PCC-NSW walked the talk
True to its role as an umbrella body and ever supportive of worthwhile community projects, PCC-NSW did walk the talk by taking responsibility and settling the balance of the Ramos Visit Steering Committee’s bill at Darling Harbour Convention Centre, by supporting the MPC Centre project and raising funds close to $50,000 from events organised by itself or in collaboration with the Philippine Consulate.
Mr Pimentel owes an apology to PCC-NSW for stating that PCC-NSW had to beg MPC to rescue it from litigation and embarrassment. There was no litigation case, impending or pending. PCC-NSW covered for the Steering Committee and raised the funds to pay the balance of $4,778.00. It did not ask assistance from Mr Villon or MPC. Mr Villon offered to donate $800. This was a personal donation unless Mr Villon was reimbursed by MPC and so Mr Pimentel can rightly claim that MPC donated the money.
Both the PCC-NSW Board and Consul General Collinson agreed to donate to MPC and so the issue of trust raised by Mr Pimentel is untenable. Consul General Collinson did not unilaterally determine the recipient of the 1995 Westin Ball proceeds. She consulted PCC-NSW and community leaders. I consistently pushed for MPC to be the beneficiary. I was consulted. There was no reason to complain.
In closing, Mr Pimentel should urge both PCC-NSW and PACF (MPC) Boards to have round-table discussions, instead of comparing these 2 bodies. Most of us may not live to see our dream of a Filipino-Australian Community Centre come to reality. If the Schofields property owes $780,000 or more to date and incurring at least $78,400 interest a year (or $6,533 a month) and compounding and there are no sufficient revenues to service the existing loans, then PACF is facing a big problem. Perhaps both parties and concerned members of the community should sit down, discuss, assess and find solution/s as a matter of urgency.
Kate Andres