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Will there be peace, love and joy?
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NEW YORK --- It is a new year and hopefully, a new beginning for board members of the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI). They met once again on Jan. 4 to wrap up their discussion on committing themselves to observe the organization's by-laws to the letter and to work together in the spirit of cooperation and collaboration. They were also supposed to submit their responses to a list of questions, which they all agreed to comply with.
The questions ranged from stating their vision as directors, their roles, their strengths and weaknesses, their assessment of community dynamics, their suggestions for community partnership, and how they see themselves contribute to the goals of the organization. Surprisingly, only Dr. Ben Ileto complied. Either the rest of the directors were not comfortable revealing their inner thoughts out in the open or they were simply not used to completing a questionnaire that provokes their firm commitment to the organization.
I wonder why. At this time, with some of them serving in the board for the second year or more, they should have learned to stay out of their box and accept new ideas. Maintaining the status quo or tradition is good but that makes the organization static and dull. This only leads to personality clashes and personal agenda instead of organizational vision and unity.
Treasurer Baby Bleza may have overacted in probing certain financial transactions that occurred in the past administrations as well as current practices but I salute her for undertaking her role with good intentions. And the more she takes her job seriously, perhaps she will be able to clear up whatever concerns and perceptions people have about PIDCI. Foremost, among which, is its financial and accounting practices.
This leads me to the issuance of an audited 2003 financial report, which is now overdue. Where is it? The last I heard people were jockeying on who should have custody of the records. Should Sofia Abad have it or Bleza? But after much ado and a long circuitous route, former treasurer Cora Reyes had to give them to Abad by order of the board.
Abad was directed to submit a completed report at a board meeting in February. While the records were passed around from one person to another that included Rey Padilla, external auditor, and back to Reyes, the question is: why was this happening? Was Abad and her friends out on a witch-hunt trip to pin down Nena Kaufman, 2003 Philippine Independence Celebration Committee (PICC) overall chair, for wrong doing?
Was Lolit Gillberg, 2003 PICC internal auditor, wrong with her audit observations? Did she jump into conclusions accusing Kaufman of fraud? Will there be a resolution to all these accusations and allegations and will Kaufman be vindicated? Will truth set everyone free? That would be an interesting development, which everyone in the community is waiting for.
Just like every year when financial statements are awaited, this one is definitely for the books as well. Will it be the same for 2004? Will there be more revelations of people receiving money from PIDCI that are unaccounted for or are there people benefiting from the treasury?
In order to prevent such incidents to happen in the future, stricter financial controls and audit trails should be put in effect. It seems, however, that despite the presence of accountants and auditors crying out load for such measures, it is still difficult to make all transactions transparent and people accountable. What's wrong? It seems like this would be a perpetual challenge to whoever is at the helm.
Not only that. It seems that when people are elected into office, the organization's constitution and by-laws are thrown out of the window. Perhaps, ignored is the appropriate word for it. They should remember that government should be of laws rather than of men.
If board members were not critical of improving their organizational knowledge and skills as well as their own strengths and weaknesses, how would they be critical of their actions? If their mindset was focused on achieving what's good only for their name, what's the end product the community gets?
We all have good intentions for the good of the community. But if these were not translated into positive action, the result will be the same year after year. And so you ask: What's needed to be done? What do we have to change to reverse the results?
That requires deep thinking and an honest assessment of ourselves. Only then can we find the solution to a problem that seems endless. Have you got one suggestion? Let me know.
With the selection of Linda Pelayo as 2005 grand marshal, she may yet be a peacemaker to certain people who have become cold with each other because of their involvement in PIDCI/PICC activities. That's a good beginning for a new year.
Will there be peace, love and joy in our community and in the hearts and minds of our leaders?
Send comments to rickyxpres@aol.com or visit Website at PinoyOnBoard.com.
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