Ani grew up in a household of two great passions: love for reading and love for the Philippines. Small wonder, then, that from their family blossomed Adarna House, the country’s best-known publisher of local children’s books and educational products, where Ani now serves as vice president.

In 2005, she and her husband Carlo Primo “CP” David co-founded The Raya School – a progressive institute that aims to foster national pride and a love for learning among its young students.

Her vision for Raya’s students goes beyond teaching the basic subjects. “Ang pangarap ko sa kabataan ay maging mabuti silang Filipino. Gusto ko sila maging mahusay na mga tao, na marunong magmalasakit sa kapwa, na may tunay na pag-ibig sa bayan, na hindi nagdadalawang-isip kung may nangangailangan ng tulong nila, ng kalinga nila. Ginagamit nila ang kanilang talino at talento para sa ikauunlad ng bayan.”

A tireless advocate for literacy, she is also Secretary-General of the Philippine Board on Books for Young People and the president of the Book Development Association of the Philippines, and was the country’s representative to the International Young Publisher of the Year Award in 2004.

“Ang Pinay para sa akin ay balance. Alam niya kung ano hinihingi sa kanya sa bawat sitwasyon. Kung kailangan ng sitwasyon na soft siya, soft siya. Kung kailangan na strong siya, strong siya. Ang Pinay laging nagsu-speak up pag feeling niya may naaapi. Alam niya paano magpatakbo ng household, alam niya paano magpatakbo ng negosyo, alam niya kung kinakailangan na mas mapagkalinga siya, mas maintindihin, at mas malawak ang pananaw.”

ANI IN ACTION

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Ani receives Philippine National Children’s Books Awards 2010 for Adarna House. Photo from Asia in the Heart, World of the Mind Blog

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Ani at the Adarna House Booth in Alterno with Ang Ink – an exhibit for the 35th year of Adarna House last June 2015. With Alterno, which means ‘stand-in,’ Adarna House and Ang InK express their gratitude to artists by paying tribute to their ideas with reimaginings of katerno (corresponding) covers.