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)

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