Education Secretary Sonny Angara honored a dedicated community educator and a leading education technology firm during the DepEd Heroes awards ceremony held at the President Corazon C. Aquino National High School.
The Department of Education (DepEd) recognized Allan Delos Reyes, a Master Teacher II and Alternative Learning System (ALS) teacher from Minalin Elementary School in Pampanga, alongside edtech company Frontlearners, Inc., represented by its President Leo De Velez and Chief Executive Officer Maria Elaine De Velez.
The DepEd Heroes ceremony was held alongside the national recognition of schools and education partners whose collective efforts contributed to the country’s improved performance in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025.
“Sa pamumuno ni President Bongbong Marcos Jr., ito ang uri ng bayanihan na gusto nating patuloy na palakasin, isang education community na mas bukas, mas inklusibo, at mas maraming naaabot,” Angara said. “Teacher Allan, Frontlearners, and everyone who continues to show up for our learners, maraming salamat po sa inyong malasakit at dedikasyon.”
Delos Reyes, who has dedicated nearly two decades to bringing education to out-of-school youth and underserved populations, was cited for pioneering several community-based learning initiatives.
Maraming guro, school leaders, parents, communities, at education partners ang naging bahagi ng mas malawak na pagsisikap na ito. At kasama roon ang Frontlearners.
His programs include Project C.O.A.S.T.A.L.S. (Eskwela sa Palaisdaan), which delivers lessons to children of fisherfolk in coastal areas; Education Behind Bars, which provides learning opportunities to persons deprived of liberty, former rebels, and children in conflict with the law; and Project kALSada, a municipal-funded mobile classroom bringing ALS modules to remote areas in Minalin.
Delos Reyes dedicated the award to all the teachers in the country, especially the ALS teachers who he said have dedicated their professional and personal lives to serving out-of-school children, youth and adults.
“This is not an award meant to stay in our home. It’s a reminder that there are more youth, more learners waiting for me every day, who are excited to learn relevant lessons which can be built into a better future,” Delos Reyes said.
Angara also recognized Frontlearners, Inc., an edtech company founded in 2013, for its strategic contributions to interactive e-learning and customized digital school solutions.
The organization partnered with DepEd on capacity-building for teachers, learner and parent engagement, and digital learning to support preparations for PISA 2025.
The Philippines showed marked improvement in PISA 2025 across all domains–Reading, Science, and Mathematics–compared with the 2022 assessment cycle, and was recognized as the world’s fastest-improving education system in Reading.
“Hindi ito bunga ng iisang programa o iisang partner lamang; ito ay isang collective effort na nagbibigay ng tunay na pagbabago sa ating mga mag-aaral. Maraming guro, school leaders, parents, communities, at education partners ang naging bahagi ng mas malawak na pagsisikap na ito. At kasama roon ang Frontlearners,” Angara said.
The DepEd Heroes ceremony was held alongside the national recognition of schools and education partners whose collective efforts contributed to the country’s improved performance in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025.
Frontlearners CEO Maria Elaine De Velez how she and her husband, Frontlearners President Leo De Velez founded the company as a way to give back, since they themselves benefited from government scholarships that opened opportunities in school and in life.
“That’s why education is so close to our hearts. It opened so many opportunities. Nakapag-aral kami, nakapagtrabaho sa ibang bansa at doon namin nakita kayang makipagsabayan ng Pilipino. The Filipino talent is as competitive as any other nationality in the workforce,” she said.
“We said we’ll dedicate our talent, resources, and whatever means we have to help our education sector, DepEd, schools, and anyone, who has the heart to keep uplifting the quality of education in the Philippines.”
DepEd and Frontlearners also established a nationwide pilot program to expand digital learning covering core and selected Senior High School subjects, featuring interactive resources, AI-generated feedback, learner assessments, progress tracking, and teacher simulation modules.
Launched in August 2025, the DepEd Heroes program honors teachers, school personnel, and private sector partners whose innovative efforts strengthen basic education delivery across the country.
