Teachers’ leaders begin the healing process; community is hopeful

The summer program Paaralan sa Konsulado is a collaboration between AFTA and the Philippine Consulate. Photos: AFTA

The summer program Paaralan sa Konsulado is a collaboration between AFTA and the Philippine Consulate. Photos: AFTA

Balikturo Awardees for 2012 receive their plaques from  Consul General Mario de Leon Jr. (4th from right).

Balikturo Awardees for 2012 receive their plaques from Consul General Mario de Leon Jr. (4th from right).

By Cristina DC Pastor

The series of articles on the break-up of the Association of Fil-Am Teachers (AFTA) has created such a firestorm of reactions from the community and especially from among the personalities who figured in the story.

And while the investigative report may appear, at least to some, to polarize the ranks of the teachers and divide further their leaders, such was not the intention of The FilAm. The series sought only to clarify the issues of what caused the schism within the solid, 25-year-old organization that advocated for teachers’ immigration status in 1989, and led to its eventual breakup. One group shared their experience of how they were marginalized, and that became the start of a story worth probing and sharing: the anatomy of how one organization rose, grew and splintered.

A lot has happened since the publication of the series and a lot of the heavy emotions may have clouded the issue. The FilAm listened to the parties involved as they make the following clarifications:

1-Lilia Juele did not send an email asking Lumen Castaneda to step down because of conflict of interest. A document on conflict of interest was presented to the AFTA board and Castaneda offered to resign, in the interest of peace.

2-The meeting location of Norman Thomas HS was not offered as a free venue, but was actually rented for $12 at that time.

3-The party of Lumen Castaneda, Ronie Mataquel and Ernesto Pamolarco said they were recalling the sequence of events as they understood it happened without attributing any malicious intent or to put a negative spotlight on AFTA and Lilia Juele.

Ernesto Pamolarco offered his public and sincere apology to Lilia Juele and to AFTA for uttering this general statement during the phone interview:

“That’s why I joined AFTA kasi nakikita ko ang mga guro na mukhang masaya at nagkakaisa,” he said in a forlorn voice. “Pero hindi pala.” (That’s why I joined AFTA because I could see the Filipino teachers looking so happy and united. They are not.)

Pamolarco noted further: “I had no intention to destroy the credibility of AFTA’s 25 years of existence. I just expressed out my frustration for not being able to convince everyone to unite as one.”

“It was also not my intention to hurt anyone, particularly the feelings of Ms. Lilia Juele and to destroy her character and integrity as a person, as a teacher and as a community leader. In fact, I admire and respect her for her great contribution to AFTA and for her active participation in conflict resolution.

Pamolarco concluded by saying, “To Ate Lilia and AFTA, my sincere apology!”

The parties are trying to pick up the pieces and talking through third-party mediation. This development makes the community hopeful that this will put an end to further speculations and, thus, begin the healing process.

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