2025 National Teachers’ Month Shines Spotlight on Early Childhood Care and Development

Spearheaded by the NTM Coordinating Council (NTMCC) composed of over 60 partner organizations under the leadership of Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI) and the Department of Education (DepEd), the 17th National Teachers’ Month (NTM) officially kicks off this September with a special focus on Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD).

During the NTMCC meeting last March, Education Sec. Angara emphasized that true educational reform must begin with the child development stage: “In other countries, it [kindergarten] is where they send their best teachers. So now, we are making that shift.”

The ECCD focus this year highlights sustained efforts to provide primary school teachers with play-based, age-appropriate digital tools, carried out with the support of NTM partners such as the Early Childhood Care and Development Council, Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. and Town4kids Pte. Ltd.

Celebrating Teachers Nationwide

One of the highlights of this year’s celebration is RMN Foundation’s Idol Ko si Titser, an NTMCC-led initiative that honors the important role teachers, particularly child development educators and workers in local communities. Filipinos nationwide are encouraged to share the stories of their teachers who made impact in their lives by commenting on RMN Foundation’s Facebook contest post or sending a private message using the hashtag #IdolKoSiTitser.

Meanwhile, major NTM events will bring the celebration to key cities across the country. The Kick-Off Ceremony took place on September 7 at the South Cotabato Gymnasium and Cultural Center in Koronadal, South Cotabato. The Mid-Month Celebration follows on September 21 at the Lamberto Macias Sports and Cultural Complex in Dumaguete City. The festivities culminate with the grand National Teachers’ Day celebration on October 6 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Partner-Led Initiatives

As lead convenor, MBFI continues to champion teachers through the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos program, which has been honoring exemplary educators for four decades now. MBFI will also host an exclusive exhibition tour for select teachers at The M in BGC, Taguig, featuring the winning artworks of the 2025 Metrobank Art & Design Excellence (MADE) Competition, to inspire them with fresh ways to bring creativity and art appreciation into their classrooms.

Other NTM partners are set to enrich the celebration through workshops and training sessions on diverse topics such as innovative teaching strategies, Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, financial wellness, health and well-being, and disaster preparedness. Others are making available exciting perks–from exclusive discounts and freebies to special gifts and coupons. Still others are honoring teachers through recognition activities, heartfelt tributes, and media campaigns.

Join the Movement

During the NTMCC meeting last March, NTMCC Chairperson and MBFI Trustee and Executive Committee Member Aniceto M. Sobrepeña called on members to sustain their commitment to teachers: “Let’s turn our gratitude into action and our action into social currency that will allow us to push for concrete social outcomes. At the end of the day, behind every person in this room is a teacher who once nurtured our dreams. And if teachers can change the lives of so many, then we must do our part in changing theirs for the better.”

For the complete list of exclusive offers for teachers, visit www.facebook.com/NTMPhils. Interested organizations or individuals who wish to become NTM partners may also send a message through this page.

From its beginnings as the “My Teacher, My Hero” campaign launched by MBFI in 2009, NTM has grown into a national movement institutionalized through Presidential Proclamation 242 (2011), declaring September 5 to October 5 as National Teachers’ Month, and Republic Act 10743 (2016), designating October 5 as National Teachers’ Day.