This training activity was made possible through the generous support of the PTC-CSJ Foundation in partnership with Synergeia Foundation.

On November 15, 2025, about 60 kindergarten and grade one teachers from 3G partner schools in Quezon City—including Bago Bantay ES, Toro Hills ES, Project 6 Special Science ES, Mines ES, and GSIS ES—gathered at the Social Hall of Toro Hills ES for a focused professional development workshop. Despite it being a Saturday, attendance was nearly complete, reflecting the teachers’ strong dedication. It was truly a well-spent Saturday devoted to enhancing teaching competencies.

The training was expertly facilitated by Dr. Milwida Guevara, Founding President of Synergeia Foundation, with the assistance of Ms. Oliya Gyen Matias, an early childhood advocate who founded a playschool/daycare center.

The workshop emphasized foundational methods for teaching children to read, with a focus on phonemic awareness—a critical early literacy skill.

Key components of the training included:

• Understanding phonemic awareness as the cornerstone of reading development
• Accurate articulation and blending of sounds (phonemes) to build decoding proficiency
• Blending sounds to form words
• Development of comprehension skills to support meaningful reading
• Storytelling techniques to captivate and engage young learners

The session incorporated interactive exercises and storytelling that encouraged active participation, fostering a dynamic and engaging learning environment. As an additional treat, participating teachers received giveaway products from Ever Bilena, which included soap bars and soothing gel.

This capacity-building activity aligns with the shared mission of PTC-CSJ and Synergeia Foundation to strengthen basic education by equipping teachers with evidence-based skills and methodologies that support children’s literacy development and promote a lifelong love of reading.