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More educational and child-friendly content will now be available for Filipino learners and educators to enjoy on their television screens as Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. (KCFI) partners with the National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT) for the airing of certified child-friendly and parent-approved programs. Under Knowledge Channel and NCCT’s Makabata Block, “DokyuBata TV", "NCCT Originals" and “Buhay na Buhay” will help cultivate Filipino values, social consciousness and cultural awareness among Filipino youth.
“DokyuBata TV” is a television program showcasing select entries from NCCT’s annual documentary contest which aims to give young documentarists a platform to showcase and share their talents. Another documentary series in the Makabata block is “Buhay Na Buhay", an eight-part feature that highlights the Philippines’ rich cultural heritage based on Professor Felipe de Leon’s concept of eight living cultures. Each episode explores a specific cultural aspect, offering a diverse look into the cultural landscape that defines Filipino identity and its historical roots. Hosted by Senator Loren Legarda who is a distinguished advocate for culture and the environment, “Buhay Na Buhay” premieres on August 26. Meanwhile, “NCCT Originals” features four programs that highlight the importance of the environment, our culture and values, community, and mindfulness. Under “NCCT Originals” are the following shows: “Mga Awit Ni Pina" which reimagines “Alamat Ng Pinya" by focusing on Pina’s curiosity towards her environment; “Meriam’s Online World", which highlights the importance of media literacy in today’s digitally connected world; “Wellness’kada", a show set during the pandemic that emphasizes the importance of community and mindfulness; and “Mang Lalakbay", an educational travel show that showcases the country's natural and man-made wonders. “NCCT Originals” starts on August 10 with Mga Awit Ni Pina, followed by Wellness’kada on August 18, then Merriam’s Online World on August 31, and Mang Lalakbay on September 7.
At the educational program block's launch event, KCFI president and executive director Reina Lopez shared in an interview with the press the importance of these shows to the Filipino children, saying, “And it’s very important because the Filipino children need to have this kind of quality educational shows that are also entertaining and engaging for them." On the other hand, NCCT’s Child Development Sector chairperson Luis Gatmaitan emphasized how these shows highlight Philippine culture, saying, “Well, the programs we’ve chosen are great. We have documentaries and shows with animation. Local animation is rare, so I think this is a diverse selection. We have different types of shows that I believe will truly highlight our culture." The “Makabata Block” also aimed to address the short attention span of children. Gatmaitan also emphasized how they became more hands-on in creating the script and producing every show, keeping in mind that the shows are designed for children. In terms of encouraging Filipino children to watch these series of shows, Lopez pointed out how they try to create programs that can resonate with Filipino children, saying, "We try to engage the children with some well-known personalities. But aside from that, [these are] programs that resonate with them, their heart, their minds, and that they know that the shows that we provide are because we care for them. They feel the care in that."
The Makabata Blocks airs seven times a week at 9:00 am with replays at 9:00 pm on Knowledge Channel. DokyuBata TV and Buhay na Buhay air on weekdays while NCCT Originals are slated for weekends. Knowledge Channel is available on cable through SKYcable, Cablelink and partner provincial and local cable operators nationwide; direct-to-home satellite (DTH) through Cignal, Satlite and GSat; Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) using a DTT box via BEAM TV; and iWantTFC for online streaming. For more information, visit and follow Knowledge Channel's official social media accounts.
