Fake news
THE past days saw the Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation being audited. From performance, to fund sourcing, and the composition of the board. All this, will determine whether it could still continue on as a foundation.
All these were not present some time ago. The foundation operated and implemented projects, to those in need. As simple as that. As of late, all these have changed. Some ‘body’ is now tasked to monitor foundations and check if they are indeed performing as a foundation. A real foundation.
If Juan would recall, the Napoles issue with the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), was all about legislators, Congressmen and Senators and their foundations. Fake ones at that.
Funds were being siphoned off to these foundations and were not being audited. It has been a long standing practice. Juan does not know anything about it, until Napoles. Now Juan does.
Unfortunately for the real foundations, we are now at the mercy of government to be check upon as foundations. I cannot blame them from what has happened, but very taxing for the real ones which is affected from implementing good for the communities and sectors that need us.
As a young boy and newbie in politics, I had my own too. The YES Foundation, it meant for Youth, Education and Sports. I centered only on these three sectors. I felt that with my youth, I could very much connect with these sectors. I kept winning election after election. The foundation I created just supplemented my accent to higher office.
Anyway, now I am not in public office, obviously. I have found it very fulfilling continuing to do public service through a foundation. After more than 35 years, my father has asked me to take over from him. On my second meeting upon joining the Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation, I was elected as their president.
I chose to run from my place towards Loakan to Kennon Road for my meeting. We were interviewed and validated, if we were for real. I arrive very early, I must have ran too fast or gave too