In Reference to the PNT Headline & Page A4 Article Vol 17 No 13
Note: This is being sent to known members of Filipino media, to the leaders mentioned in the article, some officers of UFCABC (as per PNT Newspaper Vol 17. No 11) whose email addresses we have, and to Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer.
Dear members of Filipino media, fellow Community Volunteers, and Consul General Ferrer,
It has come to my attention that my name and that of the organization I head, SPIDS, were specifically mentioned in the article “Publisher Hit for Undermining Efforts to Unite Community” on Philippine News Today [July 1-15 Issue Volume 17 No. 13] (Attachment 1-2)
“All heads of recognized Filipino Associations were given due notice and an opportunity to serve as volunteer or member….. Narima Dela Cruz of Surrey Philippine Independence Day Society (SPIDS) was invited to the first meeting presided over by the Consulate General but she did not show up……..Neither of them can not now question the legitimacy of the proceedings because they were given due notice and ample opportunity to participate.”
As such, this statement is deemed necessary to clarify once and for all the facts behind this matter and clear whatever speculations they implied to be our connection to this issue. As I was named on the article but was not contacted for any comment, I invoke this right now to give my side of information.
As the PNT article stated they were reacting to an editorial published in the MetroVan Independent Newspaper July 2015 Vol 1 No 4.edition that was written by its publisher Steve Marshall. [https://metrovanindependent.com/2015/07/are-filipino-associations-ready-to-unite/].
On June 29th, Steve Marshall sent me an email asking me if SPIDS or I were ever officially invited to join or meet the United Filipino Canadian Associations in BC (UFCABC) and of what do I know about them. My response to him in writing was direct and truthful. “No, I did not receive any invitation.” and that “SPIDS is not a member of that association.” Reading his editorial, he did not mention that any organization (i.e SPIDS) questioned the formation of this so called “umbrella organization” but he merely stated the response he got from us. The opinion and questions on the editorial were clearly his’ and not of any of the organizations mentioned.
And where does that “Invitation from the Philippine Consulate” fit in this story?
The meeting invitation from Philippine Consulate that Joel Castillo was quoted saying in the article was probably that which the Consulate called back in January 16th this year held at MHHS in Vancouver. That invite (Attachment 3) for a “General Assembly” however, does not say anything about forming an “umbrella organization”. What it says [verbatim]is:
“The assembly will discuss, among others, the indicative calendar of activities to commemorate the 117th anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, as well as the enlistment of volunteers to assist the Philippines Cultural Pista ng Bayan Society through its working committees.”
“The Consulate also wishes to use this occasion to formally announce its decision to step down as Co-Chair of Philippines Cultural Pista ng Bayan Society…..”
I was not available for that meeting due to a prior work schedule but respectfully sent my regrets and advised the Consulate of SPIDS’ June event date. This was acknowledged by the Office of the Consul General. As for volunteering for Pista ng Bayan Committee, SPIDS couldn’t possibly do that because we have our own event to attend to.
If, as Steve Marshall wrote, the Pista ng Bayan Society turned into United Filipino Canadians Associations in BC and claimed to be the umbrella organization of all associations, I’d say that it is their preference which I assumed they are ready to responsibly be liable for.
But when they (the President or some of its officers) were being questioned by media to justify their claim, they should not make any FALSE pronouncements that ALL associations (and naming SPIDS for that matter) were “invited” to join their organization and “have no right to question their legitimacy” because for the record, not only is SPIDS not invited to join nor interested at all to join their association but does not question anything at all, so far, about their association.
We simply responded to a question of a media (Metro Van Independent) because we believe that it is the professional way to deal with a media inquiry – to reply regardless if the topic interests us or not. Even if it’s known in the community that Publishers Steve and Luisa Marshall are personally my friends, I always see to it that I separate our personal relationships with our professional obligations and moral responsibility to the community. If they, in their capacity as media, email me as the head of SPIDS I respond officially as I should have.
SPIDS as a duly registered society has its own resolute aim and mission for the community that we serve, and does not see any requirement as of this date to affiliate ours with any umbrella group or associations except for the Multicultural Groups and Associations in our very own City of Surrey. We, however, respect and recognize all other Filipino organizations with their respective purpose and undertaking and wish to peacefully co-exist with them for the common good.
I’d also like to mention that personally, I have high respect for some proclaimed officials of the UFCABC and does not intend to demean nor upset them with this statement.
What I’d like to point out here though is the utterly disappointing journalistic unprofessionalism of the PNT newspaper to allow an article that specifically named names yet didn’t even find time to get all these people’s side of story at all, which I believe is the proper and ethical way of publishing a news story based on the Journalistic Standards and Practices (JSP). This blatant disrespect of the rights of the people involved in their news article tells the public what kind of publication this newspaper wants to present and offer. To my opinion, and in this regard, the people behind this publication must learn how to do their business right.
I appeal to the Philippine Consulate to once and for all clear the matter regarding the meeting that Joel Castillo and PNT Newspaper (its Publisher Rey Fortaleza is UFCABC Vice President which their article failed to mention) claimed is the invitation sent to all Filipino Canadian leaders to join and form this “umbrella organization”. This was explicitly cited on PNT June 1-15 Issue Vol. 17 No. 13 page A8 stating “After one year, the Consulate decided to pass the leadership to the community where the consulate called an assembly to form the umbrella organization in the name of United Filipino Canadian Associations of BC.”
If this is merely an assumption and declaration of PNT Newspaper, I believe it is time for the Consulate to state otherwise and to advise anyone to stop incorrectly name dropping or using the Philippine Consulate in any of their press releases, posters, events and publication.
Finally, I wish UFCABC success in all their endeavours. May they, as one group, serve the purpose of their creation and may they refused to be dictated by selfish motives of grandstanding and wrongful press releases. May all officials be proud knowing they are directly associated with people of good reputations and standing in the Filipino community, hopefully those with no known long standing record of wrongdoings and involvement in alleged scams and documented police files. May the organization flourish to be a role model and great example to many groups true to its claim of being “umbrella” – protective, comprehensive, inclusive – and respectful of others rights and liberty to organize and independently do honest, dignified and honourable community service.
Sincerely,
Narima Dela Cruz
President & Founding Director,
Surrey Philippine Independence Day Society (SPIDS)
Contact Email:
Narima: narimadelacruz@gmail.com
SPIDS: surreyfilcan@gmail.com
(We at MetroVan Independent News apologize for not being able to place Narima Dela Cruz’s full letter in our printed newspaper because of space constraints. The above letter in this article is Narima Dela Cruz’s full letter.)
