Who are the persons behind the disinformation campaign aimed at discrediting the two Filipina nannies formerly employed by the family of Brampton MP Ruby Dhalla?
The two caregivers, Magdalena Gordo and Richelyn Tongson, accused Dhalla of alleged maltreatment among others and of confiscating their passports during their work stint with the MP from Brampton.
Dhalla has since denied any wrongdoings. saying the two Filipina nannies were being used by some political opponents.
Lately, news circulated that Dhalla was “cleared “ by a Parliamentary committee . This was aired and circulated by some mainstream and ethnic
Media.
Gordo, through her lawyers, disputed the report branding it as “ a false story, from the way it was structured, was maliciously made“.
Gordo said that the story or news stories “ looks to me that it was a slick public relations job by somebody at our expense, knowing we have no political connections and financial resources to adequately protect ourselves “.
Hmmmm…as a former public relations practitioner myself, I could smell something rotten about the whole thing. There were e-mails circulating among the Filipino community with the alleged “clearance “ story even provided by a Filipino-supporter of Dhalla.
Some ethnic newspapers picked up the story while one Filipino-community newspaper also used it.
As it turned out, there was no such thing. The parliamentary committee only recommended “that authorized bodies in the provincial and federal governments investigate the allegations of the former live-in caregivers in the Dhalla residence and take measures as appropriate “
There was nowhere in the committee report that Dhalla was exonerated nor cleared of the allegations.
Now the question is :Who has the resources, money and clout to mount such public relations job ? Your guess is as good as mine .
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TRAVEL AGENCY SCAM: I received a letter from an alleged victim of the RCT travel scam whom we shall only identify as “Aida “. She said in November of 2004, her son was diagnosed with terminal cancer and had only two months to live. She decided to bring her son to the Philippines, purchasing two tickets to the Philippines from Karen Tarroza aka Karen Tarroza, who at that time was employed with the travel agency. She paid the tickets in cash.
Aida returned to Canada next month in December of 2004 to take care of the insurance papers of his son after which she returned to the Philippines the next year January of 2005.
This time , because she’s running out of money, Aida used her MasterCard credit card to pay for the tickets from Tarroza.
She said Tarroza knew all along that she would stay in the Philippines for six months. When her son’s health began improving, Aida decided to come back to Canada . To her surprise, when the bill of her credit card came, there was more than $5000.charges from Cathay Pacific and American airlines and other airline companies, which she said she never used in her travel.
She confronted Tarroza and the latter promised to issue her two checks covering the amount. However, the two checks bounced. In the meantime, interest on her credit cards keeps on mounting.
Her son finally died and she was left with nothing to go back to the Philippines were if not for the mercy and help of friends and relatives.
She went to the police, to the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO)where she was told to collate all pertinent papers regarding her complaints.
Because of her son’s death, she was never able to follow up her complaints as she was picking the remnants of her shattered life.
Today, Aida, after reading our column, said she’s now ready to come forward to court to prove her allegations against Karen Tarroza.
At press time, Tarroza is facing 15 charges of fraud, 13 of which is over $5,000 and two are under $5,000 from some four complainants.
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SHARON CONCERT: I my last column. We wrote about some promoters of concerts who are “fly-by nights “ or “Haoshiaos “ (illegitimate or colorums) Some quarters might have misinterpreted this to mean a particular company.
Matter of fact, I assured Ruth Ronquillo, promoter of the recently-held Sharon Cuneta Concert last June 7 that her company Royal Mark is a legitimate concert promoter, having held some big events here in Toronto and Mississauga.
It’s about time, legit promoters band themselves so their ranks won’t be infiltrated. This will also help professionalize the business.
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MILESTONES, PEOPLE AND EVENTS: The affable second in command of the Philippine Consulate general in Toronto, Deputy Congen IMELDA PANOLONG is ending her stint here in Toronto.
Also completing her posting is ARMI SANTOS, another member of the consular staff and like Consul Panolong. will be assigned at the home office.
We wish them both successes in their diplomatic endeavours !
Recent Toronto visitor is Pototan, Iloilo Mayor PABLO PEREZ who also attended the Gawad Kalinga Summit held in Boston along with Saladmaster and GK advocate PIDOY PACIS.
Congratulations to MS.MINDA NERI, this year’s most Outstanding Asian Canadian. Minda is also this year’s chair of the Mabuhay Festival on July 18, the biggest Filipino event of the summer each year.
QUANTUM, a big money remittance company, has acknowledged the Filipino community as one with great capabilities in terms of leadership in various fields of endeavours.
It says its ready to participate in the money remittances needs of the Filipino community by offering a free service charge arrangements to those sending money to their families.
It is also participating in the Mabuhay festival on July 18.