Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) and McDonald’s Philippines have strengthened their commitment to Filipino children’s well-being through education as they further expand their reach in Mindanao.

RMHC and McDonald’s Philippines have officially turned over two new Bahay Bulilit Learning Centers: one in Purok Matinabangun, Barangay Labangal, a coastal community along Sarangani Bay, and another in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental. These centers mark the first Bahay Bulilit in both cities, which brings the total number in the country to 45.

“RMHC and McDonald’s Philippines are committed to supporting early childhood care and development as a foundation for lifelong learning and well-being. Our Bahay Bulilit Learning Centers play a crucial role in providing a safe and nurturing environment, where children are given the best possible start in life,” said Adi Timbol-Hernandez, McDonald’s Philippines Assistant Vice President for Corporate Relations and Impact and Vice President of RMHC Philippines.

For over two decades, RMHC Philippines has established Bahay Bulilit Learning Centers, providing nurturing spaces for children to learn, play, and develop essential skills. Each center, serving an average of 90 to 100 children per school year, features a Learner’s Area for basic lessons on values and ethics, a Reading Corner to establish early reading habits with day care teachers’ guidance, and a Play Corner where children can express their creativity and make friends. Additionally, a Hand Wash Area and separate comfort rooms teach basic hygiene practices. To set up a Bahay Bulilit in a community, RMHC and McDonald’s Philippines partner with the local government unit (LGU), which provides the site and oversees daily operations through the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD), including assigning trained daycare teachers.

“We, at McDonald’s, would like to be a part of the solution to the problems in education. Through Bahay Bulilit, McDonald’s Philippines and RMHC are helping ensure that Filipino children have access to quality education and proper nutrition, especially in communities where resources for early childhood development and education may be limited. The goal is to empower children, not only to survive, but to thrive and attain their full potential,” said Hernandez.

Since 1995, RMHC has reached over 11,000 Filipino children who have benefited from its programs on education and early childhood development. The project aims to establish 100 Bahay Bulilit Learning Centers nationwide by 2028.

“We are very thankful to the city government of General Santos and Gingoog for collaborating with McDonald’s in this initiative. We hope this Bahay Bulilit will be able to contribute to the growth of the children in the community,” Hernandez added.

Beyond supporting RMHC’s Bahay Bulilit, McDonald’s Philippines has more projects geared towards education and community. For close to 10 years, the quick service restaurant giant has participated in Brigada Eskwela, helping public schools prepare for the new academic year. McDonald’s Night Classroom, on the other hand, is a program that converts its store party areas into late night studying areas. Most recently, McDonald’s ReClassified was launched to transform decommissioned restaurant furniture into desks and tables for public schools.

The following information provides the highlights and information about RHMC and McDonald’s education initiatives:

●      Ronald McDonald Bahay Bulilit

○      There are 45 Ronald McDonald Bahay Bulilit Learning Centers (including GenSan and Gingoog)

○      There is an average of 90-100 learners per year for every Bahay Bulilit.

●      Read-to-Learn (RTL) Program – Beginning reading program for Grades 1-2 public school children

○      RTL in numbers:

○      10,842 – Partner Schools

○      12.5 M – Learners benefited

○      369,146 – Books distributed

○      28,592 – Educators trained

For more information on RMHC’s programs and how you can help, visit its official website rmhc.org.ph and the online donation portal at rmhc.org.ph/donate/.

For more information about McDonald’s Philippines, visit www.mcdonalds.com.ph, McDo.ph on Facebook, @mcdo_ph on Instagram, and @McDo_PH on Twitter.