By Joel Bander and the PinoyWatchDog.com Investigative Team
Back in June 2012 when the “100 Outstanding” scandal was unfolding key organizer Darna Umayam flatly wrote to PinoyWatchDog.com that “I have no relation to Pinoy Insider.” Umayam made these statements in relation to her complaint that this newspaper treated Adrian Lecaros unfairly after his failed attempt at running for the California Assembly garnered a measly 2.4% of the vote.
See Darna Umayam’s Interview. Click here.
Here is the direct text of that interview. The actual video is on this web page as well.
Sheila Farrari: What are your expectations for Pinoy Insider?
Darna Umayam: Pinoy Insider is a very nice magazine because it’s one of a kind. It’s…It’s like a celebrity magazine. You read all the tsismis from the Philippines, you know. And I love Pinoy Insider because Pinoy Insider is one of my major sponsors in our big event coming on July 28 which is the Outstanding…100 Outstanding Filipino Americans.
S: Can you tell us a little more about the 100 Outstanding Filipino Americans project?
D: Okay. The Outstanding Filipino Americans is a conclave and conglomeration of different outstanding RNs, doctors, business entrepreneurs and all fields, coming from all over USA. With their outstanding accomplishments.
Missing from Umayam’s then explanation of her event was her often repeated criteria that awardees were being selected based upon philanthropic giving alone.
“I do not understand the reason Darna would try to hide her close association with Pinoy Insider” an event organizer told PinoyWatchDog.com. “She is always calling Mildred Deang ‘her daughter’” this knowledgeable source told PWD, asking not to have their named mentioned as they all work in the same circles.
The unearthed video actually concludes with Umayam calling Deang ‘my daughter.’
Pinoy Insider is now sponsoring a grandmother’s beauty contest called Queen Lola Pageant, organized by Deang, This event currently enjoys the sponsorship of ABS CBN Foundation that withdrew from Umayan’s “100 Outstanding” event after she made anti-Semitic remarks and there was widespread allegations of improper activity. The Philippine Consulate also did not send a representative to the event, even though Deputy Consul General Dan Espiritu’s name was in the formal printed dinner program.
“ABS CBN and the consul general both shunning the event is huge” the event insider told PinoyWatchDog.com’s investigative team. ABS CBN International President Mr. Robbie Fabian had earlier announced that the network was withdrawing and he would not be attending. However, Fabian’s name remained in the dinner program despite a blistering email from Umayam to Fabian calling the latter’s decision to withdraw from the event “shallow” and Umayam’s contention in that email that she had to reprint the dinner programs because of the network’s late cancellation.
A few days prior to Fabrian’s announcement, ABS-CBN newscaster Tina Palma announced she had decided to not attend Umayam’s controversial dinner.
The Philippine Consulate made no formal announcement regarding their non-attendance at the event. Calls to their press office went unanswered.
PinoyWatchDog.com has a report of ‘uneasiness’ at ABS CBN over the close relationship between Umayam and Pinoy Insider. We consider this a developing story.
If anyone in the community has information regarding Umayam’s role in the upcoming Pinoy Insider Queen Lola Pageant please contact PinoyWatchDog.com at tellus@pinoywatchdog.com .
Posted by PinoyWatchDog.com
on September 11, 2012. Filed under IN THE NEWS.
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Lakesha Koehnen
August 2, 2012 at 4:42 am
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Don Azarias
August 15, 2012 at 5:46 pm
In the annals of “Hall of Shame” the one exhibited by Darna Umayam may never be surpassed. Sobrang “kapalmuks.”
Has she given the proof to support her claim that she graduated “Cum Laude” from the University of Santo Tomas and the other obvious lies that she wrote on her resume?
I’m perplexed as to the muted response from the Fil-Am community.