by Chelsea Magdaraog
Last Saturday, October 4, 2025, Binhi English Literacy Foundation, Inc. (BINHI) held a teacher training session with Mrs. Rizalina C. Labanda, Vice President for Training and Research at the Association of Fil-Am Teachers of America (AFTA).
The follow-up session built upon the previous Science of Reading (SoR)-aligned training and allowed a deeper exploration into teaching foundational literacy. Public-school teachers from Metro Manila and nearby provinces joined the event, taking time out of their weekend to enhance their knowledge and advance their teaching practices.
Mrs. Labanda, a respected pillar of education and reading advocacy in the Philippines, shared her journey with the participants. For much of her teaching career, she subscribed to the traditional Whole Language approach of teaching children to read–an approach she even promoted in her own seminars. Over time, however, she became convinced of the effectiveness of the SoR-aligned approach. Today, she dedicates herself to training teachers to adopt this method and transform how children learn to read.
To briefly describe the difference between the two: the Whole Language approach focuses on teaching the alphabet and sight words, relying more on context rather than explicit phonics or decoding instruction. Mrs. Labanda emphasized that, in contrast, the Science of Reading draws from decades of research in cognitive science and reading development, offering a more evidence-based and structured way to build children’s reading skills—one that differs significantly from the traditional practices many teachers grew up with.
Through her insights, anecdotes, and practical guidance, Mrs. Labanda inspired participants to re-examine their teaching styles.
Through her insights, anecdotes, and practical guidance, Mrs. Labanda inspired participants to re-examine their teaching styles.
By the end of the training, teachers gained a greater understanding of SoR-aligned instruction, which they will apply in guiding BINHI scholars. While the shift may be challenging, BINHI will continue to support and accompany them every step of the way.
This event was dedicated to teachers, but anyone can take part in BINHI’s advocacy.
👉 Join us in helping our frustrated readers: bit.ly/BINHIReadingWarriors
