Permanent board a plus, says FMPC
The Filipino Multi Purpose Centre (FMPC) would not have been able to purchase the new site at 80 Grange Avenue, Schofields, had its board of trustees not been a permanent one, according to chairman Manny Villon.
The statement sparked a series of questions raising doubts about the disclosure at a press conference last Saturday, November 17, attended by members of the Filipino media in Sydney.
The FMPC laid out its plans for development at the new site, purchased for $1.15 million, as its former property at Rooty Hill waited for finalisation of its sale for $860,000. The centre’s youth group, who prepared a project study on its future, explained in general terms several ideas on fund-raising and promotions to meet the shortfall on the properties’ sale and purchase.
The FMPC officials were led by chairman Mr Villon and chief operating officer Luz Tiqui. There were four other officials there including outgoing Philippine Community Council of NSW president Ruben Amores.
Members of the Filipino Press Club of Sydney present were Dino Crescini (The Philippine Tribune), Ric de Vera (Revesby Press), Nonoy Perdon (The Bayanihan News), Aida Morden (The Philippine Community Herald), Ros Aguilar (Pinoy Radio), Mike Alvarez (The Bayanihan News columnist) and Jaime Pimentel (Fairfax Community Newspapers).
After a brief address by Mr Villon, questions were immediately raised about how the FMPC would manage to cover the shortfall. Most questions were answered openly but somehow many answers fell short of convincing the press that a repeat of the last 17 years would not happen. The officers could not give a timetable and the project, either, even in a remotely general sense.
The presscon turned a bit sour when the sensitive subject of the permanent/lifetime board of trustees of the FMPC came into question. Mr Villon was adamant Jess Diaz should be given a vote of thanks for designing a permanent board of trustees within the organisation’s Constitution because, had the board not been a permanent one, the FMPC would not have been able to obtain the bank loan required to purchase the Schofields property.
The FMPC decried the spread of false and misleading stories about the centre’s management and its activities, but admitted it had not used the Filipino media often enough to provide regular flow of information about its activities.
The centre’s officials then vowed to be more transparent in disseminating information about their activities and issuing more timely or fresh information to avoid what they referred to as gossip and misleading stories about the FMPC.
The press also pointed out that the centre should not wait long before disseminating information because each member of the press had a different deadline, and each would treat the press releases in his/her own way using her/his own angles.
It was also put to the FMPC that it was of no good use sending press releases after the stories had been published in the FMPC’s own website or forthcoming newsletter.
The press conference lasted for almost two hours, concluding at 3.45pm. #
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Photo: The Filipino Multipurpose Centre at Rooty Hill. (Photo courtesy of emanila.com)
The threat of removal of the Avendano family from Australia appears to be receding.
This is the assessment of a news story that appeared today in the SMH.com.au. The strong support of the Filipino community behind Renato Avendano and his family must be a big factor.
Continue reading …What can you do with one hour? A lot, our friends from Adelaide say.For example, with one hour on Saturday, December 8, you can re-acquaint yourself with your heritage. Or, to others: You can discover your heritage.
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The establishment of the Filipino Metalworkers within the Australian Manufacturing Workers Unions (AMWU) in WA which is giving a voice to workers on temporary visas within the union is the first of its kind in Australian unionism.
OFW members of the AMWU in the Filipino Metalworkers intend to run for positions in the union’s State Council and State Conference which gives OFWs a temporary visa holder voice in the union’s decision-making bodies.
Of 700 OFW metal tradesmen in Perth, the AMWU (WA) has recruited 218 in only 10 months in 31 enterprises including those within fabrication, heavy engineering, plastic manufacturing, shipbuilding and factory maintenance.
“Instead of a workplace approach during which we visit worksites to address workers’ grievances, we’ve taken a more community-oriented approach, literally living with the community – visiting houses and their social events, even playing basketball with them,” AMWU organizer Joel Asphar says.
“We’ve been agitating around one issue only which has been the deportation threats against the S457s/OFWs and because we’ve been able to stop these deportations and the guys now know what their rights are, our campaign focus has now changed to the issue of residency for our OFW members.”
On investigation of complaints received from their Australian members and from some Filipino workers, the AMWU found out that OFWs thought they had no rights at all, could not question their working conditions nor join a union and believed employers could deport S457 visa workers whenever they wished to.
The US State Department has said the Australian government’s S457 visa scheme has led to sex trafficking, debt bondage and slavery of migrants in Australia – in its ’2007 Trafficking in Person Report’.
Many of the OFWs ‘ grievances have been successfully resolved by the AMWU, winning disputes with employers and finding jobs for sacked OFWs.
“Australia has a proud tradition of migration and it is only this generation that has had to go through this temporary visa arrangement but despite this, our members will continue in their campaign to obtain permanent residency and continue this proud Australian tradition of migration,” Ashpar says.
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Continue reading …The Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has today reissued its travel advisory with new information under Safety and Security: Terrorism.
Continue reading …Detectives have charged a man over an alleged threat against a western Sydney high school.
Police attached to St Marys Local Area Command initiated an investigation following reports that a threatening message was allegedly posted on an internet site last week.
Continue reading …The official guide to Australia’s 2007 federal election has recently issued with hardcopies being distributed to households in Australia.
In addition to the hardcopy, the guide is also available in a range of accessible format which include information about the assistance available for electors with a disability and about e-voting. The guide can also be downloaded as an audio MP3, e-text or large print PDF version.
Continue reading …The Filipino Press Club of Sydney, a corps of press people, officially issued a strong protest condemning the full pardon without trial of former Philippines President Joseph Estrada on charges of plunder.
An ‘open letter’ addressed to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was personally handed over to the Philippine Consulate office in Sydney by club spokesperson Ric de Vera in the morning of Friday, November 9, as part of a worldwide day of protest.
Continue reading …For those who have been waiting to send extra money back home, especially now that the Australian dollar is hitting high, you may be in for some disappointment.
The Aussie dollar has risen above the US$0.90 level and yet A$1 could only fetch a shade over Php40.
Compared to some 18 months ago when the Aussie dollar was only a touch close to US$0.80 and yet it was getting more than Php41 per A$1.
Continue reading …Police have caught 40 people driving whilst under the influence of alcohol on the first day of the state-wide ‘Operation Drink Drive 2′.
Operation Drink Drive is held twice a year in the lead up to the Easter and Christmas periods and targets those people driving whilst affected by alcohol in both metropolitan and regional areas.
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