by fire two years ago.
The classroom shortage has also forced schools to find unconventional solutions. At Ciudad Nuevo Elementary School in Naic, Cavite, makeshift classrooms have been built to accommodate students. Meanwhile, Calubcob Elementary School has converted vacant housing units inside a residential project into temporary learning spaces, where students contend with extreme heat, noise, and conditions far from ideal for learning.
Throughout his journey, Alden encounters stories of resilience from students and teachers determined to continue learning despite overwhelming challenges. Yet what struck him the most was how many children have already come to accept these difficult circumstances as normal.
“Paano natin naiparanas sa kanila na okay na ‘to? Hindi siya okay,” Alden said. “Hindi natin dapat ipa-realize sa mga kabataan na ito ‘yung normal na way to be educated. Kasi hindi ‘to deserve ng mga batang gustong matuto.”
From remote mountain communities to crowded urban neighborhoods, “Rebuilding Broken Rooms” examines the roots of the country’s education crisis while highlighting the resilience of Filipino children determined to learn and educators who continue to teach despite limited resources.
Don’t miss “Rebuilding Broken Rooms: A GMA Public Affairs Education Special,” hosted by Alden Richards, airing on August 8 at 9:30 p.m. on GMA.
