Parker Bolanio, an art teacher living his dream

Fifteen years ago, before leaving his hometown in the Philippines for better career opportunities, Parker Bolanio carefully compared Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, the top three countries on his list.

“I checked the background of each country and listed the pros and cons, to help me to decide where I would belong. I did my own research, because it's your life and that's how you navigate all the things,” said Parker.

It was an important decision for him, one made even more challenging by the great pressure he faced due to his family's financial difficulties. His parents sold their land, so that he could go abroad, and his brother had to put his studies on hold for a couple of years so that Parker could finish university. It was a struggle for him from the very beginning.

Parker came to Thailand immediately after graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education. “I told myself, OK, whatever it takes, I’ll pursue the teaching job, because I think, if you have the heart and the desire to help your family, you can overcome any obstacles,” he said.

Being an Art Teacher

Fortunately, finding teaching jobs in Thailand is relatively easy for Filipinos, because many of them are highly educated and fluent in English. They often pursue careers in teaching, whether in international or language schools, or find employment in the service sector, such as hotels and restaurants.

According to data from the Department of Employment, as of January 2024, a total of 19,510 Filipino workers were permitted to work in Thailand, with 75% working in the education sector. Since 2012, the number of Filipino teachers in Thailand has steadily increased each year.

Parker recalled that, when he first arrived in Thailand, he was mesmerised by the vibrant art scene here. Having experience with such things, he was inspired too and thought that maybe he could be an art teacher here.

After beginning his career as an English teacher in public schools, Parker made a significant change five years ago. He joined Bangkok Chicago Christian International School as an art teacher, fulfilling his aspiration while also pursuing his passion for art.

No failure policy

Having worked in several private schools, Parker noticed a common problem in the Thai education system - a ‘no failure policy’.

“I don't want to generalise it but, in my experience, even if that student is still struggling, we really have to pass him or her on to the next level,” he said.

He also pointed out that some students attend school, but don’t really study because, even if they get a grade of zero, they will still move on to the next level. He said discipline is a key factor.

In the educational system in the Philippines, he said the teachers there are really tough and often fail students. In the past, the benchmark was around 70%. ‘So, if you did not get 70%, that means you failed, and if you didn’t pass grade one, then you had to stay in grade one,” he said.

Growing up in a rural area of the Philippines, he remembered the challenges of studying independently and completing a lot of homework. Despite the difficulties, Parker found it to be a valuable learning experience.

Being an inspiration

Whenever Parker returns to his own country, he shares his experiences in Thailand with his neighbours and friends. They're always excited and eager to visit and have been inspired by his success. From time to time, he is asked, "How did you become an art teacher in Thailand? Is it difficult?"

He said that Filipinos generally have a favourable view of Thais and that people in both countries share many characteristics, such as friendliness, generosity and hospitality. He has always had positive relationships with Thai people.

Despite a controversy involving the Thai and Filipino LGBT communities earlier this year, Parker mentioned that his Thai friends teased him about it, but he just laughed it off.

“I think my heart belongs to Thailand”, he said, adding that he envisions living and working here for the next five to ten years and plans to invite his mother to come and live with him.

Currently, he's pursuing further studies in Art Education at Azusa Pacific University in California.