Scene 3 - Of Camels, Straws, and Backs.

Feb 13, 2007. At the Council Meeting.



In light of the recent attacks on his character and motives, Tony Meloto announces his resignation.

Frank Padilla followed suit.

Lachie Agana was requested by both Tony and Frank to resign as well. He did.

Hence The Three Musketeers dismount and give up the reigns...


D'Artagnan, in this saga, is a woman...


End of Act I

Scene 2 - More Straws as the Plot Thickens

Feb 6, 2007 (note the dates, as they are important in the plot)

A certain Sandra Sotto wrote a letter to the editor of Philippine Daily Inquirer in reaction to a Gawad Kalinga article:

Meloto not founder of Gawad Kalinga

First posted 00:24:10 (Mla time) February 06, 2007

Inquirer

Gawad Kalinga is the social arm of the Couples for Christ.

IN THE Inquirer editorial of Jan. 31, titled “Solidarity,” Tony Meloto was referred to as the founder of Gawad Kalinga. This simply is untrue. Meloto is the executive director and not the founder of Gawad Kalinga.

Nowhere did the Inquirer mention the Couples for Christ in the editorial. It is unfair to the millions of members of the Couples for Christ, both in the Philippines and in the diaspora, that their hard work is credited to only one man and not to them. Gawad Kalinga is the fruit of their “bayanihan” [community collaboration] spirit, and all honor and glory belongs to God alone.

A correction is long overdue.

SANDRA SOTTO, New York City (via e-mail)

Some accounts say that this published email is actually a watered down version, and was edited by The Inquirer. One would wonder what the original actually says.

What is the significance of this letter? The sender.

Ms. Sotto is the sister of Gerry Padilla, wife of Frank Padilla.

The camel's back broke soon after...

Scene 1 "The Straws That Broke the Camel’s Back"

It was a time of joy, GK was making headway in showing the world how to help the poor, one house at a time. Tony Meloto, as the face of GK, was being internationally acclaimed. GK is one of the pillars of CFC (Couples For Christ), one that was fast becoming a phenomenon in the world of community and people empowerment. Award after award was being bestowed on the organization.

February 08, 2007.

An article in The Philippine Star by Boo Chanco comes out. In it, Chanco details Tony Meloto's work in GK and GK's successes.

This article elicits an email from a certain Lorenzo Cruz from San Francisco, CA:

Click on image to enlarge

One wonders who this Lorenzo Cruz might be. It is interesting to note that the email address was created on Feb 7, the day before this email was sent.

It is also interesting to note that Gerry Padilla had been heard in certain circles commenting disparagingly about Dylan Wilk and his "second-hand" BMW.


Tony Meloto's reply to Boo Chanco's understandably concerned email appears below:


Click on image to enlarge

Page 1



Page 2



Boo Chanco's follow-up article defended his first article and reiterated his support for Tony Meloto:

"And so, Mr. Cruz, I did not stop being a journalist when I wrote about Tony Meloto and Gawad Kalinga. As a journalist I am committed to report on what is new and as a Filipino, on what is good for our country. I saw both in Tony Meloto and Gawad Kalinga. I saw more than a social entrepreneur. I saw a successful social entrepreneur. That, I thought, was worthy of being written about. And if he gets compensated for doing good, so much the better. That’s a model career young people should aspire for.

Next: More Straws as the Plot Thickens.