Our Story
In 2017, Joei Villarama, the founder of Abot Tala, embarked on a three-month road trip across the US with her family, visiting alternative schools and self-directed learning centers.
During her journey, it was North Star that resonated most with her, as it offered teenagers freedom and control over their lives. Joei later invited North Star co-founder Ken Danford to help start Abot Tala in the Philippines.
Eventually, Joei met Owie dela Cruz in 2018, and they bonded over their shared vision of pioneering self-directed and interest-led learning in the Philippines. That same year, Ken Danford visited Manila to help launch Abot Tala.
On April 1, 2019 — Abot Tala was officially launched for teens 12-16-years old, with its first classes being held at Commune Cafe in Makati. One month later, the Abot Tala Center also opened in Taguig, giving teens a beautiful space to attend classes and participate in activities. Abot Tala Junior (for ages 8-11), an exclusive program for the younger siblings of members, was also piloted that same year.
Just before Abot Tala's first birthday, the pandemic and national lockdown hit in March 2020. Abot Tala had to stop physical classes at our center and transition online. Amazingly enough, this move extended its reach to teens all across Metro Manila and the Philippines. A year after the transition online, the Launchpad program for older teens (ages 17-22) was developed, Abot Tala Junior was re-launched online, and Abot Tala Radio went on air.
Come 2022, Abot Tala continues to grow and provide teens with a safe space online. The Launchpad program was merged with Abot Tala High, and Abot Tala Plus classes were introduced for non-members of all ages. Later that year, The Great Big Outdoor Meet-Up took place at UP Diliman, marking the first in-person gathering after two years of exclusively online classes and gatherings. In April, Abot Tala got to celebrate its third birthday with a face-to-face event at Saddleback Church in Nuvali, making it the first-ever IRL (In Real Life) community birthday celebration.
Post-lockdown, many of our first members have either gone to college to pursue passions, or started work as business owners, professionals in their fields, or freelancers. Our journey is yet to be concluded, and we are excited to continue reaching more teens for years to come!
Guiding Principles
Freedom
We believe that teens should have the freedom to choose the classes that fit their interests, goals, and passions. We provide support and opportunities for teens to follow their curiosity and navigate challenges that may come along the way. When a new member arrives at Abot Tala, we ask them, “If you could learn and explore anything you want, what would that be?” We then guide them in creating their own curriculum based on their interests.
Curiosity, choice, creativity, critical thinking, connection, respect, and real-world experiences are essential for learning. These are what we do best to develop in the members of Abot Tala, so that they may be empowered to develop their own learning plans and life skills.
Responsibility
We want teens to take responsibility for their learning journey. We encourage our members to be self-motivated, self-disciplined, and to understand that learning is its own reward. A teen bribed with external motivators or commanded to complete tasks often has only two choices: obey authority and succeed, or follow their own motivation and fail within that environment. But at Abot Tala, we provide an environment where self-motivation and self-discipline can be developed and exercised. Many projects undertaken at Abot Tala are collaborative, and teens hold each other accountable for their actions.
To encourage teens to take responsibility, adult mentors at Abot Tala are considered their equals but not their peers, meet with them regularly to assist them in examining their goals, and show them how to make adjustments in their schedules, as needed.
Respect
In our community, we do our best to show each other respect and empathy. Rather than impose authoritative academic standards on members of the community, we respect teens and their families as they develop their own educational standards and we do our best to assist them in this.
Teens and staff support each other, challenge each other, and critique each others’ work. Teens are actively involved in governing and regulating our community: they make decisions regarding community concerns, vote for classes, and even plan events. Teens are capable of leadership and autonomy, and we honor and respect that.
Staff & Board
Meet the dedicated team behind Abot Tala—mentors, educators, and visionaries who are passionate about guiding young people on their learning journeys. Our staff brings a wealth of experience in education, mentorship, and community-building, while our board provides strategic direction to keep Abot Tala thriving. Together, we create a supportive space where teens and young adults can explore, grow, and shape their futures.
Mentoring Staff
Owie Burns dela Cruz
Executive Director, Abot Tala High Director
Owie is a passionate advocate for Interest-Led and Self-Directed Learning. A homeschooler since 2011, she later embraced unschooling and has taught communication and collaboration to homeschooled teens. She’s been CEO of School in a Backpack, Managing Editor of The Word 4U Today, and a speaker on alternative education. With experience as an events host, voice talent, and scriptwriter, her true passion is helping young people discover their unique superpowers. At Abot Tala, she’s known as 'Tita Owie'—always ready to cheer on, support, and guide teens toward their goals.
Michellan Alagao
Launchpad DIrector
Tita Mich has a degree in Criminology and Psychology from the London Metropolitan University, and an MFA in Creative Writing from DLSU-Manila. She co-founded mojo creatives manila, a creative collective. She is a writer, editor, mentor for young people who want to get into writing and publishing, wife, and mom. She de-stresses by watching K-Dramas and listening to podcasts while knitting.
Diane Gabriel
Parent Coordinator
Diane Gabriel is a homeschooling mom of 3 boys and wife to the Muffin Man. Her college days were filled with music and art as a choir member of the UP Vocal Ensemble and as a student of the UP College of Fine Arts. Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Visual Communication, she worked for 5 years as an art director in a top advertising agency, working behind-the-scenes alongside writers, directors, photographers, and other artists. As a stay-at-home mom, after discovering that her sons were on the autism spectrum, she has embraced the unique and challenging but wonderful world of neurodiversity with the pursuit of child-led learning.
Board of Directors
Owie Burns dela Cruz
Owie is the co-founder and vision keeper of Abot Tala, having been part of its journey since its conception in 2018 and official launch in 2019. She serves as the bridge between the community and the board of directors, guiding Abot Tala with heart and purpose. Outside of Abot Tala, Owie works as the Partnerships Manager for a global streaming platform, bringing her expertise in collaboration and community-building into everything she does.
Michellan Sarile-Alagao
Mich Alagao has been with Abot Tala since day one, serving as a trusted consultant on mental health and well-being. A passionate mental health advocate, she consistently champions the principle that everything we do must be in the best interest of the child. Her guidance helps ensure that Abot Tala remains a safe, supportive, and nurturing space for all.
Joyce Buen
Joyce Buen is an Art Management graduate, radio DJ, voice-over artist, theater performer, and director. Her theatre life started doing musicals with fellow homeschoolers. A member of the Ateneo Blue Repertory for the past 5 years, she has also worked outside the country with Curtain Raiser Entertainment in Malta, Europe. When she is not busy in the theatre, she is probably at the recording studio, radio station, an art gallery, or just at home, cooking for her friends or hanging out with her cats.
Gayle Escueta
Gayle Escueta graduated with a degree in Family Life and Child Development from U.P. Diliman. She has over 20 years teaching experience, 7 years as a preschool teacher, and the rest of that homeschooling her children. She is currently taking up a graduate certificate course in Crisis and Trauma Management and also pursuing a diploma in Family studies, both under Alliance Graduate School. Gayle enjoys solitary walks, dancing, reading stories to her son, and being with her family. In her free time she either watches old movies with her daughter, or true crime documentaries with her husband.
Mikey Amistoso
Mikey is a musical composer/arranger. He is the main songwriter, producer, and frontman of the indie-rock band Ciudad, and the folk project Hannah + Gabi. He has also produced albums of indie bands and artists like Us-2 Evil-0, Monsterbot, The Strangeness, and Lili. Mikey is a renowned film scorer, having worked on musical scores of award-winning and critically-acclaimed films like Ang Nawawala, Harana, Saving Sally, Patintero, and Rakenrol. He has also made his mark in the advertising industry, having made jingles and commercial music for several brands.
Joei Villarama
Founder
As a university teacher in China, Joei saw how students were limited by the education system and was compelled to research alternative forms of education. This led her to start Hero’s Journey, an English immersion outdoor adventure camp for students from China. When she went back to Manila, she realized her dream of putting up an alternative to mainstream high school which is Abot Tala. During the pandemic, she co-founded Pathfinders, a micro-school for homeschoolers in Subic. Before her foray into education, she worked as a writer, urban planner, designer-architect, COS and EA, but her favorite work of all is walking in nature.
