AFTA Leads Fil-Am Educators in Uplifting Philippine Classrooms Through Volunteer Teaching

New York, NY — A group of Filipino American educators is making a lasting impact in the Philippines by returning to underserved schools and offering free training to local teachers—sharing innovative strategies they’ve gained from decades of teaching in the United States.

The program, called Balikturo—a Filipino word that means “return to teach”—was recently featured on The Chairman’s Report, a public affairs show hosted by Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Secretary Dante “Klink” Ang II. The show’s guest, Rizalina Labanda, a retired New York educator and Vice President for Teaching and Research at the Association of Fil-Am Teachers of America (AFTA), shared how the initiative continues to empower teachers across the Philippines.

“When we go home to visit family, we also make time to give back,” Labanda said. “We volunteer in public schools, offer teacher training, and help bridge the gap in education.”

Now in its 31st year, Balikturo has helped thousands of Filipino educators enhance their teaching methods—especially in remote and underfunded areas. In July 2025 alone, the program reached 560 public school teachers from nearly 100 schools, providing workshops in early reading, math, science, and even artificial intelligence.

The volunteer educators, most of whom are based in New York and surrounding states, offer their time and expertise for free. They also cover their own travel costs.

“This is not just a one-way exchange. We also learn from our colleagues in the Philippines,” Labanda said. “It’s about collaboration, community, and connection.”

CFO Secretary Ang praised the initiative, saying it reflects the vital role of the Filipino diaspora in national development.

“These teachers are quiet heroes. Their work may not make headlines, but it’s helping transform the lives of students and teachers across the country,” Ang said.

Balikturo is one of several education-focused programs run by AFTA, a U.S.-based nonprofit. Other initiatives include Adopt-a-School, Adopt-a-Scholar, and the Paaralan sa Konsulado (School at the Consulate) program, which offers weekend Filipino language and cultural classes for children of immigrants in New York.

“We teach them how to say ‘po’ and ‘mano po’—respectful traditions from our culture,” Labanda explained. “Even if they grow up in the U.S., they can still know their roots.”

AFTA also partners with Filipino publishers like Lampara Books and relies on donations from the Fil-Am community to sustain its programs.