I
Roger P. Calabio
President
Mamburao-USA Association
Chairman, MUSA Little League
email:
rcalabio@worldnet.att.net
PRESIDENT'S MEMO
Memorandum
Date: 9/10/2002
To: Officers and Board of Directors
Honorary Directors and Members
From: Roger P. Calabio
President
Mamburao-U.S.A. Association
Re: Saturday’s Annual General Meeting & Picnic
Contrary to the high expectations of so many who took time out to have fun and camaraderie with old and new friends at Saturday’s picnic and AGM, it was so unfortunate that it had to end unexpectedly with an unpleasant feeling.
On the positive note, I believe that no matter what happens and how disgraceful a situation is or how bad things seems to be, MUSA’s life does go on and continue to grow gracefully in the months and years ahead. MUSA stands happy, strong, steady, enduring and forgiving and faces such challenge without bitterness. We selflessly work together for the common good and gladly appreciate and recognize with gratitude whatever your support may be for the benefit of our organization and our people.
Christian charity, teamwork, selflessness, unity, sharing, caring. love and good diplomacy without rivalry should prevail in running this organization. All this reminds me of Professor Remigio Agpalo’s recent inspirational talk that touched on “pagdamay” and “pagibig” for fellow associates, kababayans and friends, quoting St. Paul in Corinthian 1 “If one part is given a special honor, all enjoy it”. So let’s all be proud of any of our members’ accomplishment or support, whether it’s big or small, which deserve due acknowledgement.
On a personal note, I have the impression that the present discord felt by some of us emanated from my aggressive pursuit of our two major projects in Mamburao that started long before, during the past administration. Please forgive me and help me understand if things I have done in good faith turned distasteful and offensive to anyone of you.
Let me first tackle the Little League Project, which was called Venture II under the previous leadership which I personally proposed and was unanimously approved.
Opening of the Little League Baseball
If you will recall or review the last two years issue of the MUSA Bulletin (attached to our annual souvenir books), I was appointed as the Chairman of the MUSA Little League Committee. I accepted my post with open arms and eagerly contacted the United States Little League that led to the early organization of several teams supported by corresponding sponsors, program of activities and appointments of key people in Mamburao to manage the league.
In January 2002 Julius Pacal, Reggie Pacal and myself flew to Manila with a mission to try to launch the project in Mamburao, even without any funds from MUSA . Our itinerary started with the international licensing of the league in Manila and appointment of Mamburao management team. Luckily, our sacrifice paid off in Mamburao with the wonderful and gratifying experience of witnessing the Little League’s indelible impact to our people, both young and old, and making MUSA an instant household name. In a few days, the project was organized and launched successfully, yet again without funding from our organization. So if you think such gesture was detrimental to our association, then I apologize.
Recycling of uniforms
The majority of the board members during our meeting at Rendon’s residence approved the return of the used uniforms to the sponsors for reuse, despite my opposition. I wrote to all members of the board to reconsider the decision and give the children ownership of their own uniforms, as token of their involvement and appreciation of their participation and effort. I believed that other children would be motivated to participate if they kept their own uniforms as memorabilia. Such request was considered but the sponsors had the final say on what to do with the uniforms, in view of their providing the uniforms. Therefore, the sponsors were in control of the uniforms and not MUSA. So if you think that this gesture was asking too much, then again I apologize.
National Competition
The Mamburao Little League gave me a budget of P150,000 ($3,000) to underwrite the expenses in order to participate in the National Competition in Cabanatuan City. It covered uniforms, transportaton, food, medicine and other related expenses. The Board of Directors approved a grant of $1500, with the remaining balance of equal amount shouldered by myself. But you will be glad to know that the team’s uniforms and banner proudly exhibited the name of our association.
In another meeting at the Panganiban’s residence, I promised the Board never again to seek the help of MUSA to fund the succeeding Little league national competition due to the concerns of other board members on the continuity of its funding. Instead I told them that I will seek outside help. So if you think that this is unworthy of your support, then again I apologize.
MUSA Public Library
Actually, the first major project conceived was the MUSA Public Library, also known as our Venture 1 that began under the leadership of our past chairman, Thelma Calabio. During that time the appointed Committee Chairman of the MUSA Public Library Project was Pilar Rendon.
But early last year, Pepito Santander and myself visited Mamburao for a short vacation and since we were already in town, and as the saying goes “shooting two birds with one stone”, we gave a shot at the library project with the best intention to help push the program while we were there and as per the request of our past chairman. Since there was an ongoing negotiations with the provincial high school for a library site within the school, we arranged a meeting with the teachers to take a look at the proposed location and to hear their thoughts and suggestions to start the project.
At our board meeting upon our return, we then discussed the feedback we got from the teachers, together with their request of particular books and computers. Then a donation campaign was announced, time and time again, in the MUSA Bulletin, to support our drive to fund or donate those needed materials which was spearheaded by Reggie Pacal with a pledge of two sets of computers.
Due to inaccessibility and renovation problems, it was later agreed that the proposed library site be transferred from the public high school to another location accessible to the public. I did proposed the change of site because when Reggie Pacal gifted to the school principal a set of computer for the library, there was no telephone connection for the internet in the proposed site, which we also thought needed some important major repairs.
It was then agreed by the Board during our meeting in early April, 2002 that we ask Mayor Alan Aquino to provide us a better site within or outside the Municipal Hall and prepare a proposal letter to the Mayor, signed by the Chairman of the Board and myself as President. Councilor Boy Maneja who was still around would present the supposed written proposal to the Council and the Mayor but unfortunately, the proposal letter was never prepared.
When I was at the airport a week after that meeting , bound for Manila, I suddenly remembered the proposal letter and while thinking that I would have the chance to personally discuss this with Mayor Aquino, I decided right away to telephone and request Thelma Calabio to immediately write a proposal letter by fax, e-mail or express mail to reach Mayor Aquino before my arrival in Mamburao, so that beforehand he could study the proposal and have a time to think of his recommendations which I thought perhaps we could discuss together at my planned follow-up appointment. I had no intention whatsoever to side step anyone. I felt at that time the By-laws of our association allowed me as president to execute the project approved by the Board of Directors. My only sincere intention was to push this project to materialize. If you think this was inappropriate, then again I apologize.
Follow-up letter to the mayor
I understand that a follow-up letter was sent by Thelma Calabio when Rizelita Abeleda, our MUSA Public Library Project Coordinator, consulted her due to Rezzie’s desire to get the decision of the mayor in writing on time, to report on at the fast approaching annual general meeting and picnic. In conjunction with their urgent action plan, they decided to contact Dr. Ner Agoncillo by e-mail, (as suggested by Rezzie who provided the e-mail address) who they both thought would be able to help them expedite the mayor’s approval in writing. So Thelma requested Ner to follow-up the project with Mayor Aquino and the rest is history. The issue about the mayor addressing his approval letter to Thelma Calabio needs no explanation. It is just right and makes sense that naturally, any reply has to be addressed to the writer or sender of a letter. Do you think it is right to prevent an enthusiastic officer or member from getting involved and helping our association succeed? Empowering every member of our organization motivates her or him to happily participate in our campaign to reach our association’s goals and objectives. Let us give credit where credit is due. So if you think my judgement was unacceptable, then again I apologize.
Allow me to share with you a note from our former high school teacher at WEMA, the former Miss Alice Liboro. She wrote “MUSA is really doing an excellent job in the management of all the goals and activities of the organization. This is made possible because MUSA has good and able leaders like you as well as the best of the members who are all willing to help and cooperate for the success of all your plans. I am very proud of what you all have become! Please never cease to thank our Lord for all the blessings that He has accorded us. Keep up with your good work and may God always guide you in all your endeavors. Really, you all are making the difference for the Mamburenos”.
Again I would like to recall what Professor Agpalo had said when he visited us in Los Angeles –
“We are all kindred in mind and spirit. We are many different individuals, but we are one integral unit, like a family”. Another beautiful line I would like to echo was quoted from Emilio Jacinto’s “Liwanag at Dilim” - "Sa pagibig nunukal ang kinakailangang pagdadamayan. Kung and pagibig ay wala, ang lahat ng mga bayan at mga lipunan ay mapapawi sa balat ng lupa. (From love springs the needed sharing with and caring for fellow human beings. If love is absent, all states and societies on earth will vanish)".
So let us be united and show “pagdamay” and “pagibig” to one another. We came from one culture, grew up in the same environment, almost ate the same kind of food and if we are not kindred in blood, we are kindred in mind and spirit.
LET US UNITE AS ONE AS WE SHAPE MUSA’S FUTURE.