Kapuso star Alden Richards takes on one of the country’s most pressing issues as he shines a spotlight on the worsening state of education in the Philippines in a new GMA Public Affairs documentary.
Airing on Saturday, August 8, “Rebuilding Broken Rooms: A GMA Public Affairs Education Special” follows Alden as he travels to different parts of the country to witness firsthand the challenges faced by students, teachers, and communities struggling with inadequate learning facilities and literacy gaps.
For Alden, the documentary goes beyond storytelling – it is an opportunity to inspire action and raise public awareness about the country’s education crisis.
‘Gusto kong magamit ‘yung boses na meron ako para maipalaganap ‘yung mensahe na kailangan marinig ng sambayanan,’ Alden said in the documentary’s teaser.
‘Gusto ko maging part nung advocacy para mamulat natin ‘yung mga tao sa kung ano ba talaga ‘yung sitwasyon ngayon,’ he added.
Alden’s journey begins at Tinungkaan Elementary School in Alabel, Sarangani, which the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) identified as having the highest number of low-emerging readers in the country.
There, he meets Teacher Gerwin and his students, who brave river crossings and mountain trails every day just to reach their temporary classrooms-a daily reminder of the obstacles many Filipino children face in pursuit of education.
The documentary also visits Rosauro Almario Elementary School in Tondo, Manila, where seven out of every 10 students struggle with reading comprehension, the highest recorded number of low-emerging readers in Metro Manila.
Among them is Grade 2 pupil Jannah Will, who still cannot read a complete sentence. Some days, the child is unable to attend classes because there is no money for transportation. Although another school stands near their home, it has remained closed since it was damaged by a fire two years ago.
In Ciudad Nuevo Elementary School in Naic, Cavite, Alden witnesses how makeshift classrooms have become a necessity due to severe classroom shortages.
Meanwhile, at Calubcob Elementary School, vacant housing units from a residential project have been converted into classrooms, forcing students to learn in spaces plagued by extreme heat, noise and conditions not designed for education.
From isolated mountain villages to densely populated urban communities, “Rebuilding Broken Rooms” seeks to uncover the realities behind the country’s education crisis while paying tribute to the resilience of Filipino students determined to pursue their dreams and teachers who continue to serve despite limited resources and inadequate facilities.
“Rebuilding Broken Rooms: A GMA Public Affairs Education Special” premieres on Saturday, August 8, at 9:30 p.m. on GMA Network.