Table Of ContentThe Lived Experiences of Filipinx
American Teachers in the U.S.
This text offers a hermeneutic phenomenological exploration of the lived
experiences of Filipinx American teachers in U.S. schools, classrooms,
and colleges.
By drawing on one-on-one dialogues, group discussion, and reflective
writing, the text identifies racial, cultural, and linguistic barriers that
members of this minority group have faced in their training and practice
as educators. The text questions the underrepresentation of Filipinx
Americans among U.S. teaching staff and identifies causes both within
the Filipino community and via external factors, including the absence of
Filipino culture in curricula, as well as a lack of peer support in the devel-
opment of Asian American teacher identities. This timely volume high-
lights the need to expand diversity teacher education to create a more
racially diverse and inclusive workforce.
Offering rich insight into the experiences of Filipinx American teach-
ers, this volume will be of interest to students, scholars, and researchers
drawn to studies of multicultural education, as well as teacher
education.
Eleonor G. Castillo is an Assistant Professor in the Westminster College
School of Education, U.S.
Routledge Research in Educational Equality and Diversity
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Edited by G. Sue Kasun and Irasema Mora-Pablo
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Edited by Andrea Romero and Iliana Reyes
The Lived Experiences of Filipinx American Teachers in the U.S.
A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study
Eleonor G. Castillo
Multiculturalism, Educational Inclusion, and Connectedness
Wellbeing, Ethnicity, and Identity among Chinese, South, and Southeast
Asian Students
Celeste Yuen
For more information about this series, please visit: www.routledge.com/
Routledge-Research-in-Educational-Equality-and-Diversity/book-series/
RREED
The Lived Experiences of
Filipinx American Teachers
in the U.S.
A Hermeneutic Phenomenological
Study
Eleonor G. Castillo
First published 2023
by Routledge
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Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an
informa business
© 2023 Taylor & Francis
The right of Eleonor G. Castillo to be identified as author of this
work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of
the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Castillo, Eleonor G., author.
Title: The lived experiences of Filipinx American teachers in the U.S. : a
hermeneutic phenomenological study / Eleonor G. Castillo.
Other titles: Lived experiences of Filipinx American teachers in the United
States
Description: New York, NY : Routledge, 2022. | Series: Routledge research
in educational equality and diversity | Includes bibliographical
references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021056559 (print) | LCCN 2021056560 (ebook) | ISBN
9780367442002 (hardback) | ISBN 9781032250045 (paperback) | ISBN
9781003008262 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Filipino Americans--Education. | Teachers--United
States--Social conditions. | Filipino Americans--Social conditions. |
Filipino Americans--Ethnic identity. | Mulitcultural education--United
States. | Filipino American teachers
Classification: LCC LC3301 .C42 2022 (print) | LCC LC3301 (ebook) | DDC
371.100899/21073--dc23/eng/20220527
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021056559
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021056560
ISBN: 978-0-367-44200-2 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-25004-5 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-00826-2 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003008262
Typeset in Sabon
by SPi Technologies India Pvt Ltd (Straive)
To my parents: Elvira F. and Rodolfo R. Castillo. Thank you for your
love and support.
To my nieces and nephews: Angelica, Alejandro, Michaela, Ryan,
Joshua, and Rachel. Follow your dreams.
To Kasra Sotudeh. With you, my dissertation and the following book
publication came to full fruition. A heartfelt thank you. Mahal Kita.
To Kimberly Perez. My dear Pinay sister. Your presence was with me
throughout this journey.
To Reynaldo I. Monzon. My longtime Mentor. Thank you for your care
and guidance as the Filipino American Scholar on my dissertation
committee. Your words will forever direct me forward: “You’ve got this,
Eleonor!”
Contents
Preface viii
Acknowledgments ix
1 Philosophic and Historical Foundations for the
Study of Being a Filipinx American Teacher 1
2 Being Seen as a Filipinx American Teacher 23
3 The Absence of Filipinx American Teachers 58
4 Breaking the Silence as a Filipinx American Teacher 92
5 Revealing Pedagogical Insights: The Filipinx American
Teacher Within – A Voice Emerging Outward 139
Index 162
Preface
My Ph.D. dissertation is entitled, Searching for Reflections: The Lived
Experiences of Filipino American Teachers. This title represents one of
the essential themes that emerged from my research and the literary met-
aphors of mirrors and water that I draw into the study to further the
thematizing within this hermeneutic phenomenological endeavor.
The following artistic piece by Ethel Martinez, a Filipina American, serves
to meaningfully and reflectively represent the original title of my work.
Acknowledgments
As this book is the publication of my Ph.D. dissertation with certain addi-
tions and further reflection and pedagogical engagement, I wish to
acknowledge the many persons who supported me along my dissertation
journey.
To Dr. Francine Hultgren, my advisor and dissertation chair, thank you
for always believing in me. You were my phenomenological north star on
this doctoral journey – thank you for your guidance and unwavering
support.
My dissertation committee: Dr. Steven Klees, Dr. Reynaldo Monzon,
Dr. Margaret Peterson, and Dr. Jennifer Danridge Turner. Thank you for
your thoughtful and meaningful scholarly guidance. My study was
enriched because of your contributions.
The Filipino spirit of Bayanihan reflects my doctoral journey, as a com-
munity of family, friends, and colleagues cared, encouraged, inspired, and
supported me – for which I am deeply blessed and truly grateful.
The foundation of family – Robert and Rona Castillo, Elizabeth
Castillo-Armendariz, Roderick Castillo, Robert Armendariz, Pedro and
Edith Francisco, Bernadette Francisco, and Violeta de la Pena.
The care of friends – Genevieve Esmende Lapid, Myla Mappala, Joan
del Rosario, Gabriella Onder, Cecilia Nepomuceno, Patricia Espiritu
Halagao, Juan Astorga, Ronellie Cabutaje Pasion, Veronica Salcedo,
Dionne Paniza, Zaida Fune Polk, Agustin Orozco, Matty and Luis Cortes,
Tracy Froderman, Herb Delute, Judy Patacsil Delute, Jocelyn Valencia
Love, Reynila Calderon-Magbuhat, Simon Magbuhat, Laurie Go,
Jonathan Burgos, and Dawn Bohulano Mabalon.
The inspiration and support of colleagues – Betty Malen, Robert
Croninger, Steven Selden, Linda Valli, Diane James, Lattisha Hall, Joy
Jones, Stephanie Goodwin, Elsie Pratt, Katryna Andrusik, and Liz
Johnson.
Kathleen Mulvaney Hoyer, my colleague and dear friend, whose sup-
port during our days as graduate students, and more recently, who
