2nd FILIPINO EDUCATORS’ CONFERENCE
“Empowering the Community of Filipino Educators in Thailand through Renewed Commitment, Courage and Competence”
March 16, 2008 / 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Ruamrudee International School, Bangkok, Thailand

SYNOPSIS

I. Goal and Objectives

The goal of the conference focused on the gathering of information on the needs, issues and resolutions of the Filipino teachers working in Bangkok and in nearby cities and provinces. The participants shared their views on labor concerns particularly on the discrimination faced by the Filipinos in looking for a job; others shared their teaching experiences and asked for pieces of advices; and some were simply delighted and inspired with the messages given by the resource speakers. The goal of the conference was successfully met.

Below were the objectives of the conference:

1. Discuss the pressing issues on employment and classroom instruction faced by Filipino educators in Bangkok and in nearby cities and provinces.
2. Come up with a resolution on the concerns and issues related to the foreign teaching industry.
3. Share effective teaching strategies and resources, desirable school management relations, and other valuable information to enhance the Filipino educators’ community.

The three objectives were satisfactorily achieved. All participants and facilitators expressed satisfaction of the activities in the conference.

II. Activities and Summary of Inputs

Participants: 30 teachers from Bangkok and from nearby cities and provinces.

Facilitators: 4 from Bangkok; 1 from Chiangmai; 1 from Chiangrai

Resource Speakers: 4

Activities:

A. Filling Up Survey Questionnaire on Needs, Issues and
Resolutions of Filipino Educators in Thailand

The tabulated data from the survey questionnaires is found in the Appendices.

B. Open Forum

The following highlights were based on the discussions of the participants and resource speakers:

1. That the unjust categorization of Filipino teachers based on the color of their skin and not on qualifications, skills and abilities is strongly condemned. The participants are encouraged and inspired to act on this issue by wisely marketing their strengths and abilities to the parents by inviting them to any activities at school that provide them the opportunity to discuss what accomplishments they made in the classroom.

2. That there are two possible solutions of the issue on the new MOE requirements in teacher licensing: first, that Filipino teachers including other foreign nationalities in their respective schools discuss the possibility of coming up with their own Training on Thai Culture with their employer in order to meet their needs and avoid paying the expensive fees; second, that the Filipino teachers need to get organized in order to discuss with the Ministry of Education through the Office of the Philippine Embassy – Thailand the possibility of implementing a more practical Training on Thai culture and in administering the professional education exam to Filipino teachers in Thailand.

3. That proper negotiation by appealing to the Thai employer’s emotion is a suggested alternative strategy to logic and reasoning in getting the job with satisfactory benefits.

4. That there is a need for professional development trainings on writing cover letters and resume, pronunciation, and personality development.

5. That the Filipinos’ positive attitude towards the teaching profession makes the Filipinos different from other foreign nationalities, and by doing so the Thai community soon realizes that the “what” and “how” to achieve quality teaching is more important than “who” is doing the teaching.

6. That there are many Thai and International labor laws that foreign teachers in Thailand should know about in order to protect themselves from irregularities.

7. That there are Filipino teachers in Thailand who are bombarded with many paperwork and series of evaluation while some are happy for the less paperwork and minimum supervision required of them by their schools.


III. Participants

A. Resource Speakers

Keynote Speech: ““Empowering the Community of Filipino Educators in Thailand through Renewed Commitment, Courage and Competence”
Speaker: Ms. Sue Misner
Curriculum and Professional Development Director
Ruamrudee International School, Bangkok

Ms. Sue Misner’s keynote speech made a comparison of the Filipino educators in Thailand’s quest for empowerment and the characters of the Wizard of OZ journey for personal changes. She pointed out that just like Dorothy, the lion, the tin man and the scarecrow, the Filipino educators have already IN them what they thought are lacking to make themselves better. She elucidated the need for self reflection, the courage to express ourselves, the development of our professional competence, and the commitment to the teaching profession despite of difficulties.

Inspirational Message
Speaker: Dr. Roy Krishnan
Author & International Speaker
Mission College

Dr. Roy Krishnan inspired all participants to focus on the positive attitude they have toward the teaching profession. He said that every teacher should always be reminded that whatever they do at school must be motivated with the idea that even just ONE student who was touched by one’s positive attitude of the teacher brings change in the long run. He further explained that the teacher’s focus should be toward his/her students no matter how the community thinks of him/her as a teacher.

He encouraged the participants to be more focused on his/her desire to help his/her students learn and not to the following reasons for teacher burnout:

1. Interpersonal conflicts
2. No appreciation and recognition
3. Unrealistic expectations
4. Sense of being insignificant

B. Open Forum Resource Speakers

Mr. Lars Pinnerup
Graduate School Student
Chulalongkorn University

Mr. Lars Pinnerup brought a lot of information on labor rights and laws to the conference. He explained that discrimination in the foreign teaching job does exist in Thailand. To name a few, he also revealed that the teaching profession by law is a permanent position and should not be in a contractual basis. Mr. Pinnerup encourages the Filipino teachers in Thailand to organize so that they can be heard of. However, he warned that choosing the right people in directing the organization is also very crucial. Finally, he expressed his sincere admiration to the Filipino community in coming up with conferences such as this.

Mr. Rolly Obedencio
ESL Instructor (Conference Organizer)
Assumption College – Thonburi

Mr. Rolly Obedencio gave a piece of advice to the participants that with good negotiating skills, a Filipino teacher can find his way out of the myriad problems affecting his/her employment. He also said that by nature, Thai people are kind-hearted and easy to negotiate with, one just need to have the courage to express his/her opinion or thoughts so that the Thai employers will understand your personal concerns.


Ms. Hedda Joy Tan
ES Teacher (Conference Organizer)
Ruamrudee International School

Ms. Hedda Tan, finally, challenge the participants to commit themselves on the achieving the vision of empowering the Filipino community through renewed commitment, courage and competence by actively participating to any professional development activities. She also encouraged the teachers in coming up with activities that wil “market” their strengths as an individual teacher.


C. Teacher Testimonials

Ms. Annabelle Rosario
K.S.P. – Nontaburi

Ms. Annabelle Rosario dislcosed that her school is maintaining until now the categorization of Foreign teachers based on their color and those who wish to work in their school are still guided by it despite the dialogues they had with their employer. She explained that this treatment towards foreign teaching is difficult to change and that it will take a lot of time for the schools, even for some Christian school, to realize that such attitude towards foreign teachers especially to the Filipinos is indeed a form of discrimination.

Mr. Jesric Taquiso
DMJ – Bangkok

Mr. Jesric Taquiso revealed that his experiences in teaching with foreign teachers proved to be an easy task. He said that he didn’t find any work-related problems when working with the “farangs.” Meanwhile, throughout his teaching experience in Thailand, it is his Thai colleagues that are difficult to deal with. Though, realizing that he is teaching in their country, he still continues to point out their errors especially when it comes to the point of questioning his abilities as a teacher. He advised all Filipino teachers to keep their own records of everything they do at school as these will be their bases of pointing out the “mistakes” of their Thai colleagues.

Ms. Theresa Mendoza
STS – Songkla

Ms. Theresa Mendoza was very enthusiastic in sharing her teaching experiences as a Science teacher. She was told that in Thailand being ugly and dark couldn’t easily get a job. Though she disclosed that she experienced such comments, she remained focus on her goals. Despite of her humble regard to herself, she was happy to inform the participants that her students are learning a lot from her outdoor and laboratory activities though such activities are very common in the Philippines. She further told her story of always being asked to make teaching demonstrations in school, and the regular evaluation she is getting almost every week unlike the “farang” teachers who are not bothered with a lot of presence of Thai supervisors or colleagues in school. Her self-pity and worries were discouraged as other neophyte Filipino teachers boosted her morale and encouraged her to be proud and confident of herself because she was given more attention that any other foreign teachers in her school.

IV. Recommendations

The participants recommend the following:

1. To conduct professional trainings and workshops on business correspondence, self-esteem and confidence, and the like.

2. To start the core group that represents the Filipino educators in Thailand in order to be heard.

(Please visit www.filipinoeducatorsinthailand.com  and/or www.siampinoy.com  for sample survey questionnaires and photos)


Prepared by:

Abel M. Cadias
Organizer

Noted:

Hedda Tan
Organizer

Rolly Obedencio
Organizer

Jose Tan
Organizer

Ces Orquolla
Organizer