A phonics programme bound for Philippine classrooms and a barong from Lumban, Laguna worn inside Windsor Castle — these were the twin signals Edison David sent when he received his Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) medal from King Charles III on Wednesday, 13 May 2026.
David, a Filipino headteacher based in the United Kingdom, was honoured for services to education, specifically for his contributions to improving outcomes for children and strengthening educational leadership across England. Originally from Tarlac, he has spent his career leading school improvement initiatives, mentoring educators, and supporting inspection work within the UK system.
The choice of attire at the royal investiture ceremony carried deliberate meaning. David wore a bespoke barong coat sourced from Lumban, Laguna — long recognised as the Philippines’ embroidery capital — bringing a visible expression of Filipino identity into one of Britain’s most formal settings.
“Wearing a barong from Lumban was especially important to me because I wanted to proudly represent Filipino heritage during such a significant occasion,” David said. “Receiving the MBE from His Majesty King Charles III was an extraordinary and deeply humbling experience.”
He credited the recognition to those around him throughout his career. “This recognition reflects the collective efforts of the schools, colleagues, pupils, and communities I have had the privilege to work with throughout my career. I hope this moment inspires Filipinos around the world and highlights the important contribution our community continues to make internationally.”
The ceremony gathered honourees from across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth recognised for outstanding contributions to public life.
Beyond the investiture, David’s attention is already turning toward the Philippines. Following conversations with Education Secretary Sonny Angara and Chalkboard CEO Kristine Brown, he has committed to supporting the pilot of a bespoke phonics programme in selected Philippine school divisions, with a longer-term goal of national rollout. The effort is framed as a direct response to findings from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) report, which flagged serious gaps in foundational literacy and reading proficiency among Filipino learners.
The collaboration is expected to cover school benchmarking, teacher development, and the exchange of literacy practices between UK and Philippine schools — drawing on systematic phonics approaches that have shown results in leading English schools.
Secretary Angara, who met with David alongside Brown, acknowledged the significance of the partnership. “Nakaka-inspire ang journey ni Sir Ed na nagsimula bilang isang guro mula sa Tarlac at ngayon ay kinikilala na sa global stage,” he said, adding: “Si Sir Ed ay patunay na ang dedikasyon at husay ng gurong Pilipino ay kayang makipagsabayan at magbigay ng malaking ambag sa world-class education.” Angara also expressed gratitude for David’s expressed readiness to contribute to DepEd’s literacy and numeracy programmes.
David framed the phonics initiative in terms of what early reading means for children’s futures. “Improving literacy changes life chances,” he said. “The opportunity to pilot a bespoke phonics programme in selected school divisions represents an important step towards ensuring more Filipino children develop secure foundations in reading.”
