Woodcroft NSW. Sept. 9, 2015. — During an informal interview conducted today by this writer with PACF CEO Luz Tiqui, the latter confirmed that the Philippine Australian Community Foundation has purchased a property located at No. 50 Forge Street Blacktown. The PACF board manages the affairs of the Filipino Multi-Purpose Centre (MPC).
According to Tiqui, purchase price is $1,290,000 and the PACF board has already made a 10 per cent deposit to the owner, identified only as a white Australian named “Glen.” Ms. Tiqui however clarified that the purchase is conditional depending on the final outcome of the sale of the MPC property in Schofields. Being a conditional purchase, the transaction can be revoked and the deposit will be returned to PACF — Tiqui said.
It was previously reported that PACF sold its property in Schofields for $2.5 million and had already accepted a 10 per cent deposit of $250,000 from the buyer whose identity has yet to be disclosed.
When the issue of consultation with the Filipino community was brought up, Ms. Tiqui made reference to the provisions of the PACF Trust Deed.
According to the PACF Trust Deed, as amended per Board Resolution dated May 23, 1993 duly signed by Public Officer and Secretary Diosdado Morales:
“The Trustee has the power to sell, exchange, partition, invest or otherwise dispose of or deal with any property or any part thereof or any interest therein as fully as if they were absolute owners.”
The property bought by PACF is actually a smash repair shop owned by a certain Glen. When asked if community meetings can be held in an area designated as an industrial site, Tiqui said that the Forge Street location and surrounding areas have been rezoned as a business district.
Comments & photos from Jimmy Pimentel
“There were three desks in the glassed-in office downstairs when I visited the place. The office upstairs was much larger and had an executive look
about it. It would make a perfect meeting room or conference room, very presentable for special guests.
“You must have seen only the parking space at the front. The space at the back would accommodate more than twice the number of vehicles.
“Public buses run near the corner of Richmond Road, about 200 meters east.
“The community will have to do some work on any property that it takes over. That’s always a given when one moves into an established property.
“The Filipino community always wanted to have a hub, a place to meet and run activities not necessarily major productions such as fiestas. It has had two properties already which have been the subject of complaints about the place not being suitable enough and of carrying a huge debt burden for more than 25 years. Now the community may finally have a suitable hub with no debt burden. Where do we go from there? Are we now to look for other fault lines so we can continue complaining?
“Almost no one wanted to be part of the MPC all these years. Today, when the MPC is cashed up, we are beginning to see some people scrambling for a spot on managing the MPC’s affairs. Please find us someone who can criticise but can offer more responsible and unselfish ideas to benefit the Filipino community — someone with a workable plan — someone who can build instead of wreck — someone whom people can believe and follow.
Until then, let’s work with whatever we have at our disposal: A paid-up property, if that’s what it is according to Manny Villon.”