Fixing up FACLA

A judge orders the holding of elections for the board of directors of the ailing 57-year-old Filipino-American Community of Los Angeles Inc. And the sparks fly anew.

By Dionesio Grava
March 2002

The continuing saga of the Filipino-American Community of Los Angeles, Inc. (FACLA) -- already tumultuous and problem-ridden -- took yet another twist when Judge Frances Rothschild of Department 28 of the State Superior Court directed receiver Susan Maguindang to schedule an election on June 15 of this year for the 15 members of the board of directors.

The 57-year-old organization has been under court receivership for more than two years as a result of the many leadership controversies and in an attempt to nurture it to organizational efficiency. Maguindang took over from another court-appointed receiver, Veronico Agatep, in June last year.

Last November, Maguindang submitted to the court a reorganization plan for FACLA, which sought, among other things, the postponement of elections until such time that the organization can attain financial and organizational stability. She reportedly told Judge Rothschild that the organization has very few members who were mostly elderly and with low income.

"It is completely unrealistic to assume that an election consisting of the members recruited from this population will be able to operate FACLA or be able to financially support it," Maguindang was quoted telling Judge Rothschild. In the meantime, she proposed an advisory board of directors to preside in the transition. If such steps still do not work out, she reportedly recommended that, as a last resort, the organization should be dissolved and its assets reallocated among other Filipino-American organizations in the area.

The lady receiver immediately drew flak from detractors who accused her of arrogance and making many misrepresentations in her report. Her critics also claimed she has no time for FACLA because she is working in a full capacity as executive director of the Filipino American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI).

Among the community leaders reported to have signified opposition to her recommendations and who agitated for the immediate holding of an election were Gerry Edra, Bobb Weber, Lee Cummins, Trinidad Ramo, former FACLA presidents Meng Gatus and Ben Basilio, Jose Baldonado, Atty. Lorenzo Miranda, Vic Agatep and Rizalino Manuel.

Weber said that he was mainly responsible for a manifesto addressed to the judge dated November 9, co-signed by about a hundred community leaders requesting for the holding of an election in FACLA. He believes that the manifesto was the main reason the court gave due course to the stirring in the community regarding the election issue. Steve martin, a councilman in Hollywood, has been designated to oversee the election process, he said.

Meanwhile, Vic Agatep, the previous receiver, lamented the fact that while the court directive was handed down as early as January, it was only recently that the present receiver went public with the instructions regarding the conduct of the election.

"The time frame is very short. They just decided it now...They have to fix the rules and regulations," Agatep complained, adding that until now, the rules and regulations are still not fixed.

This writer visited the FACLA office at 1740 West temple St. recently and took note of identical announcements (posted on the bulletin board and inside the office) regarding the court order for the holding of election on June 15 and the requirement for members to register to be eligible to vote.

It indicated a $20 payment and an election schedule stating that membership application has been available since January 18; that sign-up on January 22 would be the start of a membership drive, including the publication of notices in the Filipino American press.

A short time later, Meng Gatus, an early contender for a seat on the board of directors, informed this writer that a couple of would-be registrants complained about having been turned down when they requested for registration forms. This writer asked FACLA staffers Teresa Calleja, Joel Fajardo and Feliza Avila about the complaint and was informed that indeed there were no more forms available in the office. Fajardo said the forms may be available by next week.

Other questions this writer wanted to ask could be answered only by Ms. Maguindang. Unfortunately, the receiver was not around.

FACLA was established on April 26,1945, just two decades after the first wave of immigrating Filipinos inhabited First and Third Streets in Los Angeles. It was founded by the senior population of the once bustling Filipino Town, and who later purchased properties, buildings and lots in the area. In 1965, the group registered as the Filipino Cultural Center, later as FACLA.

The organization started to decline in the mid-70s as a result of leadership squabbles and dereliction of responsibilities by some past officers. Eventually, two apartment buildings owned by the organization at nearby Burlington Street -- something the oldtimers dedicated a part of their lives to possessing for their more needy countrymen --were lost.

According to oldtimers, FACLA has always been tax-exempt. They say the properties would not have been seized had the leadership complied with the filing of required government reports. Without the Burlington apartments, income generated by the organization came mainly from the rental of the organizationÕs social hall where community events were held.

In December 1977, problems worsened when three elected vice-presidents were expelled for alleged acts detrimental to the organization.

The three officers sought for a court restraining order, setting in motion other suits, and counter suits. Still later, other other charges were filed for contempt, alleged battery and motions for receivership.