Previously posted on December 6, 2016 @Homescool.ph
I was away for an immersion trip as Board of Director of Visions of Hope Foundation to visit Potter’s House Association in Guatemala. Visions of Hope and Potter’s House are aligned in a common goal of reaching and empowering poor families, teaching them about the love of Jesus and educating the children. It was truly a refreshing yet eye opening and challenging trip! I will share more stories about that through a future post but for now, Homescool.ph would like to invite you to join my mentor-sister, co-homeschooler Felichi Pangilinan-Buizon and me as we “tandem teach” in The Master’s Light House Foundation and Sunlife Financial’s Building Blocks of Homeschooling.
I am so excited to be able to do this with Felichi and of course, with Master’s Lighthouse Foundation’s Kuya Anthony and his lovely wife, another sister, Ms. Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan. One can actually call this “Sisters’ Act with special participation of one brother!” By God’s grace and with the help of the Sun Life Financial Team and Master’s Lighthouse Staff, we hope to have a very dynamic, and fun seminar on the basics of homeschooling: homeschooling as tried and tested form of education, laying a strong foundation, starting one’s journey, and staying at it with practical tips and techniques. A bonus feature in this seminar is a portion presented by Sunlife dedicated to Financial Planning and Management for Homeschoolers. Sunlife will seek to give basic principles for families who are into homeschooling and how finances come into play when one opts to homeschool.
The seminar will handle the following:
- Homeschooling as a Form of Education for Your Children: Why Not?
- Creating Your Homeschooling Vision and Mission
- Best Practices in Starting (and yes even maintaining) Your Homeschool Journey
- Financial Planning/ Management for Homeschooling Families
Ate Felichi and I have been roommates since we were assigned our on own room in the early to mid 70s.
I was even able to google our wallpaper in that room in 11 Mahusay St. UP Village, Quezon City. Yes, this Holly Hobbie wallpaper witnessed our days of pretend play in that small room, and how we were also “homeschooled” in some way, as we spent so many hours of our growing years playing with our siblings.
Ate Felichi and I were part of the ‘3 babies” of the 9 children of Dony and Emma Pangilinan. The 9 children were known to many in 3 batches: 3 girls, 3 boys and the 3 babies. So there from left to right, Number 9, me, number 8, kuya John-John and number 7, Ate Felichi:)
So apart from sharing with you from our combined homeschooling experience of close to 30 years, we will also share from our own experiences as we grew up and bonded (and played) together!
Ate Felichi and I shared a room for a total 18 years in 3 different homes!
Ate Felichi is my go-to person for prayer, wisdom and guidance. She has truly helped mold and shape the person that I am today. She has taught me the value of waiting on God, of prayer and of being intimate with Him. She was the one who introduced homeschooling into my own family. Her wholehearted commitment in raising. loving and homeschooling her children have compelled me to homeschool as well, and we’ve been at it for 14 years now! The impact she had made in my life, I firmly believe, is also multiplying as I have gotten involved in bigger communities and groups that seek to encourage other homeschoolers! Recently, we have begun some groundwork in creating a “homeschool-like” curriculum for a community our foundation is working with in the Saranggani province, where preschool and elementary children are housed in a dorm-like school since their homes are 2-3 hours walk away from their homes!!!! Thank you Ate Felichi and Kuya Jojo Buizon for paving the way indeed!
Again, join us this Friday and let’s all learn from each other and celebrate homeschooling together! To reserve a slot, please text Gen Mercardo 0916-711-0509!
Donna P. Simpao, M.D. 
