It is a common mistake, even among Filipinos, to think that Metro Manila is a single city. It is actually a combination of sixteen cities, including Manila City. When people refer to Manila, this is what they mean. As such, this metropolis has developed into an Educational Hub, not just for the Philippines but also for the Southeast Asian Region and beyond.

This area contains numerous schools, to cater to the educational needs of the population. About ten percent of the Philippine population resides in this area. There are more than five hundred elementary schools, more than two hundred high schools, and nearly a hundred colleges, universities, and technical-vocational schools. This concentration has resulted in fierce competition between these various institutions for enrollees. A good result was that many of these educational institutions raised the bar of their standards high enough to merit international attention. As a result, they are now attracting students from outside the Philippines.

It is not just the density of scholastic institutions that have brought about these higher standards. Manila has always been the focal point of the desire and the dream of a better life. Culturally, a better life has been equated with attaining stellar, educational degrees, like masters and doctorates degrees. This is the influence of the nation’s Chinese ancestry. Many parents send their children to top schools, such as the University of the Philippines, De La Salle University, Ateneo De Manila, San Beda College, and many more.

Historically, because of the educational system introduced during the Spanish Colonial period in the Philippines, those who were well-educated were, most of the time, more successful. This was further fueled during the tenure of the Americans, who engendered more focus on Jose Rizal, one of the best educated Filipinos of the time, as a national hero. This belief has continued to the present day, where parents point to education as the inheritance that they can leave to their posterity.

There are still so-called “bad apples”. Schools that are diploma mills have sprouted in many places. They have become harder and harder to spot early on in the review process. These institutions unscrupulously take advantage of the prevalent poverty that many in the Philippines are suffering from daily. However, with careful study, they can still be identified and avoided by the wary student.

The Philippines did not suddenly become an educational hub. It has deep historical roots. The culture in this region has also supported this development. Comparatively speaking, the quality of education is on a par with excellent schools abroad, but at a more reasonable price. Food and Housing is cheaper than studying in a western country. These things have made the education system in the Philippines what it is today.

Mark Stevens is a writer for onlinerntobsndegrees.com, a site devoted to higher education for nursing enthusiasts and offers an online rn to bsn degree program.