Our Guiding Principles

Our Guiding Principles are outlined through our: Mission & Priorities, Beliefs, and Philosophy.

Our Mission & Priorities

IP students celebrating the Philippines together.

Iskwelahang Pilipino’s mission is to strengthen the Filipino-American children, families, and community throughout New England by celebrating the rich Philippine cultural heritage in a structured and nurturing environment.

As part of this mission, we seek to uphold the following priorities:

  • Develop in Filipino American children a strong positive ethnic identity and instill pride in the student’s cultural heritage.
  • Foster a sense of group ethnic awareness, promote friendships among the community, and encourage intergenerational connections.
  • Develop awareness of the choices possible for conducting one’s life through exposure and appreciation for varied cultures.
  • Develop a sense of community among Filipino American residents in the Greater Boston area through understanding and acknowledgment of their common cultural heritage.
  • Heighten the consciousness of New Englanders about the existence in their midst of an important Asian ethnic group. 
  • Serve the needs of a diverse constituency including immigrants, 2nd and 3rd generation Filipino Americans, adoptive families, and blended families.

Our Beliefs

  • Exploration and celebration of one’s cultural heritage instills a sense of ethnic pride and sensitivity to other cultures.
  • Cultural explanation should involve all the senses and incorporate movement, music, language, storytelling, and art.
  • Youth can develop lasting friendships and support systems through positive, shared experiences.
  • Families grow stronger when they actively and consistently participate in structured and productive activities together.
  • Parent reinforcement of IP lessons at home has a positive impact on a child’s cultural development.
  • Children grow up with a healthy sense of identity when they have the chance to learn about and appreciate their cultural background and heritage.
  • Communities become stronger as they work towards meaningful goals. 
  • Strengthening IP strengthens our larger community.
  • Our IP community includes students, parents, families, alumni, volunteers and supporters.
  • Filipino community politics and interpersonal conflicts should not be allowed to interfere with a student’s experience at IP.

Our Philosophy

Iskwelahang Pilipino parent participation at Lowell Folk Festival.
IP parents and alumni cooking pancit at our Lowell Folk Festival Food Booth.

We believe that an understanding, appreciation, and acceptance of one’s cultural background and heritage will help prevent an identity crisis in the future. Furthermore, involving children with their parents and peers during consistently structured and productive activities results in strengthened family bonding and long-lasting friendships. 

A driving force behind IP is Parent Participation, especially initiative and involvement. As a cornerstone of Iskwelahang Pilipino’s existence, we believe parental engagement should be strongly encouraged to continue. Parental support and reinforcement of our classroom lessons will help foster a strong and healthy relationship between a child and their cultural development.

Through our varied cultural offerings, students blossom and develop pride of their ethnicity. Many of our alumni remember their IP experiences fondly, and we are proud to provide our community reasons to celebrate and share their cultural. We also believe that developing strong connection with one’s culture helps develop sensitivity to and appreciation for other cultures.