By: Joe Sprite

Fiesta season is about to begin. Religious organizations conducting the affair would be going about their duties in making the fiesta a success. In any fiesta undertaking, there would be expenses involved with the hermano or hermana supposedly footing the bill. However, when the turnover ceremonies will come, there will be squabbles for those who want a precise accounting of income and expenses.

The responsibility in making the fiesta a success rests on the hermano. The person had either volunteered for the position to fulfill a promise or a religious vow. Or he is elected or appointed He is expected to spend time, money and effort to make the fiesta memorable. Besides, he is also expected to improve the chapel in one-way or another. There are others like assistant hermanos who will aid the principal hermano in some ways but only up to a certain limit.

There will be contributions expected, solicitations sent and other sources of income tapped. Then there will be expenses incurred for weekly or monthly prayers, fiesta affairs such as decorations, music, mass the inevitable basketball tournament and so on. In short, there will be income and expenses for every activity not only for the fiesta but also for the whole year round. The hermano is expected to keep track of the activities.

Now comes the turn over. That is when a possibility of a quarrel will start. The usual topic fought over is money. Whether there is a surplus, breakeven or shortage of funds, there will always be fights. There will be an accounting made before the care of the icon of the patron saint and position of hermano is handed on to the next.

If there is no formal recording system, everything will be suspect. A contribution may not be recorded. It may be deliberately or inadvertently forgotten. There will be expenses listed but the expense might not be for the organization but for personal expenditures. Since there is no written rule as to what expenses will be allowable charges of personal interest and dishonesty fill fly thick and fast.

Most religious groups that manage affairs will conduct the proceedings in a civilized manner. There are also groups, which are infiltrated by contentious persons with personal agenda that will provoke fights. It is among the latter when affairs become lively during the turnover. It is high time when a formal organization is set up.

There are barrios made up of cooperative devotees. The hermano is not left to his devices but devotees volunteer to take on duties to ease the burden of the hermano. Unwritten rules and traditions are followed. Any honest mistake is taken into consideration. There are also barrios, which are made up with contentious people. Those cannot even be considered devotees as their contributions to the affair is either paid in cash or in kind. For any mistake the hermano makes, he is dragged over the coal. This is because there is no formal organization. This is because there are no rules to be followed in the conduct of festivities.