A Note To Readers

Today we breach the 20,000 hit (pageloads) mark. That is a tremendous figure that we have achieved in less than a week. It shows me two things:

One, there is a genuine interest in the pursuit of truth. For this I commend you all. Please try to gather all the facts and separate it from fiction BEFORE you decide on ANYTHING about CFC and FFL.

Two, it would seem that my efforts are working and the word is getting out. Please help me keep this up. I'd like to request that you let your brothers and sisters in the CFC or FFL know about the site and let them see things for themselves.

Thank you.


C.D.

Side Notes: On Gifts, Strings, and Everything In Between Pt. 2

Gifts with strings attached are difficult to appreciate. Here's is the next set of emails between Frank Padilla and Dylan Wilk.

Frank Padilla wrote:

Hello Dylan.

It is not right to say that the money was given to him for GK, but not to GK. He asked that people donate to GK in lieu of presents, and that is what people did. The money is for GK, but of course given in honor of the occasion. Look, I also gave money that time. When we have brethren celebrating birthdays or anniversaries, we usually just greet them. On very special occasions, like the 25th, we would give a gift. But people gave more BECAUSE THE MONEY WAS FOR GK. While people love and honor Tony & Lyn, they would not have given the amounts they gave if it was not for GK. And so it is not right that Tony has personal discretion over the fund. Just like any other GK money, it is only GK that should decide how money should be spent. And by the way, the funds were not just used for GK purposes but for personal. Should we have a list of all payments made so that we will actually see?
This so-called TM fund in GK is totally different from the Fulltimers Fund in CFC. First, as I said, this is other people's money, though given on the occasion of his anniversary, but now is GK money, while the FFund is my own money. Second, no fund was set up at the start, and the so-called TM fund was only set up later (because it was already being used for personal purposes), while from the start the FFund was deliberately set up for its specific purpose.

God bless.


At 05:24 PM 4/19/2007, you wrote:

Hi tito,

It seems I misunderstood when I was told that there was a question mark over the funds for the Meloto's 25th anniversary. I didn't know that any other money had been raised and so assumed it was my gift, hence my urgency in trying to clarify it with you. However, I've now verified and there seems to have been no impropriety at all in the way those funds were used either. If by 'personal fund' you mean a fund that he had personal discretion over, I don't see anything wrong in that as long as the funds were still used for GK purposes, which they were. That is no different to the fulltime workers fund that I believe you have discretion over. The money was given to him after all for GK, not to GK.

God bless,

Dylan

At 03:24 PM 4/22/2007, you wrote:

Hi tito,

OK I see the distinction between this and the full-timers fund; I didn't realise that was your money. I've asked two people who should know and been told there was no personal expense taken out of this fund and everything was spent for GK purposes, albeit things outside the usual GK programs (e.g. burial expenses, false teeth, etc for beneficiaries). However I'll do more research because, like you, I don't want even the slightest hint of impropriety in GK.

But it doesn't sound likely to me that even if there was some personal expense, that this would be at TM's explicit direction. You have known him far longer than me and you know he has totally detached himself from money. He has many people around him who are willing to pay his personal expenses (e.g. me). All the prize money he received from the Haydee Yorac, Ramon Magsaysay, etc plus all his speaking honoraria have been given straight to GK. This does not sound like the Tony Meloto we know. I suspect if this happened then it's probably someone taking the initiative to use this fund. Anyway, further research will be done and I'm sure if there has been any personal expense, he will make a corresponding donation to GK to cover it.

Tito, since we're on this subject, there's something I'd like to ask you about again because it's been on my mind ever since it happened and I'd like you to clear it up and put my mind at rest. About 2 years ago I discovered that some ANCOP money, donations from non-CFC members for the poor, had been used for CFC events and equipment in 2 or 3 areas in Europe. When I alerted you to it, your response was that if anything like this was going on, you expect to hear about it from the Borjas and not from me. Despite several requests from me, no action was taken to return the funds to ANCOP and no-one as far as I know was ever reprimanded for it. I've never told anyone about this but I'll be very honest, ever since then there has been a question mark in my mind about your integrity. Then recently you suggested I make up a false email address and pretend to be someone else to get information out of the Boo Chanco letter writer. This also shocked me because there was a perfectly legitimate route available to us which didn't involve deception, namely you simply asking Sandra who had emailed her.

Tito, I'm not trying to throw bricks at you and I'm not trying to be accusatory, I'm simply telling you what's on my mind. I haven't shared this with anyone but I would very much like you to put my mind at rest. As I continue to repeat, I have the highest regard for you.

God bless,

Dylan


Frank Padilla wrote:

Gerry already asked Sandra and she said it was not her, and I told you so. You were the one who said the letter writer claimed to be Lyn's relative, and I just said that that was what we suspected all along. Then you said I should investigate, but I suggested it should be you. That is when the suggestion came in. It was intended for good, that we both find out in a simple manner who indeed was the letter writer. In truth, I did not want to do such things (like a spy), and so I did not want to do it, but since it was for good, and would have easily settled a lot of things, I thought you might have no problem doing it so I suggested you do it.

Regarding Europe, I cannot remember what you say. I doubt very much if I put you off and told you I should just hear from the Borjas and not from you. I am not like that. I take in whatever inputs and comments anyone has, and in fact I have always had that posture throughout the world. Perhaps I could have said I would like to hear the report from the Borjas, which would have been very different from how what you are saying sounds. I also doubt that you gave me several requests, because just one request would have been sufficient for me to pass it on to the Borjas or anyone else concerned for action. If you did request, then I would indeed have passed it on. I would also have stated clearly that no Ancop funds should be used for CFC. If no action was taken, I am no longer accountable for that, because it is not my task to keep following up on everything happening everywhere in the global family. It would have been your task to follow up, and if after some follow ups nothing is done, I would have connected you directly with the Borjas and even arranged a meeting for you to thresh everything out. Anyway, I seem to remember the incident vaguely, and perhaps that whole thing has already been settled. If not, please do bring it up.

Regarding the TM fund, I am not suggesting that there are improprieties in the sense of blatant personal use. I even personally do not mind if some personal expenses are spent. But it is a matter of principle. If it belongs to GK, then it is GK that decides what it is spent for. Even if it is spent for outside the usual GK programs as you say, it should not be at Tony's discretion. Our helping brethren with burial, false teeth, etc., are for our own personal account, not for GK. Now you say it might be someone taking the initiative to use the fund. Well, again, it belongs to GK.

Just clarity re honoraria and prize moneys. It has been an established principle in CFC that all these belong to the community. I always turned over in full whatever honoraria outside groups gave me. Further, there would be no honoraria or prize money if not for GK and the work of all of us. These really do not belong to him, but to God and to His work.
God bless.

This exchange seems to have no ending, but it does. The last word is hotly contested....he who has the last word wins. But is the winner the better man? I think they give a good insight into what motivates each one.

Side Notes: Of Threats and Thin Veils

In light of the the previous entry, it is understandable why the CFC-FFL (formerly the Easter Group) would feel the need to send this out.


Click on the picture for a larger image:




I would wonder why they'd feel the need to threaten "legal redress" for something not even found yet...seems thinly veiled threats are the M.O. these days. Any lawyers care to comment?

Side Notes: Incoming Emails, Motives, and Personal Responsibility

It is not my wish to disparage CFC or even FFL, but to give members of both who are unaware an insight into the personalities that are leading both. While one may see their involvment in CFC as a vehicle to do God's work, those who lead the organizations still hold much sway over their actions. I seek to expose motives and help discern the truth, so that God's work can continue to be done without the influence of human foibles and whims.

I have been receiving emails from people who have expressed their support and/or have given more information. An email from a certain B. Aris gives a succinct analysis of the internal issues of CFC. I thought hard about whether to post this or not, as this much insight into the organization that is CFC may be damaging to its reputation. I believe, that armed with the knowledge of its past mistakes, the CFC leadership can forge a new path, one that is beyond reproach and focused on its primary mandate, with TRANSPARENCY at its core to set an example for all.

Here now is an email I received from B. Aris.

Dear CD,

When the Council of Four inherited the governance of CFC after the resignation of Frank Padilla, Tony Meloto, and Lachie Agana, they tried to do what was standard operating procedure - take an inventory of assets and liabilities to set the level of their accountability. To ensure that the process would be as transparent as possible, several experts in the field of accounting and finance among CFC leaders were asked to participate.

Immediately after, Frank Padilla complains and accuses the Council of a witch hunt. For the first time in remembered history of CFC, its finances were being made open for scrutiny in their totality. While totals were being made available to the Council, only a select few, with Maribel Descallar, had access to all documents and detailed figures related to tithes and expenses. The truth was not so apparent, only some facets of it, even to the whole Council.

It was not a witch hunt. When it was seen by employees of the accounting section of the Home Office that the Council of Four were sincere in trying to determine assets and liability, or the total situation of CFC's financial state, several of them - on their own - began to submit documents that they believed would be of valuable use. It seemed that many documents had been deliberately kept until the day would come when the truth, indeed, would set them free.

The results of the financial inventory has been kept from the general membership. They are being kept secret to save the face of individuals concerned, leaders and council members of CFC who used, misused, and abused the tithes collected from the general membership. The struggle to spare the reputation and feelings of guilty parties won over the need for the truth to be known. The sensitive and damning documents remain in boxes which CFC members and leaders, except for a very few, are not allowed to see and inspect.

The little that has been revealed is just the dire financial situation of CFC, its virtual bankruptcy. Over the years of Frank and Gerry Padilla's conjugal rule of CFC, there had been no need for an accounting to the general membership. After all, tithes are God's money, and Frank is accountable only to God. A private letter was given to Lachie Agana, containing, it is rumored, a list of "lapses" he had committed as far as the use of money was concerned. It is also rumored that the list is not even complete because it was not meant to bring out the whole truth to the light, only to correct a brother according to the culture of the community. However, in any other organization, those "lapses," it is rumored, can send a person to jail or, at the very list, serve as a blacklist of his lack of honesty and integrity for life.

Again, it is rumored that CFC owes banks and individuals a whopping 25 million pesos. While it is not being rumored, not yet anyway, that Maribel Descallar or Lachie Agana had stolen money from CFC, there is much talk of abuse, of the gray line between what is personal and what is official. There is also much talk of how the favored ones, especially among full-time workers, are made to travel abroad as their gift for their loyalty - to the conjugal rule of Frank and Gerry Padilla and their heir apparent, Xavy Padilla. There is also much talk about other travel, hotels and meals, not only for favored officials of CFC, but including their families. Many times, these expenses are loaded, or padded, to the costs of CFC events.

I am sorry that you have to be content with rumors. There is a way, though, to be more precise. If Frank and Gerry Padilla, Maribel Descallar and Lachie Agana get touchy with mere rumors, they can always ask the Council to reveal all the documents to all the members of CFC. As Frank is very fond of saying, and now echoed by Nonong Contreras who used to be very vocal about the way CFC finances were being badly managed, "Let the truth set us free!"

B. Aris

For more, please refer to this comment posted in another entry.

Side Notes: On Gifts, Strings, and Everything In Between

A little background:

Dylan Wilk is married to Anna, Tony Meloto's daughter. He is the owner of the infamous "second-hand BMW" mentioned in the Lorenzo Cruz email that also questioned his assets. To learn more about him, please refer to the following link:

http://www.4-small-businesses.co.uk/top-small-businesses-idea-004.html

After Frank Padilla's GK-3 paper, the enmity between Frank and Tony solidified.

Here is a partial quote from the GK-3 paper :

TWO: Tony as “founder,” “father” or “driving force.”

REALITY: God gave GK to CFC. GK has no human founder. Jesus said to call no one
on earth “father,” since we all have only one Father, who is God.4 Further, being father is practically the same as being founder, since a father (with the mother) gives life to a child. The “driving force” behind GK is the Holy Spirit.

GOD’S INTENT: God intends to do a miraculous work through GK. God intends such
miraculous work to get the world to look to Him and recognize His majesty.

CONCERN: To call Tony or anyone else the founder, father or driving force is to put the person in place of God. Further, it makes GK simply of human and not divine origin. Still further, God is a jealous God and this can put Tony in jeopardy.

THE SOLUTION IS SIMPLE: Let us not build the cult of any one person. What should be promoted, and this will be sufficient for marketing purposes, is Gawad Kalinga and not any one person. In fact, since Tony by his own claim is now just a volunteer, the ones who should be at the forefront should be the GK Chair, Joe, and the GK Executive Director, Luis.6

Footnote.
6
It follows that Joe and Luis will be the ones to sign MOAs and contracts, represent GK officially, and speak at major GK events.

After GK-3 was released on Easter Sunday (hence the moniker, "Easter Group"), Tony admitted to feeling hurt and all communications ceased between Frank and Tony. Tony continued his work advocating GK here and abroad. His son-in-law Dylan had temporarily relocated to the USA with Anna to help further GK's causes there.

Frank Padilla's inquiry into Dylan's activities in the USA prompted this email exchange. To those wondering how I come across these emails; these are currently being distributed and forwarded in the CFC community by concerned members. I'm not the only one privy to these emails.

Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2007 15:31:01 +0800

To: "Issa Cuevas-Santos"

From: Frank Padilla

Subject: Re: gk recollection

If there is only one talk, then I am speaking about Lamentations. So there will be no need for a talk outline anymore. God bless.

Frank Padilla wrote:

By the way, you do not know about this GK Recollection? During our time, it certainly was not approved by the GK Board. Is Dylan now handling formation for GK? God bless.

From: Dylan Wilk

Subject: Re: Fwd: Re: gk recollection

To: Frank Padilla

Hi tito Frank,

As you know, I have been giving talks about GK both to CFC and non-CFC members every time I have been to the US for the past 3 years. I usually just pray and make a few notes but don't write the talks out in full unless I intend other people besides myself to give them after I leave. In fact, you yourself have approved them all when that has been the case (e.g. 'Renewing the Face of the Earth', 'Crossing the Jordan' and 'Shepherding a Nation').

The 'recollection' I gave in a few places in the US a couple of months ago was a talk entitled 'The Heart of GK' and it was specifically for GK partners and volunteers, which included both CFC and non-CFC members. It included my personal sharing about CFC and as I reported to you after I came back, several people (that I know of) agreed to take the CLP after listening to it.

I don't have a written up version of the talk, only a few scribbled notes.

By the way, I just heard that you were told by somebody that my 25th anniversary gift to the Melotos was misused. To make absolutely sure that you have the correct facts, all I gave the Melotos was a card saying that I would build 50 houses in each of their hometowns. They never touched the money. It was taken from my GK account and sent directly to the sites. Everything has been liquidated and accounted for.

This is yet another example of somebody completely fabricating an extremely vicious lie and feeding it to you. Could you let me know where it came from?

Thanks and God bless,

Dylan

Frank Padilla wrote:

Hello Dylan. I think it was the US that talked about a GK Recollection (12 talks?). Jorge Villanueva of GK Europe is also scheduled to give a GK recollection. I just asked Issa about it (see 4/17 email below), but I did not say it was yours. So is there any other GK Recollection with a series of talks? Your talking about GK including your personal sharing is of course OK. You are free to do that anywhere. But if our CFC brethren are called for a formal GK recollection, that is what I would like to be aware of.

By the way, you and Luis and Joe never responded to my email of 3/29 asking about your formal role or goals in going to the US for 6 months. As far as I know, the US Council is also unaware. Don't you think that we need to coordinate these things, if you are going to be relating with CFC members on such an extensive basis?

I also did not hear anything from you about the last GK Board meeting, as you had told me that you would bring up to them my suggestion, which you agree with, of having an open dialogue to tackle all issues.

You are right about people fabricating vicious lies -- no, not what was told to me, but what was told to you. Nothing is being mentioned by any of us regarding your building a village for the Melotos. There is no issue at all about that. What is being mentioned, and I know about it, is the money raised during the Melotos' 25th anniversary where contributions to GK were given in lieu of gifts. This money was placed in GK, and rightly so. But it has been treated as a personal fund, where Tony draws for personal expenses, rather than being GK's money as it truly is. Now it is my turn to ask you: could you let me know who told you? Perhaps one of the Council members, since it was brought up, just as an aside, during our meeting just last Monday?

Yes there is a lot of loose talk. Yes we get all heated up when we hear one-sided and at times erroneous reports. So the important thing is to have a dialogue, or a meeting where every issue is surfaced and people really speak out and we look for the truth. For my part I have nothing to hide. I am open to being asked anything. I promise not to be angry or defensive. I am not onion-skinned or vindictive. When I have some important issues, I put it on paper (like CFC and GK - 3) rather than talking behind people's backs. I desire only the good of all. All I want is to surface the truth, since the enemy works in darkness and exploits all of us. I am still waiting for that meeting.

God bless.

Questions:

Frank's statement, "I just asked Issa about it (see 4/17 email below), but I did not say it was yours." may have been true in context, but the implication of Dylan's involvment was certainly present in his email to Issa,

"During our time, it certainly was not approved by the GK Board. Is Dylan now handling formation for GK?"

One would also wonder why Frank Padilla feels the need to be involved in these matters when he had resigned as CFC Director and GK Chair back in February, as documented in the Feb-March issue of the Ugnayan:

Collective Responsibility

We take collective responsibility for the disillusionment that causes elders to even
leave the community. We, in the Council, have tried to give our all but it seems not good enough. We have simply fallen short of God’s expectations. And we repent of these, of course.

But we need to suffer the consequences. The council, in recognition of all of these, is willing to face the consequences. So as of today, our brother Tony Meloto, our brother Lachie Agana and myself are out of the CFC Council and out of the Gawad Kalinga board. I will no longer be CFC Director and GK Chair and our brother Tony will no longer be the GK Executive Director. The four other brothers of the Council will continue as a Council. The three of us - Tony, myself and Lachie - will continue to serve in whatever capacity that the Council deems proper for us or whatever they ask of us.

There is a need for drastic purification of the body. This is our Lamentations. We strongly reaffirm our brotherhood and sisterhood in the Council. We strongly affirm our love for one another. The Council is one in this decision; in making this decision we simply look to God’s mercy not just upon us, but upon our whole community.

A note to readers:

I'm now putting a lot more information in each post, including links to documents, sound bites, and official statements/articles. Please do click on the links embedded in the post, they will help you look at all aspects of the issues.

Coming up...the rest of the email exchange between Dylan and Frank, as well as more on the "gifts" and the "giver."

The Easter Egg Hunt continues....