Pimentel Should Walk The Talk Too

Mr. Pimentel’s recent attack on PCC provided a comparison of PCC and the MPC or PACF as it is now called. It would have been best if Mr. Pimentel listened to his own advice of “walk the talk” and also did a little sweating and/or did the out of pocket trick before he made the comments. Sadly, I can’t remember if he ever joined a committee or if he even was there. So allow me re-butt his sweeping statements.

The State Visit [of then President Fidel Ramos] was organized by the Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Consul General (then Ariel Abadilla) and the community component was organized by a specially-formed Steering Committee co-chaired by Jess Diaz (FILCCA President) and Kate Andres (PCC President). Committee membership was not limited to the PCC Board.

The choice of venue (Convention Centre and Tumbalong Park) was not PCC’s alone to make. While the MPC fought to bring President Ramos to the MPC site at Rooty Hill, the ultimate decision maker was not PCC, nor even the Philippine Embassy but the Federal Security who flatly refused to take Ramos to visit the MPC at Rooty Hill. As a head of State, it was simply out of the question for security reasons.

The State Visit at Darling Harbour may have been a little ostentatious for Pimentel and his MPC friends. However, it was only befitting the Filipino people and for the State Visit of the President of the Philippines. Why do some people want to keep looking pathetic?

Yes, the affair did go over budget due to the additional last-minute requirements like the hire and special tuning of the piano for President Ramos, etc. The MPC did not shoulder or share in the costs but did take the time to show off the scale model of the proposed Rooty Hill site. Where is that scale model now? They also relished the “shaking hands and photo opportunity” moments. If Villon had donated after the event, it was only rightly so for his time with Ramos.

Yes, PCC has never bought a property. Why would they? Wouldn’t that create divisiveness and duplication of efforts? However, every past PCC president had poured in their hard earned collections into MPC even when they were not made board members. It was only Collinson that pushed for the PCC President to be made an ex-officio member.

While PCC did not go into grand building schemes, it has paid for a grant-in aid worker, rented a room, paid for electricity and paid for a phone line and yes, they (we including me) did pay for the Ramos State Visit.

President Ramos thanking Villon personally…lol! He should have thanked me too as I was more out of pocket, and more sleep deprived than Mr. Villon.

Of all past Consul Generals, Collinson was most proactive and she did push for the completion of the Rooty Hill site. But it was certainly upon the prodding of PCC and the entire community that she felt it was time to get it completed.

In 2004 (or 2005) at an PMC press conference at Parramatta Town Hall, Mr. Pimentel was adamant regarding the completion and vigorously questioned the MPC Board. However, no details were ever sent out. It seems that Mr. Pimentel has now had a change of heart after being allowed to use the premises at Schoffield for his use.

And finally, in reference to the Rooty Hill site and talking to the MPC people, Consul General Cabactulan once said: “Let this Rooty Hill site not be the white elephant that will cause embarrassment to the Filipino community.” Sadly it has.

Indeed, it is time for change. But first, let’s weed out the weeds, the undesirables and the clowns who keep embarrassing the rest of us. And thank God some have already gone. Let’s stop the aerosol freshness and I hope Jimmy brings his swimmers next time he visits Schofields.

Benjie de Ubago
(www.filipin-oz.com)