Homeschoolers Association of the Philippine Islands Archives

Debra Bell invites you to the 4th Philippine Homeschool Conference! :)

May 9, 2012 by Tina Leave a Comment

I haven’t been blogging about homeschooling much here, since I have a separate blog about it altogether. However, I couldn’t help posting this video here — Debra Bell, international speaker, veteran homeschooler and bestselling author of “,” invites YOU to attend the 2012 Philippine Homeschool Conference! 🙂

Have you registered already? I have! 🙂 Just log on to www.hapihomeschooler.com for details. 🙂 Hope to see you there!

P.S. Feel free to approach me if you see me at the Conference, OK? 🙂 (Tee hee! Feeling famous, LOL!) 🙂 Blessings!

The 1st HAPI Homeschool Kids Fair

May 15, 2011 by Tina Leave a Comment

Have you ever wondered if homeschooled kids really know how to socialize?

Do you want to meet with other families who homeschool or are considering homeschooling?

Are you looking for a venue to showcase your homeschooled child’s talents and projects?

Do you have homeschool books and curriculum that are just sitting around in your house but could be put to better use? (If you have books from Catholic Heritage Curricula or Sing, Spell, Read, Write and Math-U-See books, please do bring them! I’d love to check them out and take them off your hands! 🙂 hehe)

Well, LOOK NO FURTHER. You can experience all these and more at the 1st Homeschool Kids Fair, sponsored by HAPI.

This will happen on May 21, 2011, 8AM to 12 Noon at the Valle Verde 5 Activity Center, Pasig City.

Fees:

To attend only: P100.00 / head

To display or perform: P50.00 / head

To join the Book Exchange: P150.00 / table

Please find below the forms to register for the fair:

1. Step-by-step Registration Procedure

2. Registration Form to attend the fair

3. Event Guidelines for project display, talent performance and book exchange table

For inquiries, go to page or contact Irma Chua at , or email her at . You can also check out the Homeschool Fair’s event page on Facebook .

This event is open to everyone, even if you are not homeschooling, though only homeschooled kids can take part in the exhibit/performances. 🙂 Hope to see YOU there dear reader! 🙂 God bless us all!

HAPI Road Show At The Medela House

April 12, 2011 by Tina 3 Comments

I wanted to post this earlier but I was caught up with writing and editing jobs, plus I felt really sick over the weekend. Thank GOD though I am feeling better now, and the kids have gotten better too. Thanks to all who prayed for us! 🙂

Despite feeling under the weather and my many pending articles (I really should learn more time management skills! Either that or drop off the kids at my parents when I need to work straight hours! hehe), I managed to go to the HAPI Roadshow last Saturday at the Medela House. Teacher Mommy Blessie and her hubby Neil were so kind to let Rysse and I hitch with them (yes, I brought her along, and she was very behaved thank God!). Tim and his Papa had a “boys’ morning out” and watched Rio together.

Anyway, I am SO HAPPY that I got to attend the Road Show. Aside from seeing Ate Rita from CFA (I have adopted her as my “unofficial mentor” hahaha!) and my soul sistah Martine, I got to take a tour around the Medela House and learned something new (home education is NOT the same as home study!). I also got to meet Jenn, who had e-mailed me before about homeschooling and breastfeeding (they use CHC! Too bad I didn’t tell her I was coming, she had offered to bring some of their materials for me to check out.) Of course, the ride with Mommy Blessie was very refreshing, as we got to chat about our kids, writing, and homeschooling. 🙂

As I am rushing this post (have to wash the door mats that Rysse peed on, before she and her Kuya wake up! Yep, it’s potty training time in our house!), I will let the pictures speak for me. 🙂 I’ll try to revise this post later on. 🙂 Happy to be with HAPI! 🙂

Scholastic was there too. They had some nice books on sale, too bad I didn’t bring any extra cash!

That’s Ate Rita and.. umm.. momnesia strikes again! Sorry! Talking to Maricel Cua of Medela Moms (who is also homeschooling her almost 5 year old! How cool is that! We’re both pro-breastfeeding and homeschooling moms! They have no formal curriculum yet, but she plans to use Kolbe.)

Martine in action

Icebreaker: Longest list of homeschooling tools. 🙂 Our group lost, but I got to take home one of the prizes anyway, a copy of Junior magazine. Thanks to Mommy Blessie, who gave me her extra copy (she and hubby Neil were on the same winning team).

Welcome!

HAPI’s President (?) Jerry ____ (told ya, it’s momnesia again! Haay).

Irma talking about the Homeschoolers Got Talent Fair 🙂 Coming soon in May!

Bambi.. (I think?! hahaha) talking about HAPI’s initial meeting with DepEd

Presentation prepared by Martine 🙂 Very helpful!

LOVE the study, work and serve approach of CFA! 🙂

Rysse sleeping on my lap 🙂 hehe.

Ate Rita sharing about the benefits of homeschooling to her family: closeness with the kids even until teenage years, strong and solid values for the kids, deep faith in God 🙂

Medela’s Maricel Cua 🙂 Fellow pro-breastfeeding, homeschooling, hands-on parenting, mompreneur 🙂 We’re going to plan a Natural Family Planning seminar to be held at Medela House soon! 🙂 Yehey!

Here are some pics of the Medela House, taken when Maricel gave me a brief tour. I LOVE IT! 🙂 Hope to visit again soon. 🙂 Wish I could come up with a House like this, where we could have seminars and products related to our own advocacies. 🙂

Informative picture of the Anatomy of The Lactating Breast

I love this altar that greets you when you walk inside Medela House! 🙂

Amen!

Diaper bags and educational toys on display

Yaya scrubs and nursing wear

More nursing wear

Breastfeeding pillows and more mommy-friendly bags

Cycles and Cradle products and cute onesies

Medela products on display. The room where they are located is also the demo room, where moms can try the products.

A variety of mompreneur products – slings, pouches, prenatal education system, memory keepers, malunggay products, By Nature soaps, etc etc

And of course, Mommy Treats! 🙂 (Incidentally, !)

If you want to visit the Medela House, feel free to get in touch with Medela Moms:
MedelaMoms, Inc. – Ms. Maricel Cua and Ms. Beng Feliciano
Medela House:
Tel. Nos.: ;
Mobile No.:
Email: or
www.medelamoms.multiply.com

HAPI and its upcoming events :-)

April 5, 2011 by Tina Leave a Comment

The Homeschool Association of the Philippine Islands (HAPI), which was formally launched last year during the 3rd Philippine Homeschool Conference, is a non-profit organization for homeschooling families led by a team of dynamic, creative and committed individuals (including my friends and fellow Catholic moms Martine and Ate Rita of CFA). Currently, HAPI’s core group is chaired by Edric Mendoza, Chairman of the Philippines’ first recognized Homeschool provider, The Masters’ Academy (TMA), and the U.S. HSLDA‘s official representative to the Philippines.

The letters of HAPI also stand for its objectives:
H – ype

One of HAPI’s main goals is to correct misconceptions on homeschooling and to provide the right information on what it really is. By God’s grace, HAPI has so far been able to provide the Department of Education with facts and proof that show that most, if not all, homeschoolers are at least 2 levels higher than the regular students, as far as academic achievement is concerned. Hopefully, this will open DepEd’s people’s minds to accept homeschooling not just as an alternative learning system, but to consider it just like any other school.

A – pproval Seal

HAPI hopes to make its approval seal as a standard seal that will be placed on products and services that are homeschool-friendly. (Incidentally, the Catholic Homeschoolers Summit that we at are planning this year already has a HAPI seal! Yehey! Please do pray that it will become a reality this August!)

P – artnerships & Perks

Being a member of HAPI means you will be entitled to discounts in selected bookstores and other shops, plus additional perks on the field trips you are planning. 🙂 I really commend the HAPI team for this aspect, since I am all for the frugality and practicality of homeschooling myself! 🙂

I – nformation

HAPI aims to provide reliable and helpful information to assist all types homeschooling families, including independent homeschoolers. Yipee! 🙂 So even if we decide to go with US-based curricula like CHC or Five in A Row we will be able to get useful, relevant info from HAPI. 🙂

Other benefits of being HAPI members include DepEd updates on important policies that affect the homeschooling community, information on accreditation procedures, directory of homeschool providers, support groups and services, HAPI calendar of Events, and free downloads.

In line with its goals of promoting homeschooling among Filipino families, HAPI has organized some exciting events for homeschoolers and wannabe homeschoolers and parents who are curious about homeschooling.

1. THE HAPI ROADSHOW
The first leg of this was held on March 26, at McDo Hill in Alabang, and targeted mainly homeschoolers from the South. It was the first among 2 road shows lined up to rally homeschooling families and inform everyone about what HAPI is all about.

For those who missed this, watch out for the next one scheduled on April 9 at the Medela House. Details below:

Program starts at 10am
Registration fee: Php50
Scholastic Books will be having a Book Sale! 🙂
Anybody can sign up for membership. HAPI annual membership fee is Php500 for the principal member and Php250 for the supplementary members.Road show registrants are entitled to FREE MEMBERSHIP valid until December 2011.

2. THE 1ST HAPI HOMESCHOOLERS FAIR

This event will feature the homeschoolers’ talents in live performances, artwork exhibits, and more, and will also be an opportunity for book exchanges among homeschoolers.

3. THE 1ST CATHOLIC HOMESCHOOLERS SUMMIT, A HAPI-APPROVED HOMESCHOOL EVENT

Spearheaded by
This is the tentative logo 🙂

August 13, 2011, 8am-6pm

Program includes Holy Mass, Exhibit, 2 Main Sessions and 1 Workshop, Recitation of the Holy Rosary and Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary

4. THE 2011 PHILIPPINE HOMESCHOOL CONFERENCE

October 22, 8am-6pm

Venue: TBA

This provides a venue for equipping and personal interaction among homeschooling families.

Hope to see you around, homeschooling friends and families! 🙂 Let’s continue to pray for one another and promote the benefits of homeschooling to others!

My 3rd Philippine Homeschool Conference Favorites

November 8, 2010 by Tina 4 Comments

Can I just say, GOD IS AMAZING?!! Come on people, say it with me, GOD IS AMAZING! 🙂 He really knows our needs, desires and thoughts. His ways are really far beyond our ways, thoughts higher than our thoughts! He alone knows His plans for EACH and EVERY one of us, just like He said in Jeremiah 29: 11-13!

Last October 30, hubby and I were so blessed to be part of the . It was worth every centavo we paid (we were able to avail of the P500 early bird registration fee!) and hubby and I are so grateful to God for providing for this “investment” in our family and kids’ lives. I don’t have a lot of time to post EVERYTHING I want to write about the Conference right now (more on WHY in another post! 🙂 hehe. Suspense, suspense!), but I will try to sum it up in the following list:

My Top 5 Favorite Things About The 3rd Philippines Homeschool Conference:

1. The inspiring and informative talks

There were two keynote speakers: Pastor Peter Tan-chi, Christ Commission Fellowship’s dynamic leader and Philippine homeschooling pioneer (one of the main men behind The Master’s Academy) and Ms. Luanne Shackleford, one of the authors of and a veteran homeschool mom.

In a nutshell, homeschooling and parenting in general, is heart work and hard work. Without the Lord’s guidance, both tasks are very hard to do. Training up a child in the way he should go (Proverbs 6:22) so that he will not depart from it when he is old is something EVERY PARENT should strive hard for (including hubby and myself of course! We’ve a long, long way to go in becoming the Godly parents our kids deserve! *sighs* But we all gotta start somewhere right?!)

Other points that struck me: “The more you listen, the more you understand your children. The more you understand your children, the more you can influence.” Bam! Right through the heart, Lord, Your words cut me! What a loving reminder to LISTEN and UNDERSTAND Timothy (and Rysse) more. Especially on difficult days.

And the pointers on how not to react when your child is acting up (I am now publicly confessing my sins, Lord! Guilty of everything listed below!!! Your grace alone can save me!):

-Do not be angry.

-Do not raise your voice.

-Do not send “busy” signals.

-Do not use words “you never…” or “you always….”

-Don’t answer immediately.

The reminders above apply not only to our kids, but I believe to our spouses as well. Right?! Anyway, since we are convinced and convicted that homeschooling is for us, I realized that I really need to work on my OWN heart and attitudes. This is where I (and hubby) would need all your prayers. (Thanks!)

2. The panel discussion with veteran homeschoolers, recent homeschoolers AND homeschooled kids themselves 🙂

We learned a lot through the panelists’ sharing of experiences and tips. My MOST favorite part here was when a question was brought up related to socialization (this almost ALWAYS comes up when you talk about homeschooling!) – “Where can homeschoolers find friends who they can grow up with? (i.e. get best friends, etc).

One of the homeschooled kids, a college freshman from Ateneo quickly replied: “My parents are my best friends. I am so blessed to have them support me and pray for me and be with me all the way.” (Something to that effect.) Aaawww.. hubby and I exchanged looks after this and both said,”Hopefully Tim will also say that one day.” (And Rysse too of course!) Just goes to show, homeschooling can really strengthen the bond between family members, especially parents and children!

3. The exhibit featuring different businesses and services that may be of help to homeschooling families.

We had fun going around the different booths and getting our “map” stamped by the different exhibitors so we could be eligible to win a prize (we didn’t however, but that’s ok!). There were also 2 photo booths, and hubby and I had a laugh getting our pics taken 🙂 It made for a nice souvenir too! 🙂 I also got some business ideas from the exhibit, which I will blog about in my other “home” online soon. 🙂 Woohoo! Thank You Lord for Your blessings!

4. The chance to meet fellow Homeschooling Mommy bloggers 🙂

Thanks to my blogs, Facebook and being part of the Pinoy Homeschool yahoogroup, I was able to “meet” other homeschooling mommy bloggers like Blessie, Monica and Michelle. It was SO nice to be able to meet two of them in person at the Conference, and it felt like we’d known each other for years! (Too bad Mommy Michelle couldn’t make it, I wanted to thank her in person for answering all my questions through her blog posts. Hope you’re much better now Mommy Michelle!)

Because of the Conference, I also got to know Martine who had been serving on the working committee of the Conference, and Chame, a homeschooling mom included in the panel of speakers, who previously had been “unschooling” her son. We are now friends on Facebook and get to exchange messages about homeschooling and the like. Cool huh?

By serendipity, God-chance or whatever you choose to call it, I was also able to meet Irene, whom I discovered was the one and the same Catholic homeschooling mom my friend Michelle had mentioned to me. She had shared their homepreschool curriculum with Michelle, who in turn shared it with me. (We haven’t started using it though, since we haven’t decided on a particular curriculum yet!) Irene and her husband Arnold are one out of the five Catholic homeschooling parents from Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon (LNP), a Catholic charismatic community based here in the Philippines. Incidentally, our community, Couples for Christ, was established in 1981 by LNP as its outreach to evangelize married couples but it severed its ties from LNP in 1993.

Up to now, I am just AMAZED at how God has used homeschooling to connect our family to other Christians and Catholics who want to hand down the Faith to their children and form their kids according to God’s ways.

Last but not the least, my no. 5 fave thing about the Conference was:

5. The time spent with the Lord and with hubby 🙂

The whole day, from early in the morning (kids were still asleep when we left, thank you Lola! We love you!) up to the end of the Conference (and even beyond, we picked the kids up and went to a birthday party after!), I was blessed to spend time with hubby sans children. Being on mission for the past 5 years, with no one else to watch the kids for longer than 2 hours, it was great to spend time with my Honey. He is my no. 1 supporter when it comes to all my advocacies and adventures, and sharing the HS Conference with him while there were many moms around without their respective partners was truly a great gift from the Beloved. Indeed, we could really feel the Lord’s presence with us all throughout the Conference. It made me all revved up and inspired with so many ideas for future events for homeschoolers, especially the Catholic ones! Woohoo! Truly Jeremiah 29: 11-13 aptly describes how great our God is!

The conference ended on a high note with the launching of HAPI – the Homeschoolers Association of the Philippine Islands! With HAPI, homeschoolers and wannabe homeschoolers in the Philippines are able to link up more effectively, and are also able to receive information and tips that are relevant to their journey in home education. HAPI will also be lobbying to have a special Home Education Department under the Department of Education, among other things! Sooo exciting!

Can’t wait for what else the Lord has in store for us homeschoolers in the Philippines! 🙂 Amazing blessings coming our way, thank You Beloved! 🙂

P.S. Here are some pics of the Conference. For more photos, please go to 🙂