6 Reasons Why You Should Attend the Philippine Homeschool Conference 2015

MANILA, Philippines — This October 17, 2015, the Homeschool Association of the Philippine Islands (HAPI), Manila Workshops and The Learning Basket will be staging the largest homeschooling conference this year, titled, “The Philippine Homeschool Conference 2015: Ready for the World!”

The Homeschool Association of the Philippine Islands (HAPI) is a non-stock, non-profit advocacy of Filipino homeschoolers, while Manila Workshops is a company dedicated to continuing education for professional and personal goals. The Learning Basket, on the other hand, is an advocacy that inspires parents to be their children’s first and best teacher.

The Philippine Homeschool Conference 2015 is a precursor to the “Global Home Education Conference” (GHEC) set to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in March 2016. Definitely bigger than the past years’ homeschool conferences, “Ready for the World!” will be held at three venues at SM Aura Premiere. The keynote talks will be held at the Samsung Hall, while smaller workshops and the much awaited homeschool expo will be at the SMX Convention Center.

If you’re exploring homeschooling, or currently homeschooling your kids, here are six reasons why you should attend this much-awaited conference:

1. You’ll get to learn from seasoned homeschoolers.

Two well-respected homeschool advocates and speakers from the United States will be gracing the “Ready for the World” Homeschool Conference as keynote speakers, namely Michael Donnelly, Director for Global Outreach of the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) and Secretary of GHEC 2016, and Rachael Carman, mother of seven and best-selling author and publisher of popular homeschool science curriculum Apologia. Rachael’s husband, Davis, the President of Apologia, will be speaking as well.

The foreign speakers — who are veteran homeschoolers themselves — will be joined by local speakers, who are also currently homeschooling, or have formerly homeschooled their children. Therefore, it will be a day where parents can get insights from more experienced parents — one of the best kinds of learning experiences!

2. You’ll be able to meet and mingle with other parents.

If you are a parent who is already homeschooling, or are just considering it, you will definitely be inspired, informed and empowered in this biggest homeschooling event.

Most, if not all, of the attendees will be parents like you, who seek the best educational experience for their children, and do their best to practice intentional parenting

3. You’ll be able to check out different learning materials and books for your kids.

The investment fee for an All Access Pass (i.e. a pass to go in and out of all three conference venues, including the exposition venue) is at Php 1000 per person at the early bird rate until October 4. The exposition venue is where you will find various learning providers, educational tools, toys, books, and other materials that can help homeschooling parents and aspiring homeschooling parents in their daily lives.

The expo will also be open to the public, i.e. those who don’t wish to attend any of the talks, for a minimal amount of Php 50 per head.

4. You’ll learn how to be money-wise from an expert.

Most people know Chinkee Tan as a great motivational speaker, wealth coach, and bestselling author, but may not be aware that he and his wife, Nove-ann, are also homeschooling parents.

Chinkee will be sharing his wisdom at the Philippine Homeschool Conference 2015 through his talk titled “Stretching Your P100.” He will teach homeschoolers (and even non-homeschoolers) how to be money-wise so that they can homeschool thriftily but effectively. 

5. You’ll learn how to get your children to “listen and learn.”

Sought-after speaker and homeschooling advocate Edric Mendoza, host of ANC’s “On The Money” and his wife, Joy of TeachWithJoy.com and author of the recently launched book When A Good God Allows Rape, will be speaking about “Parenting Basics: Getting Your Children to Listen and Learn.” Edric and Joy are currently homeschooling their five children, and Joy is actually a “product” of homeschooling herself.

6. Your kids can join arts and crafts workshops for kids (and kids at heart!).

While you are soaking up all the goodness that the homeschool conference has to offer, your kids can have their own learning moments in any of the following activities. (Please take note that participation in each workshop is P500 per person, inclusive of materials. The conference organizers will accept only 25 students per class so early registration is highly recommended.)

Workshops by DMC Philippines

String Art by DMC (9:00 to 11:00 a.m.)

Kids will hammer away to create different colorful figures, abstract or representational, using just wood, nails and various threads. For ages 13 and up.

Mandala by DMC (9:00 to 11:00 a.m.)

Learn how to create beautiful hanging ornaments by mixing patterns and colors with just your thread. For ages 13 and up.

Cross Stitch by DMC (12:30 to 2:30 p.m.)

Remember the cross-stitch craze? Introduce your child to this absorbing hobby that can produce beautiful home wall decors with clean and precise X’s. For ages 9 and up.

Dream Catcher by DMC (12:30 to 2:30 p.m.)

Native Americans believe that dreams can be caught. Kids will love making their own dream catchers with a hoop, threads and eye-catching decors arranged in a web for a good night’s sleep. For ages 13 and up.

Basic Calligraphy by Little Ms Printer Marj Liwag

(Morning: 10:00 – 12:00 a.m. / Afternoon: 2:45 to 4:45 p.m.)

Let your kids learn to write in beautiful calligraphy in this workshop to be facilitated by Marj Liwag of Little Ms Printer. For ages 13 and up.

Of course, these are not the only reasons why you should attend the Philippine Homeschool Conference 2015 — there are so many more! I will actually be speaking at the conference too, on “Homeschool 101: Getting Started With Homeschooling,” so I hope to see you there. For more details about the conference, including other talk topics and how to register, please visit ManilaWorkshops.com. See you on October 17!