Sections NaFFAAgate The NaFFAA (a Corrupt Organization) Cannot Wage an Anti-Corruption Campaign in the Philippines
| The NaFFAA (a Corrupt Organization) Cannot Wage an Anti-Corruption Campaign in the Philippines |
he following e-mail of a reaction was posted by this writer in several Filipino and Filipino-American e-newsgroups about the announcement of Mrs. Alma Q. Kern, the national chairperson of the National Federation of Filipino-American Associations (NaFFAA). The e-mail was sent also to hundreds of Filipino and Filipino-American screen names. The NaFFAA headquarters issued a bulletin (reproduced hereunder) that asked for transparency in the affairs of the Philippine government, among others.
Here is the posting addressed to “Dear Mila and Friends:
“The NaFFAA is the financially-embarrassed organization that has been claiming to represent Filipinos in the United States. The truth is that honest and law-abiding Filipino Americans refuse to join the NaFFAA because of the financial anomalies committed by some of its national executive officers (NEOs). Some of the NEOs are now facing criminal and civil cases filed by the City of San Jose, CA, and the Santa Clara County District Attorney. And at least three of them have declared bankruptcy because of lawsuits from creditors and civil judgments. How can Filipino Americans who have demonstrated financial, intellectual and moral BANKRUPTCY tell Filipino government officials how to run the country?
“And the NaFFAA NEOs have the gall to ask for transparency from all sectors in the Philippine government when the NaFFAA refuses to release the financial statements of its conventions and global conferences. For instance, Mrs. Kern has not delivered on her promise made during her election in Honolulu, Hawaii, in September 2006 to make public the financial statement of the NaFFAA convention in San Jose, CA, in August 2002 (2-0-0-2). It is, therefore, a vulgar display of hypocrisy to be demanding transparency in the Philippines when the NaFFAA cannot provide transparency in its financial dealings. The NaFFAA refuses to follow the ATIC tenets. ATIC, as I coined, stands for accountability, transparency, integrity and credibility.
“This latest bulletin of the NaFFAA about the National Broadband Network (NBN) government project/scandal is like Judas asking the Romans to investigate the financial dealings of the apostles of Jesus Christ.
“As I have been saying, unless the NaFFAA complies with the ATIC tenets, its NEOs should keep their big mouths shut. Otherwise, people will be reminded more of the ongoing soap opera, ‘NaFFAA-ka-sakit, Kuya Eddie . . .’
“To read more about the scandals and scams in the NaFFAA and the NaFFAA scalawags and scoundrels, please go to the NaFFAAgate section of the www.mabuhayradio.com. If you cannot access the hyperlink, please just copy and paste to your browser this URL http://www.mabuhayradio.com/Sections/NafaaGate.html
“For the record,
“Hala bira, hala bira . . .
Bobby M. Reyes
Still the Nemesis of the NaFFAA Crooks
and the Conscience of the Filipino-American Community
“PS: I have dared (and still dare) since September 2002 the NaFFAA NEOs to due me for libel if I have been writing lies about their financial scams and scandals in the national federation. So far, nobody has even sent a demand letter asking for a retraction. It seems that these targeted NaFFAA NEOs are not only corrupt but they are a bunch of mice. They not men enough to confront their accuser in a court of law. Why? There is the maxim, ‘he who must come to court must come with clean hands’ . . .”
In a message dated 2/15/2008 6:21:38 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, writes:
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I know your quarrel with NaFFAA, Bobby. I am in no position to investigate which of you is telling the truth. So why don't you settle this thing between yourselves. In the meantime, let's be clear about our principles on the present significant issue of the day.
God bless!
Mila D. Aguilar
Dear Mila:
It is easy to find out if the NaFFAA national executive officers (NEOs) are telling the truth. The facts are stated in several articles in the NaFFAAgate Section of the www.mabuhayradio.com.
On the other hand, if I was reporting lies, then the NaFFAA NEOs could have sued me for libel. For almost six years now, I have been daring them to sue me for libel but they refused to do so, as they know that truth is a defense in libel cases in the United States. Besides, there is the legal dictum, "He who must come to court must come with clean hands."
God bless you, too, in your numerous advocacies.
Mabuhay,
Bobby M. Reyes
We thank you for your invitation but we have said before that until and unless the NaFFAA national leadership come up with financial statements for its national conventions and global conferences -- starting with the August 2002 convention in San Jose, CA, where its overall chairman, Ben Menor, was accused criminally and civilly of diverting city funds to fund the event -- we will boycott its activities. The NaFFAA cannot present itself as representing the Filipino-American community when it refuses to observe and practice the tenets of accountability and transparency.
Our website, the www.mabuhayradio.com, has documented the financial scams and scandals in the NaFFAA in its section called the NaFFAAgate ( http://www.mabuhayradio.com/Sections/NafaaGate.html ) and here are the links to some of its exposes:
Rodis Exemplifies the Arrogance, the Avarice and the Abusive Conduct of the NaFFAA Leadership
The Nightmare for Ben Menor and the NaFFAA Continues as Civil Trial Begins on Tuesday
The “Embezzlement” Issues in the Menorgate/NaFFAAgate Scandals of San Jose
The NaFFAA (a Corrupt Organization) Cannot Wage an Anti-Corruption Campaign in the Philippines
The NaFFAA Is Bankrupt Not Only Financially But Also Intellectually
The Barbarians at the NaFFAAgate
How Loida Lewis Got Dubbed “Snow White(wash)” and then “CinderLoida” in Ongoing NaFFAA Soap Opera
The NaFFAA Is in Turmoil: Rodis Continues to Commit Political Suicide
The Modern-day Makapilis in the Filipino-American Community
Incidentally, one of the chief NaFFAA Makapilis, Atty. Rodel Rodis, lost his election bid on Nov. 4, 2008, to retain his seat in the Board of Regents of the San Francisco Community College. His opponent principally pointed to our website's articles about the NaFFAAgate. The Rodis electoral debacle is proof positive that the Filipino-American community has rejected the NaFFAA as its representative, as Mr. Rodis continues to chair the NaFFAA chapter in Northern California.
As you may be able to read in the NaFFAAgate section, the undersigned writer has accused many of the NaFFAA founders and national executive officers (NEOs) -- including Mr. Macabenta -- of being crooks, as they have pocketed many of the federation's revenues and used them for personal gain. I have dared them to sue for libel since October 2000. So far, nobody has even sent a demand letter for a retraction because they know that truth is a defense against libel.
We urge most-respectfully the Honorable Consul General Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon and other Filipino diplomats to refuse the invitation to attend the said Dec. 2, 2008, event, least she and her staff be accused of condoning corruption in the NaFFAA and coddling its crooks. We urge all community leaders in Southern California to continue their boycott of the NaFFAA unless and until its recycled national leadership produce the requested financial statements, especially the financial documents for the August 2002 NaFFAA convention in San Jose, CA. We cannot afford to be seen and photographed rubbing elbows with crooks.
Finally we urge you, Ms. Maita, and your fellow young professionals Matteo Fernandez and Charina Carrera, to demand from Mr. Macabenta the requested financial statements and you know what to do if he refuses again to present them to you and the community. We cannot afford the continued denial of the NaFFAA NEOs of the financial scandals that have marred the federation. We have to insist for the NaFFAA to come clean, least American society will say again that Filipinos invented the "culture of corruption" and brought it with them to the United States. As some folks say, "NaFFAA-ka-lungkot talaga, Kuya Eddie."
Thank you for the attention and cooperation,
Mabuhay,
Bobby M. Reyes
Editor
www.mabuhayradio.com
and Founder-Chairman Emeritus
Media Breakfast Club of Los Angeles
Caution: The above-stated views and opinion of Bobby Reyes do not necessarily reflect his position as the Chancellor of the Knights of Rizal (Los Angeles chapter), a Director of the Cebu Brotherhood, Inc., and the Philippine-American National Association, Inc., and/or as the new Executive Director of the United Filipinos Against Corruption (UFAC) and/or as an Adviser of the Kalayaan 2009 Coordinating Council and/or as a member and/or past officer of some 42 Filipino-American associations.
BCC: Filipino-American organizations and the Filipino-American press
In a message dated 11/27/2008 11:51:11 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, writes:
27 November 2008
Dear Kababayan,
National Federation of Filipino-American Associations (NaFFAA) Region 9 Engage!
NaFFAA LA to host dinner and meeting on December 2
Calling all leaders of the various community based Filipino-American organizations and associations in the greater Los Angeles area-- Alumni associations, Regional organizations, Civic organizations, Professional associations, Faith-based organizations --- the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) Los Angeles Region is hosting a dinner meeting to discuss its vision, mission, goals and plans for the coming years. The newly elected National Chair, and Filipinas Magazine publisher Greg Macabenta, will be the main speaker. Consul General Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon, Consulate General of the Philippines -Los Angeles will also be present to show support to the Filipino -American community through NaFFAA. NaFFAA Region 9 is headed by Socrates Inonog, Susan Dilkes and representing the young professionals sector are Matteo Fernandez, as Chair, Charina Carrera as the Vice Chair and Maita Miyake as member.
The dinner & meeting will be held on December 2 from 6:30 pm-8:30 pm and is graciously hosted by Max's of Manila , Puente Hills Mall located at 1600 S Azusa Avenue, City of Industry, CA 91748. Tel no. 626 965 0032. We encourage the various leaders to come and participate to this momentous event as we discuss matters affecting us and how we can all collaborate as a team for the good of the whole Filipino-American community. Our community is the largest ethnic minority in the greater Los Angeles region. We have the number. We have the strenght if we only act together. Now is the time to engage. Step up , be heard and make a difference!
Space is limited to. RSVP is required. Please call Maita Miyake 888.665.6968 ext 304 or email at For more information about NaFFAA , please visit the website www.NaFFAA.org.
Please come.
Thank you very much.
The NaFFAA LA Team
headed by Socrates Inonog
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