The Saturday school program hopes to help the Filipino diaspora reconnect with their culture and history.
While some schools in the U.S. offer Filipino language as a class, The Filipino School is the first in the country to teach Filipino culture and history in addition to language.
![While some schools in the U.S. offer Filipino language as a class, The Filipino School is the first in the country to teach Filipino culture and history in addition to language.]()
The school opened its doors to students of all ages and cultural identifications on April 26 in San Diego, California.
The Filipino School / Via Deejay Viloria
The school's founder, Tony Olaes, told BuzzFeed Philippines the school was created to "bridge Filipinos in the Philippines with those in the diaspora through education."
![The school's founder, Tony Olaes, told BuzzFeed Philippines the school was created to "bridge Filipinos in the Philippines with those in the diaspora through education."]()
The large metal tree in the school is meant to represent the Filipino diaspora, said Olaes. The branches symbolize the different directions Filipinos have gone, but all come from the same root.
He added that a tribal chieftain from the Philippines told him it's important to remember, "a tree without its roots will never grow."
The Filipino School / Via Deejay Viloria
Olaes said he grew up not wanting to be Filipino. As the son of immigrant parents, he just wanted to assimilate with American culture. That changed after a trip to the Philippines.
![Olaes said he grew up not wanting to be Filipino. As the son of immigrant parents, he just wanted to assimilate with American culture. That changed after a trip to the Philippines.]()
"I walked into a squatter settlement, and I started talking with them," said Olaes. "At first, I thought they were going to steal from me or kidnap me, but they actually offered me something to eat, and these people don't have anything."
He found that the negative stereotypes he grew up believing about his own people and culture weren't true at all, he said. Now he wants to foster a similar awakening in other Filipinos outside of the motherland, especially for those in the diaspora who may have lost touch with their roots.
"I want other Filipinos to fall in love with the Philippines again, just as I did, through this school," said Olaes.
Adam Cohn / Via Flickr: adamcohn
"Our goal is to educate, awaken, and empower," executive director and co-founder Estela Matriano told BuzzFeed Philippines.
!["Our goal is to educate, awaken, and empower," executive director and co-founder Estela Matriano told BuzzFeed Philippines.]()
The school is divided into four levels — elementary, middle school, high school, and college and up — with classes tailored to enlighten a sense of national identity.
The Filipino School / Via Deejay Viloria
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