After more than two decades teaching in the UK, Edison David, an educator from Tarlac, will receive the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to education. The honor was announced on December 29, 2025, in The Gazette in London. Despite living abroad, David remains concerned about Philippine education, though his suggestions to officials went unanswered.
Edison David, originally from Tarlac, has worked as a teacher and school administrator in London for over 20 years. On December 29, 2025, King Charles announced in The Gazette his appointment to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to education.
In 1991, as a University of Santo Tomas student, David volunteered as a reporter for the Inquirer covering the Manila Southeast Asian Games, where he first met columnist Chito de la Vega. Recently, de la Vega interviewed him on the DZME 1530 program Balita Kwento Serbisyo, where he shared his experiences.
David was troubled by a United Nations report highlighting Filipino children's weaknesses in reading comprehension, despite their ability to read functionally. "When I read the report from the United Nations, I felt very passionate about it," he said. He wrote letters to three officials: the mayor of Tarlac City, Senator Bam Aquino, and the Philippine ambassador to London, suggesting a phonics system to improve teaching. However, he received no responses.
"I wrote a letter to a number of government officials, extending my recommendations," David stated. He hoped to start a pilot program in Tarlac before rolling it out nationally. Despite this, his dedication in the UK has been recognized by the British monarch.
This honor brings hope for reforms in Philippine education in 2026, especially if leaders listen to experts like David.