TEL AVIV, Israel — Alma Toyoken, a Kankanaey-speaking educator from the mountains of Sagada, Mountain Province, stepped onto an international stage this July as the Philippines’ representative in a specialized early childhood education course in Haifa. Her journey from a remote community library to a global training center is a story of quiet determination and a deep commitment to the children of her tribe.
A Classroom That Crosses Continents
The 12‑day course, hosted by Israel’s MASHAV agency at The Golda Meir Carmel International Training Center, gathered 23 professionals from 19 countries. Its goal was to move beyond traditional rote learning and explore holistic approaches that weave together cognitive development, health, and emotional well‑being. For Toyoken, the program was a rare chance to see how another country nurtures its youngest learners while honoring cultural identity.
She immersed herself in Israel’s early childhood frameworks, which emphasize play‑based learning, community involvement, and policy support. The experience gave her fresh eyes for the work she has been doing back home—where she chairs Tanggew, a community library and eco‑cultural center in Barangay Bangaan, and serves as an education committee member for the Pidlisan Tribe Organization. The lessons she absorbed are now seeds she will plant in the Cordillera soil.
A Diplomatic Salute to a Community Leader
The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv, through Consul Patricia Narajos, attended the closing ceremony and praised Toyoken’s achievement. The embassy reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Filipino development practitioners in accessing international opportunities that align with national priorities. Her selection was both a personal honor and a recognition of the vital role Indigenous educators play in the country’s development.
Ambassador Zehavit Ben Hillel, Director of Training and Capacity Building at MASHAV, told the graduates that “education, especially early childhood education, is the key” to building a better future for children worldwide. For Toyoken, those words resonated beyond the ceremony—they echoed the mission that has guided her for years: to strengthen Indigenous education, literacy, and cultural transmission in her community.
Bringing the World Home to Sagada
Toyoken’s work with Tanggew has already transformed the way children in her community learn. The library runs “Read Aloud” programs, establishes book pantries, and operates a unique “Human Library” where elders become oral historians, passing on traditional knowledge. Her training in Israel will add new techniques to these initiatives, blending international best practices with the rich Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices of the Kankanaey people.
Upon her return, Toyoken plans to integrate the holistic approaches she studied—particularly those focusing on child‑centered, play‑based methods—into Tanggew’s programs. She envisions early childhood sessions that not only teach letters and numbers but also nurture emotional resilience and cultural pride. Her journey is proof that global learning, when rooted in local identity, can create lasting change for the next generation.
