The Parents for Education Foundation, Inc. or PAREF, was incorporated in 1976 by a group of parents to address a common concern to give their students a complete human, professional, cultural, spiritual and physical formation in an atmosphere that inculcates in them freedom and responsibility. Convinced that parents are the first educators of their children and have the primary responsibility in this task. These parents formed a foundation whose objective is to pursue an educational system with the underlying philosophy that would promote and guarantee the integral education and proper upbringing of their children. PAREF establishes and promotes schools whose aim is to provide a balanced education by combining high academic standards with a special emphasis on the integration of academic and personal development of PAREF Schools' students. The first PAREF school for girls, Woodrose, was established in 1977 and was followed two years later by the Southridge School for Boys, both in the Alabang-Muntinlupa area. They have a full offering of primary and secondary levels i.e. Grade School to High School. Since that time several schools including preparatory schools have been inaugurated in the Metro Manila area. There is now also a girls' school and a boys' school in Cebu; and a boys' school in Iloilo. Outreach programs are an integral part of the program of all PAREF schools. In Southridge there is an afternoon program for the less privileged boys. Woodrose offers an adult education program on Saturdays. Moreover, Woodrose students actively work with the Bahay Kalinga in a specific project that the School has adopted. Parental collaboration, a must in the PAREF philosophy of education, is implemented through a series of periodic chats, of a mentor or confidante with the student, and also with his parents. Through these personal conversations, mentor and parents collaborate in the overall development of the child's growth and they assure greater harmony between the home and the school. To safeguard and promote the unity of the family and coherence in the educational thrust, courses on parenting and personal development are also offered for parents and teachers. Thus the educational program of the PAREF schools aims at the total integral development of the person through the practice of human and spiritual virtues. It provides intellectual and cultural formation through academic offerings, physical development through athletics and sports, social and human development through the practice of human virtues such as truthfulness, loyalty and concern for others. Spiritual formation is provided through religion classes and opportunities for practice in daily life.
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