Filipino community still waiting for answers

WINNIPEG – Members of Winnipeg’s 65,000-strong Filipino community gathered Sunday afternoon to stand up and take charge.

More than 100 community members met at the Filipino Seniors Centre for the first Filipino-Canadian community town hall meeting.

“I’ve been here in Canada for 34 years and I’ve never attended any town hall meeting like this, where we can have a dialogue with the community and find out what’s going on here,” said Aida Champagne of the Manitoba Filipino Street Festival.

The meeting comes just three months after Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines, killing more than 6,000 people.

The Philippine Canadian Centre of Manitoba (PCCM) raised over $70,000 in typhoon relief funds. But the group didn’t send the money until the end of January, over two months after the typhoon struck.

“The game plan was to send the money quick and it didn’t happen and donors were disappointed that didn’t happen,” said Ron Cantiveros, of the Filipino Journal.

“A lot of them are relieved that the donations have been sent to the Philippines but there are still some unanswered questions on the management of the money there,” said Champagne.

Something that had management at other groups taking note Sunday.

“I think that what a lot of organizations have learned is there’s better ways to do things the next time,” said Cantiveros.

“Enough is enough of sweeping the floor putting all of the dirt under the carpet. We’re not going to do that anymore,” said Champagne said to the crowded room.

But there were some people missing from the meeting. None of the 15 PCCM board members showed up as hoped.

“We invited them twice by email and I would gladly hear from them. At least they can answer directly to the people,” said Champagne.

With the PCCM missing, community members decided to create an action plan to call for a meeting with the PCCM board to demand answers.