The Filipino Educators Council in Thailand: sailing smoothly amidst the great waves

History proves that in order to establish a strong foundation of a notable cause all should partake in the arduous process of forming one. The Filipino Educators Council in Thailand is living proof of another significant history in the making.

In the early part of 2007, active online forumers at Siampinoy.com discussed issues related to foreign teaching in Thailand. These posters shared their teaching experiences, debated back and forth many unresolved concerns that affect the Filipino teaching community. Emotions ran high and not a few conflicts ensued in a desire to advance each one’s perspective. Many teachers realized that this cyber information tool was an effective medium of communication and ideas exchange, and for threshing out issues and articulating concerns; while others were slow to join the bandwagon of these exciting online discussions.

Toward December of the same year, active online forumers of SiamPinoy, headed by webmaster-couple Mr Jose Maria and Ms Hedda Joy Tan, the chairman of Filipinos and Friends in Chiangrai (FFC), Mr Abel Cadias, and the representative of the Association of Cordillerans in Thailand (ACT) Ms Lorna Coral, joined forces to produce a series of Filipino educators conferences all over Thailand. The purpose of organizing these conferences was to gather information on the needs, issues and resolutions of the Filipino educators. On 23 February 2008, the first Filipino Educators’ Conference was held in Anuban Chiangmai School in Chiangmai City; with the theme: “Empowering the Filipino educators in Thailand with renewed commitment, courage and competence”.

With the participation of some officers of the Association of Filipinos in Thailand – Northern Region Chapter (AFT-NRC), members of the FFC, some Siam Pinoy forumers and co-organizers of the conference, the couple Mr Anzel and Ms Gigi Narrido, the aims of conference was successfully achieved. On March 16, 2008, the second Filipino Educators’ Conference at Ruamrudee International School in Bangkok was held; this was attended by 40 teachers from 16 different International, government and private schools. Committed individuals like Ms Cecille Orquiola, Mr Rolly Obedencio, Mr Reuben Roy Budayao, Mr Jose Felipe Saraspe, Ms Sida Jarungjitpracharom, Mr Jesric Taquisio, Ms Teresita Zarate and many more pioneer educators and professionals in the country joined the cause for the empowerment of the Filipino educators in Thailand through professional development programs.

The Council will be adding more milestone activities which are the future Filipino educators’ conferences scheduled on April 13, 2008 with the ACT at the Philippine Embassy, and also on May 10, 2008 with the Federation of Boholanos and Friends in Thailand at St. Theresa Inti College in Bangkok. It is expected that more conferences will soon be organized wherever Filipino teachers in the Kingdom are located.

On March 17, 2008, the Mandate, Structure and Profile of the Filipino Educators Council in Thailand or FECT were drafted based on the data and input gathered from the participants of the first two conferences. Prior to the second Filipino educators’ conference, eight committed professional educators in Thailand were already brainstorming to design the philosophy and direction of the Council. It was determined that the primary aim of the Council is to provide professional development programs to advance Filipino educators in the state.

On March 19, 2008 a letter to the Philippine Ambassador to Thailand, with the final copy of the Council’s Mandate, Structure and Profile, was submitted for approval. Currently, the Federation of Filipino Educators Council is composed of eight Directors and six Internal and External Advisers. The Council aims to operate in affiliation with all existing Filipino organizations in the nation, recognizes and collaborates with international and local teacher organizations based in nation as well as overseas, and with the Philippine and Thai government agencies.

Please visit www.filipinoeducatorsinthailand.com  and www.siampinoy.com  for more information, announcements, updates and discussions.