Silayan ‘takeover’ questioned

Silayan ‘takeover’ questioned

TORONTO–Where Conservative leaders in the federal Parliament failed, some leaders at the Silayan Community Centre may have succeeded.

In a move seemingly inspired by recent spectacles in Parliament, a group of Silayan officials headed by then vice-president Willie Nabus declared “a vote of non-confidence” on the leadership of Rose Tijam as president, then proceeded to “restructure” the board by electing “interim” officials.

Thus, the reason for the special membership meeting on May 21st – to secure mandate from the membership and turn interim positions into official posts. Nabus’s camp got their mandate, but not without strong objections from Tijam’s group.

At the meeting, which started an hour after the announced time, the Silayan cast of characters proceeded with their own little version of parliamentary discourse.

Nabus presided over the meeting, despite insistence from Tijam that as incumbent president, she has the right to speak.

“You’re out of order, Miss!” was her vice-president’s response to Tijam’s request.

The first half-hour was an agonizing battle for the microphone. Nabus’s group wanted the members present to ratify the agenda of an April 29th meeting that elected the interim officials. But Tijam’s camp would not let them proceed without clarifying the issues that they have raised.

In the midst of the struggle over who gets to speak and who doesn’t, a woman angrily yelled for the agenda to be read and told everyone to be “civilized. ” The woman, named Rita McEachern, turned out to be the sister of Ramon Lara, a member of Nabus’s interim board.

Silayan member Nora Angeles questioned the validity of the special meeting and claimed that procedures under the organization’s by-laws were violated.

“I did not get a notice for this meeting which (Nabus’s group) claimed they sent to all members. I questioned the legality of the meeting because it was not called by the president,” Angeles said in a statement.

She alleged that Nabus’s camp violated provisions of Silayan’s by-laws which states, among others, “Special meetings must be called by the board upon the written request of not less than one-tenth of the members entitled to vote at the proposed meetings.”

When questioned by Angeles about the list of legitimate members, which under the by-laws constitute members who have paid the fees for a period of at least six months, Nabus informed her “registration was still going on.”

Despite unanswered queries and futile objections, Nabus asked interim secretary Constantine Cabarios to read the minutes of the April 29th meeting for the membership’s ratification.

The agenda, however, should not be voted upon if its legality is being questioned by the membership, according to Lynda Javier, president of the Filipino Centre Toronto and previous member of Silayan’s board.

Acting as a neutral observer, Javier pointed out the importance of talking things out. “There is nothing that cannot be solved by heart to heart talk.”

Other members also raised questions and concerns, generally on the validity and “constitutionality” of the April 29th meeting and of the interim officials. They all got the same answer, “all questions will be answered at the proper time.”

That white guy

In the midst of heated arguments, a white man who came in with McEachern (the lady who yelled something about being civilized), suddenly shouted, “This is not a dictatorship, this is Canada.” A statement, which this reporter read as an allusion to President Marcos and that in contrast, Canada is a free country.

His subsequent actions may have contradicted his earlier pronouncements, though.

In the midst of discussions, Nabus was still refusing to allow Tijam to address the membership. It was on her fifth attempt, that Tijam was finally given the microphone and after Javier commented, “Giver her the chance to speak, she is the president.”

As soon as Tijam started to talk, white guy stood up, grabbed the microphone from Tijam and proceeded to unplug it from the receiver. Rita, who turned out to be white guy’s spouse, cheered and applauded her husband’s poor attempt at being “civilized”.

None of the presiding Silayan officials seemed bothered by this blatant display of disrespect.

It seemed the words, “You’re out of order!” which Nabus earlier said to Tijam may have held more meaning if they were directed to the white guy, Fred McEachern.

This, however, proved to be the last straw for Tijam and other Silayan members, who decided to walk out of the room. Javier was also among those who left the meeting.

“This meeting is unconstitutional and illegal. I know the people who are behind all this, they want to destroy the community,” Tijam said.

Finally getting rid of the opposition with a little help from the tall, white guy, the presiding officer proceeded with the meeting.

Constitutionality

Responding to the issue raised on the legality of the move to restructure the board, Nabus said they acted within the provisions of the Silayan by-laws.

He specifically cited the terms on calling special meetings. According to the by-laws, “The board may call a special meeting of the members at any time, the general nature of which shall be specified in the notice calling the meeting.”

Nabus claimed it is not the sole authority of the president to call meetings and that board members are also allowed to call meetings under the by-laws.

On allegations that members were not informed of the meeting, Cabarios said all information were made available on Silayan’s e-mail group. It was not stated, however, whether the board actually sent out notices to all the members.

According to Nabus’s camp, Tijam was informed of the April 29th meeting but she declined to attend saying “she did not sanction” the meeting.

In a letter to Tijam, Nabus’s new board accused Tijam of disregarding the board “on policy decisions and actions.”

Last January, a letter of petition was circulated among Silayan members that called into question Tijam’s leadership. Tijam maintained that Gene Lara, a Silayan staff member, initiated the petition. Gene is Ramon Lara’s mother and white guy’s mother-in-law.

According to Tijam the petition prompted her to consult a lawyer “to clarify and iron out matters.”
When asked by one Silayan member whether the new board was legitimate, Nabus assured that his group was acting within the confines of Silayan’s by-laws.

Thirty-four members were present during the May 21st special meeting. According to Nabus there are currently 40 active Silayan members. It was not clear, however, whether the 34 members who voted recently were qualified voters.

“I asked if they had a membership list to determine who is eligible to vote, Willie Nabus replied registration is still going on. Clearly they believed that they can bring people in and have them vote right away, another violation of the by-law,” said Angeles, questioning the issue on voter qualification.
Qualified members or not, the April 29th agenda was voted on and ratified by those present.

Under the new board of directors, Nabus assumed the post of president, Carmen Subibi, vice-president, Cabarios as secretary, Ed Rodas as treasurer, and Aurora Medrano, Ramon Lara, and Doris Nabor are members of the board.