ONLY WHEN

…the Filipino educators in Thailand heed the call of COMMITMENT

enable us to move forward in truly realizing our goal to establish a federation of Filipino educators in Thailand. Once and for all to dispel the doubts of our intention in building this strong community, we opted to reach out to our co-Filipino teachers at the grassroots levels through a series of conferences and meet ups, and by utilizing a varied system dissemination and gathering of information. On February 23, 2008, the very first Filipino educators’ conference was held in Chiangmai and was attended by a few yet concerned teachers from Chiangrai, Chiangmai and Bangkok. Such desire came from the principle of life that by doing rather than by merely talking about an idea makes the difference. Thus the Second Filipino Educators’ Conference on March 16, 2008 in Bangkok is about to kick off, thanks to the concerted effort of our fellow teachers who are sacrificing their time and resources in coming up with these fruitful activities.

The main reason of conducting these series of conferences is to gather much information that represents the general status of working and living conditions of Filipino educators all over Thailand. We don’t want to assume the conditions faced by the common instead we want to back our claims and resolutions with accuracy and truth. Thus we prepared a comprehensive survey questionnaire that gauges our needs, issues and resolutions. It also aims to identify potential leaders who can truly represent the voice of the mentors. Forming an organization is not an easy task. We believed that it should not be founded with indifference or hatred, and it should not be a hasty decision of a few but it should be founded from a natural process and unconditional commitment of the many. In achieving this, another survey questionnaire is planned to determine the sentiment of our fellow educators on the need for representation. We hope to transmit the impression to all Filipino educators in Thailand that we are doing this for all of us. We don’t have any interest in taking over other existing Filipino organizations in Thailand or in competing with them. We all want the same thing: to promote the welfare of our countrymen. Collaboration is what we need and not collateral damage.

Furthermore, the commitment to be one in time of needed cooperation in uplifting our competence as professional and skilled workers is something that every Filipino educator in Thailand should voluntarily impart to the cause. The commitment to open our mind and heart to the essential changes in helping the development of Thailand’s quality education is one of the priorities that will prepare the next ladder in making ourselves known as dedicated, desirable and delighted workforce. The good side of such commitment is that we can take it with us anywhere in the world.

ONLY WHEN

…the Filipino educators in Thailand exude the needed COURAGE

enable us to fortify our commitment in attaining our professional-related needs. The courage to accept constructive criticisms, share our success and failure stories, stand for what we believed in and allow ourselves for professional growth are probably the most important factors that affect the future status of Filipino educators living and working in Thailand.

Constructive criticisms are needed in the workplace. For instance, we Filipinos are known as hardworking individuals but sometimes we work hard that we forgot to be sensitive with the local dictates of Thai customs. We are appreciated of our efforts in doing more than what we are required to do but we should not brag about our efforts. These may not be true to all but the point is we need to be courageous enough to humble ourselves especially when we hear negative criticisms. Instead of counterattacking these “unwanted” criticisms, it is best that we should reflect on them.

Our inspiring or heartbreaking stories in the workplace are also pieces of information that needed to be shared so that others will become more aware. One of the problems that affect us so much in the workplace is lack of information. For instance, there are many incoming Filipino teachers who wish to work in Thailand who agree to a certain negotiation with their employers believing that such agreement is most probably legal or common. Only to find out that in the end, they are among those who are unfortunate. Recently, a Filipino teacher in Chiangrai told her sad story of receiving less than 15,000 Baht a month with no salary increment yet she is required to teach more than 20 hours a week and she provides for her teaching materials out from her pocket. She also agreed to pay for the processing of her own Non-B Visa and work permit just to get the job out of desperate needs. Such situation could have been avoided if she was equipped with the proper information and negotiation skills in availing for better employment terms. Moreover, to have the courage to say “NO” without necessarily being impolite when offered with a 15K job should something that we all need to learn to address. It is strongly advised that we should learn to sell our qualifications and experiences, and should not be satisfied with “because you are not a native speaker” cliché reasoning of some schools. Now, with the new requirements of undergoing a Thai culture training and professional education exam in the near future, one may wonder how she will afford to pay for the expensive training and examination. The good news is, just like the processing of your Non-B Visa and work permit, it is the school employer who should legally pay for these expensive training and examination. On the other hand, one Filipino teacher who just arrived in Bangkok to work ended up with a desirable contract for he was equipped with proper information; and thus he was ready to expect that “ins and outs” in working here.

The “15k” for qualified and experienced Filipino teachers should not be tolerated when negotiating with our expected salary. We should feature our abilities and skills as teachers, and what we could offer to the school in helping develop quality instruction in order to justify a much better remuneration and other benefits. When confronted with reasons of nationality and low-school budget, then as always, we should learn to approach them with good negotiation skills and with the confidence in pointing out the advantages of hiring us with more justified contract agreement based on our qualifications and experiences, and not by the color skin or accent. If the negotiation seems dim, learn to say “NO” in a positive way, and for sure there are schools in Thailand that offer more reasonable remuneration and benefits that need your qualifications and experiences. This is the only way to break the cycle of unfortunate labor situations.

Equally important, is when we also allow ourselves for professional growth in improving our classroom instruction, improving our English speaking skills and our professional relationship with the local community. We are also bound with the realities of life. We may not be able to change the color of our skin but we can learn how to “speak” the English language like them by gradually lessening the interference of our first language through practical ways like constantly talking to our “native” colleagues and friends. Better yet, attending a phonology class makes possible in achieving a near-native control of the English language. The point is, we Filipino teachers should help ourselves and the others in making our “weaknesses” become strengths. When we have the courage to speak out, accept constructive criticisms and change for work-related reasons only then could we truly enhance the impressions we are getting from the local community. It is heartwarming to know that many of us are doing something about these needs.

ONLY WHEN

…the Filipino educators in Thailand foster the cause with COMPETENCE

enable us to be in a better position to formally take part in helping solve some of the issues affecting foreign teaching in Thailand. We have many ideas and suggestions but first we need the blessings of the concerned government agencies in order that they will embrace our resolutions. We can achieve this by making ourselves professionally competent in our respective workplaces. As long as our schools listen to our ideas, implement these ideas; and when these ideas bear fruitful results, we already are helping the system. Hopefully, in the near future, they will allow us in tackling issues that directly affect our community. We should also continue abiding to our schools’ rules and regulations, and to Thai laws in order that they too continue to respect us. Let’s not forget that we should always be forever grateful in allowing us to work and live in this amazing neighbor of our country. We all hope for the good of all though sometimes we need to strive harder and reach for a higher goal to make our working and living conditions here in Thailand the best.

We are in a situation where we need to ask the government what we can do for the improvement of Thailand’s quality of education since we are already part of the community. Meanwhile, the best way in helping them is by making ourselves always prepared with their challenges and demands. For all we know, sooner or later, our Filipino community of teachers will be served with a better standard working and living conditions here in Thailand.

One can not stand alone. We need to be united in this crusade with full of good intentions. It is for this cause that we implore to all of our dear fellow Filipino educators throughout Thailand to join us in our journey in “empowering ourselves with renewed commitment, courage and competence.”

Abel Morales Cadias