A child rests in the arms of his caregiver inside the Ronald McDonald House Family Room. The Family Room gives families a place to rest, recharge, and stay together while children wait for their turn to receive treatment.
MANILA, Philippines — For 30 years, Ronald McDonald House Charities has been creating safe and nurturing spaces that help Filipino children learn, grow, and thrive. As it marks three decades of serving communities across the country, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philippines officially becomes Ronald McDonald House Philippines, marking a new chapter in its mission to support the well-being of Filipino children and families.
Since 1996, Ronald McDonald House Philippines has been supporting the education of Filipino children through its programs. Ronald McDonald Bahay Bulilit Learning Centers, which provide young children with access to early childhood education in underserved communities, remain one of the organization’s local core programs. With 60 learning centers to date, Ronald McDonald House continues to work toward its goal of establishing 100 learning centers nationwide while introducing innovations such as BACK-to-Bakuna, a holistic community health initiative that applies behavioral science and community collaboration to help caregivers overcome barriers to childhood vaccination and complete their children’s recommended immunizations. Aside from holding learning sessions in the Bahay Bulilit, the program supports families through practical tools, reminders, peer support, and coordination with local health services.
Today, that commitment to creating safe spaces for children and families extends from supporting children’s early education to providing safe spaces where families with sick children can heal together.
In December 2024, Ronald McDonald House opened the Ronald McDonald House Family Room at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), supporting a family-centered approach to care that recognizes the important role parents and caregivers play in a child’s treatment and recovery. The Family Room provides families of outpatient pediatric patients with a dedicated space where they can rest, recharge, and find comfort while remaining close to their children’s appointments and treatments.
Since opening, the Family Room has served 6,306 families, highlighting the critical role such spaces play during a family’s healthcare journey.
By providing a welcoming space within the hospital, the Family Room allows caregivers to remain near their children while taking a much-needed break from the emotional and physical demands of treatment.
“Families should never have to choose between caring for their child and caring for themselves,” said Marie Angeles, Executive Director or Ronald McDonald House Philippines, “the Family Room was created to give parents and caregivers a place to rest and recharge, knowing they remain just steps away from their children.”
As Ronald McDonald House Philippines enters this new chapter, it remains committed to its mission of supporting Filipino children and families through spaces that promote learning, healing, and well-being.
