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Monday, October 17, 2005
Where to Kalilangan?
By Edwin G. Espejo
AFTER years of unbridled success, the Kalilangan Foundation Inc. (KFI) is now facing its acid test.
Last week, its former president held a press conference to denounce what he called as "irregularities and anomalies" inside the foundation.
The accusation, hurled by former president Flaviano "Boy" Roxas, stung the very people that brought the city into the national limelight with its now renowned Kalilangan Festival.
Newly elected KFI president Rey Billena, who is also its first president, cautiously explained in retrospect what transpired within the organization during the last few months, which led to bitter wrangling between Roxas and Orman Manansala, erstwhile Kalilangan Festival director.
Billena believes the fundamental differences between the two stalwarts of the foundation are matters of leadership style--on the surface, at least.
But Billena hastens to add that not one among the KFI's board of trustees has financially benefited from all the transactions the foundation have entered into through the years.
Billena said majority of KFI's board of trustee has thrown its full support to Manansala, Boy Roxas had accused of approving the unauthorized alteration of several checks and approving them for encashment.
Altered checks
Roxas, who claims he has documents to prove his allegations, said Manansala caused the encashment of a check, which amount was altered from P5,000 to P10,000 without the countersign of the authorized signatories of the foundation, one of which is the former as president of KFI.
The check was issued to a certain Rey Ferenal of Padada in Davao del Sur.
The check represented the award for 5th prize for the Kadsagayan Street Dancing Competiton during the 2005 Kalilangan Festival.
Incidentally, the check was cashed at iBank, of which Manansala is also its branch manager.
Three other checks issued to other winners of the competition were also likewise altered and cashed in the same bank.
As auditor of KFI, Billena looked into the returned checks and also noticed the alterations.
Billena said he brought the matter with Manansala, who was absent during the meeting when Roxas raised the issue.
Billena, however, said the board of trustees had already given its imprimatur to the transaction upon explanation from Manansala, who was reportedly advised by General Santos City Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. to increase the prizes in the street dancing competition.
"We stand by Orman's actions. There was nothing wrong with the checks. These were intended for the purpose and in line with the program. We know for a fact that Orman did not benefit from it," Billena said.
Billena made assurance that all the proceeds of the checks went directly to winners.
If anything, Billena said Manansala's approval of their encashment is a lapse on his part as branch manager of iBank. But he said, the board of trustees of KFI had decided to back Manansala just in case.
Roxas, however, claimed Manansala acted in bad faith as the latter did not require the bank's teller to secure his signature on the altered amount of the check. iBank, incidentally, is the depository bank of KFI.
When asked to explain his side, Manansala said he was told by his lawyer to refrain from issuing any statement.
"We will answer the charges in the proper venue. The charges of Roxas are not true and I will be vindicated in due time," Manansala told Sun.Star.
Manansala said the accusation leveled against him are all "paninirang puri" (character assassination).
Motorcycles
Billena likewise took it upon himself to explain the issue behind the two motorcycles donated by Representative Darlene Antonino Custodio to the foundation.
Billena said the vehicles were donated by Toro Motors, owned by the Custodios, to the foundation even before the term of Roxas.
The board then, according to Billena, planned to sell the motorcycles as these were of little use to the foundation.
For still unclear reasons, however, one of the motorcycles was registered in the name of Manansala.
Roxas claimed it was he who proposed that Manansala pay for the motorcycle "in the hope of preserving the good name and integrity of the foundation."
Manansala indeed issued 24 checks as payment of the motorcycle as approved by the board of trustees.
Underpinnings
Billena said Roxas and Manansala do not only have contrasting leadership style but that the two also have strong personalities that led to their estrangement.
"It all started when Boy felt that his job as president was just ministerial during the Kalilangan Festival," Billena explained.
Billena said, as festival director, Manansala was given the authority by the board to run all the activities of weeklong event.
Manansala, Billena says is task-driven and output-oriented and would take it upon himself to decide on matters of urgent need.
On the other hand, Billena said Roxas wants a hands-on approach on all activities of the festival as president of the foundation.
But Billena stressed the differences between the two should have been confined and resolved within the board of trustees.
Roxas, however, said he did everything to resolve the issues within the board but Manansala reportedly failed to attend board meetings on several occasions.
But Billena rued over how things have taken a different direction.
For one, the president-elect of KFI said he is holding Roxas accountable for failing ensure that there was proper bidding in the purchase of trophies during the last festival.
Roxas earlier accused Manansala of forging the signature of Edwin Geturbos, owner of Geturbos Handicraft, who was reported as one of the bidders for the trophies amounting to P100,000.
Geturbos denied ever participating in the bidding. The purchase order was eventually awarded to P. Ninte.
Manansala likewise denied forging the signature of Geturbos and claimed he had nothing to do with the bidding.
For all the troubles the issues had created, Billena said the board of trustees should have been the proper forum to resolve this incident.
"We are disappointed because all the issues were already resolved in the board. If there are new issues, he (Roxas) should brought these out in the board meeting," Billena lamented.
It is also not true that the board conspired to oust Roxas as president of the Foundation as reported in the media.
Billena likewise denied Roxas reportedly declined to participate in the "emergency election" held last October 8.
Billena said the board was supposed to hold its election last October 15 but it was Roxas who suggested to have the election held earlier.
When a member of the board chose "to divide the house", Roxas was reportedly among those who voted to hold the election on that day.
Billena was then elected as KFI's incoming president.
Sun.Star tried to get the side of Roxas but he said he would reserve his comments until some of his colleagues have answered his allegations.
How this issue would affect the foundation and the Kalilangan Festival next year remains clouded?
The show will go on
Billena, who said the foundation was established to help preserve the rich cultural heritage of the city and its diverse populace, is confident that all these brouhaha would eventually settle down.
The board, Billena insists, would not allow these controversies to destroy what the foundation had built through the years.
In just over seven years since its creation on February 10, 1998, the Foundation had already hosted all the Kalilangan Festivals that started as Kidig-Kidig sa Kadalanan during the time of former mayor Rosalita Nuñez.
It weathered initial indifference from ex-mayor Adelbert Antonino, a bitter political rival of Nuñez.
Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. was also lukewarm in his support during the early years of his administration.
After the unqualified successes of past Kalilangan festivals, however, the city government has been consistent and increasing its support to the foundation.
During the last three years, the city government has poured in some P3.5 million as financial support to the foundation.
Billena quickly fends off any suggestion that they provide the media a report of the foundation's financial status.
"As a private entity, we are not required to do so," Billena said.
Those demanding public accountability should ask the City Government.
"It is the City Government's obligation to explain your taxpayer's money," Billena said of the government support it has been receiving through the years.
But Billena admitted that the foundation has not fully liquidated the city government's financial support to the foundation in 2004 and this year.
Billena said, "It is incumbent upon me as new president to see to it that these would be liquidated."
Billena proudly said the foundation had already accumulated "over one million pesos" in savings derived from sponsorship and rental income. He revealed that they are planning to put up a museum.
"Until now, we still have to venue where you can see the rich heritage of Gensan," said Billena
Of threats to have the succeeding Kalilangan festivals run by the city government, Billena said they are willing to give way. "It would be a great relief on our part," Billena said.
But Billena also added that no amount of detractions would prevent them from hosting the festival if the city government will so decide.
Finally, Billena said they would fend off further efforts to destroy the foundation. "We will not let it pass," warned Billena.
Of those who accused them of any wrongdoings, Billena said, "They are also equally guilty of their accusation if the person they are accusing is guilty (underscoring supplied)."
(October 17, 2005 issue)
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