Homeschool to the Future: Educating for the World of Tomorrow (Philippine Homeschool Conference 2017)

By Mommy Donna and Kib - September 12, 2017

My son is a homeschooled child. He never had an experience studying in a regular school. There have been several times that my decision to homeschool him have been questioned and criticized. I know what's best for my child and this kind of set-up works for us very well as we are always on the go.

I attended several homeschool conferences in the past and I can say that I had a lot of takeaways during the event. It's a wonderful feeling to be surrounded and inspired by your co-homeschooling families, encouraging you to just continue on your homeschooling journey. Last year, I was only able to attend the pre-homeschool conference because on the conference day, I had work. Hopefully, this year, nothing will hinder me from attending the conference.

The Philippine Homeschool Conference 2017 is scheduled on October 7, 2017 at Treston International College, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Treston International College is a school which openly supports and accepts homeschooling, and HAPI (Homeschooling Association of the Philippine Islands) is grateful for their partnership on this year's conference. This year's event is organized by Educating for Life.

This year's theme, "Homeschool to the Future: Educating for the World of Tomorrow", was inspired by the idea of educating our children to prepare them for the future. The world we live in has changed drastically and everything is now happening in a fast-paced manner. Now that we are living in the Internet Age, all the information that we needed can now be readily available with a click of a button.

These changes also affected the educational field. Educators--and parents alike--are now beginning to realize that beyond rote memorization and spewing out of data, students today must learn what to do with the information that they have. With these changes happening around us, the more valuable skills to be learned by children are critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. These skills are what homeschoolers can embrace easily and promote in their respective homes and community. Children are taught to learn how to learn--and love how to learn--as they make use of the technology and resources available to them.

The annual homeschool conference is a venue where parents can learn about the latest trends and technology in education to equip them on their homeschooling journey. The homeschool conference is also a venue where parents can shop for the educational materials the needed to enrich their children's learning. Moreover, the homeschool conference is a good venue to meet fellow homeschoolers and to gather as one community.

PHILIPPINE HOMESCHOOL CONFERENCE 2017 TOPICS AND SPEAKERS

This year's conference topics have the good old 'basics' of educating one's children in mind, while also helping them to prepare for the future. The topics were also prepared with different kinds of parents in mind: those who are curious about homeschooling, those who are just starting with their homeschooling journey, those who are already homeschooling, and those who like the idea of homeschooling but can't do it for some reasons, yet still want to be hands-on with their child's education.

The keynote topics will be given by passionate homeschooling leaders and committed advocates of education:

Back-to-Basics Parenting in the Technological Age -- To be given by Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, an ardent supporter of homeschooling community in the Philippines. Earlier this year, Sen. Pangilinan filed Resolution 308, expressing his full support in the celebration of the first National Homeschool Day, which was held last March 3, 2017.

Unconventional Education: Empowering the Youth of the Future -- To be given by Mr. Efren Penaflorida, founder and head of Dynamic Teen Company. Dynamic Teen Company offers Filipino youth an alternative to street gangs through education, recreating school settings in unconventional locations such as cemeteries and trash dumps. Efren's inspiring work and passion to educate the youth has been recognize both locally and internationally. He was named CNN Hero of the Year in 2009 and was among the top five finalists for the CNN Superhero of the Decade Awards in 2016.

The Best Option for Education in the 21st Century: Homeschooling. Know Your Kids. Discover Their Passion. Learning Happens -- To be given by Marissa Leinart, a veteran homeschooling mom, Emmy-award winning broadcaster, Great Homeschool Convention Speaker, narrator for Apologia books, and founder of www.TheHomeschoolRevolution.com.

The 21st Century Learner -- To be given by Sheryl Genuino See, M.A., an educator, award-winning social entrepreneur, experienced keynote and motivational speaker, and advocate of excellence and ethical leadership in business and the workplace.

Similar to the past homeschool conference, this year's conference will once again have break-out sessions so that parents may choose which topic to attend to fit their current homeschooling journey. Parents may choose two (2) topics to attend during the break-out sessions. There will be seven (7) simultaneous topics for each session, a total of 14 break-out topics to choose from.

1ST SESSION BREAK-OUT TOPICS (3:00-4:00PM):

We want to Homeschool! Now what? (Michelle Padrelanan) -- This session is specifically designed for parents who have decided to homeschool their children but do not know where or how to begin their homeschooling journey. While getting information is as easy as clicking an online research button, the sheer number of results that the search yields may overwhelm the parents.

The Juggling Act: Home Management for Teacher Moms (Sigrid Perez) -- Most homeschool moms wear tons of hats--wife, mother, daughter, teacher, chef, driver, coach, among others. It's a bit overwhelming and tiring for a mom to fulfill all her duties on a daily basis. So how do we fit all these roles plus manage our homes too? Sigrid Perez, a mom of eight, will share how she homeschools five of her eight children while helping the other three children in their regular schoolwork, manage their family's businesses and oversee their charitable foundation.

What I Learned in My Rookie Year of Homeschooling (Jen Mayuga-Cruz) -- A lot of parents begin their homeschooling journey with the most idealistic notions, only to be discouraged upon learning that it's not all that easy. The kids still hate school. Mom loses her patience. The house is chaotic. Beginning the journey is not always easy, but knowing what to expect may help alleviate discouragement and fears. Businesswoman and homeschooling mom of two Jen Mayuga-Cruz shares her experiences during her rookie year of homeschooling. This is for those who are about to begin their own journey and those who think that they are simply doing it all 'wrong".

Raising Financially-Literate Kids (Joey Tayaban) -- The foundation of learning about the value of money begins at home. In this session, homeschooling mom of five and multi-awarded finance advocate Joey Tayaban will give us tips and tricks that we can use to teach our children to become money-smart. Perhaps we can learn a thing or two for ourselves, too.

Narration 101 (Gina Guerrero-Roldan) -- Classical and Charlotte Mason homeschoolers gush about narration. It is a wonderful way to assess what children have picked up and an effective way to start discussions about lessons and ideas. But what exactly is narration? How can you use it in your homeschooling? Can you use it even if you're not following the Charlotte Mason philosophy? Gina Guerrero-Roldan, homeschooling mom of four and long-time Charlotte Mason practitioner, will shed light on the nitty-gritty details of this fascinating educational tool.

No Fear! Homeschooling through High School (Racquel Guevara and Mariz Dearos) -- Physics, Chemistry, Trigonometry, among others--can I really teach these subjects to my homeschooling teenage kid? How can I help my children discover what course to take in college--or if attending college is even for them? What about peers and socialization which are crucial on their teenage years? In this mini-panel discussion, let homeschooling moms Racquel Guevara and Maris Dearos, moms to high school graduates who are both thriving in their respective universities, answer your questions, ease your fears, and encourage you as you homeschool your own high schoolers.

The Treston Way: Excellent Education in a Caring Community (Treston International College) -- Looking for options for 11th and 12th grade, or maybe your highschooler is checking out options for college? Let Treston International College introduce their community and educational beliefs to you in this break-out session. Treston is very much in support of the homeschooling community in the Philippines.

2ND BREAK-OUT SESSION TOPICS (4:10-5:10PM)

Homeschool for Free (Marissa Leinart) -- That homeschooling is a more alternative to traditional schooling is a myth, as some homeschooling families have discovered. The fact is, it can mean requiring one parent to leave the workforce to focus on educating their children; this translates to the family having to live on a single income. Marissa Leinart was in the same predicament when she started on this journey. So, she spent 17 years researching on how she can educate her children at home at almost entirely for free! In this break-out session, she will share resources that helped her in this mission to make homeschooling accessible to everyone.

The Working Homeschooling Mom (Denise Pena) -- Homeschooling is a tough job and some moms take on an even more difficult one--juggling the demands of working while educating their children. How does one do it? What is a working homeschool mom's day like? Is it even possible to work out of the home and homeschool? Working homeschool mom of two Denise Pena will answer these questions and share tips about how she is able to balance these two things that matter to her.

7 Tips for Teaching Multiple-Age Students Without Losing Your Mind (Jen Wi-Bellosillo) -- homeschooling is a daunting task--one that is made even more challenging when you are teaching several children in various age groups. The sheer volume of available materials to sift through, lesson time management, and scheduling can make any homeschooling mom feel overwhelmed. In this session, homeschooling mom and former preschool teacher Jen Bellosillo will share her best practices that enable her to peacefully homeschool her four children.

Carving Out Me-Time for Busy Homeschool Moms (Milona Barraca) -- Moms thend to always put their family's needs before their own. From sitting down for lessons, shuttling our children to their activities, managing the household, and running a business or working on the side, we tend to sacrifice time for ourselves. Moms are selfless indeed. Milona Barraca, homeschooling mom of four, will talk about the importance of slowing down and carving out our own 'me time'. She will share tips and ideas on how she enjoys her many hobbies and how doing so benefits her family too.

Technology in Your Homeschool (Donna Pangilinan-Simpao) -- Technology is the bane and boon of this generation of students. What exactly are the pros and cons of using technology in the homeschool? How can parents utilize the online resources available to everyone while maintaining a balance with offline learning? How can teacher-parents make use of technology to make homeschooling easier? Homeschooling mom Donna Pangilinan-Simpao talks about this as she shares her favorite tech resources, which she used for more than 10 years of homeschooling.

That Thing Called 'Gap Year' (Leni Yusay) -- There's this new buzzword in homeschooling community--the 'gap year'. What exactly is a gap year and why is there a buzz about it? Is it even legal in the Philippines? Homeschooling mom Leny Ojano-Yusay, who also took her own 'gap year' in college, will share her own experiences, plus the experiences of her son Miguel, who is currently doing his gap year after graduating from the 12th grade.

The Treston Way: Excellent Education in a Caring Community (Treston International College) -- Looking for options for 11th and 12th grade, or maybe your highschooler is checking out options for college? Let Treston International College introduce their community and educational beliefs to you in this break-out session. Treston is very much in support of the homeschooling community in the Philippines.

CONFERENCE FEES

An early bird rate of Php800 is applicable until September 30th for each attendee. This already covers the keynote talks, break-out sessions, and access to the expo area. After September 30th, Php1,100 per head will be charged to each attendee.

Philippine Homeschool Conference 2017 is a kid-friendly event. However, certain guidelines should be observed when you decide to bring your child with you:

Children 3 years old and below who will be joining their parents in the keynote talks and break-out sessions can get in free but with lap seating privileges only;
Children 4 years old and above who will be joining their parents all throughout the talks and sessions should pay regular fees (Php800 for early bird rate until September 30th, Php1,100 after September 30th);
Parents can also let their kids join the children's activities in a designated area but has to pay for each activity (details of these activities will be posted on www.educatingforlife.co website and each session will only hold certain number of children). Should parents decide to let their child attend these activities while they attend the talks, they should assign a trusted adult to look after their child at all times.

Registration and other details of the Philippine Homeschool Conference 2017 can be found at www.educatingforlife.co.

This one-day event for homeschoolers is a must! Learn more about homeschooling, equip yourself to prepare your child for the future!

Follow Philippine Homeschool Conference on Facebook. You may also check out the conference's Event Page on Facebook for updates as the event day comes near. You may also follow Homeschool Association of the Philippine Islands on Facebook. Look for hashtags #PHC2017 and #homeschooltothefuture.