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NEW YORK --- The first shot has been fired and the battle has begun. There seems to be no stopping Nena Kaufman, 2003 Philippine Independence Celebration Committee overall chair, from clearing her name.
“Enough is enough,” she said. But she declined to give further comment about the complaint she filed with the Supreme Court of New York State through her lawyer. She accused three individuals of “making statements out of malice and spite and with the intent to destroy (her) good reputation in the Filipino American community.”
For anything else, Kaufman’s bold act is intended to stop certain individuals and put others on notice to refrain from making personal, unsubstantiated allegations against her. I figure that she must have been prompted to act decisively after receiving another anonymous letter, which contained unsavory remarks about her.
Anonymous letters seemed to be in fad these days, not only in organizations like the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) but also in the Philippine American Community in Bergen County (PACBC). There may also be other organizations, which do not enjoy the same celebrity status as PIDCI and PACBC that are having similar experience.
Whoever or whichever group initiated these letters sowing malicious and damaging accusations must be laughing to their heart’s content. They are the ones who started this battle of the minds that has now escalated into a precarious level. The outcome of which may only leave our community at a loss and erode public confidence in people and the organizations they serve.
I understand that some anonymous letters to Kaufman have remained unopened and will be subject to forensic investigation by authorities. Although prints may not match sensitive government databases at the moment, prints collected will then be saved for future use. Will this work? At the rate the U.S. government is securing its shores, anything is possible.
Even then, I continue to wonder why there are those in our community that are gifted with talents and have community spirit but resort to scheming and distributing anonymous letters, which make our blood vessels boil reading its contents. Ultimately, the battle of the minds begins until it persists and eats away the core of being a community leader or volunteer.
As a result, either one refuses to get involved or continues serving with great reservation It seems that community spirit is no longer what drives people but what they personally get out of it. Not the experience nor the fun but personal, self-serving goals.
Although sometimes it is difficult to determine the difference between the dedicated and the conceited, the test I think, is to understand what’s inside the hearts of people. Usually, whatever comes out of their mouth is driven by what’s in their hearts and mind.
Kaufman’s adversaries may not realize that this battle of the minds started the day she won the elections. It is only now that she is wielding her own battle to win the war. She has fired the first salvo; I understand the next one will involve six others. We may not know the names of these people until court summons are served to these individuals.
But already, some people are questioning the timing of Kaufman’s complaint. Is it because the financial statements and accounting records will now be given to the external auditor?
At a board meeting of PIDCI, members decided to send the documents to Rey Padilla. His review and comments will be submitted to board members and discussed by them in a close door meeting. The process may involve inviting the 2003 PIDCI president, the treasurer and I think, other directors.
Again, perceptions abound. The battle of the minds continues.
Send comments to rickyxpres@aol.com
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