Today, I attended a homeschool conference organized by HAPI or the Homeschool Association of the Philippine Islands. The conference was organized and attended by parents and children who are currently homeschooling. There were also parents who attended the conference because they are just curious and wanted to know more about the benefits and setbacks of homeschooling.
Last year, my husband and I decided to pursue homeschooling for our 6-year old daughter. It did not materialize right away due to certain issues that we had to address, but by God's grace we will be able to realize this goal by June.
Although I am not yet homeschooling, I decided to join the conference because I wanted to meet other homeschooling moms and get more insights and tips on how I will be able to pull off such a Herculean task. And maybe I still needed more affirmation that we are following God's plan by homeschooling our daughter.
Indeed, I got what I came for (I did not win anything in the raffle though). I was very inspired and I felt really blessed by the testimonies of homeschooling moms and homeschoolers who shared their stories and answered questions about the ins and outs of homeschooling. The emotions are so overwhelming that the first thing I did when I got home is look for my laptop and set up this blog.
I came to the conference with a 99.9% resolve to homeschool my daughter, and I went home feeling that the .01% hole has been filled with much much more. In this day and age when the devil can use anything or anyone to push people into sinning, I would not allow my child to go out into the world unprepared. Aside from fully surrendering to God and allowing Him to use me to educate my child and leave a priceless legacy, I am now committed to do everything in my power to share homeschooling to everyone I know.
I feel blessed to be a part of a conference that united homeschooling parents in the Philippines - independent homeschoolers and parents from various home education providers and home study programs. Hearing Mr. Tonisito Umali, the Assistant Secretary of DepEd for Legal Affairs open the conference with a positive note and a hopeful heart on the future of homeschooling in the Philippines is a very inspiring moment.
It was also the first time that I have seen Bo Sanchez in person and I am so happy of what he had to say about homeschooling and his testimony on how God moves mysteriously to help His children accomplish seemingly impossible tasks. When his speech was over, I told myself that I am in the right place and I am with the right people and we will be giving my daughter the best gift by homeschooling her.
Debra Bell was the next speaker. She is one of the pillars of the homeschooling movement, the author of one of the best homeschooling books ever written (The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling) and provider of various homeschooling tools and resources. Hearing her share her experiences and transition from being a public school teacher to a homeschooling mom for her four kids, and seeing how her kids grew up in the best way possible is indeed priceless.
For me, the best part of the conference is seeing people who were molded and raised by homeschooling moms, one of them is also a homeschooling mom now (Joy Tan-Chi Mendoza). I was impressed with the way they talk about their interests, desires, beliefs, and how firmly their faith is planted through homeschool. I used to think that in order to become the best parents, we have to be able to give my daughter everything she needs and everything she wants. I was wrong because good parenting means I will be able to guide her on how to build a strong relationship with God and instill in her all the values she needs in order to become an independent and motivated learner.
There is still so much to say and discuss about homeschooling. HAPI Chairman Edric Mendoza closed the conference with a hopeful heart that someday, homeschooling will be at par with conventional schooling in terms of acceptance and reputation, and I am with him and other homeschooling advocates in this vision. I know that by God's grace, there will come a time that homeschooling moms would not have to answer questions about homeschooling that make it seem like an abomination or an irregular practice. I also know that by God's grace, homeschooling is the best way for both children and parents to share the Gospel and become an agent of change in our country and the whole world.
