Good Morning: I was informed by a contact in the Philippines that there is a group of people here in Guam who are planning to have the Santa Maria Kamalen statues made of resin to be sold in Guam. These people are those who are behind the issue of the " Baby Mary" during last year September 2014, Nativity of the Virgin Mary's. This must be a plan to increase the financial capacity of the church or some group of people. There were versions of this Image of the Blessed Virgin Mary , in wood few years back and was never repeated because the person who made the image in the Philippines, was not paid and the people behind it maybe the arch. owes a lot of money to the Statue maker.... This is another money making plan, and resin is a cheap alternative. They are really deprived of money that they will now embark in making cheap copies of the Beloved Patroness of Guam.
Comments on the highlights:
Regarding the statue maker who was "not paid." I was managing the Gift Shop at the time so I know. While Msgr. James was still at the Cathedral Basilica and still in charge of the Gift Shop, 13 statues of Santa Maria Kamalen, which were originally ordered from the "statue maker" in the Philippines and fully paid for, were returned to the Philippines for repair. In fact, I was the one who pressed Msgr. James to get the statues repaired since we were receiving many inquiries for them.
I left the Gift Shop in January of 2014. The statues were later sent by Msgr. James to the Philippines for repair. While the statues were in the Philippines being repaired, Msgr. James was fired (July 2014). The statue maker in the Philippines contacted the Gift Shop for payment but by that time Msgr. James had been removed and David the VG had taken over. The Gift Shop staff was also replaced with the VG's people.
David the VG and the new Gift Shop people refused to pay for the repaired statues (because they had no money) and instead BLAMED the debt on Msgr. James. And apparently the statue maker was not alone. Several vendors were not paid. And everything was blamed on Msgr. James.
I can tell you that having worked as the GM for the Gift Shop for four years and being the one primarily responsible for ordering and seeing to it that ALL vendors were paid, while we had challenges here and there, EVERY vendor was always paid, and I know that because I PAID THEM.
The bottom line is that the Cathedral is broke and it is broke because David the VG ran it into the ground the day he took over. He "ran it into the ground" by the very fact that he took it over. Msgr. James was able to do incredible things with such a small parish because he took the time to invest in people and in return, they were glad to invest in him and in the Cathedral. Much of what was accomplished was by way of outside donations.
David the VG and his fellow bully, Cristobal, DO NOT INVEST in people. And in return, people DO NOT INVEST in them. People don't like them because they don't like the people, except their own of course.
So how is it that all of this work is being done on the Cathedral? You guessed it. More scam. Don't give a dime to it, not a penny. The Cathedral is being turned into a neocatechumenary, just like we thought. More to come.
Note: There has always been resin versions of the statue available for those who couldn't afford the more expensive one made of wood.
Because of the abrupt removal of Msgr James, then in all fairness the one who took the helm is responsible for all the outstanding bills. Don't go pointing fingers at Msgr James. The three on the hill can now bite the dust.
ReplyDeleteIt's called "you made your bed, you sleep in it"
I can also verify anothet story that a very well known spanish sculptor in the Philippines had trouble receiving payment from the archbishop years back even after finishing the statues. The sculptor said it himself and told no more information. He won't do business with him again. Such a shame and embarrassment
ReplyDeleteAAA, David,
ReplyDeleteDepriving a worker just compensation is one of the sins that Cry to Heaven for Vengeance.
You need to echo this sin to your community on your next NCW gathering.
If the plan is to sell resin statues of the prepubescent Mary like the one "shared" with the parishioners of CB back in September, I'm afraid they'd have a hard time selling them. Right off, her face was disproportionate to her body, kind of like looking at a beautiful face of a lady in a little, schoolgirl's body. Then again this makes sense...considering the musings of Luis et al. Sickos the whole lot of them! LOL Joy joy girl toy for the little boy! I don't think that's the image one is supposed to have when hearing or reciting the words "Sweet Name of Mary." The CB will be celebrating their fiesta in a couple of weeks, which is when Corrine and the other dopes will be marketing these dolls probably. We shall see then, won't we!?
ReplyDeleteWas the neocatechumenary completed in Santa Rita?
ReplyDeleteThe "pastoral center" has yet to be built. The lot is still vacant.
DeleteNo need to move forward now. Fabio and his neo buddies already made off withe the quarter million that was raised.
DeleteWhat was Francesco Gennarini's cut? He's Giuseppe's architect son, who got paid for the never-built "Sanctuary of the Word" at the RMS too.
Delete"Pastoral center" indeed.
DeleteTwice Fr. Fabio went on air at KOLG to promote the fundraising efforts and not once was a neocatechumenary mentioned as the major element of the center. We now know that they kept this main focus of the construction from the parishioners and from the island Catholics as well.
Red flags waved vigorously when it was discovered that the true nature of the project was being suppressed.
Anyone with even a smidgen of sensible business acumen will unquestionably settle any completed work with any vendor - regardless of whether they inherited the debt or not. For one, these vendors are part of a network of craftspeople who share knowledge of "personae non grata" among their clientele. Apuron, David CQ and their shady minions put all of us in a bad light by reneging on a contract or contracts. Shame, o shame! I suspect this was all because they wanted to get rid of any Msgr. Benavente-related memories, just like shutting down a well-planned museum on the history of Catholic faith in Guam and the Marianas. All because of professional jealousy for the people-oriented personality that Msgr. Benavente possessed. Genuine care for people is completely beyond their grasp. This misplaced revenge has far-reaching ill-effects that these fools are unable to fathom. Msgr. James developed this instinct as a hardworking kid who had to pay his dues. I knew this kid and to this day, he has my undying respect.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if apuron, quitugua, cristobal and associates ever had to work minimum wage, or even had an experience of sweating it out that Msgr. James Benavente fully immersed himself in his early formative years. All these clowns seem to know is to form a committee to do fundraising for them while they sit on their lazyboy petting their dog, or cats, or themselves!
Defiant Voyager
LOL. "...or themselves" is right!
DeleteAAA or VG are not people oriented persons. They are very self centered individuals, with no concern for anyone, traits that are very unbecoming of workers in the vineyard of the Lord. Both AAA and VG exhibits reclusive behavior and very evident in their ministry. AAA in the midst of this ongoing crisis with the Church is now making an effort to visit the parishes, prior to this recent efforts, it has been over 12 years since he has visited the parishs in Guam, except of cource to the NCW communities, which he does quite regularily. How Arch are you going to smell like the sheep, when you do not hang around with the sheep, Isn't this what our Holy Father Francis calls you leaders of the church to do? VG is no different, in many instances he is no where to be found always in hiding and using the execuse that he is sick. VG if you are really sick why dont he resign, or retire? you cannot serve the people of God in hiding. VG does not even accomplish his responsibility to advising the Arch in matters of the Church, and perhaps is the reason Guiseppe, Kiko, Pius and the NCW are runing the Archdiocese. I agree with this posting that if you do not invest some time with your people, you cannot expect them to come to your aid in time of need. but most importantly you do not gather for the Lord. What worse of a thief is there than one who also steals from the Lord?
ReplyDeletetim, please, for those of us not versed in neo spaces, what is a neocatechumenary? is it just a space for their services and activities that is open only to neo followers with kiko architecture/design elements, or at least just under control of the neos? are the local parishes being referred to as "neo" are they considered neocetechumenaries? what should we expect to be different if the cathedral becomes a neocatechumenary that it would be designated as such, would it not be a cathedral-basilica?....sorry if i am not wording my question clearly. this is very disturbing to read about. thank you and all the other brave folks here for all you do.
ReplyDeleteNow would be a good time to revisit was Fabio had in mind for Santa Rita. Word from the parishioners is that they had already raised a quarter million dollars for the project. The Gennarini architect got paid and then Fabio disappeared. Here's the post on it:
Deletehttp://www.junglewatch.info/2014/02/news-flash-guam-architects-not-good.html
Note. The video has since been password protected. Obviously they don't want any outsiders to see it. But the drawing is still on the post.
DeleteThe Cathedral is a Basilica! Can THEY change it to a Neocatechumenary?? My, God. The second scrutiny must have been a winner this year. Will Kiko the award winning Arteeest come to do his paintings? Can see it now...right out of a movie. Kiko on top of his scaffold with Brother Ton below shouting : Kiko when will you finish??
ReplyDeleteUnconscionable! Other than that, I am speechless.
ReplyDeleteEileen Benavente-Blas