Ignoring someone is arguably the worst kind of criticism.
For three decades since my arrival in Sydney, the Filipino community had clamoured, nay, prayed, for someone with the courage and the credentials to represent Filipino-Australians in the political arena.
About two years ago, our prayers were answered: Jess Diaz, a member of the NSW Bar, was elected to Blacktown City Council. Years earlier, Diaz had failed to win a seat in the NSW State Parliament, thanks to a lack of support from a large section of the Filipino community. Blacktown and the surrounding areas, mind you, boast the largest concentration of Filipinos in the whole of Australia.
But no sooner had Diaz taken his rightful place in Blacktown Council’s table of 14 councillors than he got the cold-shoulder treatment from his own Filipino community. The fact that he was in the opposition Liberal Party in a Labor Party-dominated Council did not make it any easier for Diaz to demonstrate his skills as a lawyer from the Philippines and to achieve his dreams for a better city and for the Filipino community he had believed deserved his gratitude for putting him there.
Click image for news, 9/24/08: Filipino Australians win in NSW local council elections
Even the Filipino press appears to have shut its eyes on the only Filipino elected to local government in the Sydney metropolitan area ~ and only the second such Filipino politician in the whole of Australia.
For all intents and purposes, the Filipino community in Blacktown has decided that Jess Diaz, a practising lawyer, a founder of the Diaz Foundation for youth, and a local Councillor, does not exist.
In the meantime, every week without fail, we have one Filipino doing hours’ service for the Australian community within the city. And every month, Diaz is out there debating with 13 other Councillors about everything from gutters and city planning to waste management, budgets and the environment. There’s no Filipino in the gallery. There is no Filipino journalist at the press table to watch Diaz perform.
How much more alone can a politician feel?
At the next election time, however, there will be a chorus of Filipino voters in Blacktown demanding: ”What have you done for us these last three years, Councillor Diaz?”
Ah, the answer to our prayers resurrects. And perhaps we would be looking for another whipping boy that Filipinos in Blacktown can ignore over next three years.
Other post/s by Jaime K Pimentel
- NSW Premier’s Awards are insults to the Filipino community - March 7th, 2011
- Options for frail aged Pinoys - March 29th, 2010
- Keep women from boxing - January 21st, 2010
- Let's make our voices heard - December 4th, 2009
About Jaime K Pimentel
Been a resident of the Eastern and Northern suburbs most of my life hence I was not made aware of Mr Diaz’s accomplishments. Forgive my ignorance but this is just my own experience:
1) Having been exposed to politics at a very young age and chased by tanks and bullets during the EDSA days, I tried to avoid anything close to it. I have made a choice to take a break from anything “political” when I moved here. I was guilty of apathy.
2) I have only known of the Pinoy newspapers here 7 years ago and the first one I saw (which I wouldn’t name) didn’t really interest me due to advertisement overload hence I chose not to read the tabloid and its contents. Pretty much I have no Pinoy connection other than my friends.
3) People do take things for granted, and that happens both here and back home. We elect a leader then once on post we leave everything up to them. No support or feedback but when something bad happens, we are only too quick to blame the delegate. This boils down to lack of accountability.
There are plenty of psychological explanations behind our behavior (as per my latest blog); how can we teach accountability to our kids for example when they (at the age of 30 or more) still live at home, supplied with food, money or property, then bailed out every time they encounter trouble? We have this built-in tolerance because our parents were always there to save us. We were taught to wish for things then do what we want because whatever happens it will be alright. We can just wish for another again. We behave like this and teach the same behavior we learned to our kids because that’s the only way we know how.
Maybe you are right, Mr Diaz probably didn’t get the exposure he deserves. But it is not too late. You know, sometimes “wala tayong kusa, kailangan lang ng konting palo” to remind us that we have been naughty.
Dear Mr Pimentel
I take offence in your harsh judgment on us Filipino Australians living in the Blacktown area.
True, Mr Jess Diaz is a Filipino Australian but didn’t you know that when he ran for a seat in the Blacktown Council, he did not run because he is a Filipino Australian? Did you also know during his campaign his platform did not even include programs to benefit the Philippine community? Rightly so, because if he did he would have been marked as someone who is very parochial! And he would have been crucified for alienating the other cultural groups in Blacktown.
So, why expect us to publicly show that we support him?
Why not let Mr Diaz be his own man like the other Blacktown councillors?
I hope you will re-consider these points next time you drum up support for Mr Diaz.
By the way: What makes an elective position so special to you? Is an elective position not like other paid professions or vocations notwithstanding politicians’ claim for community service? After all, one does not need to be in politics to render community service. Have you also forgotten that there are a number of non-politician Australians recognised during Australia Day for their community service?
Ron C
Ron C (if that’s your real name):
I usually do not bother to answer to writers like you who crawl down a hole and, under the cover of anonymity, cry poor.
But I think I know exactly what I’m talking about.
Jess Diaz did not run for Blacktown City Council “because he was a Filipino-Australian”. How ridiculous to think that he would. Mr Diaz ran to represent voters of every ethnic background within a Ward of Blacktown. But in doing so, he was also giving Filipino-Australians the profile they deserved in a city with the largest concentration of Filipino migrants in Australia. Indeed, Mr Diaz has given, by his election to Blacktown Council, every Filipino migrant in Australia a reason to feel some pride ~ whether you love or hate him.
Obviously, you didn’t vote for Mr Diaz. Nobody is begrudging you for that. Maybe you didn’t vote for John Howard, either, but all Australians from all sides of the political landscape accepted and followed him as our leader. Filipinos in Blacktown, to my thinking, could do the same for Mr Diaz.
In case you have not bothered to attend Blacktown City Council meetings, let me asure you that Mr Diaz is “his own man”. He may be the smallest in the chamber, but he can stand and spar with the tallest and the best of them. He really doesn’t need you, Ron C, but it would be nice if you would show some Filipino bayanihan spirit and share the burden of lifting our profile in Blacktown.
I am explaining my statements for those readers who may have misinterpreted my original blog on the subject. But I still don’t believe Ron C, whoever he or she is, deserves a response.
~ Jaime K Pimentel
Your personal comments are noted.
Thank you for your opinion, Ron C. What does ‘C’ stand for?
Why do you take offense? Mr Pimentel made an observation, not a judgement. And don’t use the word “us” because I don’t share your views.I am a Filipino Australian who have lived in the Blacktown area since 1986.
You mention that “his platform did not even include programs to benefit the Philippine community”. Did you expect something from Jess that you didn’t get? And I expect Jess to be parochial to his ward, regardless of the wards ethnic background. That’s his job. And Jess would have been elected because of his “own man” merits.
Are you not proud to be a Filipino, or Filipino Australian? Whichever one you are? Have you got something against Jess, or Filipinos? I question your self-identity.
Your personal comments are also noted Mr Badelles.