Homeschooling isn't new in the Philippines. Our National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal was first homeschooled by his mother, Teodora Alonzo Rizal in his early childhood years before being sent to Ateneo De Manila to continue studies. And that was in the 1860s!

Anyway, as I know, homeschooling later was introduced (or perhaps adapted) from the foreign missionaries (mostly Protestants from the US) who came with their children. They taught their kids at home. Filipinos, as we are, are very good in adopting new ideas have embraced this and made it work in our context.

We know that Filipino families are not immuned from the same problems that plague our educational system and the society as a whole. The present state of our school system is such in a slump that parents were driven to decide and take matters in their hands - that is, to educate their children at home and play a major part in molding their future. To me and my husband, and some parents that we know, homeschool is not just an alternative. We homeschool because we primarily believe it is our God-given role to teach and train our children. We love our children that we are acting in the best of their interests. Our prayer for them is that they will become disciples - followers of Christ.

I am so thrilled to say that this is a growing community not only in Metro Manila but in several provinces as well. Our family resided in Laguna, 2 hours down South of Metro Manila, for several years and had been in touch with families who were homeschooling since 2001, even earlier. We had started a support group and some activities. Sadly, some families, including ours, have relocated some place else so these initiatives somehow faded.

Our annual visits back home have given us a chance to meet a few families who continue to homeschool.  I have been exchanging email lately with Ms. Vicki Arioder of The Learning Place, a primary and secondary private school within the University of the Philippines - Los Banos campus where my husband and I attended college. And the great news I am so excited about is that they have a homeschool department. We are elated. Years back, it did not cross our minds that these new growth spurt in the homeschooling field will become possible.

Yesterday, I got an email from the local email group. A new blog is being started for this support group based in Quezon City (Metro Manila). Immediately, I realized the importance of adding new links on my righthand bar - a separate table or box just for Philippine Homeschool.

So, if you want to check it out.. Click the tag Homeschool_Philippines on the del.icio.us cloud (right-hand bar)

I am hopeful it will grow as more families choose to follow this path.. so if you have a blog or website and you are homeschooling in the Philippines, do drop me a line.

Homeschooling  is not only thriving in the Philippines ... it is alive!