The Philippine Consulate General, in partnership with the Houston Chapter of the Society for the Advancement of Filipino Educators and Education Professionals (SAFE-EP) led by Cora Flores, organized a post-arrival orientation and capacity-building seminar for 37 newly arrived Filipino participants in the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) in Houston.
The participants, all teachers, received an overview of the Consulate’s consular services and attended briefings on the ESL/reading, science/STEM, math, and SPED curricula used in Houston-area school districts. They also joined training sessions focused on leadership, classroom management, and instructional strategies.
Consul General Gunther Sales encouraged the teachers to maximize the benefits of the EVP to strengthen their knowledge, skills, and competencies. He highlighted the program as an opportunity to promote awareness of the Philippines in their assigned schools and to use their EVP experiences to contribute to the Philippine education system in the future.
Meanwhile, Atty. Gary Ilagan of Fong Ilagan, LLC, an immigration law firm based in Houston, provided an overview of the U.S. immigration system and current developments. He also addressed immigration-related matters to guide the teachers throughout their program.
The article was first featured on the Philippine Consulate General in Houston Facebook Page on July 2025. To view the original article, please click here.