Feedback: One omitted in Fil-Am thanks

I am writing in response to the Fil-Am thank you letter to the editor when Belen Trost mentioned everyone the Oak Harbor Fil-Am Association recognized for work that impacted the community. I was truly stunned as to who was not included in the formalities.

Speaking as her vice-president, I can tell you first hand that Fil-Am could not have even had this function had it not been for Judith Borras-Zapanta. Fil-Am was in such financial shambles when Judith became president that no one opposed her in the election. Fil-Am, for years, had paid thousands of dollars in taxes for a piece of property intended for a building, which would never happen due to building codes. The main source of income had been eliminated two years earlier due to problems with the wooden food booth used to sell pancit and lumpia during Oak Harbor 4th of July festivities. Fil-Am of Oak Harbor was financially dying fast.

When Judith became president, as promised, she purchased a brand new concession trailer to bring the pancit and lumpia sales back to the community. She solicited the community for donations to pay for the trailer and to make the trailer a part of this community. Judith then sold the money-wasting property to pay the remaining balance of the trailer.

Judith literally breathed new life into the Fil-Am of Oak Harbor and almost single handedly because most members had given up hope on the mess she was handed. Yet, nine months after her reign, Fil-Am is strong enough to thank many who impacted the community. I am truly saddened that the present board did not have the intestinal fortitude to recognize this incredible accomplishment of Judith’s.

To Judith, thank you for bringing my family’s heritage back to life in this community. Thank you also goes to all those who helped Judith in her dreams and worked so diligently to make it happen. Without Judith, Fil-Am would not be today.

George W. Pardington

Oak Harbor

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