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NEW YORK --- The other day a good friend, Vivian Velasco, one of the more active players in the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI), forwarded an e-mail which she received from a friend.
The e-mail, which had the subject "Ewan Kung Kanino Galing Ito," was from someone who was expressing his frustration over the recent events in our motherland. I have read that e-mail previously having received it from an e-list discussion group that I am a part of.
What struck my curiosity was not the forwarded e-mail but what Velasco wrote. She suggested that I replace the topic of my column with what's going on in the Philippines, which she said, could be "worth 10 volumes of your columns." She ended her note with a curt remark: "I'm sure marami na rin ang nag-aasam ng bagong news besides PIDCI. This e-mail should be circulating in the Internet and not the Philippine Forum issues!"
In my reply, I wrote that another columnist in this newspaper discusses issues about the Philippines; my column is about our community here. I told her that whatever was happening back home is reflected in what's going on in PIDCI. I added that if PIDCI continued to operate as it does now, I would be writing columns worth more than ten volumes.
I also mentioned about the abuses carried out by some people connected with PIDCI. They do not pay their fees for PIDCI functions, get paid also for something they've worked on as "consultant" or the like, and receive an additional car-service fare to boot.
"Is that community service?" I asked her.
Ironically, in her comment to the person who sent her the e-mail, she wrote in capital letters: "I wish we have political and national cleansing." I say, PIDCI should have transparency, accountability and political cleansing.
If several groups were suggesting the creation of a Truth Commission back home, I say PIDCI should have the same. This is important to prevent its leaders from fiddling with its accounts with creative accounting and hiding the truth from the community.
It is upsetting to learn that all these years, some supposedly community leaders have been charging expenses at their whim with no authorization and documentation, and proper accounting of receipts and disbursements. No wonder there is always a delay in releasing to the public an audited financial statement.
What happened to the accounts of 2003 and 2004? We've just finished 2005 and will the public expect the same delay? As elected officials, every PIDCI board member is held responsible and accountable for every penny received and spent. What has board members Lolita Compas and Angie Cruz -- who have been active with PIDC for some forgotten years – done to remedy the situation?
And get this. Someone is floating the preposterous idea of amending the by-laws to allow the elected president appoint members of the board. Such proposal is not only alarming; it speaks of a grand plan to let the president together with the appointed cohorts to do anything with whatever they wish. Apparently, presidential candidate Ludi de Asis-Hughes is in favor of the change.
Perhaps the reason why Vivian suggested that I change my PIDCI topic to something else is because she too is hiding something she knows about PIDCI. As I have said many times, no PIDCI secret remains forever.
Take the case again of its president, Nimia Lacebal. Why did she not inform the board that the Leyte Dance Group project was discussed in a March meeting attended by Consul General Cecilia Rebong, Deputy Consul General Millie Sta. Maria-Thomaczek, Mila Mendez, Ellice Flores, Hector Magno and herself?
In violation of its by-laws, why did she, instead of the treasurer with board approval, sign a contract with Magno PI Production to hold the project? Clearly, Lacebal went overboard in her authority.
Even if the consul general secured a $10,000 donation from insurance giant AIG, that amount is not enough to cover total expense that has accrued. And unlike last year, I hope the consul general would not demand that she gets half of that amount for her "Adopt-A-Classroom" pet project. If she does, that would be rubbing off on 2005 grand marshal wish to request for $5,000 to support "Gawad Kalinga." In her latest financial report, Dr. Linda Romero-Pelayo claims she raised a gross amount of $108,089.
Of course, what's left of it is subject to a report from the treasurer. Which by the way, I understand Dr. Baby Bleza is very much on top of all receipts and disbursements despite the protestations of Lacebal and her self-appointed treasury watchdogs, Dr. Flores and Sofia Abad.
Vivian should have thought twice before sending her e-mail. While I agree with her sentiments about our motherland, I am physically in New York to write about our community. Whether it's PIDCI or issues which affect Filipinos in diaspora, this column will continue to deal with those topics.
And let this be an assurance to Vivian and others who share the same views as she does. With the volume of e-mails that I receive from readers of this column, I can humbly say that it outnumbers those who probably grow tired of reading about PIDCI.
When it's about our community, it's never a dull moment.
Send comments to rickyxpres@aol.com or visit Website at PinoyOnBoard.com.
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