How community orgs fall apart: The FilAm investigates

MANILA, Philippines – Many Filipinos say asking the nation to unite is an impossible dream. And this observation can be seen down to the micro-political level of community organizations, even outside of the Philippines.

The FilAm, an online magazine for Filipinos living in the New York area, investigates how a Filipino American teachers organization, founded in 1989 has split and polarized members of the Filipino community in New York.

“In March this year, the once-solid and formidable AFTA, suddenly split up, stunning many in the Filipino American community,” Cristina Pastor, The FilAm’s founding editor and longtime journalist said in the introduction of her report.

“Equally shocking were reports that it moved to impeach its 79-year-old president, retired teacher Lumen Castañeda. Teachers loyal to the ousted Castañeda broke ranks to form the United Federation of Fil-Am Educators or UNIFFIED.”

This story is the first produced by The FilAm’s crowdfunded project “Watchdogging the Filipino American Community: An Investigative Reporting Project.” 

Read “The Anatomy of a community organization: Teachers battle over the Association of Filipino Teachers in America” here.  – Rappler.com

The FilAm is a content partner of Rappler’s #BalikBayan