Ronald McDonald Bahay Bulilit opens for Marawi children

RECOGNIZING the need for a safe space where young children can learn and play, McDonald’s Philippines, through Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), turned over a new Ronald McDonald Bahay Bulilit Learning Center to serve the children of Brgy. Sagonsongan, Marawi City.

A year after the city was liberated from the siege, McDonald’s and RMHC continues its support by providing children from the communities a conducive and safe learning environment. Bahay Bulilit in Marawi City will welcome at least 70 children every day from the barangay.

“The story of Marawi City is one filled with strength and resiliency, inspiring us to work together for a better future for the people who were most affected by the siege — the children. We laud the local government unit led by Marawi City Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra and Task Force Bangon Marawi for their continuous effort in rebuilding the city,” Corporate Communications Head of McDonald’s Philippines & RMHC Board Member Adi Timbol said.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to be able to serve the children and families of Marawi and look forward to be a partner of the city,” Ms. Timbol added.

To further mark RMHC’s commitment to Marawi, the Bahay Bulilit in Marawi is the biggest one in the and the first that will have a separate playground.

“We wanted to make this Ronald McDonald Bahay Bulilit more special for the children of Marawi. We believe that with this learning center and playground, we will be able to give the children a place of hope that will be filled with learning and play. At the end of the day, our goal is to let these children be children,” said RMHC Executive Director Marie Angeles.

With every Ronald McDonald Bahay Bulilit, RMHC closely works with LGUs to identify key priority communities in need of a learning center for children. The land where each Bahay Bulilit is built is donated by the LGU, with RMHC building the structure of the learning center. To date, there are 28 Bahay Bulilit learning centers all over the country with two more set to open before the year ends.

Accredited social workers and community volunteers from the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) facilitate the day-to-day operations where they are able to engage children in educational activities as each Ronald McDonald Bahay Bulilit are given Ronald McDonald Read to Learn kits. Each kit is composed of big illustrated books fit for storytelling, and activity workbooks for children to practice reading and writing to aid in enhancing their literacy.