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For the past 17 years, The Filipino Express has provided the Filipino American community the best news, arts and entertainment coverage from around the United States and the Philippines.
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NEW YORK --- Recently presidents of organizations received a letter from the organizers of a benefit play, “Looking for William.” The letter was signed by Lourdes P. Corrales, overall chairperson of the Philippine American Friendship Committee, Inc.; Adelina H. Dunlap, overall chairperson, Philippine Day Organizing Council, Inc.; Roger Alama, president of Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc.; and Cecilia B. Rebong, consul general, Philippine Consulate General in New York.
If anyone asked what's odd with this picture, someone would immediately point out the name of Alama. While Corrales and Dunlap were directly responsible for the independence festivities in Jersey City and Passaic, Alama was not. Lolita Gillberg, the person who was voted on by the community in a general election, was. So, what does this tell of Alama?
It's obviously his need for attention, his pursuit of power play and his complete disregard of protocol. His being president of PIDCI does not necessarily give him automatic right to claim responsibility for undertaking the festivities in New York City. He should have just deferred that to the right person.
Even PIDCI by-laws clearly stipulate the person in charge of the event --- and it isn't the president; it's the overall chair of the independence celebration. Did he deliberately forget his role or is he merely practicing how it feels to hold both positions of president and overall chair as is now prescribed in the now questionable amended by-laws, which his board has approved on July 19?
Someone said Alama could be a good candidate for Donald Trump’s TV show “The Apprentice” and maybe, the first to receive Trump's reprove with his now famous words: “you’re fired!” And if I were a government official paying $10,000 a month rent for a Trump's apartment on 48th street in Manhattan, I would be fired, too, for my extravagance. No need to say more.
But that just for starters.
The three organizations have a membership base and a board of directors that govern their activities. Did anyone of them seek their board's approval or member's input in participating to this benefit event? I've looked (not for William) and asked around but no one recalls this fund-raising project was discussed in their meetings. If indeed this play was a “tribute to the Filipino American Youth,” is this how these so-called leaders show the youth how leadership and democracy work?
Did they conveniently assume their decision would be acceptable to members of their board or to their general membership since they didn't have any other choice but to partner with the consul-general's “banner project for 2004-2005?”
Were they pressured by the consul general into accepting the invitation since it was nakakahiya (embarrassing) if they didn't? Or was there someone who was smart enough to convince the consul general to hold this fund-raising event at the Kalayaan Hall?
Unless it has changed, I thought it was the Philippine Center Management Board's policy not to allow any group to sell tickets to the public for an event that is held at the Kalayaan Hall or at the Center's premises. Why then are tickets being sold under the guise of “donations?” If this was not corrected, the Center could be in violation of its diplomatic privileges.
A few years back, I have raised issues about fund-raising events purportedly to help a consul general's project. I questioned the appropriateness of the consulate's role in it as it may be venturing into trouble with government regulatory policies and procedures. Besides, such fund-raising events invite unwanted perceptions from the public that may only affect the mission of consular offices abroad. This “Looking for William” benefit is no different and puts the Consulate General in New York at risk.
According to the letter, the play's proceeds will benefit the “Adopt-A-Classroom” project of the consul general. The project is about helping “build classrooms for children in Mindanao, in particular those who have been displaced by armed conflict.” And the letter continues with a tagline that says: “(it) also complements President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's agenda to put every Filipino child in an uncrowded classroom, in surroundings conducive to learning.”
If you're like me who reads texts in between the lines, you'll understand the message. But I perceived it differently. To me, it's an outright example of brown-nosing. Whoever drafted that letter did not think thoroughly of its implications that put the consul general in a bad light.
There are risks that these three organizations take in participating in this project. Do their articles of incorporation allow them to undertake fund-raising projects that support an agent of a foreign government?
Without compromising the consulate's mission here, there are hundreds of organizations listed in their office that could have been encouraged to run the project. They could have walked them through all the requirements of the project, like partnering with a Non-Government Organization (NGO) in Mindanao.
Or if that wasn't good enough, the National Association of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), chaired by Loida Nicolas-Lewis, could have been appropriately tapped since most organizations belong to it anyway.
I cannot understand why these three groups, which are mostly known for their independence celebration events, have to take the lead in this project. I also cannot understand why the letter had to mention “to conclude the 2004 Philippine Independence Day festivities,” to justify holding the project.
It's a bad excuse to promote a good play. Was the extension of independence celebration in their original plan? I highly doubt it. There must be something more to it that it needed to be presented at the Kalayaan Hall.
The project does not bode well, in what it claims that it will “pay tribute to the future leaders of our communities, the Filipino American youth, who will carry the torch for us in keeping alive our Filipino heritage.” This is not what our youth wants to see from its current leaders.
It's really strange bedfellows in looking for William.
Send comments to rickyxpres@aol.com or visit Website at PinoyOnBoard.com.
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It’s a tiny scar on my right hand. But when I look at it I am reminded of the Rice Terraces and how I’ve never seen them. It happened a couple of months before I moved to the US. My brother, sister and I and three friends were all set for the 8 hour ride from Manila to Sagada via Nueva Vizcaya. We excitedly sat in the front row, all psyched and ready to gaze at that wonder of the world. Alas, I never did see the Rice Terraces as our bus careened into the side of the road at dawn. All I could think about back then was how “this was not the way I wanted to go” - I heard the bus screech and the driver say “Diyos Ko Po!” And then the screams. I reached for my sister who was sitting next to me, my baby sister, and made sure my brother, my baby brother was okay. There were injuries and fortunately no fatalities. (We didn’t even make the newspaper.) I had stitches on my head and my hand. And one of our friends broke her wrist. Shaken, but physically fine, we spent the night in Vizcaya and decided to head home the next morning.
Since then my brother has gone back to Sagada several times, while I can only dream that some day the road becomes less treacherous, and that the Rice Terraces survive the years so I can finally make the trip and take my husband and my children.
That’s the one place I wish I had visited in the Philippines. But really, I have been lucky. I have traveled all over the country and have seen many of our country’s treasures. As a twenty-something, I was struck with wanderlust. So as soon as I had saved enough money, I’d take off - on a bus, plane or boat - alone or with a friend. It didn’t matter. Many times I just wanted to get away from hectic and polluted Manila. Perhaps when you are younger and single you tend to be more adventurous - you don’t worry about food or money or terrorists. (Maybe times were different then too.) And you throw caution to the wind, grab your backpack and go. Bahala na.
I think Boracay should be a required field trip for every Filipino if only so you can tell others first hand about the beautiful white sand beaches, the aqua blue waters and the international feel of the place. I think it’s more commercialized now but hey, it’s still Boracay. Every Filipino should explore their own hometowns too- for example, for a Manilena like me - see and know all about Metro Manila from Malate to Makati to Malabon. For a Davaoeno, see and know all about Davao from Mt. Apo to where to buy the freshest durian.
While I enjoyed the long weekend trips, I also had fun on the quick get-aways. For beach get-aways close to Manila, you can’t beat Batangas. And well, I will always have fond memories of Puerto Galera especially the bohemian arts and music fests there. Palawan is awesome and though I didn’t make it through the Underground Caves, I did go snorkeling in El Nido - and that’s something I will always treasure. Camiguin with its volcanoes is a gem too. Baguio was always a refreshing change from Manila although I hear sprawl has invaded the mountainside. Ilocos is a nostalgic favorite -because it is where my dad’s family is from - although I’ve only made the trip three times. Cebu, Davao, Bacolod and Cagayan de Oro are places I’d love to return to as well. There are 7,000 islands (or more — during low tide as one Ms. Universe contestant once said) and each one is different and beautiful. What is even more pleasurable are the people you meet. In the provinces, there is still that innocence and openness — and if you want to see a true Filipinos soul, you must visit the small towns like Bais in Dumaguete or Baao in Bicol. I can tell you so much more but really you’ll have to see and experience for yourself.
I wish I could go back and explore - so much more I want to see Bohol, Batanes, Sagada and Siargao. I wish traveling around the Philippines were a little easier although getting around was indeed part of the adventure. Now that I am older I can’t imagine sitting through an 11-hour jeepney ride through rough roads though. Nor can I imagine taking little children on such a trip.
I still get the itch to travel-don’t get me wrong. Since the US is now my home, my wanderlust is now aimed at exploring America. So far I’ve been to 10 States, which leaves 40 more!!! It always strikes me as odd how so many people here in South Jersey have never even been to New York! Let alone the West Coast. There are lovely places in these United States too and more convenient ways of getting to them. My trips have been few and far between, and when you have a family, your travel focus is different - it isn’t about seeing and doing as much as you can over a short period time anymore. It’s about taking advantage of the time you have together, wherever you are.
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I’d like to give a shout-out to all G.I’s (Genuine Ilokanos) out there - I found this beautiful photo site featuring Ilocos - www.juantamad.com/ilokos/ By the way, does anybody have the recipes for Ilocano food like papaitan and igado?
And finally, thank you to those who e-mailed me their travel wish lists - Norm Ramirez, Myra Capil of Union, NJ, and last but not least Eduardo Oquendo of Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada who practically wrote an ode to Davao City. Here’s our next poll — What (Filipino) song should every Filipino know? E-mail me at manilagirl01[at]hotmail.com
Visit www.missingmangoes.com, www.manila-girl.com
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