First Issue of WeFilLaos, Souvenir/Collector's Issue for President Rodrigo Roa Duterte's Visit to Laos for the ASEAN Summit 2016

3. WELCOME PROGRAM
I. LUPANG HINIRANG, PHILIPPINE NATIONAL ANTHEM
led by the FilCom Chorale with Ms. Ruth Obtinario and
Mr. Robert Ascue conducting
II. INVOCATION Mr. Aaron Inventor
III. MESSAGES FOR THE PRESIDENT
from Filcom Representatives:
Mr. Alvir Bantigue, (Filipino Teachers)
Mr. Zeno Anino, (Engineers/Skilled Workers)
Me. Jamin Rodero (Mission Personnel) and
Ms. Blessy Maglacion with John Rio Ancog, LJ Portillo
and Reign Obtinario, (children)
IV. WELCOME ADDRESS Ambassador Belinda Ante
V. THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Rodrigo Roa Duterte,
President of the Republic of the Philippines
VI. Presentation of Gift to the President Mr. Manny Reniva
VII. DANCE NUMBER: Filipino Teachers
of the Australian International School
VIII. SONG NUMBER: Filipino Teachers
of Panyathip International School
and Kiettisack International School
IX. PHOTO OPPORTUNITY WITH THE PRESIDENT
Masters of Ceremony: Dr. Bernadette V. Gonzales
Mr. Joel Wayne Ganibe
Maligayang pagdating sa
Vientiane Laos,
mahal naming Pangulo,
Rodrigo Roa Duterte!
Ang aming taos-pusong mensahe
sa inyo:
Una ay ang aming pasasalamat
sa panunumbalik ng aming tiwala
sa aming pamahalaan at sa
pagkakataong maipagmalaki sa
buong mundo na KAYA MO at KAYA
NAMIN. Sa inyong pagtugon sa
tunay na hinaing ng taumbayan,
baunin n’yo ang aming pagtanggap
sa hamon sa ating lipi.
Tama po kayo. Sa pinagsama-
sama nating malasakit at tapang,
nasa atin ang tagumpay sa likod
ng napakalaking pagsubok sa
kakayahan ng bawat Pilipino
sa positibong pagbabago.
KASAMA NYO KAMI!
MABUHAY!
Contents
Message of the Philippine Ambassador in Vientiane P4
Special Thanks and Acknowledgements to FilCom Organizers P4
Noted Filipino Contributions in Laos
Education: Co-shaping The Lao Learning Landscape P6
Professionalizing the Teaching Sector P9
Agriculture Sector: Coffee-lipinos of Laos P10
Top 10 Pinoy Tambayan sa Vientiane/Luma-Lao Layp si Lolo P14
Lao Survival Words para kay Kabayan P15
Off the Beaten Track/ Cool Selfie Spots P16
Bloom’s Taxonomy VS UbD P19
P3

4. P4

5. P5
“our beloved Mayor Digong, we are just
a handful filipino community here in
laos, but we still believe the strength of
“David” to fight goliaths, who undermine
your vision on resolving peace and
harmony for the filipino people.”--Manny
Jimenez Reniva
“Dear president: don’t lose hope and be
discouraged. Don’t mind the negative
media and bad press. The filipino people
know the truth. We are behind you all the
way.” --Faith Ruth Villanueva
“Congratulations for initiating the peace
talk with the NDF. Yes for peace and
hoping for a more substantive agreement
between grp and ndfp to address the
fundamental problems of armed conflict
in the Philippines.”--Angie Broncano
”Dear Mr. President: daghang salamat
sa imong tabang kanamo sa Tacloban
City pila ka adlaw human sa Yolanda. I
am one of the Yolanda survivors who
were given your emergency assistance at
Tacloban astrodome. Sadly I had to leave
my beloved province to seek greener
pasture in this very hospitable country,
Laos. Hangaran han tanan nga Yolanda
survivors, an amon kinasingkasing nga
pasasalamat, damo nga salamat ug
mabuhay ka!” --Marwin Astorga
“Sa aming pinakamamahal na Pangulong
Duterte maraming salamat sa inyong pag
visita dito sa Laos. Mabuhay ang Filipinos
in Laos” --Eleah Alesin
“Sa mahal na Pangulo,ituloy lang po
ang war sa droga, corruption at sa
tiwaling politiko para sa next generations
benefits.i will support u 100%.” --Gloria
Piano
“Mabuhay po kyo President Duterte..
ngayon po nagkakaisa ang mga Filipino
sa buong mundo..lalo na po dito sa Laos
suportado po nmin kyo..100% para sa
pagbabago”.--Rod Tiqui Cunanan
“Thank you Mr. President for your
unconditional love and sacrifices for
our beloved country. May god use
you mightily and shield you daily from
the snares of the enemy! Long live!”--
Rowena Nafianog
“Mr. President, you will always have my
respect.”--Mhiz Jhongs
“Maraming salamat Mr President sa pag
bisita mo sa amin dto sa Laos...mabuhay
po kayo....gogogo pilipinas!”--Vanessa
Mariano
“To our beloved president Rodrigo
Duterte, thanks for hearing the voices
of the Filipinos to run as a president
of the Republic of the Philippines. We
believe that you have a capacity to lead
the country and you have a great desire
to make the Philippines as a great nation
in terms of clean governance, peace,
unity and prosperity. Don’t mind the
antagonists surround you. May God bless
you as you lead the Philippines. We, as
your supporters in Laos are excited to see
you! Mabuhay ang Pangulong Duterte.
Mabuhay ang mga pilipino saan mang
sulok ng mundo! Mabuhay ang bansang
Pilipinas. We love you Mr. President.”--
rudzskies cabaya cabristante
“Mr President, I am confidently thanking
you that you became the leader of our
country..thank you for helping Filipinos
be in the right direction of their lives..
for rising up people who were drowned
in life difficulties..we hope that you will
continue rising up our deeply corrupted
country..our love and support will
always be with you..may you and your
leadership be blessed by our Lord God
always and forever..thanks for the love
Mr President.” --zaina aubree
“Mr. President. You are very vulnerable.
You already have a lots of enemies out
there waiting for the right time to strike.
We know your brave enough, so brave
that you can say that your old enough
and ready to die and who cares... With
out a powerful leader as you, we will
then can say once again that Philippines
is considered dead. We need you to live
long, accomplish your goals, the changed
has come at the time you sitted as the
President. Kaya p***** *** mo ‘wag kag
mamamatay because we care.. Shout
out to all handsome volunteer security
personels!”--lhez hardgrind opana
“Maraming salamat po! Mr.President
dahil tunay ka sa iyong salita at buong
puso mong ipinaglalaban ang ating
bansang sinilangan. Akoy saludo sayo!yes
sir! 3 stars and a sun.” --timow icezenburg
“As a wife of a police officer in the PNP,
thank you for taking care of the police
force. Thank you for lifting the morale of
the few good men in the service. Thank
you for taking care of my husband, while
I am working as an OFW. I believe that
your assurances give them more courage.
As a mother to a teenage daughter, thank
you for making our communities safer, so
when I come back I can let my daughter
perhaps, ride the jeepney to school alone
or walk the streets of the city with less
fear together. I think this is a measure of
good governance, if your efforts trickle
down to the common people.”--lizzy liza
liz
“Maligayang pagdating mahal naming
Pangulo Rodrigo Roa Duterte , bilang ofw
kami po ay nanabik sa inyong pagdating
at nagpapasalamat na napagbigyan
nyo kaming mga OFW sa Laos ng kahit
na kunting oras na marinig ang inyong
munkahi at pasasalamat sa amin,
napakasarap sa pandinig na ang ama ng
aming bayan ay tumutupad sa kanyang
tungkulin para sa bayan na handang
ibuwis ang kanyang buhay anumang oras,
araw at lugar dahil mahal nya ang ating
bayan. Kayo po ay nagbibigay inspirasyon,
lakas at katahimikan sa aming mga OFW
at sa mga mamamayang Pilipino dahil
alam namin na di nyo kayang ipahamak
ang ating bayan at ang inyong mga
mamamayan, bagkos ipagmalaki ito sa
buong mundo na ang droga ,korupsyon
at kriminalidad ay mawawala na sa
bansang Pilipinas. Mabuhay po kyo at ang
bansang pilipinas...maraming salamat po
sa pagbabago tatay digong..!!”--malone
wattalone sotto
“Maraming salamat sir, President sa
pag bisita sa amin dito sa Laos, salamat
sa pagmamahal sa ating bansa, alam
namin na ginagawa niyo ang lahat para
sa kapayapaan at ikabubuti ng lahat. God
bless po!” --lalaine fronda
“As a simple filipino citizen who have tried
her luck here in lao pdr it is a privileged
to be a part of your journey being the
president of the philippines. We hope
you continue the battle against drugs and
criminalities. We pray for continuous
guidance of our god that he will bless
you with good health and keep you safe.
We want to see the country survived at
the end with you. With so much pride
and joy, thank you and godbless you mr.
President!”--syra belleza

6. F
ILIPINO TEACHERS are assets of every school in Laos. They
have unselfishly filled in the gap of teacher supply versus
demand in private schools. To date, based on the latest poll
(August 2016) conducted, there are at least 188 Filipino teachers
and staff employed in various international and bilingual schools
in Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Breakdown is as follows: 35
in Kiettisack International School, 31 in Panyathip International
School, 28 in Vientiane Pattana, 26 in Neerada, 25 in Sengdara
Bilingual School, 18 in Australian International School, 15 in
Eastern Star Bilingual School, and 10 in Vientiane Glory School.
There are other local schools which employ Filipino teachers
which are not mentioned here.
To celebrate the hard work, success and unrelenting contributions
to the Lao learning environment, Dr. Gonzales attempts to
capture their thoughts and dreams. They were asked: 1) What
do you think is your greatest contribution to the Lao learning
environment and why?; 2) How are you able to contribute to
the improvement of the quality of education in Laos?; 3) If given
the chance to join the teaching force in the Philippines, would
you gladly go back and share your knowledge and experience to
our country? Why or why not? What is your message to our
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte?
Jose Ruthchan Portillo, School
Principal, Australian International
School (AIS). “As School Principal,
I head a team of teaching staff
of various nationalities to deliver
primary and secondary education
using the Australian and Cambridge
curricula. I have created
programs to cater to the different
student segments, including the
implementation of Advanced Learning Program (ALP) and
Support Program (SP). The programs provide modular instruction
with curriculum-based content and are conducted through
a variety of experiential activities and multi-disciplinary
pedagogical approaches. Our aim is for students to be
globally competitive. Our main focus is to ensure that our
students will be able to achieve academic excellence and
develop an understanding of the local, national and global
environments.
We expose our students to real life situations. As
part of our school’s community sharing strategy, we provide
education programs to out-of- school youth in Laos. Further,
we provide reading books to remote areas because we want
all children to have equal opportunity and access to quality
education. If given the chance to join the teaching force
in the Philippines, I will be more than happy to share my
knowledge and experiences to my country. I want to impart
my enthusiasm and passion for improving the quality of
education. It is very rewarding to able to get the best out of
your students.
Karen Maglacion. Pre-Primary
Head/Kindergarten Teacher,
Kiettisack International School. “I
think my greatest contribution to
the Lao learning environment is
curriculum designing for very young
learners whose ages range from 2-6
years old. It was really a challenge
considering the fact that I had to
design and produce activity books
that cater to the developmental needs of these very young
ones. Moreover, I am also part of the School’s Management
Staff where I work and plan with other educators on how to
give quality education to our students.
IbelieveIwasabletocontributetotheimprovement
of the quality of education in Laos by: creating a positive
attitude towards education in partnership with the whole
Dr. Bernadette Gonzales, Filipina
International Education expert, has
been one of the stalwarts consistently
championingthecauseofFilipinoeducators,
especially in Lao PDR. She leads a team
of International Education experts (also
mostly Filipinos) who have been helping
implement education reforms by expand
Access, Quality and Management Capacity
with the Ministry of Education and Sports
(MOES) as key advisers for Asian Development Bank [ADB] Grant 0257 (Secondary Education Sector Development
Project: SESDP Laos). Since 2010 they have been repeatedly recognized for excellence in implementation. While
working on the project, Dr. Gonzales has also been designing and delivering continuous professional education (CPE)
support schemes for Filipino teachers in Laos.
In beginning this series of exclusive articles, Gonzales appreciates the strategic perspective of how the Philippines
through its teachers in the basic education sectors in various countries across Asia, has come into a unique position
as a major co-shaper of the emerging 21st century ASEAN educational landscape. According to her, “There is always
a Filipino behind the success of every international or bilingual school in Laos. While Swiss and Japanese people are
known for their efficiency, the Americans for their effectiveness and entrepreneurship, the Filipino genius is on building
relationships; thus Filipino teachers carry the reputation of being naturally nurturing, industrious, competent and
effective (n.i.c.e.).”
P6

7. school system using my skills in teaching; sharing what I learned through experiences and trainings; continuously
learning from others; being reflective, and doing the best I can to help students learn and shape their behaviours.
Quality education is not only measured by how good the curriculum or the school system is, but by how the teacher
positively impacts the lives of his/her students who are the central part of our educational efforts. Should there be
an opportunity, I consider it an honor to be able to work in our beloved country, not just to share my knowledge and
experiences in teaching, but to help influence the lives of our nation’s future – the Filipino children. Salute to all Filipino
Teachers in the Philippines and abroad!
Jorybelle Costa, Pre-primary Department Head Vientiane, Pattana School. “My colleagues and I have successfully
communicated to our Lao counterparts the importance of creating a dynamic learning environment, where each child’s
need is met. This is an apt contribution considering that Laos’ educational system tends to
still conform to traditional and rigid teaching practices which do not only hamper children’s
academic performance but more so, imbue lack of self-confidence among them. Having
worked for Vientiane Pattana for more than a decade now, I owe it to the school, myself and
most importantly to my students, to hone my skills as an educator. I enrolled in a Language
and Literacy Education program of the University of the Philippines Open University. The said
experience helped me lead our team to continually nurture a love for teaching and it has been
giving our pre-prime students the privilege of enjoying literature- based lessons which develop
their love for books, reading and learning. In time, I would love to go home. There is no greater
joy than being able to foster and take part in empowering the Filipino youth.”
Annie Inventor. Kindergarten 2 Homeroom Teacher, Sengdara International Bilingual School. “As a teacher, I first build a
personal relationship with my Lao students. I’ve discovered that learning is effective when they trust you. I understand
their needs and reach out to them in ways that will inspire them to learn. It is good to share
your life to them patiently. I have been given the opportunity to not only teach students in
an international school but also the chance to teach poor students in a village school during
weekends. I need to assess students in a variety of ways to enable me to constantly develop
strategies to improve their achievements. Enthusiasm helps in inspiring them in improving their
learning. Our passion and giving our best do matter a lot in producing excellent student
learning outcome. It is such a nice experience to work as a teacher in Laos. But as the saying
goes, “There is no place like home.” I’ve been thinking of returning back to the Philippines so
that I can share my inspiration and passion to my countrymen instead. It is my desire to share
my learnings and also be an inspiration to others.
Alexander Moreno, Year 4 Teacher Kiettisack International School. “I think that my greatest contribution to the Lao
learning environment was being one of the presenters of Lao TESOL conference in 2014 and 2015. It was a delight
collaborating with mostly Lao teachers from different provinces about the new trends and best
classroom practices. I was able to share my personal experiences in English teaching in a foreign
country which included discussions on overcoming learning barriers.
“In my view, it is important to devise attractive and relevant programs in partnership with school
to attract more parent participation like opening a webpage with links to good parenting skills,
conducting camps, family day, reunions and other related events spearheaded by parent body
organization to empower them. The more active the parents are, the better the performance of
their children will be in school activities.
Given the chance, I would be happy to go home and teach because sharing of what we know is a
way to help address systemic ignorance and mediocrity. We have so much to learn from each other if we do away with
the boundaries of culture, race and tongue. It will be a great honor to share what I learned from teaching here, especially
my discovery of diverse practices that may be applicable and beneficial contrary to what maybe taboo and unproductive
Cont’d next page
P7

8. in my home country. With ASEAN integration, Filipino teachers
will be in high demand in the other Asian countries, thus the
Philippine Government
must recognize the need to
invest in world-class pre-
service education.”
Bruce M. Gesmundo,
Vice Director, Nam Theun
2 School, English Director,
Sengsavanh School. “The Lao
learning environment has been
developing gradually through
the aid of educators from
different countries including
the Filipino teachers. English
language literacy, I believe, is
my greatest contribution. The
rise of the demand of English
language teachers made my way to extend service to Laos. I have been
teaching English to diverse learners with different linguistic levels since
the time I came here. It is my duty as a tutor, teacher, and English
director to ensure that learning happens, and that learners can speak,
write and communicate in English.
Quality is earned and achieved, and is not an overnight matter.
In this field of work, I study, scheme, analyze, organize, manage,
create, assess and revise my learning plans and strategies. I believe
in the ingenuity of Filipinos in creating a very harmonious learning
atmosphere that makes learning fun and exciting. As tutors, Filipinos
are uniquely different from other nationals because we care a lot for
our students. We are a proud bunch of effective educators; change
catalysts, who can help continually contribute to the improvement of
the Lao educational landscape.
Yes, I know that opportunities are there in my homeland, however
opportunities offshore are numerous and are more attractive to me
as a young teacher-adventurer. I want to learn and grow and adapt
to diverse learning contexts, and Laos has given me such opportunity.
Maybe someday, I’ll go back home for good and give my best service
to my compatriots.”
Alvir Bantigue, Head,
Administrative Department,
Panyathip International School. I
think my greatest contribution to
the Lao learning environment is
my desire and drive to effectively
educate my Lao students and
motivate them with passion and
commitment to make a difference
for their country first and to
the world because without this
passion and commitment; the
educational process would not be
effective and the lessons taught
not as masterfully learned.
By developing the most
innovative teaching practices that
are applicable to the learning style
of Lao learners to ensure that learning happens. By making these
innovations a direct response to the actual needs of Lao students and
teachers to make sure that new practices are applicable to the Lao
context.
Absolutely, I want to go home if there would be a chance because I have
always dreamed of educating the young minds of this new generation
and share with them my experiences and hoping it can inspire them as
they build a better Philippines.#WeFilLaos
TEACHERS...cont’d
P8

9. PROFESSIONALIZING
THE TEACHING SECTOR
IN LAOS
By: Faith Ruth Villanueva
As lead consultant for the Ministry of Education & Sports
(MOES), Dr. Bernadette Gonzales, President and CEO of
International Technology Management Corp. (INTEM),
understood the the need for teachers to have a continuing
professional development course. It began as a series of
workshops to ground teachers in basic learning theory and
the latest scaffolding techniques conducted by herself and
BESDP/SESDP Deputy Team Leader for Education Quality, Joel
Wayne Ganibe. Together with Mr. Simon Valenzuela and the
support of the Philippine Embassy, the first Experiential Learning
for Instructors Training Enhancement (ELITE), a 5 module course
for Filipino Teachers in Laos was organized in 2013. Closing
ceremonies were held at the Philippine Embassy in
Vientiane. Graduates of the course had immediate
enhancements to their set of training credentials
but more importantly have become more effective
learning facilitators.
“We need to up the ante for teachers so that the quality
of teaching will improve, especially for the Filipino
teachers.” Dr. Gonzales said. With her own team helping
the Laos Ministry of Education & Sports install better
quality measures, she expected similar developments to
nearby Thailand, where teachers will now be required to
show formal teaching diploma before being allowed to
teach.
As an offshoot of its ELITE, Dr. Gonzales initiated a partnership
between INTEM and the Bago City College (BCC) to provide
continuous professional education (CPE) services to Filipino Teachers
in Lao PDR through the Teacher Certificate Program (TCP). No less
than the President and Dean of BCC and its college of education has
accompanied the team of professors for the onsite Assessment of
the first course cohort on November 27-29, 2015. As a result, 29
students, already teachers in Laos, finished the Teacher’s Certificate
for Professionalism 1 (TCP 1) program on October 2015, garnering
18 units in Education.
As of presstime, the professional development course that Dr.
Gonzales initiated is now categorized into three groups: (1) the
Bachelor of Education Program for undergrad students, (2) the
Teacher’s Certificate for Professionalism 1 (TCP 1) – for college degree
holders to acquire 18 units of Education (as a qualification for the
Philippine Licensure Exam for Teachers), and (3) Teacher’s Certificate
for Professionalism 2 (TCP 2) – an additional 18 Education units for
students who wish to acquire a Diploma in Teaching degree. This
coming October 2016, twelve
students will be graduating with
a Diploma in Teaching degree.
Out of the 12 students, one
will be taking the LET exam this
coming September 2016.
The program has given such
an impression on Mrs. Cecille
Yasay, wife of the Philippine
Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto
Yasay, on her recent visit to the
teaching site that she has already
made inquiries on possible
links with Bago City College so
that the program will also be
replicated in other countries.
INTEM continuous to design
and implement enabling solutions for funders, implementers and
beneficiaries for social development and transformation. Also, in the
future, Dr. Gonzales is planning to continue with masteral programs
in Education. #WeFilLaos
Dr. Gorgonio George T. Parroco, President of Bago City College (BCC) and
his team flew to Laos for the Certification/ Assessment Exams for batch 1.
TCP students
take a break
from class to
campaign
for change
#DU30Laos
P9

10. “Even though I ended up losing four of my fingers in my right hand while
cleaning the coffee mill machine last year, we continue to help local Lao farm-
ers to boost production and improve the quality of their produce,” explained
Mr. Gilbert Suico in an online interview with WeFilLaos. Suico lost four of his
fingers sometime last year while operating a coffee mill machine and man-
ually removing rotten coffee cherry to avoid mixing with the new cherries
under production stage. Since then, he is now learning to use his left hand in
writing and doing his daily routine in his office to continuously improve the
lives of the local farmers and invigorating the Lao coffee industry.
Mr. Gilbert Suico is a native of Balindong, Kidapawan City in Cotabato who
graduated from University of Southern Mindanao (USM) with a degree in
Animal Science. He took his master’s degree in Public Administration at
Father Saturnino Urios University, in Butuan City. After finishing studies,
Suico worked in the Philippines and other South East Asian countries as
Consultant, supervisor and trainer on soil and water conservation, types
of farming, tropical fruits and crops production, reforestation programs,
livestock production and management (dairy goats and cows, poultry,
piggery, cattle fattening, organic farming system and sustainable farming as
a whole under the programs of Asian Rural Life Development Foundation
(ARLDF) and Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) of Kinuskusan,
Bansalan, Davao Del Sur, Philippines.
He came to Laos in March 2007 by invitation of Bolaven Farms with oper-
ations in Champasak province and other areas in the Bolaven Plateau. This
is his 9th year of the 13 year program, managing the in country operations
from plantation in organic coffee farm, special processing of coffee cherry to
dry green coffee beans, sorting as specialty coffee, maintaining standards for
export as well as the roasting to cupping operation in order to meet interna-
tional quality as specialty standard coffee.
Among other Filipinos working in Bolaven is Mr. Josil Samoy, a native of
Lapinigan, San Francisco, Agusan Del Sur. A graduate of BS-Agriculture from
Central Mindanao University, Bukidnon – Cum Laude, he has worked with
farmers and stakeholders in the Agriculture sector for both private and gov-
L
AO PDR is an agricultural economy just like any other ASEAN country.
As it aims to be self-sufficient in basic agricultural products it looks to
coffee as one of its most dependable crops in the highland regions. It is
the fifth largest export earner for the country accounting for 0.25% of the
world production (FAO Report).
The strategy to move production now to higher-value entailed engaging Agriculture experts
in coffee cultivation to introduce new technologies and more competitive production
approaches for quality. This opened the door for Filipino experts in Farming and Agriculture
to work and live in Laos and help local farmers and coffee producers increase their yield.
WeFilLaos found at least five Filipinos working in different companies and coffee plantations
in the Bolaven Plateau not to mention other areas in the country, working as consultants,
agronomists and field technicians.
The COFFEE-lipinoys in Laos
(From L-R) Mr. Gilbert Suico together with Dr. Manuel Diaz of
the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) and high
caliber coffee consultant Dr. Dan Kunh of India in a rare photo
opportunity
Agronomist Mr. Josil Samoy (in fatigue hat and blue sweatshirt) teaching
farmers in Coffee Seedling Nursery Transplanting at Xekatam Estate,
Paksong, Champasak, Laos
Mr. Suico (left)
supervises Taste
Test. The coffee
industry in Lao
PDR is a mixture
of smallholder
and large
estates.
Management systems range from high input intensive
systems to smallholders with zero inputs and low yields.
Josil Samoy (in red) with LAOS Coffee Team of Outspan
Bolovens Limited – An OLAM Company
P10

11. Quoting Mr. Suico, “If all Lao coffee beans
have to maintain these scores, we will
have world class coffee products that can
compete with Columbia. We can demand
the price far away from the dictate of
world market price and the farmers will
be very happy with the special price, that
is our goal in the next years to come and I
see it is doable to achieve because I see the
partial development this time with the help
of Filipino experts.”
In this process, the Filipinos in Laos are not
content be “mere observers” or someone
simply concerned with earning a living. They
must also be a catalyst for positive change
and would want to take part of what this
country needs to be able to do. Though
most of the Filipinos in this sector work in
plantations, in a research station or in close
compound agricultural facilities, they still
strive to influence others by sharing their
knowledge to counterparts.
“We were given the chance to train local
people in proper crop management,
fertilizer application and chemical use which
are key areas they needed to improve in
their farming methods. Influencing them to
take care of the environment is as valuable
as taking care of themselves. Social works
have been introduced by the big companies
to the local people and villages in which
the company operates through trainings on
proper waste disposal, proper chemical use
and even providing crèche for small children
to learn basic education.” Samoy disclosed.
As OFW’s away from beloved family and
country, courage, dedication and the
willingness to help others to improve and
become self-sufficient, makes Filipinos
distinct from their counterparts from
other countries. They take to heart their
host country and its peoples, making Lao
PDR, their second home away from home.
#WeFilLaos (with reports from Josil Samoy)
ernment enterprises in the corn and coffee in- dustry. He came
to work in Laos through an online application with Bolaven Limited in
December 2015 as an agronomist specializing in plant growth, pest control and
disease prevention for the coffee farm. He carefully monitors plant responses to
drought and soil conditions thus involving himself from seedling to planting up
to harvesting including crop management and maintenance.
As with all OFWs, Josil decided to work abroad to support the family needs.
Since the death of his father, he became the breadwinner, helping provide for
the education needs of his 7 nephews and nieces.
“BREW”-fessional Challenge
“The big challenge when it comes to working and training local farmers is the
working ethics and standard of performance especially of local company staff.
They don’t seem to care much about the quality of work and most of the time,
you need to do it yourself hoping they will follow. If you are too strict in imple-
menting your standards, everybody will just quit because they simply have many
options to move.” Suico explained.
“Finding honest and hardworking staff is very difficult but by working by example,
slowly we have changed the local work culture by teaching them to love what
they do and give more heart to helping others develop their potential in the
farming field.” Suico added.
According to Samoy, when he started, his greatest challenge was the language
barrier. Only few of the staff and farmers can speak basic English, making it
difficult to provide instructions and to help them to fully understand what was
truly meant. Adaptation of technology was a bit slow and they needed constant
reminders.
“Working in a country of many differences from language, to religion and culture
is a great challenge yet it is also an opportunity for learning and understanding
new things. With these differences, take up of new ideas and technology is
slow. As for the local people, they were just contented with what they have; the
farming practices and management were mostly what has been used for ages
and passed down from generation to generation.
“For all the Filipinos in Lao PDR, going along with the locals is not that really
hard even if we are foreigners. Our common characteristics of being friendly and
hospitable draw us closer to them especially if one can speak their language and
can eat their local food. They will treat us as no strangers to them.” Samoy said.
This is the reason why multinational companies prefer Filipinos to handle skill
specific jobs most especially in the agriculture sector. Although there are also
experts from other countries such as India, Vietnam and Columbia, the Filipinos
are very notable because they would work in the field together with the coffee
farmers to train them hand-in-hand and ensure effective transfer of knowledge.
MILESTONES “BEAN”-efits and CONTRIBUTIONS
Over the years, the team of Filipinos working in Bolaven have helped gain for Lao
coffee, an improved average score of 87 points (by Dr. Manuel Diaz, SCAA) by
the Specialty Coffee Association of America
(SCAA) with their highland robusta coffee
special process.
Obtaining this score from the SCAA Standards,
meant higher price value of finished products
from the farmer’s level alone. As for Lao
Arabica coffee, the latest score of Bolaven
produce this year is 86 points compared to
other coffee producers with a score of 82 to
84 points. (To increase even just one point
score is no mean feat.)
P11

12. P12

13. P13

14. friends, have selfies by the statue
and even have some coffee
nearby or a glass of beer and
some grilled fish or meat. They
also like to stare at the river,
reminding them of their own ilog,
karayan, batis or even seashore
(o sige, sama na ang mga kanal)
from the motherland.
3. Eversince the Vientiane Center
opened, pinoys have been able to
enjoy international
movies at the 4th
Floor, with original
English dubs and
not just the usual
Thai with English
captions. There’s
popcorn and if you
get hungry there’s
a food court on the
3rd floor. So yes, we saw Finding
Dory and Suicide Squad and...(oh
my, dami ko na namiss!)
4. Sengdara Fitness/Gym for
fitness conscious pinoys, hitting
the gym and hanging out with
friends there, is also popular. This
activity actually includes any kind
of sports such as basketball or
volleyball practice or any sports
Opportunity knocks once. When
it knocks, greet and grab it. In
the course of performing my
duty, I didn’t think of proving my
capabilities and skills to anyone. I
just did what I thought was best
to achieve a nice career and a
fulfilling life. ‘Yun lang talaga.
I do what I love to do and love
what I do. There’s nothing
more fulfilling than doing what
you love and what you are
destined to do. Ang dami kong
natutunan na mga strategies,
methods and lessons from my
superiors, fellow and uncle. I
believe we should not stop from
learning new things. Sa hangarin
kong matuto ng iba’t ibang
bagay, nabigyan ako ng varied
tasks ni Kuya. Kinailangan kung
magdoble kayod para mameet
ang deadlines. Kinailangan kong
maagang maglog-out sa FB.
Kinailangan kong matulog ng
konting oras lamang. Kinailangan
kong mag-conceptualize sa mga
projects at marami pang iba.
Teaching has never been easy.
Kahit nasa bahay na ako, work-
related pa rin inaatupag ko. Why?
Kasi gusto ko ang trabaho ko and
I want to get things done. Dito
ko naramdaman at naranasan
‘yung sinasabi nilang buhay OFW.
Kailangan magsumikap para
sa pamilya at sa kinabukasan.
Mahirap man dahil malayo sa
pamilya, kailangang lumaban.
Sa ngayon, ako ay itinalaga
bilang English Department
Head ng isang bilingual school
sa Vientiane at Project Manager
sa isang paaralan sa probinsya.
Hindi ko inakala na darating ito
ngunit nagpapasalamat ako.
Akalain mo, magbebente-tres
palang ako sa ika-6 ng Setyembre.
Mabuhay tayong mga Pinoy sa
Laos! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
#WeFilLaos
flowers bloom
where they are
planted
Pinoy Tambayan sa Vientiane
We were curious to know the favorite “tambayan” (hangout
place) for the Filipinos in Vientiane. The great thing about pinoys
is that being one of the most sociable people on earth, they take
naturally to social media. So of course, there is a facebook group!
(Created by Ms. Jules Rivera, a Filipina teacher in Vientiane Pat-
tana School, www.facebook.com/groups/179174555474982/ has
been there since 2011.)
So we simply created a poll (yup, for those who bothered to participate
some freebies will be raffled off later) and found out the following:
1. While they like to make gala/pasyal/suroy-suroy--pinoys are typically
homebodies. So the number 1 tambayan is actually, home! We can only
guess what exactly they’re
doing but for sure, FB-ing is
one.
2. Next on their fave list is the
Mekong Park/Night Market
where people go to jog, join
aerobics exercises, shop
around the night market or
just stroll around and meet
“Sabaidee.” Yun yung bati ng stewardess sa akin
nang nag-aantay ako for boarding papuntang
Wattay Airport, Laos. Sus, napangiti ako pagkasabi
niya ‘nun. Yung huling syllable kasi ng salitang
iyon ay ang pangalan rin ng aking long-time crush.
hehe. Uyy. May pacrush-crush pa amp@#$. Di,
biro lang. (Actually, seryoso ako. Parinig lang baka
nababasa niya ‘to.)
Bumiyahe ako mag-isa papuntang Laos upang
maranasan ang buhay OFW. Gusto ko talagang
maranasang magturo sa ibang bansa. ‘Yun bang
magtuturo ka ng English kahit di mo naman
native language kasi gusto mo. (Parang sa love,
di ka man nya mahal, inibig mo parin siya dahil
gusto mo. Ouch! Hahay, ang buhay nga naman.
Humuhugoat?)
A week after coming to Laos, nagsimula na akong mag-submit ng
CV sa iba’t ibang schools dito sa Vientiane, Capital. S’yempre may
konting kaba at pressure sa first hoped international employment ko.
Pumunta kami sa mga schools kasama sina tito at tita. All out
support sila. I felt hopeless after getting no results in a week.
Binibigyan ko kasi ng target time ang sarili ko. Last term na
kasi noong nag-apply ako. Too early to apply for the next school
year at too late to apply for the present school year. Kaya inisip ko
matatagalan pa. Pero sila uncle and auntie ay hopeful na hopeful
na makakapasok ako. Dahil bumaba yung morale ko, nanood ako ng
motivational videos at dun na-revive ako.
Gabi ng March 23, 2016, bandang 6:00 pm, may nag-inform sa akin
na kaibigan (maasahan talaga mga kaibigan ano?) na iinterbyuhen
daw ako ng principal ng isang international school at 7pm. Sa oras na
iyon, di ko na naisip kumain dahil sa excitement at aggressiveness na
mainterbyu at ma-hire. Isang pirasong watermelon na nga lang yung
kinain ko eh. Bago natapos yung interview, sinabihan ako na tanggap
na ako at magsisimula na ako bukas, ora mismo. Yehey! Ang saya saya
namin, parang nanalo ng lotto. And that night, about 3 hours lang ang
tulog ko dahil sa over-excitement gaya nung night before graduation
ko.
Nagsimula na akong magturo ng English Enrichment sa years 3 to 12.
Sinabi ko sa sarili ko na ibibigay ko ang buong puso ko sa trabahong
ito. Alam ko na hindi lahat ay nabibigyan ng pagkakataong gaya nito.
for that matter (the FilCom has its
annual “pa-liga” competitions).
5. Hitting number 4 is Pizza
Company (any of its branches
across Vientiane) tied in
with Parisiene Cafe. Perhaps
regardless of brand, there’s
something about pizza and
pinoys and “kape” that seem
to go well together when the
budget allows. Incidentally, only
here in Vientiane that I got to
taste and love
the four cheese
( pronounced
by locals as
“ p o r c h i t h ” )
pizza at Aria
restaurant back
when the Italian
Chef hadn’t spun
off with his own
restaurant.
Numbers 6 to 10 tied in on
scores/votes: Joma Cafe, the
Spirit House (by the Mekong),
That Luang and traditional Lao
Saunas and then trailed by the
Floating Restaurant/Hard Rock
Cafe for nature-tripping and
rock and rolling participants.
#WeFilLaos
P14

15. P15

16. Beyond the usual sight-seeing places that the city of Vientiane has to offer,
hidden gems await the patient explorer. Our in-house explorer gets off the
beaten track to find us some close-by adventures. In this issue she features 2
places not too familiar even to some locals,
BanThana Club Restaurant
Two kms away, on the right side from the clock
tower roundabout on Tadeua Road (Soi 10,
Ban Thana), lies a small relaxing villa owned
by a French couple. The place offers a large
swimming pool, a jacuzzi, a children’s pool, and
a petanque bowling area. Their restaurant also
offers French, Lebanese, European, and Asian
cuisine where every ingredient is taken from
their homemade garden. The place is open from 9am – 6pm. For more inquiries, contact Philippe at (+856) 20-77449781 or
email them at banthana.residence@gmail.com. (photo grabbed from their Website: www.vientiane-banthana-restaurant.com/?p=54 )
Rivertime Ecolodge Resort and Floating Restaurant
About 22 km from downtown, this ecolodge sits on the bank of the
Nam Ngum river and is less than an hour’s drive from Vientiane city.
The rooms are moderately-priced (as low as $10) and are built from
natural, local materials. Aside from eating in their floating restaurant,
there are also hiking trails, a floating swimming pool, and a nearby
local village of the Hmong and Lao Loum ethnic groups. For more
inquiries, call Sam (Lao-American) at (+856) 20-58105267 or visit their
website www.rivertimelaos.com as it provides information, including how to go there even using local transportation. (photos grabbed from their website: www.
rivertimelaos.com). [You also have the option of a similar trip ala Loboc River of Bohol if you go straight to the bridge of NamNgum to the resorts below by the river
bank and take a lazy cruise while sipping on cold Beer Lao and a variety of available native pulutan--Ed]
Tune in again next ish for another adventure close by! Not known for the typical traveller, expect Petra D’ Explorer to
bring us to some “what the--?!!” kinda experience. Don’t miss!!!
Selfie Spots
We know. There are times when
you are in a nice new place and
you wanted to go around but had
very little time. If you’re covering
the ASEAN Summit, or just passing
through for a day, we understand
so we shortlisted cool places within
Vientiane Capital to have great
selfies to share! Hire a tuktuk for
a day or any of the yellow taxis
waiting near the Lao Plaza (which is
like almost the center of the city).
Ask them to bring you to :
1.That Luang (Golden Stupa).
Unahin mo na ‘to sa umaga at magpakuha sa may reclining Buddha.
Bawal ang shorts or mini-skirt dahil holy place ito sa kanila. You can take
20 minutes and selfie on unlimited angles around before proceeding to
the next itinerary.
2. Patuxai (Lao Arc d ‘triumph) It’s like the one in Paris except this one
is in Laos. Right in
the middle of Lane
Xang avenue, you
can use this as your
visual marker. Climb
the stairs and take
your “bird’s view”
shots then you can
ask fellow tourists or
even bystanders to
take your jump shots.
3. That Dam or Black Stupa. Take a
selfie and you have choices of eating
the famous Pho Saep (lao noodles)
nearby (just ask anyone on the street
“Yu Sai Foh sep?) or try the Larp Kai
(chicken larp) in Chateau Du Laos
right in front of the stupa. Mula diyan
tanungin mo na kung saan ang...
4. Nam Phu (fountain) which is great
for afternoon shots with the multi-
colors and the bars around. You can
enjoy what we call “Kenli” music (basta
katunog tama naman tono)
5. Buddha Park. If it’s still too early for that
beer and lights fountain, then you may
head over about 30 minutes drive to the
Buddha Park
where you
get to see a
bigger reclining Buddha and lots of
interesting sculptures of ancient lore.
Okay, go now! Selfie pa more!
#WeFilLaos
P16

17. Why Australian International School is
the best school choice for your child
So you want only the best school in Vientiane to enroll your beloved
child? If we may ask, what factors do you consider in choosing an ideal
school that is conducive to his or her learning? We know for a fact
that kids don’t learn in the same way. A child learns best in a fear-free
environment, where he or she is engaged in various fun activities.
Look for a school that takes into consideration a sensible approach
to the individual child’s abilities and the way he or she learns. Be
intelligent not to decide on a school that only allows parents to pay a
visit on designated days, but instead readily welcomes them any time to
observe around its campus.
AIS ensures a student-centered approach which does not totally give
everything a child wants based on caprices. It actually looks at the
whole child and develops in his or her character good relationships with
their school mates, mentors and the school itself.
Philosophy
The Australian International School (AIS) aims to prepare its students
in the most effective way to meet the globalizing challenges of the 21st
century by providing them with a wealth of experiences and resources.
Our main objectives are to ensure our children can achieve academic
excellence and develop an understanding of the local, national and
global environments. AIS is an international community where people’s
rights, respect, health, intellect, good ethics and positive social behavior
are promoted.
Vision
AIS aims to always provide the best quality and most updated education
to its students in order to reach international standards and eventually
become the leading academic institution in Laos with diplomas
recognized worldwide.
We want each student attending AIS to excel in Entrepreneurship,
Leadership and Academics, and become passionate lifelong learners
and future leaders with a desire to contribute to the development of
both our country and the global community.
Our mission
We engage ourselves to nurture, empower, develop, guide and mentor
our students to excel academically, socially and personally.
We are committed to providing our students with the finest
infrastructures, teaching materials and globally experienced and caring
teachers. We will always strive to ensure our students develop a desire
to Excel, Win and Lead in everything they do.
Finally, we will always try our very best to help each and every student
to develop their full intellectual and human potential.”
AIS course offerings
Pre-school
The preschool curriculum is built on the concept that children should
have fun and engaging classes. Language Arts, Numeracy, World
Discovery, Music Star, Picasso Star, Dance
Star, and Physical Education.
Elementary Department Curriculum and
Quality Assurance
The Australian International School
of Laos offers the NSW Australian
Curriculum. It provides a balanced
combination of direct teaching and
enquiry based learning, supported by a
strong co-curricular program (CCP).
It is the only school in the country to
offer the Australian NAPLAN (National
Assessment for Literacy and Numeracy)
exams to guarantee the parents and
students that we are following the
Australian standards.
Secondary Department Curriculum and Selective Entry Program
The Selective High School of the Australian International School of
Laos offers two curricula, the NSW Australian Curriculum from Year
7-9 and IGCSE Cambridge Curriculum from Year 10-12. The program
provides an opportunity for students to receive the International
General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) upon finishing
Year 12.
AIS’ International Exposures
Just last school year, AIS has been a fixture in various international
events. This is to reflect to reality its mission statement to uphold its
promise to actively be involved in an international community where
people’s rights, respect, health, intellect, good ethics and positive
social behavior are promoted.
Mr. Jose Rutchan Portillo, AIS school principal graced the Asia Leadership
Summit in Singapore as speaker and chair of a panel discussion on Interfacing
with Assistive Technology for SEN: How can SEN professionals become
comfortable with technology when the
diversity of products is so huge?
On the other hand, seven students of
the Australian International School have
made happen a ‘first in history’ when they
represented the entire Laos PDR education
sector at the Asian English Olympics (AEO)
held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The AIS students who made the country
proud are Cao Ngoc Houng Xayachak,
Cao Ngoc Tu Xayachak, Mounthava
Sisomphou, Namfonh Kethongsa,
Metana Inthavong, Darasavanh Sisavong
and Southida Nouansengsy. They were
accompanied by Mr. Elnar Nalangan, a
faculty member.
Four AIS students joined the recently concluded summer camp in Australia, an
opportunity that other students don’t get to experience. The lucky students are
Thaksin Sisavong, John Cena,
Along Outhoumphone and
Marvin who all enjoyed mingling
with a diverse nationalities and
participating in various camp
activities.
Classes in AIS will start on
September 1, 2016.
Tel: 021 264 800
Mobile 020 2222 0526
website:
www.aisedulaos.com
Email: info@aisedulaos.com
P17

18. P18

19. Parang laban ng mga gagamba lang nu’ng araw na nauwi sa Superman Vs. Batman bago
naging Voltes V vs Mazinger Z. Ito naman ang take ng WeFilLaos EIC sa usaping marahil ay
nakaka-intriga sa mga Filipino educators sa Laos man o sa buong mundo (sa FB, hanapin ang
“Pinoy, Guro sa Mundo” www.facebook.com/Pinoy.Guro.saMundo).
Ilike to look at the taxonomy of thinking skills both as a ladder (hierarchy) and/or as a spec-
trum of colors that smoothly blend into one another. By including context (which means you
had to analyze your situation) and knowledge and skill (the level of mastery in applying your
knowledge) into such a big word “understanding” Wiggins &McTighe created a curious prob-
lem for me as a student of learning and instructional design.
Look at the definition of understanding in UbD above. By using words like, “wisely and effec-
tively” as well as “context” means there was some analyzing and evaluating (in Bloom’s revised
taxonomy) already involved. And yet they distinguished “knowledge” from “skill”. So, to clarify:
Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy (see: http://ww2.odu.edu/educ/roverbau/Bloom/blooms_taxono-
my.htm to compare the original taxonomy and the revision) refers specifically to thinking skills
while UbD refers to Attitude, Skills and Knowledge (ASK) [Some educators prefer KSAV (knowl-
edge, skills, attitudes, values)] finding relevance and application in a specific situation.
Let’s represent this:
From my Math lesson, I learned that the shortest distance from one point to another is a straight
line. Can I use this in real life? From a map, I traced the various routes with a ruler, I know that
the shortest travel time from Point A to Point B is through route X.
Per Bloom’s revised taxonomy, I remember that, and I understand as well. Applying this, I
should take my car and use route X to get to my meeting. However, today is Friday, where the
traffic “color-coding” rule is that vehicles with plate numbers ending in zero (like mine) cannot
pass through route X from 8:00 am to 10:00am and then 2:00-7:00 pm. I analyzed that route X
is not good for me in my current context or situation. I now need to evaluate other options and
create a decision. I need to go to Point B for a meeting.
Per UbD, I had to understand that it’s not enough to know that the shortest travel time from Point
A to Point B was route X, and apply this knowledge to determine my route. I had to be able to
wisely and effectively apply this knowledge, in a real world context of it being a Friday and the col-
or-coding rule in effect on route X. This is my real setting. I had to connect and relate the principle
of Math that the shortest distance from one point to another is a straight line (route X may have
morestraightlinesratherthancircuitousturns)toarealworldsettingofotherrulesandlimitsthat
I learned in Civics
(ethics/respect of
rules for the good
of society such
as obeying traffic
rules).
I had to have this
“big picture” of
other options
and the ability to
create a solution.
Options like, I can
travel between
10:01 am and 1:59
pm or after 7:00 pm. I can also travel before 8:00 am
and park somewhere and take public transportation
to my meeting place. I can reset my meeting time to
after 7:00 pm or even just cancel my meeting today.
Now I have to analyze the consequences of each op-
tion such as losing credibility or losing the deal I need
to make. I have both knowledge and skill (I can drive
my car very well through traffic in a way that no one
should notice my plate number), how about attitude?
Do I care about traffic rules? Can I just bribe the traffic
officer if I get caught? Do I even care about this per-
son I want to meet?
So far, no conflict between Bloom’s Revised Taxono-
my of thinking skills and the UbD except in the defini-
tion of “understanding”.
Both are very useful in determining learning strategy
and tactics or designing a “learning path” for my stu-
dents and helping me determine core subject matter
content that my fellow teachers can emphasize so
that my school comes up among “the best”.
We want to work as a team so that while we teach
our own subject specialties we are conscious of our
end-product: the best and the brightest.
To make more sense to me I needed the help of an-
other, big English word called: COMPETENCE (sets
of knowledge, skills and attitudes required to suc-
cessfully perform a particular task stated in specific
terms) which seems to be what the two are referring
to when they mention “understanding”.
“Some scholars see “competence” as a combination
of practical and theoretical knowledge, cognitive
skills, behavior and values used to improve perfor-
mance; or as the state or quality of being adequately
or well qualified, having the ability to perform a spe-
cific role. For instance, life, management competency
might include systems thinking and emotional intelli-
gence, and skills in influence and negotiation.
Competency is also used as a more general descrip-
tion of the requirements of human beings in organi-
zations and communities.
Competency is sometimes thought of as being shown
inactioninasituationandcontextthatmightbediffer-
ent the next time a person has to act. In emergencies,
competent people may react to a situation following
behaviors
they have
previously
found to
s u c c e e d .
To be com-
petent a
p e r s o n
w o u l d
need to be
able to in-
terpret the
situation
in the context and to have a repertoire of possible
actions to take and have trained in the possible ac-
tions in the repertoire, if this is relevant. Regardless
of training, competency would grow through expe-
rience and the extent of an individual to learn and
adapt.”—wikipedia
Thus, using SCAMPER technique, where I “substitute”
the word “understanding” with the word “competen-
cy”--dare we say that UbD then is also actually ”Com-
petency building by design”—? #WeFilLaos
BLOOM’S REVISED
TAXONOMY VS UBD By: Joel Wayne Ganibe
P19
What does it mean for us who are responsible for training the future teachers?--It means we need to continuously
analyze and evaluate our curriculum and materials so that it remains relevant to the real world. It is no longer
WHAT TO LEARN but HOW TO LEARN, UNLEARN and RELEARN. We need to be expert lifelong learners our-
selves, so that we can help build lifelong learners.

20. P20

21. P21

22. S
abi ni Mr. Thui Silitan, isang government official and
business person, “Filipino expats in our country, I have
observed, have that strong command of the English
language. They are naturally friendly and easy to be
with. Add to that my first-hand experience of the hospitality
of the people in the Philippines some years back when I had
a job training there. I appreciate their kindness.” Kaya nag-
enjoy daw sya nang husto sa Mindanao.
“Filipinos always wear a big smile. I have some Filipino
friends who told me that behind their smiles they actually go
through a lot of really tough times and suffering. They miss
their families back home, but have to sacrifice being away
from them,” sabi naman ni Mr. Van Thong Khon Udom who
is an award winning cook.
“What I like in my Filipino friends is their having that culture
where friends and even strangers are treated like family. To
them giving is so much a part of everyday life and sharing is
so natural.” Yan naman ang mga Pinoy para kay Ms. Nahlee
Kamvoungsa, isang government hospital nurse.
“Filipino expats in Laos are very admirable because most
of them are successful in different jobs. As a matter of fact
they are very resilient.” Mas madali raw makapag-adjust sa
kanilang mga kasamahan at maging mga employers ang
mga Pinoy kasi agad nilang naiintindihan ang mga cultural
sensitivities ng mga Lao. Si Ajarn Davahn, isang dating
kasamahang guro sa aking pinagtuturuang school ang
nagsabi nyan.
“For me, Filipinos are the friendliest and kindest people one
could ever meet. With their always ready smiles, they seem
to be the happiest people on Earth. Most of them, if not
all, love to sing karaoke and they could really sing so well.
They also love to dance whenever there is an occasion to
celebrate. Filipinos are a very talented lot.” Napaka-sociable
daw ng mga Pinoy, sabi naman ni Miss Phunkphilakone
They say, Filipinos
thrive in every nook
and cranny of the
world. Yes, as an OFW
myself, I could attest to
the veracity of that im-
pression. Let’s add to that
though. We do shine in
our respective fields. Kahit
saan tayo dalhin ay madali
tayong nakakapag-adjust.
But let us find out more
in the words of local Lao
people, who we crossed
paths with while gallivant-
ing here in Vientiane--their impressions about us Filipinos. Let us know how they see
us as employees, as colleagues, as friends, and as a people in general. Ano nga ba ang
masasabi ng mga Lao sa ating mga Pinoy?
at first I was wondering why
they have to work in Laos their
stories could attest that they
areproudofthePhilippines.My
Filipino friends are incredibly
welcoming and nice. And while
most Asian people are very
reserved, including us Lao, the
Filipinos are different because
they are so natural and easy
to befriend,” sabi naman ni
Nangphot Philavong, may-ari
ng isang resort-hotel.
“I find the Filipinos a very
hard working people. They
have some kind of natural
confidence in putting to work
a measure of initiative, and
doing any assigned tasks
without complaints. More
often than not, they would
not complain but rather try to
exhaust ways to make things
work out first before quitting.
And amazingly, it often works
for them!” Employer si Mr.
Jamkhan Sengsourinha ng
ilang Pinoy sa Laos.
“I have Filipino teachers, and
they are very patient with us.
They are very good teachers.”
Ito naman ang maikling
sagot ni Anyta Phimmasone,
isa sa mga estudyante ko
sa Australian International
School.
Nakakabilib talaga tayong mga
Pinoy, kahit saan man tayo dalhin
ng mga paa natin sa mundo.
Kailanganpabangipangalandakan
natin ang pagkama-talento,
matalino, masipag at matiyaga
at kung ano pang magagandang
diskrepsyon sa atin ng ibang lahi?
Alam na this! #WeFilLaos
You need POWER, only when you want to do something
HARMFUL otherwise, LOVE is enough to get everything DONE.
-- Charlie Chaplin
P22
Khampasong na isang school
office employee.
“I’vemetmanyFilipinoswhile
traveling, and my encounter
of them abroad has made
me realize that they are
some of the friendliest. The
ones I encountered outside
of Laos and the ones I have
befriended here at home
are very the same—NICE!”
Ito naman ang pagkaka-
describe ni Mr. Vanah
Siangvot na nagtuturo sa
isang government primary
school.
“I have visited Some Filipino
friends at the places where
they stay here in Vientiane,
and I find them to be very
welcoming and hospitable.
I was always treated like a
family. One thing more, I get
to practice speaking English
when I’m with them. Many of
my friends are teachers and I
think they are very good at
teaching.” Nagpapasalamat
daw si Miss Nalisa Xaiyasith
na nagkaroon siya ng mga
kaibigang Pinoy, lalo na at
natututo siyang mag English.
“Filipinos are a very
passionate people. And while

23. P23