May 28, 2013
Tuesday PM

This topic is my concern after the recently concluded elections in the Philippines that make concern to the Filipinos in Ketchikan, Alaska, in my personal opinion. This commentary is based on pronouncements of the scenario to clarify who, where, when, and how, for understanding comprehensively and in comparison to where the real Filipino roots are.

It is normal for a country called the Philippines that elections, with all the celebrations called "fiestas" that even in the nooks of the poorest of the poors, the richest of the rich, the middle, far left or right, equate elections like "its fun in the Philippines" are really unique for an island who has 7,071 island group.

The challenges hurled by defeated candidates against the winners, the proclamations that have not incurred a 100% of the results, the massive vote buying scheme from both left and the right, as for me, is damaging not only the country itself but have punctured the Filipino image, not only in Ketchikan, but the rest of the entire USA where a massive Filipino community are based.

As I said before, the tradition of that "crab mentality" tradition and the "ningas cogon" theory still exist. In my clarification in the published Sitnews about "crab mentalities" where my good friend Dave Timmerman have mis-interpreted as "king crabs", dungeness, blue crabs or snow crabs has not meet my eye.

Question is, do the Filipinos in Ketchikan, both have adopted the USA as their country and those that have been recorded as permanent resident of this country where all people are created equal....

Let me ask the present conglomeration of the newly formed Filipino Community in Ketchikan today. As well preserved group of ethnic race, it had begun well but having been immune to the communities where Filipinos vie for positions which are actually greek as to its functions, if I may, they started celebrating with an agenda to cover what a President should do, rather than make his own vested interest to which he knows best.

In this country called the United States of America, whatever a candidate has promised on the campaign period, he has to do something like "walk the talk".

And whether he likes it or not, he is subjected to this kind of promise transparency too. This is the rigors of the metaphor "it's lonely at the top" theory.

I am going to specifics for the sake of transparency. First of all, they have to be ruled called "Roberts Rule" in their Constitution and ByLaws. If diverting them to the needs of the organization, it must be ratified by the elected B of D, if their is any. The promise of the too exorbitant membership fee of $25 a year is to be pruned down to $15 and as the new president promised before being elected, to return the $10 back. Todate, nothing has been done.

The succeeding agenda sounds to good to be true, days of prunning your fat or cholesterol by days of exercises, Zumba, the Gangnam and the latest Harlem sequences, Bingo games, sports inside the walls of the Community Center. These all seemed to die down a natural death. And yet, the lights inside the center are always on even to the wee hours at night till the morning. Maybe, there are parties, meetings, and what nots.

Innuendos among Filipinos seem to spread so fast in Ketchikan, faster than a speeding silver bullet, or a cheetah hunting for his meal in the meadows. But sometimes, the hearsays overlapped the truth, thats what we call rumor mongering.

Lastly, I just wish this group of Filipinos caved-in within the four walls of their center will come out one day, share the culture to the Ketchikan folks, share what it can do to help their City of Ketchikan the best they have, proud with heads high, and can make the City itself called the "Gateway City of Alaska" and the "Salmon Capital of the World". Savvy?

As the Filipino have said - MABUHAY .......

Joey Garcia
Ketchikan, Alaska

Representations of fact and opinions in letters are solely those of the author.
The opinions of the author do not represent the opinions of Sitnews.