Questions, doubts, hearsays about the status of the FILAMemphis Community Center project have been floating around. To shed light and provide insight to the historical background, developments, and future plans for this project, Dr. Olivia Cabigao shares this information followed by answers to your frequently asked questions.

The dream of building and owning our own Filipino Community Center dates back some three decades ago. Back then, the pioneers of our community realized that for the Filipinos to come together, to grow and have a place to celebrate our rich Filipino culture, the dream of owning and building a community center must be realized. The establishment of our non-profit status in 1999 gave our organization a better direction to reach that goal. It established our ability to carry out fund raising activities to support our growing programs — Charitable (annual medical mission to the Philippines, local free medical clinic), Educational, Sports, Social and Cultural.

In 2004, a Building Committee was created to gather opinions, ideas, and commitments to support building the center. It took a year and numerous meetings before a piece of land was found suitable to our needs. The property, recommended by Mr. Robinson, Director of the Planning Commission of the City of Bartlett, was a 13 acre land zoned residential near the corner of Yale and Brother.

Before we purchased the land, there were numerous meetings with the seller (Mr. Olds) and the Planning Commissioner. Questions addressed were:

• Can we obtain a Special Use Permit which is required to build a community center?
• Can we rezone the front parcel of land (5.5 acres) to Commercial/Retail/Office zone?
  The purpose of rezoning was to be able to sell the front parcel of land to help finance the building of the community center.

On both questions, we were given the reassurance by Mr. Robinson that both issues did not pose any problem with the planning commission and that these plans were discussed with the mayor. We moved forward with the purchase of the land. The loan was obtained from Bank of Bartlett. Ten members of the community committed as guarantors for the loan. We had several meetings with the community to obtain pledges to pay for the land.

Your Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Did we obtain the Special Use Permit? Are we going to be granted the permission to rezone the front parcel?
A: On the first public hearing to obtain the permit, we encountered opposition from the neighboring subdivision homeowners. Their contentions: building a community center beside their subdivision will lower the value of their property; there will be wild and noisy parties that will disturb the neighborhood; there will be an increase in crime; we will convert the property into a “swamp like our country the Philippines.”

Because of the opposition, the Mayor and the City Council postponed the decision on the request and encouraged the Filipino Community to have a meeting with the neighboring homeowners. The FILAMemphis officers and other members of the Fil-Am community held a town hall meeting with the neighboring homeowners. We introduced the Fil-Am Community, discussed our goals and  aspirations as a community, our programs that will benefit the community, our rich and wonderful culture.

Despite these efforts of communication with the neighboring homeowners, they were still opposed to our request. Their well-publicized comment: “We are not trying to stop their dream of building their center, but they can build their dream somewhere else.”

On the second public hearing, the City of Bartlett Mayor and Council granted our Special Use Permit, but because of the oppositions, they imposed restrictions on our permit. The major restriction was: the front parcel can not be rezoned. The Mayor himself was quoted as saying, “it  will be very difficult for them to build a center because of the restrictions imposed on the special use permit.”

Q: What was done to fight the restrictions imposed on our permit ?
A: We took our case to the Commission on Title VI  headed by  Mr. Birdsong. Title VI commission  handles discrimination and unjust cases. Despite numerous meetings between Mr. Birdsong and the City of Bartlett, the commission was unsuccessful in lifting the major restriction. He recommended that we hire a lawyer to help us fight our case.

Q: What was the next step taken by the FILAMemphis Officers, Board of Directors and Guarantors?
A: Knowing that it will take time and will cost a lot of money to hire a lawyer, it was decided to put our land on the market.

Q: How long has the property been on the market ?
A: Almost two years.

Q: I thought we pledged for a building, how come it’s not there yet?
A: In 99% of cases, a building needs a lot or land to be built on. We are just paying for the land at present.

Q:  How is FILAMemphis paying for the mortgage ? What happened to the pledge money?
A: All pledge money collected and generous donations from fund raising activities have helped pay for the mortgage. All pledge money collected is used in paying for the monthly mortgage payment.

Q:  What happens to the money obtained from the sale of the land?
A: The money stays with  FILAMemphis who is the owner of the land. Whatever money obtained from the sale of the land goes to FILAMemphis and will use the money to buy a small building that can be renovated in stages to suit the community’s needs.

Q:  What is the recent financial status of FILAMemphis Building Fund?
A: Some of the pledgers have stopped sending their pledges for whatever reason and therefore have put a strain on our fund. We will continue to hold fund raising activities so we can meet the monthly payments of the loan.

Q:  What can happen if FILAMemphis Building Fund runs out of money?
A: When the time comes that FILAMemphis can not pay the monthly dues, then Bank of Bartlett will seize the property since they are the holder of the title.

Q: What can the guarantors do to prevent the foreclosure on the land by the Bank and lose all the money that have been paid towards the loan?
A:   The guarantors will buy the land from FILAMemphis.

Q:  Are the guarantors the only persons allowed to buy the land from FILAMemphis?
A: No, anybody can be an investor and  buy the land as a whole or be a member of a group of investors.

Q:  When is the deadline for an individual to become an investor?
A: Dec. 15, 2008

Q:  What is the selling price of the property?
A: $ 518,700.00

I hope that I have answered most of the questions that have been voiced out in the community. If there are any more concerns, please do not hesitate to speak up and let us know. It is in the best interest of everyone in the community to get their questions answered.

I assure you that we will not take offense if you ask questions and rest assured that we will answer them honestly and give you whatever information we have to answer your questions.

To all the pledgers, our treasurer, Ms. Lorie Hardin will be glad to show you how your pledge money has been spent and what we are doing with all the money collected thru fund raising activities. Again, the officers of Fil-AMemphis are grateful for all your support and patience.

Olivia O. Cabigao, MD
Chairman
FILAMemphis Board of Directors
901.276.6748