Volume 6, Issue No. 4
OPINION/COMMENTARY
/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /
Our latest as of Thursday, July 25, 2024
~ "Na denggoy tayo at ang publiko" (roughly translates to "we and the public were fooled") Filipino seniors grumbled, and are now up in arms for what they believe was an illegal fundraising campaign through sale of lottery tickets by a group behind the purported "most celebrated Filipino cultural event in Canada." Just six years in the making, the Fiesta Extravaganza claims it's now in nine cities in five provinces. The claim can not be independently confirmed.
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FIESTA EXTRAVAGANZA IN BRAMPTON
PHL Seniors Allege Scandal in Raffle Tickets
City Urged to Investigate After Complaint Is Filed
By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ
Editor, The Filipino Web Channel
"If the words don't add up, it's usually because the truth wasn't included in the equation. - Unknown
TORONTO - Filipino seniors in a western suburb have filed with the authorities a complaint alleging an "illegal" fundraising through the sale of raffle tickets in a community festival billed as Fiesta Extravaganza (FE) in Brampton.
Though the event had already ended in mid July, the Filipino Seniors of Mississauga (FSM), a social club of 143 members, has demanded an investigation, and wrote letters to Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and Councillor Rowena Santos urging them "to protect public interest."
"A raffle that should not have been started at all in the first place without first obtaining a permit and license to do so," is how FSM president Rene Sevilla describes it.
He contends FE organizers are not entitled to monetary proceeds since they are "public money obtained from an irregular sale of tickets."
FE had caused to raise money through the sale of raffle tickets at $2 apiece. The activity appeared to be unauthorized and allegedly violated local laws in Brampton.
Ticket holders could potentially win the grand prize of $1,500; $750 second prize; and $250 third price. Consolation prices are awarded to six holders consisting of two days and three nights in a resort in Mariveles, Bataan.
One of the winners said she did not accept her declared prize because "it's another sales tactic" from the resort to give free accommodation in exchange for a full-day mandatory seminar.
Contacted for comment, podcaster Von Canton, FE president, admitted some mistakes. "We acknowledge there was some oversight in obtaining a raffle permit. Our intent was not to launch a large fundraising effort, as the raffle was only promoted internally within our organization."
But FE indeed went through with the fundraising but mocked the amount of money raised. "If $972 is a large amount, so be it," he said.
He explained: "We relied on our patrons and supporters to raise funds, given that the Brampton Fiesta Extravaganza received no funding from the City of Brampton or other government agencies."
Later, he corrected this statement. He said: "We only sell to friends, families and members. No sponsors and major supporters involved. You can ignore my typo from the previous email."
Days ago, Canton had posted on Facebook the names of nine "winners" ostensibly to counteract growing doubts in the disposition of raffle prizes. He didn't answer questions about the prizes and when they were handed to winners.
My own suspicion that there was something amiss got immediate confirmation when I checked the timeline. As of this writing on Wednesday, July 24 at 4:30 p.m. Facebook says the list of raffle winners was posted at 12:36 p.m. the day before, Tuesday.
That corresponds with the time I began questioning him about the raffle, which started at 7:35 p.m. on Monday, July 22. It took him several hours to answer back, at 2:05 p.m., the next day, Tuesday, July 23, saying that "the allegation that there were no winners is incorrect" and referred to his Facebook post to show what's true.
He also took exception to my characterization based on the complaint. "The terms 'Rip-off,' 'Victimized,' or 'wrong-doing' do not apply to our organization's values and integrity," he asserted. "We have never been involved in such practices since our founding in 2018."
Canton boasts of leading the "most celebrated Filipino cultural event in Canada" - seven this year and last year, in Toronto, Vaughan, Niagara, Montreal, Hamilton, all in Ontario; Miramichi in New Brunswick; and Surrey in British Columbia.
His tall claim could not be independently verified. Besides, he did not say what "most celebrated" meant. Actual physical attendance seemed to disprove it as the presence of warm bodies was scanty.
However, there are possibilities, e.g. it could mean lavish social media hype on Facebook, heavy advertising for the benefit of corporate sponsors, etc.
"We are now in our ninth city across five provinces in seven years. We are not a perfect organization, but if there are things we need to rectify for improvement, we will do so," he stressed.
Canton provided an update on the raffle and the distribution of proceeds, as follows:
Raffle Proceeds Breakdown:
- Total Ticket Sales (Gross): $4,044
- Cash Prizes: $2,500
- Net Proceeds: $1,544
Sales from the Seniors Group:
- Total Sales: $2,860
- Commission (20%): $572
- This commission will be transferred to their organization this week as part of our agreement for their efforts.
Summary:
- Net Proceeds After Commission: $972
- These funds will be directed to the event organizer to support the celebration.
Indeed, this one is a big story. (Copyright 2024. All Rights Reserved).
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