I used to take piano lessons here! That was several years ago, when the school still occupied most…read moreof the building. And my sister's been going to ballet here even before the building had been renovated and the dimly lit ground floor waiting area had a cake shop. Good times. Now, even though Academy One only has one large dance studio left upstairs, a couple of instrument lesson rooms at the back, and a small waiting area in front, they still provide top notch education. They offer jazz, classical and modern ballet, piano, voice, and guitar lessons. It's affiliated with the Australian Conservatory of Ballet and the London-based Royal Academy of Dance so for sure the ballet classes are excellent. (Only complaint is the schedule can be erratic at times - sometimes ending surprisingly early, other times extending for half an hour.) They have an annual recital in CCP at the end of the summer program to showcase the growing talent not just in the dance students, but also those who learn various instruments. I think it's a good way to get kids used to the performance side of performing arts.

This is where my daughter found her love for singing, dancing, and acting. She attended the…read moreworkshops and talked highly about everyone. After the workshop, they auditioned for parts in a musical. It is amazing as to how fast they are able to go from a workshop to a musical production. I am very thankful that I was able to watch my daughter perform. I am more thankful that the Repertory helped my daughter in getting out of her shell. She was very shy, and she didn't have much self- confidence regarding her singing and acting. Thanks to the Repertory, her self-esteem is higher. She has made new friends that she has continued keeping in contact with. That in itself is priceless.

With 46 years of being a major player in the Philippine theatre industry under its belt, it's easy…read moreto trust that Repertory Philippines will deliver quality theatre workshops that address different needs. Whether you're a parent that wants your child to hone his or her talents or be more confident, whether you're looking for a creative outlet, or whether you're a professional performer in need of a way to sharpen your skills, Repertory Philippines' theater workshops are sure to train well and ensure plenty of growth. Repertory Philippines has always been one of the premier breeding grounds for local artists who eventually led successful careers in the entertainment industry. The workshops cost around P8000, are one month long, and usually end with a full production as the culminating event. There are foundations classes for children, teens and adults, as well as an advanced acting class for adults and a masters class. The teachers are multi-talented and versatile professional actors and actresses who carry plenty of experience in the theatre industry, be it through performing, directing or music directing. They are all passionate and care deeply about honing local talent and guiding their students well. The value for money is extremely high, as not only will you learn and grow a lot in terms of theater techniques, but also in terms of important values such as discipline, attentiveness, quick-wittedness, passion, and courage. You're also sure to meet valuable new friends. Plus, the feeling of having set your foot on the stage and done your best is a unique and incomparable sense of accomplishment.

When it comes to tutoring services for grade school students, there is no one I would trust to do…read morethe job better than Ann Ferrer-Yao. This woman is a genius with children! She is incredibly patient with her students, and she simply moonlights as a tutor because she functions as a preschool teacher during the day. I've witnessed Ann with her students and I've seen how one child blossomed from a shy student who was behind on his lessons to an outspoken child who is now on the same level as his classmates. I don't have children yet, but when I do I know who they're going to be tutored by.

I got so hyped about Wing Chun when I watched the movies Ip Man & Ip Man 2. It revolved around the…read morelife of Ip Man, a grandmaster of the martial art "Wing Chun". The focus of this martial is simultaneous defense and offense. It accomplishes this by redirecting an opponent's attack and at the same time a quick blow that will end the figh quickly. I found the Wing Chun class on Google and I just started from their. A few days later, I found myself talking to the instructor, Mr. Jack Gallardo. I started by learning the forms and then doing it again and again. The logic to this is to perfect the movement and stance. Mr. Gallardo describes the forms as some sort of letters in the alphabet. When the forms are mastered, they can then be applied to form different sentences. Every session is tiring. We start with warm up exercises and the forms. We then move on to learning the basic stances and techniques. Sometimes, we have Chi Sao drills that are supposed to improve our sense of movement and response. The progress is slow because the disciplines need to be mastered before moving on to higher stages. The base needs to be firm my classmates would always say. After every session we have a burnout exercise that helps keep us fit and strong. After two months of Wing Chun classes, I still have a long way to go but I feel more alert and equipped whenever I'm in some potentially dangerous situations. Wing Chun is perfect for those who are looking for a self defense or those looking to expand their knowledge in different martial arts. It requires a lot of patience though, but it will all be worth it.

This art studio is located just in front of my building, so it was one of the first places I…read morevisited after moving to Manila. I was pregnant the first time I went there, so unfortunately most of their classes were prohibited for me, even with a doctor's statement - I understand them, though! The one I wanted to try was aerial silk...come on! Back to reality, please! After delivery, I've had a Stretch and Firm Fitness trial class and I really enjoyed it. I'm just trying to decide if I'll shift to another modality, like Contemporary Dance or Jazz. The teachers are enthusiastic and the place is nice. Actually, what I like about Jollijam - besides reminding me of Jollibee! - is that it's always full of kids and teens. I know, some people may hate it just because of this aspect. But it think it gives life to the place. It's funny to see little kids having ukulele classes or voice classes, anyway! Oh, there's also the Kung Fu group! That's the spirit. Jollijam mixes art, music, dance, fitness, martial arts...and FUN!

My daughter is entering school for the first time this school year as a Nursery II student. I was a…read morebit hesitant to start her off so early at 3 years old, but I was more concerned about developing her social skills so I started looking for schools. We've seen several great preschools in Paranaque and in Makati but this is really the one where we felt that it was a perfect match. First off, they had one of the longest trial classes. They offered it for a whole week and gave it another 2-week extension. In that time, my daughter go to know the teachers really well and started forming a bond with some of her "classmates". Second, the teachers are really caring. I sat in during the last day of her trial class and saw how responsive the head teacher was. They have a low student to teacher ratio 1:7 which is really ideal for kids this young. Third, I love that it's a real international school. They've had their preschool in the US for 10 years and have been voted as the best in the state. They've even started expanding to two other states. The Philippines is their first international location. Finally, they have a supplemental Headstart program to prepare the students for the start of the school year. The tuition fee is affordable for all that it offers. While they are relatively new here, their methods are already tried and tested. I recommend them for any parent with preschool-aged kids.

If ever my kid has trouble with understanding anything in school, I'll make sure to get them a spot…read moreat Tutoring Club. I should know about the quality of education and attention that the tutors give to the students here at Tutoring Club, since I used to also tutor here (so this review might actually be a bit partial towards them). The system in place at Tutoring Club first assesses the current skill level of the student, and then they customize a schedule that will bring the student up to the necessary skill level. They have work books and work sheets that will really test the thinking capabilities of the student. Tutoring Club offers its services for Math, Writing and Reading, but students can also avail of private tutoring called "Tutor Up". This is a more customized service that will really cater to the student's needs, whether it's with science homework or writing and essay for English class. Not only do they handle elementary and high school students, but during the summer, pre-school students also come in and are taught how to speak and read English, and also practice basic Mathematics. I really enjoyed my time tutoring at this place, because of the quality of service they give to the students. I'm sure that each branch will have their own specialty, but Tutoring Club Greenhills will always be the benchmark for quality tutors.

- A supportive community of educators and learners -Best to…read morestart from nursery -Supportive Teacher's - Committed in both academic & extra-curricular activities

I've always loved doodling and when I was in high school, it came to the point that my trigonometry…read moreteacher flunked me in one quarter because I kept doodling during her class. In an effort to holistic happiness, I decided I will take classes and exert effort in advancing my innate skills and passions, with one of them being writing. Like, physical writing. It was with this decision that I took the plunge and finally signed-up for basic calligraphy classes with Alessa Lanot of the arts, crafts, and lifestyle blog LifeAfterBreakfast. Her teaching approach was simple, straightforward and quite easy to understand. After going through the basics, she had us all take a whip at it and went around to fine-tune our form and give us pointers individually. She answered our questions, guided us, changed our hands' positions, and was very accommodating throughout the class. I believe natural talent and practice has a lot to do with being successful at something, and I'm grateful I have started getting commissions for calligraphy work. But I must say that I don't think I would have been able to accomplish this much in a short span of time if I hadn't been taught the basics well by no other than Alessa Lanot.