In your November 2012 issue of Philippine Sentinel, page 15 under the title Filipino Ministerial Consultative Committee members announced, one of the 12 selected committee members by the name of Mr. Roberto Lastica, claimed that he was the Founder of the Filipino Australian Movement for Empowerment or FAME. This is a BIG LIE!
FAME was conceptualised, strategized, founded and organized by Mr. Cesar Bartolome after the Federal Elections of 2007.
Mr. Bartolome saw the inadequacy and need for volunteers by every politician running for office to help and assist them in handing out leaflets and to act as their scrutineers in the polling booths on election day.
Only 5 people were needed to register an organization with the Department of Fair Trading. Thus, Mr. Bartolome invited 3 Philippine Community Council (PCC) colleagues namely: Mr. Rod Dingle, Ms. Benjie de Ubago and Mrs. Josie Musa plus this writer. He presented to us his ideas / concepts to set up FAME. Several meetings among the 5 of us took place either at Westpoint Blacktown or at Mr. Bartolome’s Oakhurst residence.
Mr.Lastica came into the picture only when he was invited by Mr. Bartolome despite the opposition of the core group in one of the early audio visual presentations. Does that act make him the founder of FAME? Definitely not!
(I did not compose that article. It was sent to Philippine Sentinel by Mr. Ed Husic, Federal MP. It was probably Bobby Lastica who presented himself to Mr. Husic as such. — Editor)
Ms Mayumi came to defend her spouse, Cesar. If what she is saying is true, I wonder why despite the opposition of the group, they still took in Mr Lastica? Simple, because the do not know how to write the constitution and they do not know how to register it with Fair Trading. All this was done by Mr Lastica. Business Address of fame and contact details during that time was at Mr Lastica’s residence. I wonder why Ms Mayumi did not even acknowledge the major participation of Mr Lastica…ah yes, it would be obvious that their group just used Mr Lastica’ brain and that she was favouring her hubby… Understandable!!!