Volume 2, Issue No. 45
OPINION/COMMENTARY
/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /
. . . . . A community service of The Filipino Web Channel (TheFilipinoWebChannel@gmail. com) and the Philippine Village Voice (PhilVoiceNews@gmail.com) for the information and understanding of Filipinos and the diverse communities in North America . . .
Our latest as of Friday, December 18, 2020
~ Everyone feels a little downcast these days because of the coronavirus pandemic. Somehow that sentiment is replaced with the arrival of a vaccine. Add to that glimmer of hope is this comic relief provided by the embattled Filipino Centre Toronto, perhaps inadvertently, as it tries to polish its image with the caricature of its executives and directors. Or is it a ploy to hide their real faces?
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COMIC RELIEF FROM FILIPINO CENTRE TORONTO
FCT Caricature: A Political Ploy or Humor?
By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ
Editor, The Filipino Web Channel
“Liars create confusion by using delusions.” ― Christine E. Szymanski
On some occasions, I had chatted with them in not so friendly terms, which is okay by me, knowing the nature of my job entails, I believe, taking an adversarial stance on people and subjects of my journalism. That's the objective reality. (Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5YUCP0xqlQ).
So, I'd critique the comic portrayal as dilettantish. I mean no offense to the artist who did it - for free or for a fee? - but I do believe the representation is unrealistic. Much as the artist wanted to inject some youthful vigor in their looks, the fact is FCT officials are no longer kids. Many of them are of the boomers' generation. In that sense the caricatures are unlifelike. (Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dWabOiCwhU).
That's the most generous conclusion I could say, hoping it would not cause displeasure. What bothers me is why the FCT leadership would opt to have caricatures of themselves instead of posting their current photos. Is that intended to soften the image of the five executive officers and 13 members of the board of directors?
Has that got something to do with the unanswered demands from concerned members and whistleblowers to disclose the true financial state of the organization? Instead of the drawings, why not display the relevant financial statements under question?
In case I am asked, I'd say my knowledge of the visual arts is limited to photography and video. I want to make that clear because there may be subtle nuances in the FCT drawing that I miss. But I do have a considerable understanding of other forms like architecture, painting, sculpture, and film-making.
A makeover of FCT is underway, I could sense that, perhaps to humor the concerned members and whistleblowers who have been demanding without success a public disclosure of the financial situation since it sold its old building for $5.9 million, bought a fixer-upper for $1.9 million, invested $1-million for its repair, and paid recently-surfaced claimants at least $678,000.
By any measure, those are vast sums of money that need to be accounted for. The FCT owes that to the community, its funders, and other supporters who may not be properly apprised of how the organization takes care of its assets.
In my view, no amount of transformation, however comical, farcical, and superficial, would drive people to abandon their challenge to FCT officials to live up to their public declaration to be responsible and transparent, after all, a whopping $4-million plus money is involved.
(Full story at: https://filwebchannelmagazine.blogspot.com/2020/12/fcts-masterpiece-of-gobbledygook.html).
The artist's rendition of each of the 18 officials of FCT may be a ploy to conceal their identities, or a simplistic attempt to evade facial recognition. That's a transparency question again. I don't know, but it surely reinforces the perception that secrecy is the current regimen in that non-profit organization.
Based on the drawings, these officials would be unrecognizable once they venture out of the FCT premises. Perhaps only Efren de Villa, FCT chair, would easily be noticeable because of a distinguishing mark, his mustache. The others would be hard to spot.
An underlying message in the caricatures appears to be a campaign to promote Philippine tourist destinations. I could be wrong. The background scene of each of the officials could very well be their hometowns.
But then, look at the drawing of Mary San Juan, FCT president. She stands like a doorkeeper or tour guide in front of the main gate of Fort Santiago in Intramuros, Manila. (Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZQqzGAaVgA and more info at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Santiago).
How they all project themselves is quite funny.
With coconut trees and white sands as the backdrop of his caricature, Efren de Villa, FCT chair, could be anywhere in the homeland. He could also be in the Caribbean.
Judith Gonzales, FCT secretary, looks fearless in Bicol while the majestic Mayon Volcano is ejecting smoke preparatory to an eruption. Wendy Arena, FCT treasurer, is joyful on the periphery of Chocolate Hills in Bohol province. (Info at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate_Hills).
Alvine Marasigan Flor and Cory Coutts, both FCT directors, are standing at the mouth of someplace I can't identify. It could be in Palawan. (Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRNF58F4Jyg).
Then there's the painter Frank Cruzet floating on the beach, which I believe must be Boracay. (Related video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqwBD4MNV_U). Mercy Maliglig, FCT director, stands on a raft in Pagsanjan Falls, Laguna.
Mhel Galleon (sic), FCT director and popular owner of FV Foods, probably forgot his wet suit on a scuba diving trip in his native Sariaya, Quezon. (Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XcwOryj0h4).
There's also Nette de Villa, FCT director, looking contemplative amidst Taal Volcano and its surrounding lake visible from Batangas and Cavite. (Related video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muwqBgNmSUY).
Philip Beloso is a well-dressed visitor exploring Calle Crisologo in Vigan in Ilocos Sur. (Info at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigan). Priscilla Tumulak appears to be covering the photo bomber in Luneta (Rizal Park) in Manila. (Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHp2qvCCj0M).
Whether it's self-promotion or tourism, these FCT officials are of touch. They'd rather convey the impression of being cool, fine, and nonchalant when the centre is embroiled in a long-standing dispute with its members.
The FCT website runs a blurb that says: "The Filipino Centre Toronto is a community centre established to help Filipinos preserve their identity and individuality while at the same time making their presence felt in their new country."
It makes me squirm. Is this how FCT tries to make Filipinos' presence felt in Canada . . . with misleading caricatures? (Copyright 2020. All Rights Reserved).
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