‘Dance for a Cause’ A Story of Fundraising, Truth, and the Filipino Spirit

By: Nirmla Johnson

 

It all started with a Facebook Messenger notification — an invitation forwarded to me from an old friend. The message was heartfelt and urgent. The organizer, Domingo Tablate, a known DJ and business owner in our community, had taken the initiative to gather financial support for a friend currently incarcerated, with hopes of raising funds for legal fees. Moved by the call for assistance and with my soft heart for our kababayan, I reached out without hesitation.
Our first conversation was warm, and the sincerity in his voice felt genuine. I offered my support, extending not only financial aid but also my network — access to legal professionals, connections in the media, and even the potential for a wider reach to get others to contribute. It was the kind of mutual cooperation that exemplifies the Filipino spirit of bayanihan — the communal unity that allows us to lift one another in times of need.
A few days later, as part of my due diligence — and as a journalist — I began researching the details of the case. As expected, the individual’s legal record was public and available through the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s detainee listing. It showed the lead charges and the legal citations that rendered the case unbailable, explaining the continued detention. This information is not private. It’s public. And more importantly, it is essential context for any fundraising appeal that seeks the trust and money of the public.
Three days after our first call, I contacted Mr. Tablate again — this time, intending to ask if I could include the fundraising effort in an article to help the cause reach more people. But to my surprise, his tone had shifted. The warm willingness was gone, replaced by a barrage of suspicions. Instead of appreciating the offer to raise awareness, he questioned the legality of my involvement and my right to write about it.

At that moment, it became clear: he wasn’t listening between the lines. Good intentions, if misread, can become the very thing that shuts the door to real help. As a journalist, my role is to inform, connect, and empower communities with the truth. I know the boundaries of my profession, and I understand the ethical responsibilities that come with it. I do not operate on rumors or assumptions. I rely on facts — and public records are facts.
So what is privacy in this case? When the matter is a public criminal case and the fundraising effort is public as well, the public has a right to know. It is in fact the community that is being asked to give. Transparency is not a luxury in fundraising — it is a necessity.
But the real issue came into focus not with the case, but in the tone and behavior of the organizer.
Mr. Tablate consistently insinuated that I was somehow breaking the law by even discussing the situation.
When asked to clarify what law I was supposedly violating, no answer came. Instead, he made it clear that he did not want his name associated with any article — even as he publicly leads a fundraising effort under his own name.
Why such evasion, especially if the cause is noble and worth supporting? Why silence the journalist when the community simply wants to know if their help is going to the right place?
In the United States, freedom of speech and the press is protected by the First Amendment. This freedom exists so that communities can stay informed and hold one another accountable, especially in matters involving public appeals for donations. People have the right to ask, and they have the right to know.
And this is what I regret most — that the sincere offer to help was mistaken for interference. That the opportunity to unite the community around a meaningful cause was lost to defensiveness. That the words, “Help is on the way,” were met with suspicion rather than gratitude.
Still, let us not lose hope. Let us instead focus on what remains beautiful about our culture. The Filipino concepts of bayanihan (communal unity) and damayan (sympathetic support) are alive and well. It is good to know that even when some doors close, there are still friends — even strangers — who will open theirs to help someone in need.
Fundraising for a cause can be a powerful force for good, but it must always be guided by integrity, transparency, and accountability. These are not burdens. They are the very pillars that allow generosity to thrive.
As we reflect on this experience, let us remember: Honesty opens doors, integrity builds bridges, and wisdom lets us see the bigger picture. And to those who may have missed the quiet voice of help, we say — we are sorry your ears weren’t open to hear it, because the help was already on the way.