homeschool

Homeschool Help: Homeschool Organizations

December 13, 2018 Leave a Comment

As a homeschool mom, it is of great encouragement to know that there are now many homeschool organizations which I can join and help me should I need some assistance or support. I’m listing some of those organizations:

HAPI or Homeschool Association of the Philippine Islands was established in 2010. The current HAPI president is Ms. Donna Pangilinan-Simpao.

Mission: To bring together homeschool leaders who will help shape the Philippine homeschool landscape.
Vision: To see home education recognised as an available and respected form of education, shaping leaders and movers who build our nation. (Info taken from HAPI website)

I personally am grateful for the efforts of HAPI to meet with DepEd and let DepEd know the needs of the homeschool community.

HAPI’s website is http://www.hapi.ph

PHA or Philippine Homeschoolers Association was established in 2017. The current PHA president is Ms. Jihan Tan. PHA was formed by homeschool co-op families who, after experiencing the benefits of being in a community, decided it was time to give back and pay it forward.

Mission:
1. AWARENESS
2. ACCREDITATION
3. AFFORDABILITY
4. ACCESSIBILITY
5. ACCEPTANCE

(Info taken from PHA about page)

I am following the PHA discussions and the instagram account and it is encouraging to know that awareness about homeschooling in the Philippines has greatly increased.

PHA Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PhilippineHomeschoolersAssociation/

EFL or Educating for Life is the team of homeschool moms who came together to establish several of the homeschool conferences in the past years. The members are Michelle Padrelanan, Sanne Unson, Mariel Uyquiengco, and Tina Rodriguez.

Mission: To provide avenues for parents to connect with one another through the various workshops, events, and seminars that are tailor-fit to the homeschool community. (Info taken from EFL website)

I have been to almost every conference that EFL has organized and I am grateful for all the encouragement and equipping workshops that I’ve been to.

EFL Website is http://www.educatingforlife.co/

HOP or Homeschoolers of the Philippines is an online Facebook community group. It currently has 14,000+ members and the founder of this group is Ms. Donna Pangilinan-Simapo

The main reason why this group was established is to be a support group for the homeschoolers in the Philippines. This group was formed in 2012.

There are many FAQ articles, activity lists and books for sale being posted. You also get to organize meet ups in your local area through this FB group. I have greatly benefited from this HOP group over the years.

HOP’s Facebook group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/303988516361928/

Filed Under: homeschool help Tagged With: homeschool organizations in the Philippines

Be Kind to One Another

November 28, 2018 Leave a Comment

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Phil 2:3

“No one ever offers to help.” This is a statement we often hear people say and sadly, it is a common scenario in all of our lives. Most of us are often consumed with our daily activities that we fail to see the people around us. They could be a mom who just gave birth, a husband who has just lost his spouse, a brethren who has just lost his job or someone who needs a friend to talk to.

We should look up from our gadgets, and really look around us. The Lord might be presenting an opportunity for us to do something kind for someone. The Lord has created us not to live self-absorbed lives but to be humble, and serve others in whatever capacity we can.

As the holiday season rolls, this season presents a perfect opportunity to extend kindness and be helpful towards another. Let us make it our goal to make someone else smile.

Filed Under: reflections

Brokenness to Wholeness

September 17, 2018 Leave a Comment

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Do you have a deep longing in your heart? Are you looking for a love that completes you? Are you looking for satisfaction? Let me share my story with you.

Growing up, I had a complete family, everything I needed was provided and my life wasn’t at all difficult. I did fairly well in school, I never got into any sort of trouble but inside, something in me was broken. I felt unloved, incomplete and broken. I was always looking for love and appreciation – from my family, from my friends and from boys. Eventually, I realized that nothing satisfies. I still felt sad and empty.

Then I met Christ, and I was amazed by the fact that He really loves me. In my imperfections, He accepted me and even gave His own life for me. It was a love that completed me and revealed who I really was. For the first time, I actually felt what it was like to be loved wholeheartedly and to have joy and peace in my heart.

Since then, Christ has been my true north, my one true love. My anchor as I sail on this journey. There are days that storms come, when I suddenly feel inadequate and broken, but as Christ reminds me how I am now His, I press on forward, because I know He is there and that, is enough for me. I am now whole in Him.

Filed Under: reflections

Reflecting on My Chinese Heritage

August 24, 2018 1 Comment

Coming from a Chinese family, I was excited to hear that there was a movie coming out about the Chinese culture. The last one I remembered watching was The Joy Luck Club which came out 1993. I was happy to watch something that showcased a culture that not everyone understands and something I can totally relate with.

I haven’t read the book Crazy Rich Asians so I didn’t know what to expect aside from the summary I read over the internet a few days back. I knew it was a romantic comedy and that the characters were Chinese.

As I was watching the movie, I caught myself agreeing with some of the scenes and explaining how similar it was to my own family. Though our family isn’t rich like the Youngs, the Chinese family really puts emphasis on marrying “kai-ki-lang”, our own sort of people. There was also the unwritten rule of sacrificing for your family and putting self-happiness and passion aside. Though we never had dumplings, there was a lot of mahjong growing up. I watched my own “ah-ma’ and “ang-kong” play it with their relatives and friends all the time.

I am quite thankful that my family has somehow evolved over time – and now that I have a family of my own, I must remember to share with them the culture and the family heritage that we have so that my children will appreciate what they now have and be mindful of not taking their life for granted.

Filed Under: reflections Tagged With: Chinese heritage, Crazy Rich Asians

8th Grade Homeschool Portfolio

August 10, 2018 Leave a Comment

My daughter has just completed her 8th grade portfolio review with Homeschool Global’s Family Advisor last week. After doing portfolio reviews for the past 8 years, I think I’ve seen it all but as I look at the project she did for this year, specifically this last quarter, I am amazed.

She was inspired by the Timeless TV series we watched as it is a time-traveling TV show that visits the different periods of time.