Meet the Authors

RAYLA ALLERTSEN

AUTHOR, GLOBAL EDUCATOR, AND M.E.NTOR

Rayla is the creator of the I Can Read Series+ (ICRS+) and has taken the beginning reading books she co-authored with her mom to the next level. It now incorporates tech for a child to learn English and Reading early. ICRS+ has 30 e-books, an interactive app, supplementary activity books, workbooks, and learning videos.

The I Can Read Series+ is part of the Global Educator U (GBU), a life-prep hybrid platform for children and youth (from toddlers to 21), parents, and life-long learners to discover self-mastery and worth, leadership, global citizenship, collaboration, and environmental responsibility.

RAYLA'S Signature Courses are: S.U.P.E.R. and MAKE M.E.* HAPPEN (*My Empowerment). Rayla is also a Certified Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, NLP Coaching, and Timeline Therapy by the American Board of NLP & Success Resources.

INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER:

RAYLA keynotes on the Empowerment of Women & Children, Leadership, Self-Worth, Entrepreneurship, the Environment, and the United Nations SDGs. She has spoken at the UNICEF UK, United Nations (NY), United Nations Geneva Conferences, the Global Business and Investment Forum, The Global Education Summit, The Success Women Conference (USA),The Global Woman Summit, and socio-civic organizations.

EDUCATION

RAYLA took up Psychology and a Master's in Education, majoring in Educational Administration at the University of the Philippines. She has a diploma in Early Childhood Education & the Montessori Method of Education at St. Nicholas College of Education in London, U.K. While in London, Rayla did her practice teaching at St. Marks's Church School, Oxford St., and the St. Nicholas Training Center in Kensington.

Rayla believes in Life-Long Education and invests in continuous, never-ending learning and improvement. She connects and works with thought and practice leaders in Leadership, Education, Empowerment, and Entrepreneurship, among others.

GLOBAL EDUCATOR'S JOURNEY

After London, RAYLA became the Pre-school Directress and the Asian Studies Coordinator at the Family School of Manhattan, New York City, U.S.A. Upon her return from London and New York and after a brief stint at the International School Manila, she was appointed as the Headmistress of the Institute of Child Advancement in Makati and set up the Alabang branch. Her edu-preneurship journey started with establishing the Center for Little Learners in New Manila. Little Learners served as the 'lab' for the Sound Foundation Approach for Beginning Readers. She wrote and illustrated the I Can Read Series with her mother, Merci Melchor, published by Bookmark. She founded the Stonyhurst School and the McKinley Hill International School and Leadership Academy for Children. She partnered with Calvert School of Maryland, U.S., for Calvert Education, known as the Harvard for children, as a curriculum partner, and Stephen R. Covey's The Leader in Me Program as her Leadership partner. McKinley Hill I.S. was cited as the first UNICEF UK Rights Respecting School outside the U.K.

Rayla was invited to participate in a special workshop for global educators by Erin Gruwell, Founder of Freedom Writers Foundation (Los Angeles, U.S.A.), in August 2012 in Long Beach, CA, U.S.A. The technical crew of Stephen Spielberg for distribution to schools worldwide filmed the workshop.

In 2012, Rayla's energies were focused on the I AM S.A.M. Foundation (I AM S.A.M.), cofounded with her mother.

She is leading a legacy with the foundation, and the I Can Read Series+.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

RAYLA cites the following awards and recognitions:

ADVOCACIES

RAYLA is

Rayla leads with love, science, and values and wants everyone to know that they are Special,

Unique, and Precious and can be S.U.P.E.R!!

MERCI MELCHOR

Much of what Rayla is today is because of her mother, Merci Melchor, an author, educator, artist, and women & child's rights advocate. Merci has been her daughter's mentor, partner, and source of strength and inspiration.

AUTHOR AND CREATOR

Merci authored the I Can Read Series (ICRS) with her daughter, Rayla Allertsen. Both mother and daughter used their education and experience in teaching children as the basis for the methodology of the Sound Foundation Approach for Beginning Readers, which includes 30 engaging stories.

Merci is the author of "Bandila the Story of the Philippine Flag" as part of her humble contribution to the Centennial Celebration.

Merci put together the Merci Melchor for Battered Women Brochures on Abuse 101, Family Violence Prevention, The Narcissist, and The Law, among others.

EDUCATOR

Merci was a natural at teaching, whether with her children, grandchildren, or students. Her philosophy was that if a child is not learning, it is the teacher's challenge to inspire the child to learn. Merci was involved and contributed much to all the schools of her daughter. Merci generously opened her house to set up the Center for Little Learners with 100 preschoolers. She was a board trustee of Stonyhurst School, and McKinley Hill International School, and Leadership Academy for Children.

ARTIST

Merci realized she had genuine artistic talent when she won First Place in a national contest for the cover of the American Red Cross magazine as a teenager. Still, her father discouraged her from enrolling in Fine Arts for college, so she took Math and Education for her undergraduate and master's studies. Feeling unschooled in the arts, Merci took lessons from National Artists Vicente Manansala, Jose Joya, Ibarra de la Rosa, and Manuel Rodriguez. Merci then became a prestigious Saturday Group of Artists (S.G.) member. To her credit, she has had several solo art exhibits and has actively participated in S.G.'s annual shows. One can find her commissioned artwork in the Marco Polo Hotel, the Linden Suites, and the homes of art collectors.

Merci illustrated all 450 drawings in the I Can Read Series. Her renditions of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child (C.R.C.) 9 Pertinent Rights have been presented at UNICEF in New York, London, and Beijing.

Merci left behind 30 oil pastels of Games Children (Used to) Play, and creating these into a book will be another project of her daughter.

EDUCATION

She received her Master of Science (M.S.) from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, with a major in Education and a minor in Arts and Design.

ADVOCACIES

Merci founded the I Am S.A.M. Foundation ( I AM S.A.M.). She started it all with a mission to lead and direct all efforts in the pursuit of uplifting women and children and creating lifechanging awareness of their worth and rights as human beings through the I AM SAM Protocol. Her vision is a world of whole, happy, and empowered women and children who embrace their self-worth and are free from any form of abuse through the protocol and the U.N. SDGs. Then, S.A.M. stood for Stop Abuse Mom.

Working as a team, Merci and Rayla co-created from ideation to execution to provide solutions. The solution they offered for the lack of books for children to learn English and Reading early, smartly, and effectively building confidence and a global mindset is the I Can Read Series. The solution they offer to women and children to develop their self-worth and stave off violence is the I Am S.A.M. Foundation.

Merci's daughter, RAYLA acknowledges that it was her mother's genius, mentorship, creativity, ingenuity, unqualified support, generosity of resources and spirit, and example that created the legacies of the books and the foundation she is now leading for future generations.