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Tuesday, 31 August 2010 06:53
Siam Pinoy has received inquiries about job opportunities in NGOs (non-government agencies) in Thailand for those of our kababayans (fellow Filipinos), who have worked in NGOs back in the Philippines. In response, we have interviewed Mr. Rufino Seva, who has many years of experience in humanitarian work in the field of urban refugees in Thailand and Philippines. He was hired from the Philippines more than 12 years ago, Rufino is now part of a select number of Filipinos working for NGOs in Thailand, most of them occupying major roles in their respective work areas.
It is Siam Pinoy's hope that this interview provides some answers to the queries and wonderings of those kababayans (fellow Filipinos) who are hoping for NGO jobs here in Thailand.
SP: For somebody who is already here, how or what does it entail to get a job in an NGO? If they have had experiences working with NGOs before, what would you suggest they do?
Rufino Seva: Actually, working in an NGO usually requires having a highly specialized skill and relevant experience in the field the person is applying for. Of course, NGO work has many areas, in the field of humanitarian assistance, social development, human rights, climate and environment, and many more.
For me, I did not come to Bangkok seeking a job in an NGO. I was hired back home.
Now, when you are here in Thailand and you are looking for a job in an NGO, you have to have the right connections, and the skills, which are needed by NGOs.
In an NGO, you have to be creative. You can't be a slow worker, and you can't just wait. And you have to be flexible. And which area would you like to go into? Because you can't just come here, for example, wanting to work with human rights groups, but you don't even have any experience working in such an area beforehand. You have to have the relevant substantial experience.
In the field of refugee work or, environment and climate change, it's the same. You have to have previous experience. From what I know, most Filipinos who are employed by NGOs here in Thailand are those who have had experiences working with NGOs back home. And then after that, many managed to work with UN agencies.
SP: In an earlier conversation with SP, you mentioned the importance of having the right connections. When you are already here in Thailand, and have plans of going into NGO work, how or what do you do to establish such right connections?
Rufino Seva: Go with the right crowd. For example, if you are a teacher right now, and you hang out with your fellow teachers then you go with the right network. It's the same thing if you want to know and find NGO work the right way. Most Filipinos who work in NGOs are not that visible when it comes to the regular get-togethers among Filipinos. They have their own clique, their own community.
Within the clique or the NGO workers' community, there's the sharing of vacancies. Like us in Bangkok, in our NGO group.
SP: What about volunteer work, would you advise Filipinos interested to do volunteer work with NGOs, while holding their teaching jobs, for instance?
Rufino Seva: That is highly recommended. When I arrived in Bangkok, I worked as a volunteer for two years. After two years, I had a very satisfactory performance so they absorbed me as a regular staff. Then, I moved to another organization later on, a UN agency. I worked there for one project. I went on a holiday and after a month, came back and volunteered with the human rights NGO. I was accepted as a volunteer, pro-bono work, and later was offered a job and position of a Project Coordinator.
SP: When you are already working in an NGO, what kinds of experiences are unique - ones that you probably won't experience if you were working in a regular company or teaching job?
Rufino Seva: It depends. For example, there is the consideration of budget. NGOs rely on funding from donors. There are Thai NGOs, where salaries are based on the salaries of the locals. On the other hand, there are NGOs that are regional, which in turn, give regional rates, and there are international NGOs, in which rates are adapted from the Western salary scale system.
Perks would include travel and a severance payment, which we call a "trust fund". This is calculated as per your salary and usually equivalent to a maximum 20% of the monthly salary. There's medical and accident insurance. However, your contract is limited to a certain period of time, depending on the project and the funding. But after you have worked in an NGO, and your performance was good, and you really have developed relevant and substantial knowledge and have become highly skilled, it's easier to work from one NGO to another.
SP: What, on the other hand, are the challenges?
Rufino Seva: Actually, marami (there are plenty). Unang-una (first of all), working in an NGO, kailangang mahaba ang pasensiya mo (it is necessary that you have a lot of patience). The work is under pressure and demanding. It's a multi-cultural environment so you have to be very flexible and, you have to be very creative because you are not doing the typical office job. There is always a space to create, innovate. At tsaka ano, merong (and, there is) networking with the stakeholders. Doon mo madedevelop yung networking, para mag expand yung knowledge at know-how mo para malaman mo kung ano pa yung ibang NGOs (It's there where you develop your networking skills, so you can expand on your knowledge and know-how in networking, so you will find out what other NGOs are out there).
Magiging basehan mo yun kung ano yung magiging next mo na career after matapos yung contract mo sa current employment mo (That will serve as your basis on what your next career might be once you finish with your current employment).
SP: You mentioned you have an informal group of Filipino people working in NGOs. Can you share what kind of activities you do together?
Rufino Seva: Yung grupo kasi nabuo yun dahil for one to be our support group for us working with NGOs, and serves as a forum to be socially and politically aware of the situation in the Philippines and take part in reform efforts of our society and governance. Our former President in the Philippines had done things, which were unbecoming of a President...mga panloloko (cheating on the people). Tapos, yung mga (then there's the) executive orders na ini-issue niya (that the former President issued) preventing certain government officials from testifying concerning the corruptions and scandals the President and her cabinet men were accused of. That's how we started and solidify our group, SIPA, to take part in what was happening in the Philippines.
SP: Is it true that when Filipinos are outside the Philippines, you actually seem to have much greater desire to help out the Philippines, and most times, Filipinos outside are those who have more resources?
Rufino Seva: Totoo yun. At tsaka pag nasa labas ka kasi ng Pilipinas, gusto mo namang malaman kung ano ang nangyayari sa bansa. At kung nakakatulong ka sa ibang tao sa ibang lugar, bakit hindi mo gawin yung pagtulong sa sarili mong bansa? Parang yun yong way na tumulong at hindi ka totally separated or detached from the Philippines' realities. (That's true. And when you are outside the Philippines, you want to know what is going on in the country. And if you are able to help people coming from other places, why won't you help your very own country? So that is a way to help ‚Äö by not being totally separated or detached from the Philippines' realities.) SP: It seems you may have more of a drive to help out, is that true?
Rufino Seva: Kami naman kasi, nagtatrabaho kami dito dahil ito ang passion and strong interest namin. (Well, we work here because this is what our passion is). We work here not solely for money.
SP: What are your final words to those who wish to get into an NGO for work?
Rufino Seva: It's not easy. You have to have the right experience and skills, network and clique, and the right timing.
It is quite a challenge to put years and years of experience and knowledge into just a few pages of paper, and all in just one sitting. Hopefully, those who have more to share on topics relevant to this area of work, could also share their expertise here, for the benefit of our readers.
Siam Pinoy has received inquiries about job opportunities in NGOs (non-government agencies) in Thailand for those of our kababayans (fellow Filipinos), who have worked in NGOs back in the Philippines. In response, we have interviewed Mr. Rufino Seva, who has many years of experience in humanitarian work in the field of urban refugees in Thailand and Philippines. He was hired from the Philippines more than 12 years ago, Rufino is now part of a select number of Filipinos working for NGOs in Thailand, most of them occupying major roles in their respective work areas. 
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