Just sharing a part of me, originally posted at www.siampinoy.com!
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Forgive me for adding more posts to this thread.
Madam H wrote:
But hopefully, as people read more of Siam Pinoy, and the more they understand the true essence of what we try to accomplish here, they will also do their best to look inside a bit more and draw out more of the positive sides of their being, and share THAT with others.
I believe it is high time that our GUESTS and READERS should know HOW Siam Pinoy played a big role in what MANY foreign teachers especially Filipinos are enjoying today: AFFORDABLE THAI CULTURE TRAINING.
It was on January 2008 at Siam Pinoy Discussion Forums, February 2008 on the teacher workshop held in Chiangmai, and in February to March 2008 when many Filipino teachers we met and talked with expressed their concerns about the Training on Thai Culture. They, including me, were worried how the expensive training would affect the many Filipino teachers' financially. During those months, the Thai Culture training costs 4,500 - 10,000 Baht. We (the Filipino Educators Council) were in high hopes that there's a better way to negotiate an affordable training fee. The only problem was WHO to contact and HOW to approach the concerned people.
BTW, the Filipino Educators Council is the very first organization of Filipino teachers recognized by the Philippine Embassy. Even before its recognition, the council members provided series of trainings and workshops to Filipino teachers for FREE! We made the road where others thread to follow.
April 2008 came. It took us almost two weeks planning the best strategy in talking with the concerned Thai individuals. We started searching for the right agency to talk with about the training. Our work paid off for we were able to have a list of those who conduct the said training. While I was enjoying my stay at Madam H and Master J's place, I picked up my phone and called the Private School Teachers' Association of Thailand. I was able to talk to the President herself until we ( Madam H and I) made an appointment to meet her and the Thai Culture training course director on the next day.
To cut the story short, we were victorious for we were able to achieve our objective: an affordable Thai Culture Training. Not only that we were also able to establish the presence of Filipino teachers to them by telling them how humbly they ask for a special consideration. And so they felt the strong presence of thousands Filipino teachers!
The first Thai Culture training to more than 200 teachers marked a history:
- The first biggest gathering of Filipino teachers
- The first most affordable Thai Culture training that opened up the "competition" to those who conduct the said training; and
- The first CONCRETE resolution of a pressing problem among Filipino teachers by a group of independent Filipino teachers called The Filipino Educators Council
Siam Pinoy was used as an instrument to disseminate this good news to the community ( the threads are still found in the announcement and general discussion categories). And we were all and still lucky that Siam Pinoy is still up and going! Obviously, I always used the announcement thread...and so I guess I should place the laurel on top of my head and crown myself, Mr. Announcer of SP! 
When I was "invited" in to work with the Private School Teachers' Association of Thailand, I gave myself enough time to weigh my options: Should I choose a very comfortable living and working environment in a lovely town somewhere in the north of Thailand OR should I put myself to the challenge in living and working in Bangkok where I understand the opposite of what I was used to in my "hometown."
I chose the latter. I knew that if I could work with the "provider" of this very important requirement for foreign teachers, I could make things better...from designing the handbook to controlling the cost of this training.
And so here I am presently working with PSTAT. And you have no idea HOW difficult and stressful this job is: Imagine talking in front of 400 foreign teachers a month ( Filipinos included: FYI, 40-50% of participants in all trainings conducted is comprised of Filipino teachers) PLUS dealing with individual concerns related to their teacher licensing PLUS coping with both positive and negative feedback your get from them. And it's all good! I would be even more shocked if ALL expressed POSITIVE and INSPIRING remarks to what you have done. The facts of life won't diminish: You just can't please everybody, and out of jealousy some try to pull you down; others try to keep on pinning you down just to get back at you.
It's so easy to simply resign now and enjoy life just the way it was. But NOW I clearly understand that I should continue to hold on. There are many Filipino teachers out there who expressed support to what I contribute to the community. And this is a no VERBAL expression. Many are silent yet deep inside them they knew WHO IS WHO! And I intend to continue such contribution and nobody can stop me. After all, it is a job...and I dont' want to be jobless...who does? 
Detractors who want to see me feel sorry, bad, hurt and out of my present job will no way succeed. The most popular politicians in the world are, in fact, experiencing the worst. Moreover, even the holiest person in the world is being harshly criticized. What does that make me? An ordinary teacher who hails from the Cordillera region of the Philippines who basically has the same reason of being here along with the rest of thousands Filipino teachers: to help his/her own family back home.
But life must go on....an old Filipino adage states: OK LANG KUNG IKAW ANG NAGPAPALAMON SA AKIN. Simply translated contextually: IGNORE!
And it's OK to be repeatedly accused of being UNPROFESSIONAL by a few the same disgruntled individuals because life doesn't revolve around them.
The president of PSTAT promised just recently that she will continue to support of what I am good at, and she exclaimed that PSTAT will support the Filipino community in any terms. And so I kiddingly suggested of donating gifts to be raffled on the Christmas season here at Siam Pinoy and even at the gathering in the Philippine Embassy...and she was all promising to the idea!
None of this disclosure on my career will be worth talking about without Siam Pinoy...the Filipino Educators Council...and of course detractors included.
So, shall we continue pissing off each other? OR shall we rather as Madam H posed:
"turn your eye and your passion to something even more worthy of your ability to write in English well - writing articles that's worthy-of-someone's-time for the teachers who read Siam Pinoy."
I rest my case.
Have a nice Sunday people! 
Mr. Abel,
I believe that what you have done to a lot of us Filipinos was really great. I believe you deserve the recognition due to you. Your job is quite difficult to do and one must possess a great deal of courage, patience and interpersonal skills to do it. I say don't mind those detractors. We are not here to work for them rather we are here to work for ourselves. They must be thankful that they have someone like you who has the time and space to help them. What is more important that you did your job well and you have helped a lot of people. Keep up the good work my friend. I believe, Kindness begets kindness. Continue to share kindness. Someday it will return to you a million times better. I say I invite them to join me so that could have a peaceful life..
Who Wants to Join?
Who wants to join our quest for peace?
Who wants to row their boats down the river full of hope?
Who likes to imbibe The DEVINE SPARKs that never cease?
Then, who likes to share these with those who long hope?
Congratulations for a job well done.
Winston latanafrancia Soldevilla