by Robert Bock
We can do better. That is true. And we should have, but let those who are blameless cast the first stone! (Where have I heard that before?) Let me contribute my two cents worth before I lose the opportunity to do so.
Not withstanding the self promotion, (on both sides on that day I might add, including those with American campaign medals, including those with cameras that only worked at certain angles, including those who were responsible for the promotion of the event and did not or could not), I am glad we can move forward and onwards to the AGM. I take this opportunity to ask you all, that for once you only vote for those who did, or can do their job. Do not vote out people who did work well for those who are unknown or just because they are friends, Do not just vote for teams, or for people with no evidence of successful service. The dishonesty and trickery in this particular dirty campaign does nothing for the image or reputation of anyone, and those who partook in it should be ashamed of themselves. It was quite frankly, not something I expected from this community. Block voting as it is called, is a format used previously. Admittedly, I benefited from it, so that being said; it does qualify me to comment as I do now. However, it is really in most cases a negative move. It is unconstitutional as it denies individuals the ability to vote fairly. So it is also undemocratic. It cannot be seen as a legitimate endorsement of anybody really. It is the biggest single reason why the United Nations cannot perform, and it will be the reason why the new board may not also perform as it could or should.
There have been good and not-so-good (officers) from both sides. There are those who think they did a good job when they know they only worked at half speed.
They should not sleep so easily. The current board worked for a year or so, and it carried over past works as well as new works. Some were good and some were not. However, when you decide to throw it all away, you may be doing a disservice to your own past works. We can all do better, Please think of the wider community when you vote and not just of those who support you. Let us see this time if you can work for the community in the real sense, not just in your local community or affiliate sense. If you learned anything this year or this last week, it should be what Manny Diel told you in his speech. There is nothing more important than what he told us. No one escapes the blame for that. Most of the Filipinos and non-Filipinos to whom I speak in the course of my normal business, have no real idea of what the PCC is, or what it has done, and/or that there actually is such a thing as a Filipino community. We are not represented as a community outside our own. We are perceived as so fractured that half of the other Filipino groups want nothing to do with us. No one escapes the blame for that, No one! This includes the last couple of boards as well. So, good luck to all for the AGM. I hope we can be objective, I hope we can produce an objective group, and not a group of whingers or posers. Remember please, just who was in the last board or two, who or what was missing or what was done well, and what was not! Reward the good, your community demands it and deserves it. See you in February.