IEC or SPARC - Which One Is Legit to Stage ToM?

Volume 4, Issue No. 60

OPINION/COMMENTARY

/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /

. . . . . A community service of Romar Media Canada, 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 Wednesday, May 17, 2023 

~ As the dates of the event near, the City of Toronto is evaluating the proposed Taste of Manila festival in August, aware of the legal skirmish between two competing orgs. As of this writing, one of the orgs is seeking a permit to hold the event in the Little Manila hub. 

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IS THE EVENT IN AUGUST COMING THROUGH? 

City Evaluates Taste of Manila Festival

One of Two Orgs Applies for Permit

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ 

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

"We often confuse what we wish for with what is". - Neil Gaiman  

TORONTO - One of two contending orgs wanting to hold the Taste of Manila (ToM) has sought listing in the city's calendar of festivals but found to be deficient.

The application of SPARC (Society of Philippine Artists, Recreation and Community) for inclusion in the official list "has yet to be approved due to a lack of event details," according to city authorities.

Officials were silent about the other proponent of ToM - the International Entertainment Company (IEC) - which claims to have a three-year contract to mount the festival starting in August 2022.

A spokesman said authorities are aware that SPARC and IEC are currently in a legal contest over which org has the right to ToM - last year's holder IEC, or the newcomer SPARC.

As of this week, SPARC has filed applications for, one, listing in the events calendar; and two, for a permit to conduct ToM in its traditional hub in Little Manila. Both applications are under review, officials said.

"Submitting event details to the Festivals and Events Calendar is not the same as applying for the necessary permits," officials stressed.

IEC has declared that it is the legitimate org to have ToM by hanging a horizontal banner which was promptly removed, then replaced with a square banner at the storefront of Salu Salo foods and grocery on Wilson Ave.

Similarly, SPARC has its own banner in front of Republika Resto and Grill, just a few meters from Salu Salo.

IEC and SPARC announced ToM on the same dates, Aug. 19 and 20, and at the same place, a one-kilometer stretch of Bathurst St. from its junction on Wilson Ave.

How sponsors and vendors would distinguish between an IEC ToM and a SPARC ToM is causing a lot on confusion and is discouraging public support. (Related story at: https://filwebchannelmagazine.blogspot.com/2023/05/fake-congen-triggers-dispute-over-taste.html ).

A business owner who was being contracted by Rolly Mangante aka kabise, ToM's so-called founder, on behalf of SPARC complained about the high price - $5,000 - to have a booth there. 

"That's way too much compared to some mainstream events that charge only $1,000," the business person said. (Related story: https://filwebchannelmagazine.blogspot.com/2023/05/taste-of-manila-fight-for-cash-cow.html).

"And then, who do we go to, IEC or SPARC? Now that they are fighting with each other, who can guarantee that we would get a booth?" he asked. (Related story at: https://filwebchannelmagazine.blogspot.com/2023/03/tom-admits-to-uncertainty-of-holding.html).

A lawsuit filed by IEC against Mangante and SPARC has not been decided yet. (Related video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4ap92btLM8). (Copyright 2023. All Rights Reserved).