JEDDAH, 30 March 2004 — The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the International Philippine School in Jeddah (IPSJ) announced yesterday the cancellation of two community activities scheduled to be held at the school premises, after their organizing committees failed to get permission from the board and a permit from government authorities. The two events were the “Water and Oil Massage” (April 2) being organized by FILWOW and the “Fund-Raising Show” (April 9) by the Cebuano Speaking Organization in Saudi Arabia (CSOSA). The two events had been widely advertised on television and in newspapers. “This is ridiculous!” said board member Bernardo Tan. “How can these organizers advertise anything without even getting permission. It’s an insult to us being the incumbent board.” Tan however clarified that the school is not against any benefit show provided that the organizers have the necessary permits from authorities. “We don’t want the school to be involved in something we don’t even know. Baka ma-Mutawa tayo and the school will suffer in the end,” Tan added. According to Tan, BoT chairman Angelito B. Lazo had already instructed the school guards to prevent any activities to proceed. In a phone interview, Wenfred Castolome, of CSOSA’s organizing committee, said a request letter has been handed over a long time ago to Jose Ramil Jr., IPSJ administrative officer, but that the school had never responded.