When PFC took pictures of Franklin Odo of Smithsonian posing with their officers, Migrant also took pictures of their officers with Odo. Not only that, Migrant even gave Odo an expensive barong Tagalog! Migrant also published a picture in the Manila Mail of its chair, Nedo Valera posing with Ambassador Del Rosario in the Philippine embassy during which he extended his group’s invitation to be present in their gala in Crystal City. The embassy’s mouse says it was during this meeting that an embassy officer identified as JQ asked Nedo to hold his own gala in a cheap hotel! This reportedly infuriated Nedo.

Caught in the middle is Ambassador Albert del Rosario. He is in a quandary. Should he grace the event sponsored by the Philippine Festival Committee and another event sponsored by Migrant Commission which falls on the same date and time but on a different venue on June 10?

Being the diplomat that he is , the ambassador appeared in the Migrant affair briefly but longer at the PFC sponsored gala.

The tension is rising and the sniping continues. The ambassador is reportedly anxious to patch up the feud, lest he will preside over a divided community. But this mouse says that unknown to the ambassador, some members of his own staff are secretly supporting one group against the other.

Also reportedly caught in the middle is the Manila Mail. Like the ambassador, the Mail has to accept photos and press releases from both the PFC and Migrant Heritage Commission so there will be equal treatment. This has also caused some form of resentment among the Manila Mail volunteers who favor one group or the other.

Tp show that they are also Filipinos, a group of Migrant officers “joined” the June 4 parade along Pennsylvania Avenue. Some members of PFC, according to reports, also participated in the Asia festival last month in which Migrant was involved.

But the unkindest cut of all, according to tsismoso fans, are the innocent bystanders who are caught in the intense crossfire. They have also become unwitting victims of intrigue. Those who are not used to such infighting are now shying away from the limelight. “I was just volunteering my services to the community, now look what I got. I am being vilified by some people in the community. ”

And the grapevine is filled with tsismis. (I resent this intrusion into my domain.) Everyone is now watching each other. Every  error or omissions committed by one or the  others are being transmitted through the internet. This includes below the belt tsismis, such as so and so is the girlfriend of so and so and  some officers are acting like Gordon Libby passing on supposedly secret information to destroy the character of others.

What led to this division?  One tsismoso who says he knows everything traces it to money. Five hundred dollars to be exact, he adds. “The Philippine Festival Committee failed to reimburse one group who volunteered to help in last years celebration of the festival,” he says.  “Not only that, the PFC failed to acknowledge this group’s contribution.” The volunteers involved in that incident are now officers of the Migrant Heritage Commission!

One observer says the ambassador should solve the problem. “It is within his power to do so,” says the embassy mouse. First, he can control his minions and prevent them from taking sides. Then he should set up peace talks on neutral grounds, probably in Atlantic City.

Unless this is done, the time will come when the fight will not only lead to fisticuffs, hairpulling and verbal tirades. It might also result, God forbid,  in Filipinos fighting each other like cats and dogs in the courts.. Nakakahiya.

@9PTCA = ***

Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo must be turning in his grave these days. The Philippine embassy in Washington celebrated independence day on June 3 with a flag-raising ceremony. Last year, it was on another date.

@9PTCA = ***

Hurray! I’ve got a new fan. His name is Marco Santos! (See letters to the editor. His email address is marco_santos60@yahoo.com) I don’t know if he is a resident of Washington or Tondo in Manila.

Because he does not know where to send his email, Mr. Marco coursed it to Melegrito. In his email, he asked Jon, “pagkasabi sa tarantadong nagsusulat ng Washington tsismis - Putang-ina nyang hayop sya!!!” Susmariosep! Mang Marco, relax lang. His email continued: “Mukha yatang nabababoy ang newspaper dahil sa mga sinusulat sa Washington Tsismis. Kung hindi naman importante o kaya walang kwenta ay huwag na lang ilagay! Magsusulat ng katarantaduhan sa iba’t ibang tao at wala naman katotohanan pagkatapos wala syang e-mail address kung saan sya pwedeng sulatan para naman makasagot ang isinulat nyang tao.

Pakisabi sa tarantadong nagsusulat ng Washington tsismis -PUTANG-INA NYANG HAYOP SYA!!!!

Marco

Aray ko po, Mang Marco. Medyo masakit yata ang sinasabi ninyo. Isang request lang: Kung mayron kayong sasabihin tungkol sa column ko, paki padala mo lang sa manilamaildc@erols. At kaibigan Marco, dahil ang dito na tayo sa America at English na ang national language, paki sulat mo lang in English. Pare Marco, taga saan kayo? Member ka ba ng sige-sige dati? Ganoon din ako, member ako ng Oxo gang dati.

Please, P. I.Mang Marco, send me more email, pero alisin mo  na lang ang p..... Okay? Ang email ko is sismismail@yahoo.com