Film on Pinoy migrant teachers shown in New York

A documentary film on Filipino migrant teachers was shown at the Philippine Center in New York last March to mark International Women’s Month, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.   In a news release, the DFA said the documentary film “The Learning” by Filipino filmmaker Ramona Diaz was shown at the Philippine Center’s Kalayaan Hall on March 29.   “Over 70 members of the Filipino-American community viewed the moving documentary revolving around the lives of four Filipino teachers who were recruited to teach Science, Math, and Special Education subjects in inner city schools in Baltimore, Maryland,” the DFA said.   The film, which premiered on the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) channel in October last year, received praise for its humorous, real, and touching depiction of the lives of Filipino migrant teachers.   The film showing was a joint effort of the Philippine Consulate General in New York and the United Nations (UN) Staff Recreational Council-Philippine Cultural Society.   In her welcome remarks, Deputy Consul General Theresa de Vega said more people should view films like “The Learning” to get a better appreciation of the challenges faced by migrant women uprooted from their families, professional circles, and other support mechanisms.   Members of the Association of Filipino American Teachers (AFTA) who were present during the screening said the film realistically captured the difficulties faced by Filipino teachers in America. - VVP/TJD, GMA News