MANILA -- Rina Lopez, President and Executive Director of the Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. (KCFI), was among the first recipients of the Gawad Flora A. Ylagan Award for Eminent Women in Education, presented by the National Teachers College (NTC) on Saturday. 

The award recognizes Lopez's contributions to education, particularly in the early childhood care and development (ECCD) in the Philippines, and her significant impact on educational policy. 

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"I really think this award is inspirational for myself and for others in education and women in general who want to do good for people and their country. This award is a recognition of the award that we do at the Knowledge Channel for the children, parents and the community," she said. 

"It's also for the future, for us to continue to inspire and encourage more people, women, to be educators and really work towards improvement of education in the Philippines," she added. 

The Gawad Flora A. Ylagan Award for Eminent Women in Education honors women who have made significant contributions to education, training, and development in various fields. It acknowledges their role in nation-building through education, in line with the mission of Dr. Flora A. Ylagan, co-founder of the National Teachers College in 1928. 

"Partikular naming hinahanap 'yung kababaihan na alinsunod sa halimbawa ni Dr. Ylagan, ay nagpakita na yung puwang sa edukasyon ay kailanan nating bigyang pagkilala," Edison Fermin, NTC Vice President for Academic Affairs. 

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Lopez, an advocate for early childhood development, has dedicated her career in transforming education in the Philippines. As the head of KCFI, she has pioneered multimedia learning through the Knowledge Channel, reaching millions of underserved children. She also influences national education policy as a Standing Committee member for Early Childhood Care and Development & Basic Education in EDCOM2 and supports research on early childhood programs across Asia to inform policy decisions. 

Aside from Lopez, Dr. Raquel Fortun, the Philippines' first forensic pathologist, and Reese Fernandez-Ruiz, president and co-founder of Rags2Riches, a sustainable fashion enterprise, were also honored with the award.