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Filipinos in Czechia urged: Organize groups by placing community over self
PRAGUE, Czech Republic — For eight years, Lea Colegado lived in the United States and enjoyed volunteer work with many Filipino civic organizations and commerce chambers in several states.
During those years, however, she observed how communities that rallied for good causes split apart over arguments and credit-grabbing. That cautionary tale encouraged her to observe the attitudes of fellow Filipinos in the Czech Republic, where she relocated in 2020.
Colegado, a preschool teacher and entrepreneur, drew on this experience to encourage Filipino leaders, who gathered at the Philippine Embassy in Prague for a leadership training course on community organizing, to learn from the lessons of other migrant groups in other countries.
"Ang problema—ang attitude ng Pilipino na 'pataasan ng ihi.' Mas maganda kung i-share ang experiences and best practices and then put them together para maging isa. I hope we can create that environment here para ma-unite ang mga Filipino," Colegado shared during the session.
(The problem is the Filipinos' attitude of engaging in pissing contests. It would be better if we could share and put together our experiences and best practices, so that we could achieve unity. I hope we can create that environment here to unite Filipinos.)
Growing workforce
The two-part training, organized by the Philippines' Migrant Workers Office (MWO) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) office in Prague on March 14 and 28, took place amid the reality that the Filipino population in the Czech Republic is no longer a small, transient diaspora.
According to Philippine embassy data, the community has grown to 15,000 members, predominantly newly arrived factory and warehouse workers. This shift distinguishes the Filipino diaspora in the Czech Republic from those in neighboring Germany or Austria, where healthcare professionals are in higher demand.
Welfare Officer Emer Janette Bamba noted that these migrants must be increasingly aware of the "common concerns" they face, from maintaining cultural identity to building a collective voice in their host society.
"Yet, effective community work does not happen automatically. It requires organization, shared leadership, clear goals, and a strong sense of participation among members of the community," Bamba said.
Meaningful development
On the training's first day, Colegado and 25 other community leaders attended a lecture by Assoc. Prof. Paul Edward Muego from the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Social Work and Community Development.
Muego emphasized that community organizing is a "process of really strengthening the organization of groups" through relationships and identifying shared issues.
He focused on "meaningful development" while individuals work toward a collective whole.
"Kapag pinag-uusapan ang kaunlaran, maraming ideya tungkol sa kung ano ang 'meaningful development' sa iba't ibang konteksto. Pero mahalaga ring balikan at pag-usapan ng mga Pilipino abroad kung ano ang mukha ng kaunlaran pagdating sa inyong konteksto. Ang mahalaga, pinapaalala sa atin ng pag-organisa na hindi lang ito tungkol isa, pero sa ating lahat," Muego said.
(In the discussions about 'development,' there are many ideas about what makes for 'meaningful development' in different contexts. It's important for Filipinos abroad to revisit and discuss how 'development' is understood in their respective contexts. Community organizing reminds us that development is not just for one individual but for all.)
Many of the participating leaders agreed, reflecting that community organizing should also be about maintaining identity and promoting culture rather than just arranging programs or events.
For instance, organizers of the first "Barrio Fiesta" Filipino culture and food market in the Czech Republic in September 2025 shared observations that programs could be "a bit messy."
The goal now, organizers said, is to establish a structure so that volunteers won't need to be reassembled every year, and for communities to focus on needs such as training people and raising funds for their activities.
Meanwhile, other groups, such as those representing the Igorot community, spoke of how collectives could also promote identity.
In recent years, they have represented the Philippines in cultural events in Prague through dance performances, wearing their ethnic attire.
"'Yung community kung saan ako nag-join ay something na alam kong ako (The community that I joined is something that represents who I am)," said Cecily Polec-eo, a representative of the Igorot collective.
"We help one another at yung ibang Filipinos na nangangailangan, kahit walang event—basta kaya namin. (Also, we help other Filipinos in need, as long as we have the resources)."
Serving communities
Most of the community leaders who attended the two-day workshop were women. For the 33-year-old teacher Naline Mandin, based in the city of ?eské Bud?jovice, although this was a notable reality, community leadership should not be exclusive.
"It's very important for leaders to welcome everyone, so they are not intimidated and feel discriminated against. Inclusivity begins with how you interact with someone. When you show it to someone, regardless of their gender or beliefs, they feel accepted. It starts from that acceptance," Mandin told GMA News.
For Colegado, while strong women are often the ones who excel at convincing others to join, the ultimate goal is to create a model community where everyone has an opportunity to serve based on their skills.
She recalled a volunteering stint in 2022—two years after she arrived in Prague—when Ukrainian refugees sought shelter in the Czech Republic due to Russia's invasion.
She organized a short-lived volunteer group, which eventually made her realize she had a "mission" while living in Europe.
Now, Colegado is an active member and the current president of the Cofradia del Santo Niño de Cebu, a Catholic community that has organized nonsecular activities, including the Sinulog Festival in Prague.
"Community leaders should give people the opportunity to serve in their capacity. We should also let everyone know that community leadership isn't only for women but for all, communities need insights and input. The goal is to create a good model community while we are still manageable."
A 'good' Filipino community
Ambassador Eduardo Martin Meñez has been vocal about his desire for the Filipino community in the Czech Republic to be a "model" for others.
One of his proposals was the creation of a "chamber of professionals," in which a network of Filipino accountants, engineers, IT workers, wellness professionals, and other talents could bid for Czech government projects and raise the community's profile.
He also challenged the workshop participants to look beyond their work contracts and see themselves as contributors to the community's development.
"A good Filipino community will also look to support Filipinos who need assistance. It's not just the Philippine government, [agencies] like the International Organization for Migration, and other NGOs (nongovernment organizations) in the Czech Republic that can offer such assistance to fellow Filipinos who need help, but also the Filipino community in a certain way, like other well-developed communities in this country," Ambassador Meñez said.
On the second day of training, workshop participants presented ideas to strengthen and structure Filipino community groups. They also reached a consensus to establish a unified network to connect new and existing Filipino organizations in the Czech Republic.
The MWO and OWWA said they would invite the participants to another seminar on maintaining the network.
The two offices will organize a similar training for Filipino community members and overseas workers in Lithuania on April 25-26, 2026. — VDV, GMA News
