“The people working behind the Fiesta are all volunteers community Leaders and members of various community organizations. Whereas ABS CBN Australia TFC are all paid workers.”
President of Philippine Australian Sports and Culture (PASC), Inc. Mr Manny Castillo said the plan by Philippine broadcasting giant ABS-CBN to host another “fiesta event” in Sydney this year is not good for the annual Philippine Fiesta Kultura held every year during the October long weekend holiday in New South Wales.
In a memo to PASC Vice President Marivic Ayap but copy furnished to 22 @ email addresses including media outlets in Sydney’s Philippine community, Manny Castillo commented over the alleged effect of the “continuous ABS CBN TFC TV Broadcast of their festivity last 27 Sept. 2015 at Rosehill Racecourse, which is one week apart to the 27th Sydney Fiesta Kultura 2015 scheduled on 5 October 2015 at Fairfield Showground.”
Two ABS-CBN email addresses, the Philippine consulate and media outlets including Bayanihan News were copy furnished of the letter..
Manny Castillo added.” The Fil-Oz community is being threatened for a diminishing fate of the Fiesta Kultura. Rosehill is Fiesta old venue and wish rebook in future.
“Organizing a large community event one week apart is …
ridiculous and imaginable doom for financial disaster. Since both events are hiring expensive venues and labour (security,police, technicians, equipment installers). The Fiesta is worse since it falls on a long weekend where labour hire cost is triple times. “ Mr Castillo said.
“The difference of the two community festiva l are ABS CBN TFC is for profit and whereas the Fiesta Kultura is Non-profit since the main organizing organization PASC is registered as a Non-Profit Organization in NSW. The people working behind the Fiesta are all volunteers community Leaders and members of various community organizations. Whereas ABS CBN Australia TFC are all paid workers.”
“Last year was understandable being their 20th anniversary existence in Australia where according to management is a one off event. Doing it again this year one week before is a malicious, unethical and unprofessional business practice of such a Manila based respected company.
Mr Castillo added, “Community sentiments were requested last year since they are the ones who are affected financially. For newcomers with families and home mortgages can only attend one community event. Though they wish to attend both events but can’t afford. Such large community events should not be closed together to give people a chance to save – up. Because both organizing parties will suffer financially since both parties are relying support and servicing one community.
“At less one month or two months apart will be ideal and beneficial to our community.
On earlier years the Fiesta has experienced few community organizations who have attempted to copy its concept and format but failed after one or two years attempt.
“Now its the Filipino communication conglomerate ABS CBN Australia who wants to copy and destroy a community institution which has given special recognitions and identity to our Filipinos-Australian community both acclaimed from the Australian and the Philippines governments”
When contacted by email, ABS CBN’s spokesperson in Sydney replied she’s on holiday and out of town.