What takes a teacher, an expat at that, to be a success in Thailand?
For Monalisa, founder of the 22-year-old Liza’s School of Languages in Nakhon Ratchasima, in the northeast of Thailand – it is not that plain and simple. She points to a serendipitous mix of reasons behind “success.”
For one, being married to a Thai is a definite advantage. “My husband (whom she met in the Philippines when they studied at the same university) helps me with the intricacies of Thai culture,” she said. “I learned a lot from him and this makes me suitably equipped to better understand and socially approach my students and their parents.” When asked how many students have enrolled in her school over the years, she said, “Probably by the thousands.”
Mona was also fortunate to experience extensive training from a well-known Catholic school in Korat (former name of Nakhon Ratchasima), where she first worked for 13 years. Coming from quite a different set of culture in Dumalag, Capiz in the Philippines, she was introduced to a new environment when she first set foot in Korat. “It was there that I gained exposure and understanding of the local culture and blossomed with inspiration,” she said. “It was there that I realized teaching was not simply the imparting of knowledge to students; it is an art – delicate and complex at the same time. Adjustments have to be made to best suit the student’s needs.”
Living in a foreign land is made a lot easier when you are surrounded by things similar to what you have at home. But still, there would always be things you’ll miss. Our guess is, Pinoy food would come up on top of your ‘things missed’ list. Don’t fret however, because the next time you crave for mom’s or grandmom’s cooking from back home, you can pay the New Mabuhay Restaurant in Phetburi Soi 19 a visit. There, you’ll enjoy the company of kababayans (fellow Filipininos) and enjoy the wide array of Pinoy dishes. This writer’s best picks would be the “bulalo” (beef stew) and the “crispy pata” (deep fried pork knuckle).
Here’s Siam Pinoy’s interview with the New Mabuhay owner, Romy Polito.
Q: When did Mabuhay start?
A: It’s an MBA, meaning, ‘Mabuhay by Accident’. In July 2003, we had many customers for our cargo business. They requested Delia, my wife, to cook Filipino dishes for them. They were simple dishes; ‘daing na bangus’ (dried milk fish), ‘sinigang na hipon’ (shrimp soup similar to the Thai tom yum). So weekly, we would go to the market, buy the ingredients and cook to satisfy our customers.
Later on, we thought, why don’t we just start a small restaurant?
So we did, starting with ‘pinakbet’ (mixed vegetable with pork), ‘adobo’ (chicken or pork dish cooked in vinegar; very popular with the Thais and farangs), ‘paksiw na isda’ (fish cooked in vinegar), ‘pusit’ (squid), and other dishes that are easy to cook and prepare.
Then later, the requests from customers got more complex. They wanted ‘bulalo’ (beef stew) and ‘crispy pata’ (deep fried pork knuckle). We took Delia’s brother from the Philippines, who had been a cook for 30 years then, to join us here since he knew how to cook those dishes requested by our customers.
I did not even know what ‘bulalo’ was. I only found out what kind of dish it is here in Bangkok!
Q: Why the name “Mabuhay”?
A: I believe in names; I believe it plays a part in one’s destiny. ‘Mabuhay’ is inspired by our Philippine Airlines’ official in-flight magazine. It is also our Filipino word for “Long Live”! Here at Mabuhay, we want everything ‘buhay palagi’ (always alive)!
Q: What are some of the favorite dishes ordered by regulars?
A: The ‘crispy pata’ and ‘bulalo’. Our beef for the ‘bulalo’ is certified organic. Unlike other beef that’s available in the market, ours come from a seller certified by an internationally qualified body that sells beef that has not been injected by antibiotics or any form of chemical agent. And we do our marketing at midnight, to assure that we get the first pick, because that’s when the meat is fresh!
‘Crispy pata’ in the Philippines costs as much as 600 pesos now. Ours, we keep only around 300baht, and people are assured it tastes good because we put our own special spices and we have our own way to make sure it’s crisp and sweet-smelling, which is quite hard to do if you only cook it at home.
Q: Who are some special and/or famous people who have visited Mabuhay?
A: We’ve had celebrities like Nino Muhlach, and several politicians from the Philippines. They (the latter) make Mabuhay sort of their coffee place. We’ve also been visited by a CNN correspondent who was looking for some exotic dishes. He paid to have many of our dishes cooked so he can photograph them for an article in CNN!
Q: How has the New Mabuhay expanded from the simple restaurant it was when it started?
A : Now we have customers who ask us to cater for big events like weddings, birthdays and parties. There are also large groups who choose to do their events right here. We moved our karaoke system upstairs so they can sing until late at night if they wish to.
When it comes to handicrafts, textiles and garments, jewelry, art and antiques, Bangkok will never fail to make it to any shopping guru’s top five list. And so, in order to assist those who have money to spend on their trip to the Land of Smiles, we have our own top five must-shop-in places to assist your appetite for shopping.
These places were chosen for those who are looking for ‘something Thai’ to take on their way back home. We steered away from the upscale shopping centers, so you go home with tons of artistically made products to show your friends back home, without you ending up spending half of your life savings away!
CHATUCHAK WEEKEND MARKET
Number 1, of course, is the Chatuchak Weekend Market, which is most convenient to get to from the Morchit Sky Train station, and two subway stations, Chatuchak Park and Kamphaeng Phet . This is said to be Asia’s biggest outdoor market, and by that, you expect to get lost in here; the biggest and the best place in Bangkok to look for just about anything, with market stalls that spread over 35 acres (14 hectares) of Bangkok’s inner northern suburbs.
Chatuchak is yours to enjoy only on weekends. The best time to go there is Saturday early morning, around 8ish. This should give you plenty of time to roam around, when it is not yet unbearably hot, and when there are not that many shoppers yet. We recommend you do not go there anymore, if your only time left is late afternoon on a Sunday, unless you are prepared to just about take off your clothes under the heat, and to get squashed between so many other shopping bodies, trying their best at last minute shopping.
To make the most of your time, list down your top five items of must-sees. It’s best also, if you bring along a picture of those very items to show to sellers as you try to find your way around. Since not everyone speaks English in Thailand, the pictures will save you your breath and your time, trying your darnedest to explain to everyone in your best English what it is you are looking for.
And when it gets too hot outside, you can always traipse down to JJ (Jatujak/Chatuchak) Mall, where you can find some items on sale in an air conditioned, and less crowded shopping environment. Just be prepared to pay a bit more though.
Many orchid lovers from all over visit Chatuchak for its wide selection of Thailand orchids. And to assist shoppers who buy in bulk, they have stores that readily give out certificates/documents so you won’t have any problems at the airport when you fly out with your choice orchids.
And for those buying furniture and other big items, there are numerous forwarding companies such as DHL, on the ready to ship the center table you fell in love with while shopping your way in Bangkok.
A lifesaver when you are out in the middle of Thailand’s shopping jungle: a bottle of water. Never forget to always have one at hand. During the hottest season in Bangkok, which is from February to April, temperatures can get to as much as 35degrees centigrade. For comfort, dress in shorts, or other light clothing. You might want to throw in some sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and flip flops as well.
The annual Award is given to outstanding migrant Filipino workers in Thailand in recognition of their: 1) outstanding professional and personal achievements that give honor to the Filipino people and country; 2) unstinting dedication and commitment in service of humanity, especially the less privileged and marginalized segments of Thai society; 3) distinguished contributions in fostering closer relationship between Filipino and Thai individuals, groups and societies at large; and 4) exemplary life integrating their faith with their personal life, profession and service according to Gospel truths. In essence, these are outstanding individuals who have made a significant difference in the lives of others.
Instituted in 2009, the first recipient was Dr. Dominica P. Garcia who distinguished herself in helping the poor, refugees, prisoners and other less privileged people in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos through her medical profession and altruistic service.
1. Selection Criteria
The proposed ten (10) criteria consist of three clusters, namely: 1) demographic profile, 2) character and qualities, and 3) achievements.
1. Demographic Profile
a. Filipino migrant worker (This criterion includes existing Filipino migrant workers and Filipinos married to non-Filipinos and are now living or working in Thailand)
b. Filipino citizen/nationality (This criterion covers Filipinos working and living in Thailand who have changed their citizenship by virtue of marriage, etc.)
It has been a while that Siam Pinoy has featured another great Khun Pinoy. This time around, it was in Chiang Mai that we found somebody whom every Pinoy in Thailand should know of. And this is none other than Kabayan Roxanne Oddie – a leader, a humanitarian, a Pinoy who does not wish to call attention on to herself, but would rather recognize those who, along with her, champion the cause and serve the needs of the Filipino community in the north.
Siam Pinoy interviews Roxanne Oddie, President of AFT-NRC (Association of Filipinos in Thailand – Northern Region Chapter).
SP: From our meetings with some of the members, it seems the community is a mix of people from different fields and profession. How would you describe the Filipino community in Chiang Mai?
Roxanne Oddie: The Filipinos in Chiang Mai are mostly teachers and/or missionaries, a few employees in the entertainment and design/graphic works, and several Filipinas married to Thais and running family businesses. The age range is from mid-20’s to 60’s, and there are informal “sub-groups” resulting from church affiliations. Just like most Filipinos in Bangkok and elsewhere in Thailand, we Filipinos in Chiang Mai and other nearby provinces also meet in June (Independence Day Celebration) and December (year-end party). There was a Filipino restaurant serving the Filipino community here in Chiang Mai for 25 years, aptly named Mabuhay, of course. It recently closed, but only temporarily. It will come back to be part of the Pinoy community again for a very long time.
SP: As the chosen person to lead your team of officers in terms of activities, projects and events for Pinoys in the north, for the second time now, what are some challenges as well as good experiences you have had?
Roxanne Oddie: Challenges, there have been many. Less than a year after moving into Chiang Mai, I was appointed as Communications Officer of AFT-NRC for 2005 to 2006. I started an aggressive emailing campaign, I personally encoded all the email addresses from the directory and began sending out messages to people I didn’t even know. It was a risk, but it paid off. It made people know that we were reaching out to them, that we wanted them to participate in association activities, and that we wanted to connect with them.
It was also a challenge to connect with kababayans outside of Chiang Mai. AFT-NRC has members in Lampang, Lamphun, Chiang Rai, Tak, Mae Hong Son, Phrae, Phayao, Nan, and other remote areas in the north. When planning group activities, we have to consider the traveling our kababayans have to make in order to participate.
Because there are over two hundred Filipinos in the community here, I am mindful that there are over two hundred individuals with their own ideas, feelings, priorities, and interests. One challenge was finding commonality, and promoting harmony and unity, not uniformity.
As for good experiences, there have been many as well. When I see kababayans get together and genuinely enjoy one another’s company, or forming new friendships; or when there is a kababayan in distress and the group gets together to support; or when we celebrate the personal and career successes of our members, those are good experiences.
When the group from the Philippine Embassy comes to do a Consular Outreach program, our kababayans are able to avail of consular services here in Chiang Mai and that is a very significant way of serving the Filipino community. When some of our foreign friends learn about it, they say they envy us because they say their own embassy normally does not offer such a service for them. Read the rest of this entry »
Please be reminded to cast your ballots for the forthcoming Philippine presidential election.
If you have not yet sent your duly filled-out ballots back to the Philippine embassy or, have not received
your ballots, you are kindly advised to go directly to the Philippine Embassy.
Or, for inquiries, please call 02-2590140
According to information from Vice-Consul Randy Arquiza, the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok will be open this coming Saturday and Sunday (May 8 and 9) for all registered voters to cast their ballots. Last day to submit your ballots will be on Monday, May 10, 2010.
Please pass on to other kababayans in Thailand.
Exercise your Right of Suffrage —- Vote now, Vote wisely.
“Don’t ask what the country can do for you, ask what you an do for your country” – John F. Kennedy
You might find this post a bit odd considering the current situation in Thailand. But since people are in need of a bit of an info about working in Thailand, I thought why not share what we already know. Besides, I can find no fault in doing so. Plus, no one can stop people who are really determined in finding a job in Thailand look for info’s on the net. So here are some of the things why Filipinos like working in Thailand.
Most people who work in Thailand, either entered the Kingdom on a tourist visa at the start, or they were hired by their company from the Philippines, and entered Thailand with a non-immigrant visa.
A majority of the Filipinos who work in Thailand are in the teaching profession, from kindergarten through university levels.
There are also a number of Filipinos who work with international NGOs (non-government organizations), in the IT, as well as Engineering profession, and in the hotel/travel industry.
The Philippine Ladies Group Foundation, a duly registered and one of the most active Filipino Associations in Thailand is holding an event this coming Saturday (24th of April 2010) entitled “An Afternoon Delight” starting from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Everyone is invited to join.
Yesterday, I decided to add a Google map plugin which tells me where FilipinosinThailand.com visitors comes from. It’s actually quite fun and interesting to have it added to the site. I know there is one map widget at the bottom right of the page. But it could be easily missed out. Unlike this one.
So far, after installing the program, the result showed us that a lot of our visitors coming from Thailand and the Philippines, Europe and then North America.
Active and up to date discussions about Filipinos in Thailand. Visit the topics below.
General Discussions
Talk about interesting general topics with Filipino Expats in Thailand.
Visiting Thailand?
We hope this thread will be able to help you with your travel, visa, dining,
basic Thai language, hotel & shoppings needs.
Pinoy Hangouts
Places where Filipinos and friends hangout. Gimmick time!
Teacher's Thread
Probably one of the most important thread in our site. Feel free to share your
thoughts, teaching ideas, professional development infos with fellow Filipinos
in Thailand.
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