At 20 Years, PHB Launches "Building A Dream"

Since its formation twenty years ago this month, PHB has marched hundreds of kilometres of parades and performed many concerts in many places in Canada, the United States and even in the Philippines. It has taken on the challenge of investing in our youth, giving them a springboard to a better future. For all of the foregoing, a positive Filipino image has been brought to the forefront, a joy to us Filipinos. Many of its youth have been successful in their respective careers. The challenge has been won.

This year, PHB is marching to a different drumbeat, one that is going to lead to a long-cherished dream, a building of its own.

The idea of having its own building has been looming for several years now, but there never was a concerted thrust into initiating it. But seeing that the band is at its peak with so many hardworking people in it and friends and supporters behind it, the Board in its meeting of September 22, 2000 unanimously approved a motion to kick off its building fund drive at PHB's 20th anniversary at the Holiday Inn on November 4th.

"PHB has the resolve to achieve the building goal within a predetermined length of time, guaranteed to be without the Filipino syndrome that usually plagues the realization of a project of this kind", said Oscar Farinas, PHB Executive Director.

Led by its hardworking, dedicated and brilliant leader Carol Banez, PHB has remained solid from management to general membership, a team which unilaterally moves onward in the pursuit of any given goal.

Fund Raising A Way of Life

PHB has gone from the very mundane fund raising initiatives such as garage sales and homeware sales to social events to lotteries to the more challenging and risky ones. Everyone has a role to play in raising funds. Because of these, PHB has, over the years, managed to purchase essential needs like a brand new truck, gala uniforms, top quality equipment and office appliances.

Today, fund raising is continuing with a staff of volunteers. PHB recognizes that it is not enough to rely on grants from outside sources alone. It has to have well-oiled fund raising machinery, a money-machine of its own. This is exactly what PHB is doing.

Because of its track record, PHB is seen as a trustworthy organization with a highly competent leadership. Just recently, it was awarded a $30,000. grant from the Ontario government to administer a Partners for Crime program. The award did not come easily, for PHB went through a rigorous exercise, producing documented evidence of its capability to manage the grant. But in the end, much to everyone's delight, PHB passed with flying colours. It is the biggest single grant ever awarded PHB in its 20-year history.

Ten Reasons For Achieving Building Goal

There is overwhelming confidence in PHB achieving its building goal, one that is supported by many people who have been watching PHB's fund raising successes over the years. There are good reasons, namely
a) Outstanding support of members
b) Solid and disciplined management team with rigid rules of conduct
c) Aggressive and effective fund-raising team
d) As a charitable organization, it issues tax receipts, giving donors a tax advantage
e) Perfect track record-it has achieved every single goal it set, mostly in the 5-digit dollar figure
f) Broad support base, from businesses to friends and strangers alike
g) PHB has a mainstream activity-shaping our youth and enriching our communities through its performances
h) It has a vested interest-it needs a building wherein to conduct its activities
i) Unlike other organizations, there is a common thread in its leadership, assuring continuity of essential goals and programs
j) The building team will undertake the project from inception through completion.

Link With Others

There have been thoughts to link up with other organizations towards a common facility, this way, fund grows faster. PHB's activities are diverse and regimented into many units, requiring a space for each. And each of these rooms would be especially equipped to suit the training needs of the respective units. Then there is the noise factor, which a co-resident will usually not appreciate. And then there are security concerns. It is for these major reasons that at this point, PHB is taking a standalone, "sole-control" approach in this building project.

Notwithstanding the above, the facility would naturally be made available for use by others. This is what it is all about in the first place, one where people in our community would benefit from.

Kick-Off

"Building A Dream!" is more of a battlecry than a cliché', and was coined together by one of PHB's long-serving Board member, Edd Atendido. November 4, 2000 will officially kick-off the building fund drive, and thereafter, PHB's thrust will be towards the progressive realization of this very worthy goal. In fact, all major projects such as previously planned performance trip to Hawaii and California have been put on temporary hold in order to focus unilaterally on the building project.

Many organizations have taken the challenge of establishing a building for the benefit of our community. It is a very noble, but tedious undertaking that requires a lot of hard work and unlimited resources.

PHB now joins the stream, and just as others have done, seeks the community's support. One thing that PHB can and will do is to focus and act on reaching its goal. And, as it had done in the past, it will.