Casper on the Move

The 25th Barrio Fiesta sa Hounslow 2009 is finally over. The BF 2009 is the Philippine Centre’s main charity fund raising event to further its goals, objectives and aims.  More information can be found at the Philippine Centre’s website at www.philippinecentre.com.

Due to some late decision-making from this year’s appointed organizer and after some deep-thoughts and weighing its pros and cons, we have decided not to join the fiesta.

First, the organizer did not finalize the Health and Safety of the Fiesta in due time. It was sorted out on the last minute had it not been for our constant bickering and questioning. To try to help in the health and safety, we announced the need for volunteers for the fiesta within our group. But the very late nature of the announcement did not do any good. As everybody knows, schedules are made 4-weeks in advance and it is now too late to plan for any volunteering activities. Some of the replies we got further say that they can’t get any day off, they have already made plans for the weekend with family and friends, they have volunteered with other groups and some even stated that they are not getting anything in return for the service. Add to this factor the fact that the organizers want the volunteers to submit a copy of their professional license and certificate of qualification. Overkill is what I can say.

Feedback was given to the organizers about these comments and concerns. However, the organizer stung the volunteers with a sarcastic reply saying that the need for stewards and first aid volunteers have been sorted out and how un-Filipino for them to ask for something in return when the fiesta has been giving them entertainment for a good number of years. Well here is our reply to the organizers: “Kaya mo pala kumuha ng first aid and stewards eh…sila na lang and if you do not know, the association has been providing volunteers for the fiesta for the last five-years and all without any burden on the organizer’s part.” We have been providing steward and first aid volunteers with the group providing everything from band-aids to full safety gear and vital food for the volunteers. Now tell me if we have not been giving back to the community.

While we could have persisted to have our presence in the fiesta with the full support of the Philippine Centre, we decided to stay away to avoid any conflict and issues in the future. Most nurses also decided to work on these days instead of spending a day or two at the fiesta only to be insulted.

Being in the fiesta this year as a fiesta-goer and not as an organizer or a stall-holder is a completely different feeling. We were more relaxed and had more time to enjoy the food and the company of others. However as a community leader, stall holders and the general public continued to approach me and voice out their concerns and issues which I conservatively passed on to the appropriate persons or groups concerned.

Indeed according to one of people who approached me on that day, the fiesta is a community event and should be enjoyed by everybody. Personal and business interests should be set aside for the benefit of the greater majority. This includes being flexible and pro-active to the capabilities and needs of both the fiesta goers and those providing a service in the fiesta. While different businesses are managed on different levels and have varying degrees of capability, they should not be denied the opportunity to participate in the fiesta just because they cannot afford the fiesta rates or even commit to a future business venture with the organizer’s own conflict of interests.

I am appalled by the way a colleague responded to the demands of work.