Ah, Southville. Thine Alma Mater. How can I forget the pains of wearing a skirt made of Skittles…read morewhen going to Town? Or your funny little boys dressed to look like eggplants everyday of the week? I remember your little implementation of English Only Policy. We were never inclined to always speak in English. We know how of course, quite well too. We just didn't think it necessary to have to speak it ALL the time. It seemed weird. These days, I find myself wanting to smack kids upside the head for trying to speak too much English. Their tinny, high, nasal exclamations full of Gods and Yaaaas don't help either. I control my demeanor and appease my inner grammar Nazi with calm words to keep from commiting genocide. *Impure! Impure!*

We all dream of studying at Hogwarts, but do you know there are some of us who get lucky? Every…read moreyear, the Philippine High School for the Arts, the so-called "Hogwarts of the Philippines", opens its doors to around 40 students who are gifted in the arts (that's like saying "imbued with magical powers", right?) Those who are chosen via the school's Annual Nationwide Search for Young Arts Scholars will get to study in a boarding school up Mount Makiling (home of the goddess Maria, yes) on a full government scholarship! Students there take up a double curricula that combines regular high school subjects like English, Math, Filipino, and Science; with advanced training in their art field of choice: dance (folk dance and ballet), theater arts, music (voice and instrument), visual arts, and creative writing. But much like the students of Hogwarts, it's not all work for the school's scholars. They get to have fun, too! (I should know. My sister and I both graduated from there.) The nationwide search usually begins in September and end in December. Head to the school's website for more information.

Quality Education. The kids here are all very nice, they have zero tolerance in bullying, they keep…read moretheir classes small so the teachers can focus on each child. Also 4 year olds here can read

It is a mystery who the Board of Directors are, and how the resources, and schools integrity to…read moreMontessori method are being handled. 1. The head of the school, Stella Alcantara berated a classroom full of children on their performance. 2. The head of the school, Stella Alcantara had a hole knocked into the boarder wall of AAV and Palms Village (a lesser secure village) so she would not have to commute and could walk thru the hole in the wall. Despite the fact they have 8 security layers for parents to enter, and keep others out. Moreover, she had children garden over in the other lesser secure village. 3. Ms. Alcantara required Casa students to stay behind unless they pay 35k summer program. So, now the system failed itself or this is what they call a RACKET. 4. The administration complained that they needed another layer of security as parents dropping off lunches was too taxing to deal with. I personally put into question if all this security is really to keep parents out so whatever in the name of Christ is going on, will not be discovered. i.e., the hole in the wall. Also, at what risk are they putting our children to random folks in the lesser secure village with open access? They sweep under the rug and give excuses for anything that is "off." This is is a shame lousy corrupt leaders are in the only alternative village school, they need a clean sweep of the ghetto administrative leadership--or revoke the rights to the land. Someone needs to look at their books as well, b/c corruption is not the "Montessori way." For the love of Pete someone show Stella Alcantara her way back to her village and lock the gate behind!

"Work is its own reward." Maria Montessori Foundation is a…read morea school that applies the methodologies of teaching and philosophies of Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator. The teaching method helps promote independence in both action and thinking for children of all ages. They use teaching materials and toys that help the child develop not only mental but tactile and physical skills as well. From personal experience, the classes were small and the teacher to student ratio was not a lot which meant that the student gets careful attention from the teacher and the learning experience is not only personal but also well-monitored. The campus is very safe with lots of recreational facilities like a sports gymnasium, football field, play grounds, and comfortable classrooms with teaching materials. I had a wonderful time studying there and although sometimes rigorous, the program up to high school helped me a lot when I went to study at University abroad! I still remember my lessons and even teachers who taught me and helped mold me into who I am today. Given the chance, I would most definitely school my future children in a Montessori method education and most positively recommend it to any parent looking for a school for their children!

More than half of my life was spent in this school--kindergarten, grade school, and high school…read more While I pretty much dropped the whole Catholic institution as soon as I graduated, I look back on the rest of my education with gratefulness, sentimentality, and affection. What distinguishes St. Paul from other schools is its determination to bring up well-rounded girls. Yes, the importance of academics is highlighted, but in all my years there, our teachers and headmistresses never failed to remind us that art and culture are important too. Off-campus broadway shows and other cultural immersions were the norm, and in retrospect we were so fortunate to have been exposed to those things growing up. Music appreciation is also incredibly prevalent in the school. While other schools have one alma mater song, we had AT LEAST five. That's not including Marian songs we'd sing all throughout the month of October. Often, the morning rites included a religious song taught to us by experienced music teachers who had so much passion for teaching their chosen subject. Having been part of the choir for three years in high school, I had the pleasure of being under the tutelage of conductress Mrs, Sheila Fetalvero. Fondly called Mommy B, she was the mother hen to the MAC (Music Appreciaton Club) Choir. The club is called differently now, but in many choral and glee club circles, it's so prominent that it's still referred to as MAC to this day. St. Paul may not agree with all my religious beliefs, but it was an excellent place to grow up. I would be happy to send my own children there.

I am a pre-school, grade school, and high school graduate of this school and I've seen it grow and…read morechange over the years the same time as I have. This school boasts for a lot of things, it has great facilities, great programs both academic and extra-curricular, and has an advanced curriculum compared to other schools. It's also internationally accredited by WASC or the Western Accreditation for Schools and Colleges and has continuously received only the top honors from PAASCU. Everything about this place claims excellence but from experience I've seen it's mostly just talk. The facilities here are great and the extra curricular program is top notch but it's the academic offerings that have caused trouble now that I'm in college. Frankly the whole "advanced" curriculum did nothing to help my friends and I in college, it did nothing to boost the number of passers into different colleges and did nothing to help us get higher grades either. The advancement certainly did not deliver the results we were all expecting. But aside from that the teachers and staff at this school are great and really good at what they do.

A Lifelong Foundation of Excellence at the FIRST Montessori school in Las Piñas City: Our Lady of…read morePilar Montessori Center As a lifelong student of OLPMC, having attended from 1994 all the way through 4th Year High School (graduating around 2007. 13 years of my life!), I can wholeheartedly attest to the exceptional education and nurturing environment this school provides. My journey at OLPMC shaped me in countless positive ways; it truly made me who I am today. From the very beginning in the Montessori Casa program, their individualized approach and hands-on learning ignited my genuine curiosity and love for exploration. My dedicated teachers in those early years fostered my independence and a strong sense of self. This foundation continued to build throughout my elementary years, where the Montessori method encouraged my critical thinking and a deeper understanding of concepts, rather than just memorization. Moving into the high school years, OLPMC maintained its commitment to academic excellence while also fostering a supportive community. I particularly appreciated all the fun and unforgettable programs and the engaging Science classes in our laboratory. My teachers, were not only knowledgeable but also genuinely invested in our success. They created a learning environment where questions were encouraged and individual growth was nurtured. Beyond academics, OLPMC offered opportunities for holistic development. I remember participating in activities like sabayang pagbigkas, doxology, cheering, dancing, art contest, LAPPRISA, and always being part of our annual school play which helped me develop my confidence, public speaking skills and teamwork abilities. This school also instilled important values such as respect, responsibility, and a strong sense of community. Having spent my entire academic life at OLPMC, I witnessed firsthand the school's consistent dedication to providing quality education and a caring atmosphere. It truly felt like a second home, and the friendships and lessons I learned there have stayed with me long after graduation. I worked at WellsFargo, and now as a QA Officer for one of the best non-bank lenders in Australia: Pepper Money, and I owe a significant part of my success to the strong foundation laid by my parents, my dedicated teachers, and the education I received at OLPMC. It's not just me; many of my batchmates have gone on to achieve great things. They are now successful professionals, including international flight attendants, doctors at Asian Hospital, accomplished businessmen/owners, talented musician, magazine chief editor, book author, respected lawyers, journalists, event host, art director and passionate teachers. Many have also built successful lives and careers abroad. My own family is a testament to the quality of education at OLPMC, as all four of us (me and my 3 brothers) are graduates of this institution, with one of my brothers now working as a successful electrical engineer in Singapore. The school uniform, teachers, facilities have changed but my belief in their early years program was the same. It was strong that I enrolled my son in Casa. Despite his time being shortened by the pandemic, his experience was incredibly positive. We witnessed firsthand the continued excellence of their Montessori approach: patient, nurturing teachers in a stimulating environment fostered his development and love for learning through individualized attention. This positive experience as a parent has only solidified my deep trust in the strong foundation OLPMC provides. For parents in Las Piñas looking for a school that provides a strong Montessori foundation in the early years and continues to offer excellent academic and personal development, I wholeheartedly recommend OLPMC. It's more than just a school; it's a community that fosters lifelong learning and growth, and it truly prepares you for a successful future - a legacy I'm now seeing continue with my own child.

Ahh college. I don't…read moremean to be in any way biased but I won't be able to help it since I will be talking about my Alma Mater, the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. Now I wouldn't be able to tell you every single detail of my student life here, because that would be too long and baby's got to catch some sleep. Anyway, I took Consular and Diplomatic Affairs here and I have loved every waking moment of it--from the General Education courses to the major ones, to Model United Nations programs to the Model United Nations simulations, to the long breaks spent in the cafeteria, to the fact that I have slept countless times in the library (if you spent the whole night reading 50 pages, you will surely need to catch on some zzz anytime during the day). If you are looking to study here, the best courses to try are: 1. Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management 2. Consular and Diplomatic Affairs, of course 3. Fashion Design 4. Multimedia Arts See you, future Benildean!

I've been many a time to CSB when my friend used to work back in SDA and when I studied under the…read moreFilipino Sign Language extension program before. Security is hella tight, understandably, but once you've gotten past the hi-tech turnstiles, inside it's a pretty humble affair. It's a lot of white paint and concrete, which can feel a little cold and sterile, but they manage to make it feel pretty airy and open, which is important since the smog of Taft Ave. lies just outside of it. They could probably do with a little more foliage though. I can't say much about them, but the facilities look excellent. Coming from a humbler university, one can just be thankful sometimes for working air conditioning and a clean, well-kept bathroom. That the floors don't all necessarily match between buildings is confusing but amusing at the same time. The cafeteria's ceiling is a little low, but I do appreciate that they promote self-bussing and have water fountains all over the place. Then again, the people here have so many options to eat outside anyway. I'm surprised that for a school with quite expensive education, the main campus itself is pretty simple and modest (the SDA is another story entirely though, and while I haven't been to it, I'm sure the CSB Hotel and SHRIM campus would be a little more glittery).

I've got to be honest. I ended up in this school prior to transferring to Ateneo simply because I…read moredidn't do well in high school. There's no other reason or nobody else to blame for this scenario. While I'm so thrilled that I graduated from Ateneo, that's not to discredit UA&P in any way. It just wasn't for me. I had some good times here. It's small and compact so much so that you can tour the entire campus in a matter of an hour or two. The cafeteria is decent and the classes are engaging enough. The highlight of my time here was being a part of the track team. Good choice if you're on the lookout for a smaller campus.