Activities
As of 2008, the Theosophical Society in the Philippines is actively engaged in the following programs and activities, in addition to its usual work on studies among members, running a public library and bookshop, conducting regular lectures around the country:
- Theosophical Publishing House. It is one of the several English theosophical publishing houses. Among the major titles that it has released are Geoffrey Hodson's diary Light of the Sanctuary, The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett, chronological edition, and the Theosophical Encyclopedia.
- Philippine Theosophical Institute. Through this institute it has been conducting the Self-Transformation Seminar both within the Philippines and outside to a wide variety of audiences: schools, businesses, non-government organizations, government organizations, religious organizations and the general public. The institute also regularly runs courses and seminars on theosophy, meditation, spiritual life, Secret Doctrine, Bible analysis, and other related courses.
- Theosophical Order of Service. Revived in 1985, this branch of activity has been actively involved in community programs that seek to uplift the welfare of poor communities, including advocacy of vegetarianism and animal welfare. It had launched microfinance programs, community organizations, family education, scholarship programs, medical and dental missions, and the establishment of schools.
- Education. A total of five schools have been established by the Theosophical Society in the Philippines. The major one is the Golden Link College which offers preschool, elementary, high school and collegiate courses. It uses non-traditional approaches to education, such as not using grades, medals and honors as motivations for learning; not using fear or threat; not using competition and contest to bring out excellence in the students; giving major attention to character and personality development, based on the theosophical worldview.
- Magazines. The Philippine Theosophical Society has been publishing the Theosophical Digest since 1989 catering mainly to the public. It is presently being simultaneously printed in India for the Indian market as well as for overseas readers. In addition to this, it publishes the quarterly Peace Ideas containing condensed ideas on inner and social peace.
- Peace Work. The Philippine section is also actively involved in peace work in the Philippines, such as helping the Department of Education develop modules for peace education for elementary schools; conducting seminars and workshops in Mindanao among different ethnic and religious groups; conducting workshops on peace among military officers assigned in Mindanao where there is an ongoing armed conflict in certain areas.
- Environment. The TS in the Philippines founded the Green Earth Foundation in order to help promote awareness on our ecological responsibility. Although it is somewhat inactive, it has published a book Helping Save the Earth, cooperated with municipal governments on massive tree planting programs, and has purchased tracts of land for ecological programs.
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