babae - san francisco

December 4 and 5!

2009-11-09T19:44:00.000-08:00

Pinay Fil-Am Activist Kidnapped!

2009-05-24T11:59:00.000-07:00

The first Fil-Am activist abducted by suspected GMA personnel is a founding member of BAYAN-USA. Please help us spread the word about Melissa Roxas and her two companions, Juanito Carabeo and John Edward Handoc.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 24, 2009

Reference: Kuusela Hilo, BAYAN-USA Vice Chair, 818-395-9207, vicechair@bayanusa.org

Rhonda Ramiro, BAYAN-USA Secretary General, 415-377-2599, secgen@bayanusa.org

SURFACE FILIPINO-AMERICAN ACTIVIST MELISSA ROXAS NOW

BAYAN-USA, an alliance of 14 Filipino American organizations and chapter of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan Philippines), is calling on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Department of National Defense, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to immediately surface Melissa Roxas, an American citizen of Filipino descent who was abducted in the Philippines on May 19. BAYAN-USA also urgently calls on our representatives in the U.S. Congress to act quickly to ensure the safe return of Roxas.

Roxas is a well-known Filipino American activist, who served as the first Regional Coordinator of BAYAN-USA in Los Angeles and co-founded the cultural organization Habi Arts. Roxas is an active human rights advocate and was instrumental in organizing a BAYAN-USA contingent that participated in the International Solidarity Mission in 2005, an international fact finding mission that called attention to the escalating human rights violations in the Philippines. Roxas went to the Philippines in 2007 to pursue human rights work, where she became a full time volunteer health worker. She was abducted on May 19, 2009 at approximately 1:30 PM in Sitio Bagong Sikat, Barangay kapanikian, La Paz, Tarlac. She was with two other volunteers, Juanito Carabeo and John Edward Handoc.

Based on reports filed by the human rights group KARAPATAN and the La Paz police, Roxas and her companions were taken by at least 8 armed, hooded men riding two motorcycles and a Besta van without any license plate numbers. There has been no word on the whereabouts and condition of Roxas and her companions since the abduction. The circumstances of Roxas’ abduction typify the abductions and enforced disappearances of over 200 innocent civilians, allegedly last seen in the hands of suspected state security forces.

"We are deeply concerned about the abduction of Melissa Roxas, Juanito Carabeo and John Edward Handoc. We call for Melissa and her companions to be immediately surfaced unharmed," said BAYAN-USA Secretary General Rhonda Ramiro. "We condemn the ongoing abductions and human rights violations that have been rampant under the Arroyo administration and victimized thousands of innocent people."

The search for Roxas and her companions will be spearheaded by the human rights organization KARAPATAN, while BAYAN-USA, its member organizations, and allies will undertake an international campaign to exert pressure on the Arroyo government to surface Roxas. "We appeal to our elected officials, members of the Filipino American community, and all people in the U.S. who believe in human rights to take action to surface Melissa and her companions. Since we were founded in 2005, BAYAN-USA has campaigned ceaselessly for an end to the human rights violations in the Philippines, and we will not stop until we obtain justice for Melissa and all victims of human rights violations under Arroyo."

# # #

GABRIELA-USA condemns Alec Baldwin's Mail-Order Bride Comment and Demands a Public Apology

2009-05-20T00:28:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release

May 19, 2009

Reference: Raquel Redondiez, Chairperson, GABRIELA USA, gabrielawomen@gmail.com, 415-244-9734

Hyper-sexualization of Filipina Women Rooted in the History of U.S. Bases in the Philippines and Current Neo-colonial relationship between the U.S. and the Philippines as codified in the Visiting Forces Agreement

Ten days before the 10-year anniversary of the Visiting Forces Agreement and the recent news of another young Filipina “Vanessa” alleging rape by a US Marine in the Philippines, Alec Baldwin's comment about perhaps getting a "Filipina mail order bride" to "have more kids" is a cutting reminder of how Filipina women are normalized as sexual objects in U.S. society.

These images and stereotypes, pervasive among former U.S. military personnel who have been stationed in the Philippines, have seeped into American mainstream media and discourse. They speak to legacies of U.S. colonial occupation of the Philippines, the history of U.S. bases and the Arroyo administration colluding with U.S. military abuse of Filipino women.

With the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) dictating US-Philippine relations, the reversal of the rape conviction of U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Smith, and now the Vanessa rape case, this seemingly harmless “joke” on The Late Show with David Letterman points to the ongoing perception of Filipino women as objects for sexual disposal. Indeed, these are symptoms of the larger political and economic sketch. The precedent for Filipinas and the Philippine nation to be dehumanized, sexualized and given second-rate status can be found in US imperialist policies and the Philippine government's acceptance of this treatment.

Baldwin's comments about acquiring a wife in his desired flavor, "Filipino" or "Russian" demonstrates how deeply seeded the problem of sex trafficking is in the US. This comment is not only a joke about Filipino women, but an insult to all women, especially those who are economic refugees of colonized and under-developed countries. We must remember Susanna Blackwell, a Filipina mail-order bride who was killed along with her two Filipina friends in a Seattle court house where she was seeking divorce from her abusive husband in 1995. To this day, GABRIELA USA receives calls from mail order and pen-pal brides under distress, and seeking to escape from mental, physical, and emotional abuse by their American husbands.

After insults about Filipino doctors on Desperate Housewives and domestic helpers on European TV and, and now this recent racist and sexist comment, GABRIELA USA calls on all Filipinos and friends to publicly denounce these derogatory remarks and work towards addressing their root cause—the U.S. military occupation of the Philippines, U.S.impunity against sex crimes and human rights abuses, and the underlying neo-colonial relationship between the U.S. and the Philippines.

We also re-commit to educating our community and the larger public about the true contributions of Filipina women in U.S. society and the plight of many mail–order-brides who often become victims of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Too often Filipina women who come to the U.S. through marriage suffer from uneven power relationships and become dependent on their American husbands, sadly mirroring the subjugation of the the Philippines under the U.S.

GABRIELA USA calls for a public apology from Alec Baldwin. Filipina women from across the country renew their demands for the end of US Troops in the Philippines, an end to the Visiting Forces Agreement and justice for all victims of military rape.

GABRIELA USA are comprised of members organizations: Babae in San Francisco, Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE) in New York City, Pinay Sa Seattle in Seattle, and Sisters of Gabriela, Awaken! (SiGAw) in Los Angeles.

###

San Francisco Filipino Women Rise Up Through Art

2009-04-24T15:00:00.001-07:00

For Immediate Release

April 21, 2009

Contact: Marisa Mariano, Chair, Babae-GABRIELA USA, 415-333-6267, info@babaesf.org

San Francisco Filipino Women Rise Up Through Art

San Francisco, CA—As the weekend of International Worker’s Day, or Mayo Uno, approaches, the women of Babae-GABRIELA USA, League of Filipino Students, and Diwata Young Women’s Group prepare to not only celebrate the contributions of the working class worldwide, but to also celebrate the experiences and contributions of one of San Francisco’s distinct immigrant working populations, Filipino women. On Sunday, May 3, 2009, Babae, LFS, and Diwata hosts the 7th Annual Filipina Women’s Showcase, Diwang Pinay.

Diwang Pinay (Spirit of the Filipina) is an annual performance and silent art auction by Filipina/Filipina-American performers, writers, and artists. “With a 40,000 Filipino population in San Francisco, and more than half of whom are women, it is only appropriate to give light and praise to the different ways Pinays are living, resisting, and surviving today in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond,” states Marisa Mariano, chairperson of Babae.

This year’s celebration is themed “Still We Rise,” highlighting the Filipina’s fighting spirit to rise above adversity. With a global economic crisis impacting our communities, especially immigrant working families, and a system that continues to see women as second class citizens, Filipinas wage a battle every day to provide for their families and live with dignity. Transcending beyond their everyday struggles, Filipino women build resistance with a fervor that can be traced back to the legacy of historic women like Gabriela Silang and Tandang Sora. The evening is also in dedication to the 25th Anniversary of GABRIELA Philippines, a grassroots alliance of over 200 women’s organizations in the Philippines that has been at the forefront of fighting for women’s rights since its conception.

Diwang Pinay hosts a range of performances from talented pinays from San Francisco and the greater Bay Area such as singing, dancing, guerilla theatre, poetry and film. On display will also be an art gallery showcasing artworks of different mediums by artists such as Jessica Antonio, Heather Boyer, Catherine Lagman, Bean Rabino, Dezi Suarez, Elaine Villasper, and Jenifer Wofford.

Join us on May 3, 2009 from 4:30-7:00 pm at the Bayanihan Community Center located in the South of Market District at 1010 Mission Street San Francisco, CA 94103. The suggested donation will be a sliding scale of $7-10, $5 for students age 10-17 with a valid ID, and free for children under 10 years of age. For more information, visit Diwang Pinay’s official website at http://sites.google.com/site/sfdiwangpinay.

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GABRIELA USA Denounces US-Philippine Collusion in the Acquittal of a High-Profile Military Rape Case

2009-04-23T14:05:00.000-07:00

Read news article here: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090423-201022/US-Marine-in-Subic-rape-case-acquitted

--
For Immediate Release
April 23, 2009

Reference: Raquel Redondiez, Chair, GABRIELA USA, gabrielawomen@gmail.com, 415-244-9734

GABRIELA USA Denounces US-Philippine Collusion in the Acquittal of a High-Profile Military Rape Case

Filipina-Americans in the United States express our disgust and anger at the news that the Court of Appeals in the Philippines has acquitted Lance Corporal Smith in the 2005 rape case of "Nicole." Lcpl. Smith was convicted of raping "Nicole" on December 4, 2006, and legalities around custody and sentencing has been ongoing for the past three years. Due to the highly contentious Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), Smith has been in the custody of the U.S. Embassy instead of a Philippine prison. However, on March 12 of this year, a questionable recantation by "Nicole" was released while in the same month, monetary compensation and the termination of her legal counsel casted doubt on who prepared the content of the affidavit.

In this long and dirty case, US and Philippines collusion through loopholes in the VFA have demonstrated that in the Philippines, the rule of law and justice are commanded by American interests and corrupt politicians. The Court of Appeals has failed Filipino women worldwide. Instead of holding Smith accountable of rape, the appellate court has repealed the justice that was already rightfully won by "Nicole" and her family. After years of struggling and fighting with huge and broad support from Filipino organizations like GABRIELA in the Philippines and worldwide, Smith's acquittal from his legitimate conviction in 2006 is a betrayal to both Nicole and her loved ones, but also to all of the Filipino women, children and men who have been victims of sexual assault and crimes by US military servicemen.

Women's accounts of rape and assault are often spun into heresy through the manipulation of justice under the auspices of governmental righteousness, as in the case of the US military occupation in the Philippines. Valerie Francisco, Vice Chair of GABRIELA USA stated, "We are witnessing 'Nicole's' story becoming increasingly co-opted by the blind loyalty of the Philippines to American idealism about 'helping' us with our perpetual, undefined 'war on terror.'" Francisco continued, "Nicole's legacy will not stop at a recantation and acquittal. The fight for justice for Nicole, among so many other victims of militarized gender violence, will not cease at another silenced victim of US aggression."

Today, when there are 10 women that are "delivered" nightly to US service men for Balikatan excercises, GABRIELA-USA calls for the end of the commodification of Filipino women. With U.S. military exercises held in Bicol this summer, the presence of US troops in very poor rural communities creates a demand that practically coerces local Filipinas into in the sex trade. This is due to the lack of economic options in highly militarized zones of the Philippines.

"This injustice will only fuel anti-VFA movement," commented Raquel Redondiez, chair of GABRIELA USA, "Under Gloria Arroyo, this seemingly easy deal between the US and her administration for a convicted rapist was an exchange for Philippine sovereignty, justice and democratic ideals. Although Nicole's family has been through enough and are tired of the trickery, Filipino women's organizations from the Philippines to the US will continue the fight for justice for Nicole and all victims of sexual crimes under US occupation!"

GABRIELA USA, comprised of Sisters of Gabriela Awaken (SiGaW), Babae in San Francisco, Pinay Sa Seattle and Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment in New York City, strongly denounces the acquittal of Lcpl. Daniel Smith and condemn the collaboration of the broken Philippine judicial system and US military interests for again revoking Nicole what was rightfully hers, justice and dignity. We challenge this decision and demand that the Philippine government and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo overturn this acquittal.

JUNK THE VFA!
JUSTICE FOR NICOLE!
PUNISH DANIEL SMITH FOR HIS CRIME!
###

Palace, US hand seen in Smith acquittal

2009-04-23T14:04:00.000-07:00

Original article can be found here: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090423-201043/Palace%2C_US_hand_seen_in_Smith_acquittal
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez, Tetch Torres
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 19:08:00 04/23/2009

Filed Under: Subic rape case

MANILA, Philippines – A left-wing lawmaker and a militant leader said the Court of Appeals decision to acquit American marine Daniel Smith of rape was due to the maneuverings of Malacañang and the United States government.

But while they said the acquittal was expected, Gabriela party list Representative Liza Maza and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes were nonetheless outraged by the development.

Gabriela partylist Representative Liza Maza said: “The stage has been set up for his [Smith’s] acquittal."

"I deplore the grand scheme concocted by the US and Malacañang meant to save Smith and to justify VFA," she said in a text message.

Reyes said the recantation of Smith’s accuser, Nicole, and the government’s inaction to comply with a Supreme Court ruling for it to regain custody of the US soldier led up to the appellate court’s decision.

“This denial of justice is but the logical conclusion of the maneuvers of the US government and the Arroyo government. The Smith acquittal is exactly what Malacañang has been praying for and working for from the onset,” he said.

Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros called the decision to acquit Smith "shameless and thoroughly disgusting."

"It is a complete and treacherous abandonment of our sovereignty, all the more repulsive because it was handed down while the Supreme Court is still deliberating on a complaint filed by women's groups," she said.

"If we can't even uphold our own Constitution and laws and protect our citizens within our own territory, then how can we defend our country from other nations? The decision is an insult to our collective dignity," Hontiveros added.

May 3: 7th Annual Diwang Pinay!

2009-04-09T00:11:00.001-07:00

FilAm Women Remember Rebelyn

2009-03-22T10:45:00.000-07:00

Immediate Release

March 21, 2009

FilAm Women Remember Rebelyn

On Rebelyn Pitao's 21st birthday, GABRIELA-USA remembers the life of the slain daughter of a New People's Army commander, Leoncio Pita known popularly as Commander Parago. The abduction and murder of Rebelyn by armed men is characteristic of past executions linked to the Philippine government and the military.

With so much of Philippine politics swirling around the maltreatment and downright abuse of Filipino women and their rights (namely the controversial Nicole case and the Visiting Forces Agreement), FilAm women are moved to look to Rebelyn's life as a teacher, daughter, woman and friend to claim her life as evidence of a guilty and corrupt administration only looking to silence its people.

"Rebelyn, among so many other Filipino women, was unnecessarily taken by a fear mongering government in the name of insecurity," Melanie Dulfo the poet who wrote the below poems in Tagalog and English on behalf of GABRIELA-USA, "In the endlessly rotten administration of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, it's the ordinary people that get hurt. But we will not forget their lives and remember them in our art and work even across the oceans."

*trapo= a dirty rag; in colloquial use, a traditional politician,

KAY REBELYN

Rebelde.

Rebelyn.

Baka nagkamali sila.

Inisip na, komo,

Sintinig ang pangalan mo

Ng kinatatakutang uri

Sa lipunan nating lubog

Sa dumi at basura

(Ni ‘di malinis ng mga

Sandaan trapong nagkalat)

Eh, dapat ka nang paslangin.

Rebelyn,

Rebelyn,

Nabulag kaya sila?

Inakalang banta ka

Sa buhay nila,

Ikaw na babae,

Ikaw na guro,

Ikaw na biente anyos pa lamang?

Kaya ka ba nila pinaslang, Rebelyn?

Kaya ka ba nila pinahirap

Kasi akalang armas ang lapis mo?

Rebelde ka,

Rebelyn?

Anong klase,

Kung ganun?

Ikaw ba ang

Rebeldeng

Ibinuhos ang dugo

At buhay

Para patalsikin

Ang mga Kastila,

Ang mga Amerikano,

Ang mga Hapon,

Si Marcos, at

Si Erap?

Ikaw ba ang rebeldeng

Napagod lang

Sa kalokohang ipinamumukha

Sa sambayanan?

Iyung tipo na

Hindi tatahimik,

Na hihiyaw,

Sa pagnanakaw ng mga

Panginoong maylupa,

Ng mga korporasyong

Nagmula sa ibayong dagat?

Ikaw ba ang rebeldeng

Nagsabi na,

“May ibang paraan

Para mabuhay.

May ibang klaseng buhay.

Hindi lamang ang paghihirap

At pagdurusa

Ng tumataas na tuition,

Tumataas na bilihin,

Tumataas na pamasahe,

Ngunit walang taas

Ng sahod. .

Pag-iibang bansa,

Kawalan ng trabaho,

At kawalan ng sariling lupa” ?

Kung gayon,

Kung gayon.

Dapat silang matakot. .

Ang mga hindi tatahimik,

Ang mga ordinaryong tao

Na siyang itinataas

Ang kanilang kamao

Sa galit,

Ang nagpapakita sa lahat

Ng katotohonan:

Na tayo’y nasa gitna

Ng isang kotradiksyon,

Sa araw-araw

Na inaapakan

Ang simpleng dignidad

Ng naghahanapbuhay,

Ng mga magsasaka,

Ng mga manggagawa.

Ng kabataan,

Ng kababaihan.

Sila ang pinaka-makapangyarihang

Rebelde, Rebelyn.

Ang mga ordinaryong tao

Na ito,

Ang siyang tinatawag mong

Bayan. .

Ikaw ang pinaka-makapangyarihang

Rebelde, Rebelyn.

Ang siyang walang ginawa

Kundi ang panindigan

Ang kanyang pagkatao,

Nagsisilbing ilaw

Sa iyong ama.

FOR REBELYN

Rebel.

Rebelyn.

Maybe, they made a mistake.

Thinking that

Your name marked you

As one of those feared

In our society that’s been steeped

In dirt

(Something even

The trapos could not freshen up),

They should kill you.

Rebelyn,

Rebelyn,

Did they go blind?

Assumed you were a threat

To their lives---

A woman,

A teacher,

Someone who was 20 years old?

Is that why they killed you?

Is that why they tortured you?

Because they thought your pen was a sword?

You’re a rebel,

Rebelyn?

What kind

Would you say?

Are you

The rebel

Who gave up

Her life

To drive out

The Spaniards,

The Americans,

The Japanese,

Marcos, and

Erap?

Are you the rebel

Who was just tired

From the lies

Offered to the people?

The type who

Would never be silenced,

Who would scream,

At the depredations

Of the landed elite,

Of the multi-national

Corporations?

Are you the rebel

Who said,

“There is another way

To live.

There is a different kind of life

From the one we lead now,

With no choice

But to accept the tuition hike,

The rice crisis,

The energy crisis,

Without a rise

In wages for ten years.

No choice but to migrate.

Because there are no jobs,

And there is no land”?

Then,

Then,

They should quake and tremble.

For, those who will not stay silent,

Those ordinary people

Who raise

Their fists

In anger,

Prove

That

We are stuck

In a contradiction

As every day,

Simple human dignity

Is crushed under a heel.

The dignity of those who just want to live,

Farmers,

Workers,

Youth,

Women.

They are the strongest

Rebels, Rebelyn.

These ordinary

Folk,

Whom you call

The people.

You are the strongest

Rebel, Rebelyn,

The one whose only crime

Was to affirm

Her humanity,

By living as a light

To your father.

THURSDAY @ SFSU!

2009-03-10T16:58:00.000-07:00

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SULONG GABRIELA! 25 YEARS AND FORWARD!

2009-03-08T01:29:00.000-08:00

GABRIELA-USA Celebrates International Working Women’s Day with Month Long Activities Culminating in the Formation of the First Overseas Chapter of GABRIELA- USA

Los Angeles, CA--To honor International Working Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, Babae, FIRE, and PINAY sa Seattle will undertake a slew of activities during this March 2009. These celebrations will culminate in the National Founding Assembly of GABRIELA-USA, where Filipinas from across the nation will gather on March 29, 2009 at the University of California, Los Angeles Downtown Labor Center, to establish the first overseas chapter of the Philippine-based progressive women’s alliance, GABRIELA. Presenting the keynote address will be GABRIELA’s renowned Secretary General, Emmi de Jesus.

This commemoration of 25 years of GABRIELA history comes at a very challenging time for women all over the world. In the Philippines, the current global economic crisis affects Filipino families gravely as the daily struggle for wage, healthcare and basic social services become increasingly more difficult. The Philippine import-dependent and export-oriented economy is heavily reliant on remittances from overseas workers. Filipina women, who represent over 70% of the overseas workers, are dramatically affected due to dwindling dollars impacting the welfare of families still living in the Philippines. According to the Philippine Department of Labor, over 3,770 workers were sent abroad daily for work in 2008 and in the same year, ten million overseas Filipino workers (OFW's) remitted over $16.4 Billion USD.

The Philippine government heralds these economic gains as national successes, yet it neither recognizes the vulnerabilities and exploitation of overseas workers, nor protects individuals when they face abuse. In the past year, over 20 overseas workers were sent home in body bags labeled “mysterious deaths,” but are suspected cases of employer abuse. Despite this, the Philippine government, under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, has responded by increasing the number of laborers sent abroad, rather than strengthening the local economy which might help retain talent and skills within the nation.

Today’s economic crisis; coupled with the rise of U.S. unemployment, underemployment, and international xenophobia; has a severe impact on Filipino families in the United States and abroad, but especially on Filipina women who are a majority of that exported labor force. Since 1984, GABRIELA has operated as the broad-based women’s alliance which addresses the concerns of women in the Philippines, prompted by the Martial Law era. Today, GABRIELA’s work has expanded internationally due to the increasing number of women who leave the Philippines in order to find work abroad through the country’s Labor Export Program.

To ensure the needs of Filipinas are addressed in the United States, the country with the largest overseas Filipino population, a working alliance between Pinay sa Seattle, Babae (San Francisco) and Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (New York) was formed. These Filipino women in the United States have worked during the past four years to build the foundation for GABRIELA-USA, which maintains the issues of economic and social violence Filipinas experience globally at the forefront of their campaigns. By educating, organizing, and mobilizing Filipina women in the U.S., these women’s organizations critically address the economic crisis, militarization and violence that affect their communities.

In light of the ongoing economic, political and physical violations that Filipino women face at the hands of the Philippine and US governments, there continues to be a need for Filipinas to rise up, resist, and demand that their basic human needs and human rights be honored. GABRIELA-USA invites the public to celebrate International Working Women’s Day and Women’s History Month by attending the following events.

SEATTLE: ”Women’s Struggles and Successes: Eyes on the Global Economic Crisis from Seattle, Palestine to the Philippines” SUNDAY March 8, Event will include performances and women’s updates. at 1pm Hidmo Eritrean Cuisine at 2000 S Jackson St., Seattle, WA. Co-sponsored by Asian Pacific Islander Women and Family Safety Center, Communities Against Rape and Abuse, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum and Anakbayan Seattle

NEW YORK:  ”International Working Women's Day, Uphold the legacy of women's resistance!” SUNDAY March 8, Rally at 1 pm at Union Square 14th & Broadway in Manhattan, NYC. In collaboration with the citywide women’s coalition, Women's Fight Back Network.

SAN FRANCISCO: “Conference on Gender and Resistance in the Age of Empire: From Gaza to Oakland” THURSDAY March 12 at 11am at SFSU - 1600 Holloway Ave. San Francisco, CA. Co-sponsored by San Francisco State University's Women's Center and the Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Initiative (AMED)

LOS ANGELES: "Get Up, Stand Up! For Human Rights in the Philippines" SUNDAY March 8, Silent auction fundraiser/exhibit at 4pm at Tribal Café, 1651 W. Temple St., Los Angeles. Co sponsored by BAYAN USA, Southern California.

“Sulong GABRIELA: Celebrating the Advances of the Filipino Women's Struggle! Twenty Five Years and Onward!” SATURDAY, March 28th – Cultural Night 7-11pm SUNDAY, March 29th – Founding Assembly. For more information contact gabrielawomen@gmail.com.

GABRIELA-USA, consists of Babae in San Francisco, Pinay Sa Seattle and Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE) in New York. We continue to demand the removal of all U.S. troops from the Philippines and the abrogation of the VFA! Halt all military aid to the Philippines!

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GABRIELA CONDEMNS DISMISSAL OF COURT MARSHALL RAPE CASE VS US SOLDIER IN OKINAWA, GEARS FOR PROTEST AT US EMBASSY

2009-02-28T13:59:00.001-08:00

News Release

28 February 2009

Reference: Joms Salvador, Spokesperson, 371-2302 / 09189182150

GABRIELA CONDEMNS DISMISSAL OF COURT MARSHALL RAPE CASE VS US SOLDIER IN OKINAWA, GEARS FOR PROTEST AT US EMBASSY

"We are enraged at the US government for dismissing the rape charges against Army Spec. Ronald Hopstock for the rape of `Hazel'. This only

affirms that the United States is a government that coddles its rapist

soldiers." This was the statement today of the militant women's group

GABRIELA.

On February 24, US Army Judge Colonel Donna Wright dismissed for "lack of sufficient evidence" the rape charges against Hopstock , who was accused of raping "Hazel," a 22-year old Filipina migrant worker raped three days after arriving in Okinawa, Japan in February of last year.

"The decision on Hazel's case only shows how there can be no justice

for Filipinos violated by the armed troops of the US government. No

justice was ever served to thousands of Filipinos victimized by the

criminal acts of US soldiers during the bases era; There is no justice

even now, as with the case of rapist L/Cpl. Daniel Smith, whom the US

government continues to take under custody with the full backing of

the Philippine Executive," Salvador said.

"Any self-respecting government would, at this point, be affronted by

the US government's impertinence. But the Arroyo government, lacking in respect for our country's sovereignty as it is, does not even want to fight back and reclaim our nation's dignity," said Salvador.

Salvador stressed that this development should compel the Philippine

Senate to hasten its action in passing a resolution for the abrogation

of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

The women's group said that they will hold a protest action in front

of the US Embassy on Monday, March 2. On March 8 International Women's Day, the group said that 10,000 protesters are expected to join the women's mobilization calling for the scrapping of the VFA. ###

SAVING LCPL SMITH: VFA Protects Smith, Hurts Filipino Women and Children

2009-02-28T12:56:00.001-08:00

February 21, 2009

Reference: Joanne Alcantara, GABRIELA-USA, National Coordinator email:gabrielawomen@gmail.com

SAVING LCPL SMITH: VFA Protects Smith, Hurts Filipino Women and Children

Since the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) was signed under the Estrada administration in 1999, ongoing US-sponsored military training and exercises inaptly named, Balikatan (literally translated in Tagalog as “shoulder to shoulder”) have put Filipino civilians, especially women and children, in grave danger. The VFA's misleading extension of friendship and fraternity between Philippine and US political entities creates more damage by giving priority to American interests interfering with Philippine governance.

In 2000, around 2,500 U.S. troops were deployed to various areas of the Philippines to preapre for the military war games of 2009. An expected 6,000 U.S. soldiers will spend time in Central Luzon from February 25 to April 30 for this military extravaganza. Major Ramon Zagala said the U.S. government in Washington D.C. reserves at least 2 million in American tax dollars toward these exercises. These activities bring in a number of warships and aircrafts, including F-16 fighter planes. Inevitably, U.S. military presence impacts the lives of Filipino women and children in the Philippines by sending these machines of war to defenseless neighborhoods where entire communities exist.

Just days ago on February 19, Rafaela Polborido, a 16-month old girl was killed in a province in Bicol, after government soldiers bombed her home with grenades. The local human rights chapter of KARAPATAN stated that 8 civilians, including 5 children, were wounded in alleged government offensives preparing for U.S. Troops' Balikatan exercises.

Rafaela Polborido's death is not an isolated case as U.S. military presence in the Philippines strikes a very painful chord for the Filipino people. Women and children have especially been victimized as objects of rest and recreation as prostitutes for U.S. military servicemen and soldiers. The most recent assault on Filipino women is the case of Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith who was convicted of the rape of 22-year old Nicole. Smith has since then been sentenced to 40 years in prison for Nicole's 2006 assualt, but has remained in the custody at the U.S. embassy. On February 11, the Philippine Supreme Court prompted the Philippine government to begin negotiations which should transfer Smith to a Philippine detention facility; the case is ongoing.

These stories of civilian casualties, interruptions of daily life and community grievances are hardly exposed to the public, and Nicole and Rafaela are only two of the hundreds of cases which result from the extended US military exercises in the Philippines.

"The Philippines is not a playground for war machines and military antics, there are innocent civilians at risk in all parts of the Philippines, especially women and children. And when U.S. troops decide to break the rules and violate our laws, due judgment under the Philippine constitution must follow," stated Valerie Francisco, chair of Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE) in New York City.

In the midst of these intense economic predicaments, the U.S. dollars unnecessarily spent on military war games in the Philippines is scrutinized by Filipino American women's organizations. “Instead of spending millions of dollars on military games, that money should be going towards the economic crisis, and budget cuts that have devastated the United States' social welfare programs, from education to healthcare," added Marisa Mariano, a social worker and Chairwoman of Babae in San Francisco.

”As Filipino American women, and members of GABRIELA USA, we strongly denounce these Balikatan excercises and the unfair Visiting Forces Agreements that allows these U.S. troops to come on Philippine soil, hurt women and children, and get away with it,” says Joanne Alcantara, National Coordinator for GABRIELA USA.

GABRIELA-USA, consisting of babae in San Francisco, Pinay Sa Seattle and Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE) in New York, were the first groups in the U.S. to demand the prosecution of the Nicole’s rapist in 2006.And continue to demand the removal of all U.S. troops from the Philippines and the abrogation of the VFA!

NO TAX DOLLARS TO PHILIPPINE MILITARY!

PUT DANIEL SMITH IN CUSTODY OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE!

U.S. TROOPS OUT OF THE PHILIPPINES!
JUNK THE VISITING FORCES AGREEMENT!

###

SMITH DETENTION WITHIN PHILIPPINE TERRITORY IS NON-NEGOTIABLE

2009-02-28T12:54:00.000-08:00

NEWS RELEASE
12 February 2009

Reference: Joms Salvador, Spokesperson, 371-2302 / 01989182150

SMITH DETENTION WITHIN PHILIPPINE TERRITORY
IS NON-NEGOTIABLE

The militant women's group GABRIELA said that the detention of convicted rapist Lance Corporal Daniel Smith within Philippine territory is non-negotiable.

"It is in the interest of justice that a criminal like Smith be punished to the full extent of the law. While we welcome the Supreme Court's decision that Smith be transferred in a facility under Philippine authorities, it falls short in rendering justice by subjecting Smith's detention to precondition such as negotiation, "said Joms Salvador, spokesperson of GABRIELA.

This was in reaction to the Supreme Court (SC) decision ordering the Secretary of Foreign Affairs to negotiate with representatives of the United States regarding the detention facility of Smith who remains in the US Embassy.

On the other hand, GABRIELA decried the SC's decision upholding the constitutionality of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), maintaining that the VFA is a one-sided agreement that violates Philippine sovereignty
and legal due process.

"In the first place, Smith should have long been detained in a Philippine jail, and justice would have been long served, if it were not for the ambiguous provision of the VFA regarding custody," said Salvador.

"While Article V Section 10 of the VFA states that Philippine authorities should detain US personnel, it is unclear whether the detention facility should be within Philippine territory. Thus, it can be interpreted, as already done by Smith's camp of late, that his detention in the US embassy is perfectly valid and legal," said Salvador.

The women's group also noted that the SC's order for the DFA to renegotiate with US authorities subjects Smith's detention to further dispute and may even result to his continued detention within US territory, given what it describes as "the Philippine government's utter subservience to the US government."

GABRIELA said they will push for Smith's immediate transfer to a Philippine prison, while continuing to exhaust all other means to junk the VFA. ###

Enslaved in Suburbia: Filipino Indentured Servants and Visa Violators Caught in the Eldercare Trap

2009-02-28T12:33:00.000-08:00

Two different ways to be illegal in America

By Gendy Alimurung
published: February 19, 2009
http://www.laweekly.com/photoGallery/index/?section=news&gallery=470460&position=1&page=1

The girls next door never rest. They work day and night and weekends taking care of the old people, and they never, ever leave the eldercare home on Vernon Street, hidden in plain sight inside an ordinary suburban tract house in Long Beach with light-tan stucco, white trim, burgundy awnings, a two-car garage and an American flag waving in the front entryway. Like the home's owners, the girls are Filipino, with dark skin and dark hair. They might be pretty, if not for their miserable expressions. Jokingly, the man next door asks the girls, "Do you ever get a day off?"
No, he finally realizes, they never do.
This was the moment when the neighbor understood that he had to do something. He had been stuck at home, on disability from his job, and, in a plot straight out of Rear Window, had started paying attention to the activities next door.
"I'm not a snoopy-snoop, but something weird was going on," says the man, who is reluctant to give his name to a reporter. "The whole neighborhood knew something was going on. We are working-class families here, and they'd have brand-new BMW SUVs pull up." There were other cars, too, carrying a steady stream of visiting family members coming and going. The man next door used to get annoyed at the cars constantly parked in front of his house.
When at last the man signaled his understanding of the situation, the girls opened up to him. "They used to come over here crying, begging me to help them," he recalls. He tried for a year to call various agencies, though not, for some reason, the police.
"Bah, the police," he snorts. "What are they going to do? This is an international issue."
And he is right, it turns out. It was the Feds who came to the rescue. The girls, who had been trafficked into the country, were being held against their will and forced to work for little or no pay.

Modern-day slavery does exist, but in degrees. Far more common, and far less mediagenic, are scenarios like Mary's. Is it slavery if you are willing to be enslaved?
There is a name for the phenomenon, for the legions of undocumented who come over and choose to overstay their tourist visas: In Filipino slang, they are TNT, "tago ng tago," or, "always in hiding." Mary, who asked that her last name be withheld, works as a live-in caregiver in a posh senior-care center in Sherman Oaks. Her name tag reads "Private Duty Attendant." She has shoulder-length black hair, dark skin, a wide, flat nose and eyes that seem perpetually tired. As a teacher in the Philippines, she made less than $100 a month. Now she makes $120 a day taking care of a retired podiatrist named Fred, who is 102 years old. The money is good. For all intents and purposes, Fred is alone in the world. His wife has died. His only living relative is a niece who lives in the Bay Area.
Mary was solidly middle class in the Philippines, not dirt poor, not rich. Mary's husband is a small-town lawyer in the southwestern province of Negros City. She worked professional jobs herself: a decade in a bank as a fraud inspector, several years teaching Home Ec and nutrition at a high school.
Now she does "dirty work." She wipes butts, gives baths, washes clothes. "Never in my life did I imagine I would be doing this kind of work," she says as she strips off the old man's sweatpants, unties his shoes, peels away his socks, then dresses him in pajamas. She sits him gently in front of the TV, tuned to the Lakers game. He falls asleep. He is a "sundowner" who gets confused as evening approaches, Mary says. There is a saying: "Kung walang hirap, walang ginhawa." Without suffering, there can be no ease.
"What day is it?" Fred asks suddenly. It's Saturday. "Just Saturday?" he frowns. "Not anything special?"
A handful of books rest on a shelf. Danielle Steele's Finer Things and a Surgery of the Foot volume. These are the random things that have stuck with Fred into old age. A lifetime's worth of stuff whittled down to what you can cram into a 300-square-foot studio apartment.
Mary's husband knows what kind of work she does. They need the money to pay off their house in Negros. Her husband earns 5,000 pesos a month, about $100. Her former friends ridicule her for doing work that maids in the Philippines do. But with the money she earns, she has been able to send one of her two daughters to law school and buy each of them a car.

The court documents tell a familiar story with a martial-arts twist. A young woman, "alien A.G." in the court papers and "Agnes" for the purposes of this article, is living in a small province in the Philippines when she is contacted by an older woman, Evelyn Pelayo. Pelayo offers her a job taking care of elders in her facility in California. She has a way, she tells Agnes, to get her into the United States: Pose as a martial-arts student on her way to compete in tournaments. It's a clever plan. It's worked before. Pelayo has a friend who will teach Agnes tae kwon do, just enough to fool any inquiring embassy officials. Agnes won't really have to fight, because the tournaments don't actually exist. Can't afford the plane fare? Pelayo will pay for that. It will be part of a smuggling fee, which will be deducted from Agnes' salary.
For someone with no money, no education, no special skills and no family in the United States, it is next to impossible to enter and remain in the country by legal means. Agnes, naturally, jumps at the chance.
She flies to Manila. For two months she lives with Rudolfo "Duden" Demafeliz in his apartment. He teaches her tae kwon do. The 30-something Duden pays for all her expenses. Soon Agnes receives her (fake) black-belt certificate. When the day to go to the U.S. Embassy arrives, Duden gives her a questionnaire containing the likely questions embassy officials will ask — and the corresponding answers she should give. Fourteen other prospective tae kwon do "athletes" go with them, but only five pass muster. Agnes is one of them. She has a genuine United States visa now.
Soon comes the China Airlines flight to Los Angeles. Upon their arrival at Los Angeles International Airport, Duden takes her passport, "for safekeeping," she recalls. Perhaps to quell her growing suspicions, Agnes tells him that she is eager to work, and Duden jokingly replies that she should not be in such a rush because she is going to be a "prisoner" once she begins working for Pelayo. Whether Agnes regrets coming to the States at this point is unclear. En route to the Long Beach house, Duden gives Agnes strict instructions: Never trust anyone. Never speak to the family members of the elders you'll be caring for. Avoid personal conversations with your co-workers.
Pelayo, who ought to have been a familiar, welcoming face to a stranger in a strange land, a connection to home, instead greets Agnes with a warning: There will be "severe consequences" if she ever tries to stop working for her by running away. Among the consequences: Pelayo will falsely accuse Agnes of stealing property if she tries to escape. Police will put her in jail for a long time, and then deport her. Pelayo will deny knowing her. If Agnes tries to report Pelayo, the authorities will believe Pelayo because she is a U.S. citizen, and Agnes is not.
"In this business you have to cheat," Pelayo tells Agnes. "If you follow the rules here, you will suffer. You will never make money. That's why you have to break all the rules regarding insurance, payroll. ... Everyone [who] works for me does not have their papers."
And so, the nightmare scenario ensues. For three years, beginning in October of 2005, Agnes labors inside the confines of the house on Vernon Street with five other illegal Filipino workers. "You cannot leave me," Agnes recalls Pelayo saying. "After 10 years, maybe you can go home. I don't want you to stab me in the back."
Like a sick joke, the nightmare recurs. On May 21, 2007, another illegal alien, identified only as "J.D." in the court records, arrives on Vernon Street, again by way of the tae kwon do ruse. She is promised $600 a month, minus a $300 monthly smuggling fee. Like Agnes, J.D. is ordered to work for Pelayo for 10 years. She cannot work for anyone else. She cannot leave the house without permission, or at night. She works 24-hour days, doing construction during the day, and caring for the elders at night. J.D. does not sleep much. When she does, it is on a sofa in the kitchen.
After nine months, in February 2008, J.D. escapes. Agnes has tried escaping as well. Each time, Pelayo and her husband, Darwin, get in separate cars to search the neighborhood for them, as if going after a dog who has strayed. But where can they escape? The man next door offers to take them in and let them stay in his mobile home, but perhaps out of fear that they'll be discovered so close to their prison, they decline his help. Instead, they return to their captors, having no place else to go. "It is just like you stole from me," Pelayo tells them when they turn up. "Because ... you ran away. You didn't say goodbye. You know that you have a debt. You ran away."

The man next door gets through to the FBI shortly before J.D.'s arrival at the eldercare facility. The Feds promptly enlist the young women in an operation to collect evidence. They throw incriminating documents over the wood fence of their neighbor's house in plastic Target shopping bags. They sneak over to his house, sitting around the dining-room table with federal agents.
The raid occurs in the early hours of April 3, 2008. "It's going down," the neighbor's contact at the FBI says, giving him the thumbs-up. Cars from every imaginable agency line up on the street and stay there for the entire day. FBI agents seize journals, ledgers and credit-card receipts. Driver's licenses, Social Security cards, passports and foreign ID cards. Letters, post cards and jewelry. Duffel bags, suitcases and bank statements. Keys, address books and appointment books. Phone and utility bills, photographs, videotapes and cell phones. Evidence pours out of the house.
Paramedics arrive to assist the elders, who are placed in legitimate residential-care facilities with the help of the FBI's Victim Assistance Program. The girls are whisked away to undisclosed shelter locations. Pelayo and Darwin are taken into custody.
"Oh, are they filming Dexter again?" asks one of the neighbors, noting the abundance of cars, trucks and vans. By strange coincidence, the majority of location filming for the TV series about the serial killer is shot in the areas immediately surrounding Vernon Street. The house that stands in for Dexter's childhood home is down the block from Pelayo's house, a two-minute walk away. When the show's fictional "Ice Truck Killer" stops his car near a school to check on the woman bound and gagged in his car, the intersection where he stops is two blocks away from the house where the half-dozen real-life Filipino slaves were being held. The juxtaposition of sinister activities occurring within a placid-seeming location is playing out in actuality.

Mary begins working in America in 2003, but has been back and forth between the Philippines and the States five times in the past 20 years on a multiple-entry tourist visa, a fortunate score from before the post-9/11 immigration crackdown. The first time she comes to the United States is in 1989, as a bona fide tourist with her two daughters. The fifth and final time, she and one daughter decide to overstay their visas and become TNTs.
She arrives at LAX, then travels to San Diego to stay with her husband's cousin. It's difficult finding work there. Mary's 19-year-old daughter goes to work, illegally, at a Chinese restaurant in Twentynine Palms, near the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, after a Filipino friend promises a house to live in and full-time work. Instead, the house turns out to be a trailer. The work is grueling, and pays less money for more hours than promised. Mary cries when she sees how her daughter is living. But she gets a job at the Chinese restaurant as well. It's run by some Filipino friends from Negros City. Mary and her daughter share the trailer with two other people, and all four of them sleep on the floor like pigs in a cage. Her first night, she cries again. "Is this what life is like in America? But what can I do? I'm already here."
"It is hard in America. Why are we here?" she says to her daughter in the nights that follow. "If we go home, there is nothing in Manila."
Finally, she concludes, "America is the land of opportunity — if you have papers."
Mary and her daughter work 14 hours a day, seven days a week. Between them they make $1,500 a month, a massive amount compared with the family's combined wages back home. The restaurant opens up into a ditch in an alleyway. Mary cleans out that ditch, scrubs the floors with steel wool, scours the tubs and walls, chafing dishes and pans, and cleans out the sticky soda fountains. For the first time since it opens, the restaurant receives an award for cleanliness.
When a Marine takes an interest in her youngest daughter, Mary pays him for an arranged marriage.

Los Angeles presents more opportunity for work. Here, she buys a fake green card for $60 from a friend of a friend who also tells her about the retirement home in Sherman Oaks. They don't ask for your actual green card, just a photocopy, another illegal tells her. She starts as a server in the dining room, having gotten the job through someone who is friends with the manager. She waitresses, buses tables.
Eventually, she starts taking care of old folks. She picks up an hour here, two there, relieving other workers when they need help, at $10 an hour. She is referred from old person to old person. She performs small chores: sewing a torn dress, accompanying someone to his or her doctor's appointment. The hustle doesn't stop.
Soon, she is referred to a woman named Sylvia and ends up taking care of her for three years. "I was like her mother," Mary says. She not only gives Sylvia her medicines, they trust each other implicitly. Mary knows where Sylvia's diamond rings are, her safety-deposit-box keys, the notebook containing investment information. She even packs up Sylvia's things when her son decides to move her closer to him. Once Sylvia leaves, it's back to the scrambling routine at the nursing home. There is no time for proper lunch breaks, so she keeps crackers in her pocket and eats between shifts.
She meets her current charge, Fred, at a beauty parlor, while accompanying another older lady. Fred's wife is having her hair done. He needs someone to cut his nails. "They were overgrown and curling in, like the nails of a parrot," Mary recalls. By coincidence, she has a nail clipper in her pocket. "How much?" asks Fred, once she's finished.
"It's free," Mary says.
"Free?" Fred says happily.
Soon, Fred's wife asks Mary to help give Fred showers. On their "first date," as Mary calls it, Fred emerges sheepishly from the room with a face towel over his groin. Mary collapses in a heap, laughing at him, with him. Then it is Fred's wife who collapses. It happens one day in the dining room. The cause is a bleeding tumor in the brain. Mary becomes Fred's full-time caregiver after his wife dies.
"Can I sleep here at night so I don't have to run home? It's too cold outside," she asks him. The arrangement makes it easier for her to keep an eye on Fred, to make sure he doesn't stumble when he uses the restroom in the middle of the night. In America, she knows true loneliness for the first time in her life. Her fellow Filipinos become her salvation. They cover for each other, they help each other find work. Ironically, they are also each other's own worst enemies. Mary stays so close to Fred partly because she knows someone else could easily snake her job. Half the caregivers at the retirement home are dispatched by agencies. The agencies charge the patient $20. The caregiver gets $8. The patient, though, sometimes won't go to the agency, because why pay $20 when you can cut out the middleman and give the caregiver herself ten bucks?
Mary considers herself lucky to have landed with Fred. He is kind. He doesn't grope her, or yell, or insult her. She would never want to be a caregiver working for another Filipino, she says.
"Why are you sleeping on the floor?" I ask. "Is he forcing you to sleep on the floor?"
"No."
"Why don't you get a bed?"
"Oh," she says, "I don't know," as if it had never occurred to her such a thing were possible.

On a sunny day months after the raid on Vernon Street, the mother of the man next door arrives and plunks herself down on the squashy couch in front of his large picture window. The man has lived in this quiet Los Altos neighborhood of Long Beach for 26 years. "We went over to have dinner there once," his mother says, indicating the house next door. "We had chicken adobo and pancit and all that food."
"They weren't even getting paid minimum wage, I don't think," the man says of the enslaved women. "What's minimum wage now?" he asks his daughter, who looks to be all of 7 or 8 years old.
"I think six," she says.
For a while, Darwin was friendly. "He used to come over for a beer and sneak cigarettes," the man says. "Then he stopped."
Housing victims at traffickers' own residences, it seems, is the norm. A profile of typical traffickers emerges. They engender mutual mistrust among the victims and instill what FBI agent Tricia Whitehall calls, in an affidavit filed in federal court, "a climate of fear" — fear of law enforcement, fear of reprisals if they stop working. Traffickers keep large sums of cash on hand. Most are vigilant record keepers — of money wires both international and domestic. Records are often written in code and by hand. They take photos of their victims. They take custody of their victims' identification documents and passports. However futile it sounds, sometimes victims keep their own records of debt payments so they can reconcile them with their oppressors' records.
Darwin, out on bail, came over to his neighbor's house crying and apologizing one day. The man shooed him away. "I'd like to say to Darwin, what if it was your daughter? Or sister?" the man says now in retrospect. "They are soiling what America is. They were exploiting these girls and writing off electricity, gas, water. Can you imagine calling that a small business?"

Many do. Several years ago, Nena Ruiz, a Filipino woman working as a domestic servant for a vice president of legal affairs for Sony Pictures Entertainment sued him and his wife for enslaving her. She worked 18 hours a day performing what one paper described as "strange household chores," which included microwaving chicken nuggets and cutting up bananas and pears for the couple's dogs. Ruiz, meanwhile, was fed leftovers and slept in a dog bed. A jury awarded her $825,000 in back wages and punitive damages. In another instance, Elma Manliguez was paid 6 cents an hour to work under slavelike conditions as a caregiver for the family of a Merrill Lynch executive in New Jersey. They settled with her for $175,000. Then last year, a Milwaukee jury awarded close to $1 million in compensation to a Filipino woman who worked illegally for 20 years for a Wisconsin physician couple.
High-profile stories like these are beginning to form their own genre, a Cinderella narrative that takes the hapless victim from the pits of despair to wealth beyond his or her imaginings. Not to mention it is a pretty twisted way to gain a visa. Twisted, and also the only way any of these women could have gotten one. The future of the enslaved Long Beach tae kwon do "students" remains to be seen. Their captors' trial in the U.S. District Court at the Edward Roybal Courthouse downtown is scheduled for March, with Judge Gary A. Feess presiding.
Why does this stuff happen? Poverty is the root cause. It is the fuel that drives the engine of supply and demand. Supply: abundant cheap labor. Demand: first-world clamor for someone, anyone, to do disagreeable, menial tasks.
A tenth of the population of the Philippines live overseas, a diaspora second only to that of Mexico. The country is a major exporter of labor, the highest relative to population size of any Southeast Asian country. Last year, Filipino overseas foreign workers, or OFWs, sent back $14 billion in remittances. This money accounts for one-fifth of the country's GDP. Remittances have become a pillar of the Philippine economy, and are expected to rise 10 percent next year. They bring the country more money than banana exports (of which the Philippines is the world's third-largest producer) and tourist trips to the legendary white "sugar sand" beaches of Boracay or the thousand perfectly cone-shaped Chocolate Hills of Bohol, said to be either tears of a giant or the dung of a mythical water buffalo.
Pelayo, the court documents allege, would pay Duden $6,000 for each illegal alien, but would tell the aliens she had paid $12,000. Working 24 hours a day, seven days a week for $300 a month, Agnes and the other illegal aliens were earning roughly 42 cents an hour. In the Philippines, this is still good money — just slightly below the average income of 65 cents an hour.
Measurements of "average" income can be deceptive in a country with gross disparity between the extreme rich and extreme poor, where the middle class is crumbling. (The criteria defining middle class in a recent study include whether a family has a leak-proof roof over its head, and whether the family owns a refrigerator and a radio.) One of every three Filipinos fails to meet the official, arbitrary poverty line set by the World Bank — the infamous $1 purchasing power per person per day. But an even greater number, more than half the people in the country, describe themselves as "mahirap," or poor.
In the Philippines, poverty is largely found in rural areas like the one where Pelayo allegedly recruited Agnes. "The underlying weakness of the Philippine economy lies in its inability to create productive employment opportunities for its fast-growing labor force," concludes economist Arsenio Balisacan in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. There are simply too many people and not enough jobs.
And yet there is something else that comes into play. Something more intangible. The former U.S. colony's fascination with the West is deep and enduring. The culture is a surreal mash-up parody of American life. Consider the examples in an e-mail that circulates among the Filipino expatriate community called "Filipino Signs of Wit": A bakery called Bread Pitt. A flower shop called Petal Attraction. A beauty salon called "Curl up and Dye." A transportation placard declaring "Adults: 1 peso. Child: 50 centavos. Cadavers: fare subject to negotiation." There is so much wit in the Philippines, a Manila businessman reasons, "because we are a country where a good sense of humor is needed to survive."
The No. 1 show on Philippine TV, Pangako Sa'yo, or My Promise to You, tells the story of a long-suffering maid, Amor, who catches the eye of a rich American man who brings her to the U.S. She returns to the Philippines triumphant, hungry for revenge on those who ridiculed her, having made a success of herself in the American business world. America is the dream destination.
It's exponentially easier to get work — as a cook, or maid, or nanny — in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and other Middle Eastern countries, but also more dangerous. When fighting broke out between Israelis and Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon in 2006, the Philippine government evacuated its overseas foreign workers and countless Filipino women returned stunned and penniless to their native soil with tales of rape, beatings and myriad abuses at the hands of their employers. But for some of these women, there is a reward. The intensely popular Filipino game show Wowowee showers the women with cash, houses and cars in exchange for their sob stories. The women cry. The crowd cheers. The victims are heroes.

The immigration laws that allow OFWs into the U.S. and the trafficking laws meant to prevent human exploitation are opposite sides of the same coin. In 2000, President Clinton signed into law a comprehensive anti-trafficking program, the first of its kind, based on the finding that 700,000 men, women and children were being trafficked across international borders each year, including 50,000 women and children into the U.S.
But those numbers themselves became problematic. Two years later, the State Department dropped the 50,000 figure to 18,000 and then to the current 14,500. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act created a special visa for the exploited workers, the "T-visa." Five thousand of those are made available each year. (Still a drop in the bucket compared to the 50,000 permanent visas awarded in the annual "Green Card Lottery," to which 6 million people applied last year.) The number of victims who have applied, been certified as legit and granted a T-visa in 2007? 303.
Where are all the slaves?
Identifying the victims, then convincing them they need to be rescued, turns out to be the major stumbling block. The government devoted $23 million domestically last year to surfacing victims. The Department of Health and Human Services spent roughly a million dollars for every 30 victims. To some the effort seems to be a solution in search of a problem. Los Angeles's own task force on human trafficking created a hotline phone number and distributed outreach materials emblazoned with the slogan "Know human trafficking: Modern-day slavery exists. Be alert. Be aware."
What happens to trafficking victims immediately after a raid? Chances are good that they wind up in a shelter program run by the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking, or CAST, the first and largest service provider of its kind in the country. Perhaps they spend their first few minutes of freedom waiting in the coalition's office foyer in an anonymous high-rise building in downtown Los Angeles, perusing leaflets about the minimum wage, legal-help flyers, and a Margaret Mead quote pinned to the wall: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
"Unfortunately, deportation still happens sometimes when cases go unidentified as trafficking cases," says Kay Buck, executive director of CAST. She is sitting in CAST's conference room, the scene of many tearful conferences between herself and newly liberated slaves. She is petite and pretty, and puts one in mind not so much of the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove, but of something similarly strong, yet infinitely more flexible, like bamboo.
Health is the first concern. Sometimes victims only get to eat one meal a day with little protein, so they're weak. "Clients come to us with just the clothes on their back, and sometimes not even that. Sometimes they come to us naked because traffickers won't let them have clothes." Like one client who escaped and didn't even know she was in Los Angeles.
Housing is the hardest issue. CAST was founded in response to an infamous 1995 El Monte sweatshop case, in which 72 Thai garment workers were enslaved in a factory for eight years behind fences tipped in razor wire. Law enforcement, not knowing any better, simply left them there after an initial inspection. After the raid, victims were put into orange prison jump suits and taken away to detention centers until community groups volunteered their shelters. These days, Buck hands out motel vouchers for emergencies. Or she helps people to find apartments.
In 2004, the coalition opened the country's first shelter for trafficking victims. Like a doppelganger to traffickers' own modus operandi, the CAST shelter is a building in an undisclosed suburban location. It houses 10 people at a time, one or two people per room. It's deliberately intimate and homey. "Our shelter has less policy and procedure than other shelters because we don't want to remind them that they are slaves," says Buck. "People have privacy that they didn't have before." They do arts and crafts and storytelling. They garden in the Healing Garden, and cook with native produce they grow themselves. Most victims stay for 18 months.
In time, they work on urban "life skills" and so-called "soft skills": How to use public transport. How to put forth a resumé. How to get a cell phone without being ripped off. How to save money and budget. "A lot of the skills clients have are related to the trafficking. Maybe they came to the country to be a nanny. We show them how to do it in an empowered way. They're so ... what's the opposite of built up?" she says, tucking a wisp of blond hair behind her ear. "Slammed down."
Last year, CAST won a major victory with respect to the laws that let trafficking victims stay in the country. The T-visa is only good for two years. Yet the actual adjustment regulations — the final bureaucratic bridge from visa to green card — had not been written. People whose T-visas had expired were in limbo.
"They weren't legal, but they weren't illegal either," says Buck. "These people were model citizens. They cooperated with law enforcement, which is part of what they have to do to receive the T-visa. It unintentionally revictimized victims of crime in this country."
This year, the first trafficking victims will get green cards.
It costs $10,000 each to put a person through the CAST program. Most of the graduates become self-sufficient. They get jobs in retail, or as security guards, nursing assistants or social workers. Some, however, do "go underground" and are never heard from again.
The system has come a long way. Buck remembers making calls years ago, at the start of her career. She asked to be connected with the "trafficking" office, and the government operator put her through to the transportation department.
For the first time in 11 years, Buck had a waiting list for a spot in the shelter house. Referrals have increased by 200 percent for the first half of 2008. "We've never seen that before in our history. The global economy is having trouble and people vulnerable to traffickers are that much more vulnerable." Finding victims is indeed difficult, which leads to a discrepancy between reported numbers and the experience on the ground. "When service providers are seeing the exact opposite [of the reported numbers]," says Buck, "I trust the service provider."
At the CAST shelter house, people come and go as they please. If you're there, you can't tell anyone where the location is, not even family. Survivors undergo safety training if their case is active and they are about to testify. They are taught to mix up their bus routes, to lead pursuers away from the shelter if they suspect they are being followed. In some instances, traffickers have hired gang members to find victims. Traffickers often have high standing in their community. They learn which families in the village are struggling.
"Traffickers have the most to lose immediately after the rescue. The victims are the major witnesses. Traffickers have trailed caseworkers to find out where victims live. There are threats and harassment. They'll burn the victim's house in the country of origin," Buck says with disgust. "Very rarely are these slam-dunk cases."
Nevertheless, Buck is relentlessly optimistic. You can raise awareness, but that's not going to change the Philippines' maid culture, she says. She spent six years in Asia, has been to Manila, and has seen the culture firsthand. Poverty, the root cause, must be addressed from the consumer end. "Are you comfortable buying a shirt made by a slave girl?" Buck might ask you. What if that girl were your daughter?

It's the retirement home's six-year anniversary the next time I visit Mary. The old folks are gussied up in suits and evening gowns — then covered up universally in sweaters — and gathered in the lobby, attended by caregivers in pink and green hospital scrubs. The elders ensconced on sofas, or idling on walkers, look dazed and confused. Most of them are Jewish. Most of the caregivers are Filipino. "It's like the intersection of Manila and Jerusalem here," the son of one resident says.
Mary is happy. Her other daughter, Christine, is getting married. Like her younger sister, Christine meets a Marine while visiting from the Philippines, a white guy from Iowa. He buys her a $13,000 engagement ring and they plan the wedding over the Internet. Everything will be made in the Philippines, from the hand-painted invitations and the miniature bamboo pitcher giveaways to the embroidered-lace fans. The bride will wear a pure-white dress with green-and-gold accent leaves, embroidered with pearl beads. The bridesmaids will wear champagne gold.
Someone has sent over a photo album of the assembly process so Mary can stay up to date. "It doesn't take any drug to keep these hands working day and night and another day!" reads the inscription beneath a photo of a group of smiling faces. Traditionally, the girl's family pays, and for a spell, Mary's earnings subsidize an entire cottage industry of wedding preparations. Where to have the ceremony is a hard choice. Have it in Negros City, and Mom can't attend. Because she's overstayed her tourist visa, if Mary leaves the States, there is no coming back. Have it in America, though, and dad — and the extended family of uncles, aunts, cousins and friends — are left out. Mary's husband has tried for a tourist visa of his own but has repeatedly been denied.
It's also Christmastime, a double demand that strains Mary's income. She has packed up a balikbayan, a "return to country" box to mail home to Negros City, brimming with cans of Spam and corned beef, chocolates, towels and designer T-shirts — $35 Lacoste, Ralph Lauren Polo — for her husband. When she goes to pick out his size, it occurs to her that she doesn't know what it is anymore. She hasn't seen him for years.
During lunch at the home, Mary sometimes accompanies Fred to the dining room, though technically, the caregivers are not allowed to be present while the clients eat. "Sit down," says Fred. "Order anything you like. I will pay." When management complains, he says, "She's also a human being."
Other times, she'll cook for him in the unit's kitchenette. A bowl of soup. Some cut-up fruit. Sometimes she makes pancit and chicken adobo, or buys him a small cup of ube ice cream, or king-size bars of Hershey's chocolate, which Fred eats mincingly, one cube a day — Mary admires his incredible discipline. "I don't know what to do," he says, as the days stretch out before them. "I'm living too long. But I'm still here."
Theirs is an insular world of basic indignities made tolerable by small kindnesses. She ties a tiny bell to Fred's cane, like a cat's collar, so she can hear him when he gets up to pee. He closes the bathroom door very quietly at night so as not to wake her.
Later on, he shuffles into the bedroom but pauses at the door, thinking there is someone else inside. "Is the bed all right? Is it the same bed?" he whispers.
"Yes," says Mary, tucking him in. "Are you cold?"
Over the weekend, Fred is hospitalized with acute appendicitis. He gets pneumonia. "I don't want to be a sick man," moans Fred, erupting into a full-blown tantrum. "Leave me alone. I'm done." Your "blood will run dry" from dealing with patients, say the Filipino nurses. "My blood dried up a long time ago," Mary decides.
"Is this man paying you to sit with him?" the nurses ask.
"No," she says, her hours long since exceeded for the week, her neck aching from sitting in the uncomfortable chair. "I volunteered."
Mary says she will stay with Fred until he dies. Days, months, years. Whatever it takes. She feels a loyalty to him. But she also doesn't know what she'll do for work once he's gone.

There are 12 million undocumented workers in the United States according to the PEW Hispanic Center, recognized as having the most accurate figures on this subject. The largest number of these workers — 2.8 million — are in California. Of that 2.8 million, roughly one-fifth are Filipino. At any given time, there are half a million TNTs in California. Elsewhere, they are maids in Hong Kong and Dubai and Kuwait, cooks and crew on cruise ships, hotel workers, nurses and caregivers all over the U.S.
"I'm getting old," Mary says, "I can only work eight hours a day now." She is 58.
Money wins out in the end with the wedding. Mary's earnings fund the festivities, so her daughter marries in America. It is Mom, not Dad, who walks her down the aisle to give her away. "Don't lose hope," Mary tells her newlywed daughter, who can't find a job. Because her daughters married U.S. citizens, she will soon be able to petition for a genuine green card.
The next time I see Mary, she has started a Certified Nursing Assistant course at a college she read about in an ad in an Asian newspaper. She is learning techniques like how to bathe people who have partial paralysis and how to transfer a patient from a wheelchair to a bed, or from bed to wheelchair.
"We wash their butts. We sweep their dirt. We do their laundry. We'll wear their scrubs, too?" Mary says to her caregiver friends, thus launching a casual-dress movement among the retirement home private duty attendants. "Let's make ourselves look better. Sign of progress!" Progress is in evidence when I visit. She isn't sleeping on a blanket on the floor anymore. She has a folding bed now. She is no longer a "floor leader," the term she coined to describe caregivers who sleep on their clients' floors. Fred has rebounded from his bout with appendicitis.
It's a Friday, and she is wearing pink flip-flops, slim gray pants, a colorful tank top and lipstick. She'll be going out dancing later in the evening with some other caregivers at the Sportsmen's Lodge in the Valley. The last time they went, she danced with a Chinese man. "You look so elegant tonight," he said. "You dance so gracefully."
She would take a boyfriend, maybe, she says. Who knows what her husband is doing? "I don't know if he has girlfriends. I tell myself he is a man," she shrugs. "He has needs." These are the years they are supposed to have spent together, she knows. Their golden years.
Ultimately, she has no regrets. She has paid off the house, sent her two daughters to school. When her old people "are taken," she misses them. Sometimes she wishes she could bring these old people to the Philippines, the ones with no more family left, and take care of them there. It would be, as she sees it, the best of both worlds.
On a cool spring evening, all is quiet in the house on Vernon Street. A back window glows in the darkness. Things have settled into a wary calm. The tae kwon do slave girls are gone, whisked away to a safe house somewhere. Pelayo and her husband, Darwin Padolina, have pleaded not guilty to trafficking and enslavement charges, while Rudolfo "Duden" Demafeliz, entered a guilty plea and was sentenced on January 5. Afterward, he was allowed to voluntarily deport himself; he left the U.S. on January 9. Pelayo remains in federal custody while she awaits trial, having been deemed a flight risk. Whether her husband visits her or calls her every day is unknown, but he still lives in the house, still has parties and guests over, still waves hello to the neighbors every now and then, as if nothing ever happened. The man next door and the other neighbors, unsure of protocol, wave back hesitantly.
"How come they haven't moved away in shame?" the man asks. "How come they haven't crawled under the ground? That, I just don't know."

EVERLASTING BASS!

2009-02-18T17:38:00.000-08:00

Come One, Come All!

2009-02-02T22:49:00.000-08:00

Babae San Francisco Turns 4 Years Old!
and you're invited to Party it Up with us!!

Thursday, February 19, 2009
Poleng Lounge
1751 Fulton St. @ Masonic
San Francisco, CA 94117

Dinner in the Backroom @ 8:30pm
(PLEASE MAKE RESERVATIONS IN BACKROOM)

Party It Up! @ 11pm
18+ to kick it // 21+ to swig it
$5-$10 sliding scale

Spots and Stripes Theme!
Wear your best spotted/dotted and/or striped outfit for a prize!

email info@babaesf.org for more info

7 OUT OF 10 LAID OFF WORKERS ARE WOMEN

2009-01-29T23:46:00.000-08:00

January 29, 2009

Reference: Emmi de Jesus, Secretary General, 371-2302, 0917-3221203

7 OUT OF 10 LAID OFF WORKERS ARE WOMEN

Women’s Group Alarmed at Further Vulnerability of Women

Women comprise 70 to 80 per cent of the Filipino workers currently being retrenched due to the impact of global financial crisis. This was according to GABRIELA National Alliance of Women.

GABRIELA based their conclusion on the data of Philippine Economic Zone Authority in 2005 that 75 to 80 per cent of workers in export processing zones are women. Currently, most of the establishments closing down or laying off workers are from the electronics industry in export processing zones.

Data from the Department of Labor and Employment shows that in Region IV alone, a total of 10,344 workers in Calabarzon were displaced from October 2008 to January 19, 2009.

“This is extremely alarming for the already handful of Filipino women in formal employment,” said Emmi de Jesus, secretary general of the militant women’s group GABRIELA. “We can only imagine how anxious the remaining EPZA workers with neighboring factories closing down one after another.”

De Jesus also said that the women in the informal sector are also affected by the global financial crisis. “With the massive loss of jobs, less and less households can afford to hire house helpers or avail of services of laundrywomen or other odd jobs women take on to cope.”

“This further job dislocation of women is ominous because it also portends of further vulnerability of women to sexual exploitation,” added De Jesus.

According to De Jesus, a study done by Center for Women’s Resources, a research institute for women showed that women workers desperate to keep their jobs tend to overlook, tolerate and even accept sexual advances of superiors or employers.

“Furthermore, crises always mean a boom for the illegal sex trade with the influx of women desperate for livelihood. For example, in Taiwan alone there are more than a thousand OFWs who lost their jobs and 90 per cent of them are women. With the Philippine government encouraging these workers to stay put in Taiwan for possible future employment, it is not unlikely that some of them will fall prey to sex trade,” said De Jesus.

“The current devastation in the lives of the Filipino working class women is the undoing of the Arroyo government. No amount of so-called relief packages can mollify the impact of global financial crisis. The only way out is for comprehensive social change starting by extricating our economy from the stranglehold of trade liberalization impositions.”###

WOMEN UNITE AGAINST ISRAELI ATTACK ON PALESTINIAN PEOPLE

2009-01-14T10:56:00.000-08:00

MEDIA STATEMENT

14 January 2009

Reference: Emmi de Jesus, Secretary General, 371-2302 / 0917-221203

The women of GABRIELA National Alliance of Women stand in unity with the international community in condemning the Israeli invasion of the Gaza strip.

The vision of hundreds of wounded and lifeless Palestinian children strewn in Gaza is beyond heartbreaking. In each and every woman, the death, destruction and overall human suffering in Gaza should stir rage against the governments of Israeli and the United States . From generation to generation, the Israeli government repeatedly attacks with impunity the Palestinian people and the United States government inspires and supports such inhuman acts of massive proportions.

The current aggression of Israeli troops in Gaza has resulted, so far, in the death of 910 Palestinians, 292 were children and 75 were women and the wounding of more than 4,000 others.

This unspeakable violence against the Palestinian people is not unlike the attacks waged against peoples in the name of political and economic control over sovereign nations. Wars of aggression, within which the culture of violence is intricately webbed, victimize women and children most. In the recent past it has happened in Afghanistan and in Iraq and in Mindanao in the Philippines . Displacement, dislocation, hunger, rape and other forms of sexual violence are suffered most by women and children.

Filipino women must stand together with all freedom-loving people of the world in protesting this recent violation on the lives and sovereignty of the Palestinian people and demand for the immediate pull out of Israeli troops in Gaza and put and end to the death, destruction and overall human suffering Palestine

Public Information Department
GABRIELA National Office
(+632) 3712302

GABRIELA USA Denounces Political Killings and Abductions

2008-12-10T17:25:00.000-08:00

For Immediate Release

December 10, 2008

Reference: Joanne Alcantara, GABRIELA-USA, National Coordinator (206) 859-7525, email gabrielawomen@gmail.com

GABRIELA USA Denounces Political Killings and Abductions

Philippine Government Must Honor the Human Rights of Philippine Women

Today, on International Human Rights Day, GABRIELA USA, a national alliance of progressive Filipina organizations and overseas chapter of GABRIELA Philippines, demand that the current administration uphold the rights of Filipinas across the globe. Since Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's presidential term started in 2001, over a thousand activists have been killed and abducted in the Philippines, many of them women who advocate for the rights of the Philippine people. Several investigations by Filipino and international organizations, including the United Nations, have been published and reported, asserting that these human right violations are being sanctioned by the current administration.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drafted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1948, proclaiming that human rights should be protected by the rule of law. Article 3 states that all people have a right to life, liberty and security of person. In blatant disregard of this tenet, the Philippine government denies its people this basic human right by continuing the persecution of progressive individuals and organizations.

Another horrifying example is the current war in Mindanao, conducted by the Philippine army with the assistance of U.S military under the guise of the War on Terror. This ongoing assault have killed, maimed and displaced thousands of innocent civilians. Women and children, especially, suffer from the trauma of watching their loved ones being killed or taken away, in addition to being forcibly removed from their homes, as well as contracting illness due to lack of adequate shelter, food and health care.

Article 5 of the Declaration asserts that "no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment." A direct violation is the case of Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, two student activists who were abducted in 2006. Sherlyn and Karen were reported to have been brutally tortured and raped by their captors in military camp. Although they are believed to have been killed, they their bodies have yet to be surfaced for a proper burial, leaving their loved ones in a perpetual state of despair, unable to put their hopes and fears to rest. Two years have passed, and the perpetrators of the heinous crimes against these women are still at large. As the commander-in-chief of the Philippines army, it is President Macapagal-Arroyo's duty to put a stop to its current repugnant practices and follow the standards set by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

As community leaders here in the United States, the women of GABRIELA USA are deeply concerned about the case of the 72 activists from the Southern Tagalog region, referred to as the ST 72. Fabricated charges of arson, conspiracy to commit rebellion, multiple murders and multiple frustrated murders have been placed against 72 workers, lawyers, researchers and grassroots leaders, 20 of whom are women. Among these figures are GABRIELA Southern Tagalog Secretary General and Gabriela Women's Party Nominee Helen Asdolo and GABRIELA Provincial Coordinator for Cavite, Amelita Sto.Tomas.

Valerie Francisco, Chair of Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE, NYC) declares, "Arroyo. Aquino. Marcos. Torture, imprisonment, and abuse of the Filipino people's basic human rights have been a historical occurrence. The real people who have created such injustice, should be the ones imprisoned. From the corruption issues of $329 USD million NBN-ZTE Deal; $ 503 USD million Northrail Project; P 728 million Fertilizer fund scam to almost a thousand extrajudicial killings and over 200 illegal abductions. Who are the real criminals of our society?" Francisco continues, "Those speedy warrants should have not been towards those 72 community members in the Southern Tagalog, those warrants should be towards Arroyo and her cronies who have been plaguing the Philippines with their corruption."

Despite her reign of terror, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be giving her administrative order on human rights from Malacañang today, adding isult to those who have suffered under her rule. GABRIELA-USA, consisting of babae in San Francisco, Pinay Sa Seattle and Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment in New York, asserts that the current government, which is becoming more and more a military dictatorship, need to be held responsible for their crimes against the people. That Macapagal-Arroyo should dare declare an order on human rights, when her hands are drenched with blood of innocent civilians, is not acceptable.

STOP THE POLITICAL KILLINGS AND ABDUCTIONS OF OUR LEADERS!

DROP ALL CHARGES AGAINST ST 72!

FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS!

JUSTICE FOR CADAPAN AND EMPENO!

OUST GMA NOW!

U.S. OUT OF THE PHILIPPINES!

Babae Urges Obama to Keep Campaign Promises and Reverse Bush Foreign Policies

2008-11-05T00:39:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 5, 2008

Contact: Marisa Mariano, Babae San Francisco, 415.333.6267, chair@babaesf.org

On the morning of this historic presidential election, Babae San Francisco acknowledges the renewed vigilance of the people of the United States in their demand for change. Let's take this time to not only recognize the historical significance of Senator Barack Obama's win for working people and all people of color in America, but to also serve as a reminder, as Obama himself stated, that our work does not end in this election.

The fight between what's best for the majority of people in America versus the rich minority will continue with this new Administration if not held accountable. As evidenced by the approval of the $700 billion dollar bailout of banks using taxpayer money, Babae recognizes that both Democratic and Republican parties exist to do the bidding of the corporate elite of this country.

Amidst a global financial crisis, a war that has ravaged our citizens for almost six years, unprecedented high rates of unemployment, and rising prices of basic commodities, America is indeed in need of change, and Senator Obama's electoral campaign was forged on the promises of fulfilling these changes. As Senator Obama begins this new journey forward as the next president of the United States, Babae encourages everyone to stand vigilant in ensuring that his promises are fulfilled. We must hold our new president accountable to our demands, and this can only be achieved by being involved and informed. "Our civic duties go beyond the polling booths," says Marisa Mariano, Chair of Babae. "We must organize ourselves into action if we want a different tomorrow. Obama has definitely inspired many people to believe that change can occur, but it is up to us to make that change happen, now that he's been elected."

Senator Obama has called to bring the troops home from the war on Iraq. Babae hopes that he will also do the same for the troops currently stationed in the Philippines. With $12 billion taxpayer dollars spent on this war in 2008 alone, Babae hopes this new administration will put a stop to US military aid to Philippines and instead, spend the money towards building sustainable universal healthcare for its citizens and improving our educational system as promised. To date, the Philippine government has received $30 million dollars of US military aid, even after United Nations reports of human rights violations committed by the Philippine military against the Filipino people.

It is only when the needs and interests of a country's citizens are prioritized can a true democracy be attained. As we move forward with a new president, Babae anticipates many challenges ahead and will keep a vigilant eye with hopes that the new Obama Administration reverses the broken economic and foreign policies of the Bush Adminstration and promote genuine peace and prosperity for all people around the world.

###

Babae SF endorses Prop B! Housing For All!

2008-11-04T13:17:00.001-08:00

Prop B would create an Affordable Housing Fund of approximately $33 million each year for the next 15 years to be spent specifically on building affordable housing for the working poor and middle class people of San Francisco. 75% will be used towards the building of new housing, and 25% is for renovation, rental assistance, homeownership, etc. This does not mean an increase in taxes; it will create a set-aside fund of existing property taxes.

No On PROP 8!

2008-11-03T13:25:00.001-08:00

No On PROP 4!

2008-10-31T14:17:00.000-07:00

GABRIELA ALARMED OVER PINAY IN DEATH ROW - TO HOLD DIALOGUE WITH DFA

2008-10-22T14:11:00.001-07:00

October 18, 2008
Reference: Joms Salvador, Spokesperson, 3712302 / 0918-9182150

The militant women’s group GABRIELA expressed alarm over the recent court decision sentencing to death a Filipina tutor in Taiwan .

“After the death of Venancio Ladion (aka Jenifer Bidoya) in Jeddah, we fear for the life of Cecilia Alcaraz, a mother of four, who worked as a tutor in Taiwan before she was arrested for allegedly killing a Taiwanese national,” said Joms Salvador, GABRIELA Spokesperson.

The women’s group said that the government’s lax attitude on Alcaraz case might result to another case of “too little, too late” as in the case of Bidoya.

“The case of Alcaraz started a year ago and we did not hear anything from the DFA until today when the death sentence was handed down,” said Salvador .

According to the women’s group, the family of Alcaraz voiced their dissatisfaction over the DFA’s response. According toRosalinda Armia, Alcaraz’ sister, the DFA only recently talked with them through the Manila Economic Cultural Office in Taiwan and merely updated them on their sister’s case. Armia also said that the next hearing for the appeal on her sister’s case is on October 24 and not November as announced by the DFA.

The women’s group said that GABRIELA, together with Migrante International, will join the family of Alcaraz in a dialogue with the DFA on Monday to discuss the case of Nemencia.

“The only way OFWs can get any help from the government is when their families and concerned groups relentless push DFA to take action.”

“The case of Alcaraz is another illustration of the sad plight of millions of OFWs especially women who are forced to leave the country because of poverty despite the many cases of injustices against OFWs in foreign countries.”

“For its part, the Philippine government seems to have forgotten the lesson from the unjust execution of Flor Contemplacion and continues to neglect our so-called modern-day heroes,” said Salvador . ###

RP Maids' Sanity and Lives Also At Risk - GABRIELA

2008-10-13T22:48:00.000-07:00

NEWS RELEASE
13 October 2008

Reference: Emmi de Jesusi, Secretary General, 371-2302 / 0197-3221203

RP MAIDS' SANITY AND LIVES ALSO AT RISK – GABRIELA

The militant women's group GABRIELA said that aside from jobs, Filipinas working as domestic helpers outside the country are now more vulnerable to abuse with the economic crunch.

"Employers who are reeling from the economic crisis will tend to be
more irritable and might pass on their feelings of helplessness at
their defenseless domestic helpers. It is not unthinkable that there
will be more cases of Filipinas loosing their sanity and lives should
this economic crisis result to more cases of abuse of Pinay domestic
helpers abroad," said Emmi de Jesus, GABRIELA secretary general.

De Jesus said that Filipinas overseas have constantly been victims of
abuse. The women's group cited DFA data last month stating that more
than 1,000 migrant workers have been repatriated after experiencing
maltreatment from their employers.

According to the women's group, this vulnerability of Filipinas
working as domestic helpers abroad mirrors the weakness of the
government's migration program. "OFWs, especially domestic helpers,
are under the mercy of their foreign employers. Domestic helpers work
as individuals and their workplace confined within the home, mostly
isolated from the outside world making them more vulnerable to abuse,"
added de Jesus.

"The truth is there is no real development in forced migration.
Labor-export policy is a means to deflect the government's inutility
in providing jobs for its people within the country. This should serve
as a slap in the face of the Arroyo government as it nears hosting the
Global Forum on Migration and Development, bannering the erroneous
thesis that migration leads to development and that the Philippines is
its showcase," added de Jesus.

"The Philippine government insists that the fundamentals of the
Philippine economy is strong but the fact that it fears the return of
OFWs, as they anticipate massive lay off of Filipinos working
overseas, only shows that this seeming economic confidence is but a
farce," concluded de Jesus.###

GABRIELA Statement on the Pinay DH Portrayal on "Harry and Paul"

2008-10-13T22:47:00.000-07:00

MEDIA STATEMENT

09 October 2008

Source: Emmi de Jesus, Secretary General, 371-2302 / 0197-322-1203

ON THE PINAY DH PROTRAYAL IN HARRY AND PAUL

Much has been said about the portrayal of a Filipina maid in the BBC comedy sketch "Harry and Paul." That it is racist and it demeans Filipinas specifically those who work as domestic helpers in foreign countries is undebatable, notwithstanding the supposed artistic license of the show's genre.

But the crux of this issue must go beyond the show, beyond seeking apology from the producers of the show. What should alarm and enrage every Filipino is the fact that the portrayal of the Filipina mirrors a growing view of Filipina women in foreign countries – that of domestic helpers prone to abuse and exploitation. This is not the first time that Filipinos working outside the country fall prey to racist depiction and comments. This will not be the last. Ultimately, accountable to this is the government's continued export of Filipinas as commodities in exchange for badly needed dollars.

GABRIELA National Alliance of Women in the Philippines found the Filipina portrayal in "Harry and Paul" offensive. But more than that, we find the hypocrisy of the Philippine government revolting.

For decades now Filipinas overseas have been maltreated, raped and abused with nary an iota of concern from the Philippine government as in the case of Grace, an OFW in Kuwait raped by her employer and turned away by the Philippine embassy when she sought help. Nor was there this much show of indignation from the Arroyo government when the 22-year old "Hazel" was raped by a US soldier in Okinawa, Japan early this year.

The Philippine government is seeking public apology from the show's producers and the British Broadcasting Corporation not in defense of the Filipino dignity but in defense of its labor-export policy especially on the eve of the Philippine hosting of the Global Forum on Migration and Development. The Philippine government is not affronted that Filipinas are being exported abroad as domestic helpers and/or entertainers vulnerable to ridicule, exploitation and abuse. The Philippine government is flustered the "anti-Pinay" portrayal in "Harry and Paul" mirrors the current state of many Filipina overseas workers, thus, puts into question its claim that the Philippines is the showcase of how migration leads to development.

Because clearly, a Filipina maid in a foreign land being tasked by a neighbour to seduce a despondent Englishman, speaks not of development but of degradation.

GABRIELA Philippines
35 Sct. Delgado St, Brgy. Laging Handa
Quezon City, 1103 Philippines
TeleFax: (632) 374 44 23
E-mail: internationalrelations@gabrielaphilippines.org

GABRIELA is a grassroots-based alliance of more than 200 women's organizations, institutions, desks and programs in the Philippines. We seek to wage a struggle for the liberation of women and the rest of our people.

CA to AFP: Free missing farmer, 2 UP students

2008-10-03T19:07:00.001-07:00

Article posted September 18, 2008 - 08:02 PM

MANILA, Philippines - The Court of Appeals on Thursday ordered the military to release the two University of the Philippines (UP) students and a farmer it allegedly abducted in Bulacan two years ago.

This was after the appellate court ruled that there is sufficient evidence that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is still holding students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, and farmer Manuel Merino in custody.

The three were abducted by suspected military men on June 26, 2006 in Hagonoy, Bulacan on suspicion that they are members of the New People's Army (NPA).

The 33-page ruling, penned by Associate Justice Jose Catral Mendoza, in effect reversed the court's June 2007 decision dismissing the writ of habeas corpus petitions filed by the families of the three missing persons.

In the ruling, the CA's Special Former 11th Division said they consider the testimony of
Raymond Manalo, who, together with his brother Reynaldo, was a victim of military abduction and torture.

In his testimony, which was submitted by the petitioners upon a motion for reconsideration, Manalo said he and his brother saw Cadapan and Empeño during their captivity in Southern Tagalog between February 14, 2006 until their escape on August 13, 2007.

The CA said with the additional testimony of Manalo, petitioners have been able to convincingly prove the fact that the three victims are being detained by the military.

"The testimony of Raymond Manalo can no longer be ignored and brushed aside. His narration and those of the earlier witnesses, taken together, constitute more than substantial evidence warranting an order that the three be released from detention if they are not being held for a lawful cause. They may be moving from place to place but still they are considered under detention and custody of the respondents," the CA said.

The appellate court also directed the Philippine National Police to finish its investigation into the disappearance of the three and to file appropriate charges against those responsible.

The CA however clarified that the ruling is not against the military in general but only against "a few misguided self-righteous people who resort to the extrajudicial process of neutralizing those who disagree with the country's democratic system of government."

Named respondents in the petitions for habeas corpus and amparo were retired Army Major Gen. Jovito Palparan, former commanding general of the Army's 7th ID based at Fort Magsasay, Laur, Nueva, and was dubbed "executioner" by his enemies; Maj. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, commander of Northen Luzon Command; Lt. Francis Mirabelle Samson, commander of the Barangay Mercado Detachment in Hagonoy; and a certain Arnel Enrique.

Palparan has since retired from office and even ran as representative of an administration-backed party-list group.

The CA said troops from the Army's 7th Division appeared to have "appointed themselves as protective guardians of the Republic whose precious principles, however, they have dishonored by ignoring the rights and liberties of its own citizens."

Not being held for any lawful cause, the CA said the UP students should be immediately released from detention.

Based on Manalo's affidavit, six armed men in military uniform abducted him and his brother on February 14, 2006 from their place in Buhol na Mangga village in San Ildefonso, Bulacan.

From there, they were moved from one place to another, particularly military camps and detachments, including Fort Magsaysay and a detachment in Sapang, San Miguel, Bulacan, where they allegedly met Palparan.

From Sapang, he was sparated from his brother and transported to Camp Tecson under the custody of the 24th Infantry Battalion. From there he was moved to a place he later learned was a training detachment of the Scout Rangers.

He said it was in this training detachment where he met Cadapan, who was also being detained by the military and whose feet were chained to a double bed.

During their conversation, Cadapan told him that she was abducted from Hagonoy Bulacan and was subjected "to the gravest torture.''

After a week, he was reunited with his brother who also brought to the camp, where they stated from September 2006 until November 22, 2006. Three days after, he said Empeño and Merino were also brought to the said camp.

Raymond further narrated that she saw Cadapan being subjected to more torture like water treatment through nose and electric shocks. He also claimed having witnessed to the burning of Merino.

In its June 2007 decision, the CA merely admonished Palparan and his men at the 7th ID for withholding information and inconsistencies in their testimonies regarding the abduction and disappearance of Cadapan, Empeño and Merino.

The CA had earlier dismissed the petition for habeas corpus filed by the family of missing UP students on the ground that it was not the proper remedy in the case.

The appellate court, however, ordered the Commission on Human Rights, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the PNP to conduct separate investigations on the case due to the obvious inconsistencies in the testimonies of the respondents. - GMANews.TV

Another Activist Missing

2008-10-01T15:42:00.000-07:00

PUBLISHED ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 AT 3:43 PM

BY THE NORTHERN DISPATCH

BAGUIO CITY — Another activist has been reported missing by his family.James Balao, a member of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), was reported missing since Sept. 17.

In a statement, the CPA said the family was expecting Balao's arrival that day but he never came.

"The family was informed that he had left his residence in Fairview, Baguio City at around 7:00 a.m on the said date. Since then, he, unusually, has not been in contact with his friends or members of his family; nor can they contact him," CPA said.

Balao, 47, is of medium-built, 5'7" to 5'9" tall. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, brown pants, visor, black hiking boots and eyeglasses. He was carrying a yellow and blue backpack and red traveling bag.

"He was going to spend the following days at the family residence in La Trinidad," his younger sister told CPA officers.

CPA Chairperson Beverly Longid said Balao's absence is 'very alarming.' Longid said Balao had reported regular surveillance to his family that started on the week of June and has increasingly heightened until his disappearance. "He has even observed white and blue vans that regularly tail him from his residence to his daily chores," she added.

Vio Hidalgo of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) said there have been no reported arrests named Balao since Sept. 17.

The Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) said this is the first case of enforced disappearance in the Cordillera under the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.

Family members and friends called on the authorities, particularly the Philippine National Police, (PNP) the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the public to assist them in their search for Balao.

The CPA and the Balao family may be reached through 09175069404; the offices of the CPA (442-2115); or the CHRA (445-2586 and 09189199007) for any information about the missing activist. (Northern Dispatch/Posted by Bulatlat)

http://bulatlat. com/main/ 2008/09/21/ another-activist -missing/

Dear Friends,

This is an urgent call for support from the CORDILLERA PEOPLES ALLIANCE, CORDILLERA HUMAN

RIGHTS ALLIANCE and the BALAO FAMILY for the campaign to SURFACE JAMES M. BALAO, member of

the CPA and a victim of enforced disappearance. James was missing since September 17, 2008. James is

the second victim of enforced disappearance in the CPA, since Ama Daniel Ngayaan was abducted in 1987.

We specifically seek your support by responding to our URGENT ALERT below. We have attached a draft Letter of Concern which we urge you to send to the Philippine government and its agencies. The addresses are provided in the URGENT ALERT.

We also urge you to sign our online petition ( http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/CPAjamesbalao/ ) which we will

later forward to the Philippine government and its agencies. In addition, statements or letters of solidarity to

Balao Family, the CPA and the CHRA are very welcome, and are very helpful.

Thank you very much!

Sincerely,

Mr. Windel Bolinget

Secretary General

CORDILLERA PEOPLES' ALLIANCE

# 2 P. Guevarra Street, West Modern Site

Aurora Hill, 2600 Baguio City, Philippines

Tel: +63-74-442-2115

Fax: +63-74-443-7159

Website: www.cpaphils.org

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

URGENT ALERT:

Member of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) Missing since September 17, 2008

Case Type: Enforced Disappearance

Victim: James M. Balao

47 Years Old, Male

Member, CORDILLERA PEOPLES ALLIANCE

President, OCLUPAN CLAN ASSOCIATION

An indigenous person belonging to the Ibaloi and Kankanaey tribes of Benguet

Place of the Incident: somewhere between his residence in Fairview, Baguio City and his family

residence in La Trinidad, Benguet

Date of the Incident: 17 September, 2008

Alleged Perpetrators: unidentified elements of the Intelligence Security Unit (ISU) of the Armed

Forces of the Philippines

Account of the Incident:

On the morning of September 17, 2008 at 7 AM James Balao left his residence in Fairvew, Baguio

City, intending to go to his family residence in La Trinidad, Benguet. He informed his family that he

was going home that day through a text message at about 6:45 am. He was not able to reach home

and has not been in contact with his family or friends since, nor have they been able to contact him.

In the first week of June, 2008 Balao began reporting regular surveillance to his family, which

increasingly heightened until his disappearance last week. He had often observed white and blue vans

tailing him from his residence on his daily chores.

According to a reliable source, Balao is even listed in the AFP dossier as the head of the Communist

Party of the Philippines (CPP) Education Bureau in the Ilocos and Cordillera regions.

The Cordillera Human Rights Alliance believes that the surveillance and enforced disappearance of

Balao was perpetrated by state security forces as a part of their operations under Oplan Bantay Laya,

a policy of categorizing legal people's organizations and their staff and volunteers as "front

organizations" and "supporters" of the of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) or National

Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) or the New People's Army (NPA). This policy has led to

the surveillance, harassment and intimidation,abduction and killing of members an leaders of

progressive people's organizations all over the country.

Recommended Action: Your urgent response to this action alert is being sought.

Please send letters, emails or fax messages calling for:

1. The immediate surfacing and release of James Balao by his captors.

2. The authorities, particularly the Philippine National Police, to agressively assist the Balao

family, the Cordillera Peoples Alliance and the Cordillera Human Rights Aliance in their search

for James Balao.

3. The immediate termination of Oplan Bantay Laya which has labelled legal progressive

organizations such as the Cordillera Peoples Alliance as "sectoral fronts" of the Communist

Party of the Philippines, National Democratic Front of the Philippines and the New Peoples

Army.

4. The Philippine Government to observe the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for

Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and other international human

rights laws and declarations such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United

Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

You may send your communications to the addresses below. You may use the Letter of Concern

accompanying this URGENT ALERT. Thank you very much.

H.E. GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

President of the Republic

Malacañang Palace,

JP Laurel St., San Miguel

Manila Philippines

Voice: (+632) 564 1451 to 80

Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968

Cell#: (+ 63) 919 898 4622 / (+63) 917 839 8462

E-mail: corres@op.gov.ph / opnet@ops.gov.ph

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER ON THE PEACE PROCESS

7th Floor Agustin Building I

Emerald Avenue

Pasig City 1605

Voice:+63 (2) 636 0701 to 066

Mobile:

Fax:+63 (2) 635 9579

osec@opapp.gov.ph

SEC. GILBERTO C. TEODORO JR.

Department of National Defense

Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,

E. de los Santos Avenue

Quezon City

Voice:+63(2) 911-9281 / 911-0488

Fax:+63(2) 911 6213

osnd@philonline.com

SEC. RAUL M. GONZALEZ

Department of Justice

Padre Faura St., Manila

Direct Line 521-8344; 5213721

Trunkline 523-84-81 loc.214

Fax: (+632) 521-1614

Email sad@doj.gov.ph

HON. LEILA DE LIMA

Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights

SAAC Bldg., UP Complex

Commonwealth Avenue

Diliman, Quezon City

Philippines

Fax: (+632) 929 0102

Email: drpvq@chr.gov.ph

ATTY. RUSSELL MA-AO

Regional Director

Commission on Human Rights – Cordillera Administrative Region

SSS Bldg., Harrison Road, Baguio City

Tel: 074 619 9089

ATTY. AMADOR P. BATAY-AN

Regional Director

NCIP-Cordillera Administrative Region

2/F Hillside Square, Km. 4, La Trinidad, Benguet Province, 2601

Tel. Fax no.: (074)422-41-73

ATTY. EUGENIO A. INSIGNE

Chairman

National Commission on Indigenous Peoples

2nd Floor N. dela Merced Building,

Cor. West and Quezon Avenues,

Quezon City, Metro Manila

Telephone (63 2) 373-97-87

Telefax (63 2) 373-97-65

MAJOR LLEWELLYN R. BINASOY

Chief Research & Special Concerns Division

Assistant Chief, AFP Indigenous Peoples Affairs Desk

Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations

Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City

ATTY. SEDFRY CANDELARIA

Chairperson, Government of the Republic of the Philippines Section

Joint Monitoring Committee – CARHRIHL

6/F Immaculate Conception MultiPurpose Center,

41 Lantana St., Cubao

Quezon City, Philippines

Please send us a copy of your email/mail/fax to the said government official to our address

below.

URGENT ACTION Prepared by the:

Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA)

No. 10 Rimando Road, Baguio City, 2600

Tel/Fax: 074 445-2586 cel:09189199007

email: chra@cpaphils.org/ d1nteg@yahoo.com.ph

Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA)

#2 P. Guevarra Street, Baguio City, 2600

Tel: 074 442 2115; fax: 074 443 7159

Email: cpa@cpaphils.org, pic@cpaphils.org

CORDILLERA PEOPLES' ALLIANCE

# 2 P. Guevarra Street, West Modern

Aurora Hill, 2600 Baguio City, Philippines

Tel: +63-74-442-2115

Fax: +63-74-443-7159

Website: www.cpaphils.org

GABRIELA-USA DECLARES GMA THE #1 DANGER TO FILIPINO CHILDREN

2008-09-24T16:11:00.001-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 25, 2008

Reference: Joanne Alcantara, GABRIELA-USA, National Coordinator (206) 859-7525, email gabrielawomen@gmail.com

On September 5, 2008, the US Congress passed The Children Soldiers Accountability Act to prosecute any foreign military commanders actively recruiting children under the age of 15 into military service. These efforts are branded by the US government, the leading force in many overseas wars of aggression, to "real leadership" to end using children as soldiers. The US' puppet regime has fallen right into place with this new trend of "philanthropic" American imperial guilt. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will claim in the 63rd Assembly of the United Nations that the leadership of several opposition military formations, namely the New People's Army and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, recruit children into their ranks. In truth, these accusations against endangering children reflect more severely on GMA's track record.

Under GMA's rule, over 60 children have died under the extra-judicial killings of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and their unwarranted insurgency strategies. Unborn and small children in the care of regular Filipino women targeted as terrorists have been slain in indiscriminate bombardments, shootings and torture. Children have been found on the list of torture victims on the AFP lists. Caught in the crossfire of GMA's copycat US War on Terror cum state terrorism, children have suffered greatly because of displacement and harassment under harsh militarization.

Additionally, under GMA's regime, the rights of children have become the last priority of the nation--the plummet of economy has led to abject poverty, panhandling and begging become the only option for street children and the use of child labor the most rampant abuse in multi-national corporations.

Lastly, the clandestine recruitment of children in the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU), a government-trained and sponsored paramilitary force has swelled under the watch of GMA. It is a well known fact that in highly militarized provinces like in the Cordillera region and Samar, that there have been several claims that the AFP have repeatedly used children to serve as guides in their expansion areas. On these grounds, GMA becomes the number one suspect to prosecute with the newly passed Children Soldiers Accountability Act as she has and continues to use children to power her reign of terror upon the Filipino people.

"While we fight for the rights of Filipino children, GMA makes children fight her battles for her," states Valerie Francisco, chairperson of Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE), "GMA must be held accountable for putting Filipino children, women and families in danger with her blatant lies and abuses."

The women of GABRIELA-USA demand that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo step down from her stolen presidential seat. We call for US military aid to stop funding death squads under the GMA administration. We demand that GMA and her goons stop abusing and killing the children and women of the Philippines!

OUST GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO!

STOP US MILITARY AID TO THE PHILIPPINES!

NO TO VIOLENCE AGAINST FILIPINO CHILDREN!

US TROOPS OUT OF THE PHILIPPINES!

###

SURFACE JAMES M. BALAO NOW!

2008-09-23T23:50:00.001-07:00

The CORDILLERA PEOPLES ALLIANCE urgently demands that those responsible for the enforced disappearance of JAMES M. BALAO should immediately and unconditionally surface him. We are specifically calling on the military intelligence units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to surface James. James' surveillance leading to his abduction was executed only by means of the joint operations of the military intelligence groups-the Intelligence Security Unit (ISU), Military Intelligence Group (MIG) and the PNP. Balao is not simply a missing person but a victim of enforced disappearance, and this is an urgent issue of the right to life that must be upheld and respected at all times. We challenge the AFP and PNP that if they truly are defenders of human rights and are mandated to serve and protect the Filipino people, they MUST immediately surface James Balao.

Balao is a founding member of the CPA in 1984 and worked in its Research and Education Commission, extending his services and expertise in this area in the Cordillera provinces such as in Ifugao. He is the president of their clan association, the Oclupan Clan Association. He hails from Atok and La Trinidad in Benguet. Balao is the second victim of enforced disappearance in the CPA, with Ama Daniel Ngayaan who was first abducted in October 1987 in Pasil, Kalinga. Balao was first arrested in 1988 for allegedly possessing "subversive" documents. The case was dismissed due to lack of evidence.

Intensified Surveillance and Harassment Towards Extrajudicial Killings
Balao's enforced disappearance is not an isolated incident. It is part of a systematic and desperate move of the State against members and officers of the CPA in its "counter-terrorism and anti-insurgency" campaign. The ultimate end-all of being unjustly branded as a "communist front" or "terrorist" is surveillance and harassment towards extrajudicial killings. In recent months, our members, including innocent civilians, became victims to the state terror unleashed thru the Oplan Bantay Laya. Through the OBL, the Arroyo regime has mercilessly claimed the lives of CPA members Markus Bangit and Alyce Claver in June and July 2006, and nearly, the life of Dr. Chandu Claver.

In November 2007, human rights worker Vangie Tadeo from the CPA-Abra chapter was abducted and it was very fortunate that Vangie escaped from her abductors. In March 2008, a youth member of our cultural member organization was abducted. She was surfaced after four days when her captors could not probably get anything from her. She was severely interrogated and remains in trauma. In their massive military operations in Tubo, Abra last March 2008, the 50th IB killed 60-year old farmer-hinter Mariano Galisen. In April and June 2008, elements of the 77th and 21st IBs mercilessly gunned down farmer-hunters Rey Logao and Rocky Aboli, both of Lubuagan, Kalinga, in what the military senselessly calls a "legitimate encounter with the NPA". The circumstances of their deaths show that they are innocent civilians merely attending to their daily routine of farming. If the military can commit such a gruesome act to Aboli who is in fact a councilman of Upper Uma barangay, the ordinary civilians are also subject to the AFP's mad terror tagging. The 5th Infantry Division has in fact manufactured a list of 25 alleged NPA surrenderees that includes names of civilians like Max Liyang Finmon-as of Tonglayan, Natonin, Mt. Province. The barangay officials immediately issued a resolution, also signed by Natonin Mayor Ana Rafael Banaag and the Natonin PNP Chief Eusebio Aclupen, stating that Finmon-as is NOT an NPA but a local resident whom they know.

Undaunted vigilance is very necessary at these crucial times. The regime is desperate in its attempt to prove that it is successful in quelling the revolutionary NPA, because it cannot. That is why it is manufacturing a list of NPAs which are actually innocent civilians and carries on attacking legitimate people's organizations like the CPA.

The surveillance never stopped, and now, with James' enforced disappearance, more suspicious looking drivers, taxi cabs and private vehicles have been parking near the CPA regional office and its network of organizations. The extrajudicial killings came to a lull in 2007 as a result of the sustained multi-level pressure at the extremely isolated Arroyo regime and its OBL, and while the regime underwent review for its human rights record in the Universal Periodic Review. The Philippine government's report to the UPR contained barefaced lies and half truths about the real human rights situation in the country, claiming credit for the decrease in the number of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances through supposed "measures" undertaken by the Philippine government.

Defy State Terror!
Once an innocent civilian or a member of a legitimate people's organization such as the CPA is labeled as a front organization of the CPP, an NPA supporter or a terrorist, that is already laying the ground towards surveillance, harassment and extrajudicial killing or enforced disappearance. In James' case, let the public know that an AFP dossier has actually tagged James an alleged position as head of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Education Bureau in the Ilocos and Cordillera regions. This is outrageous and an outright desperate attempt of the AFP to claim that indeed, the State's "counter-insurgency" is yielding positive results!

We challenge the AFP and PNP to immediately and unconditionally surface James Balao. Each day that you, the PNP and AFP remain silent and indifferent to the enforced disappearance of James only validates further your accountability in his disappearance.

We, along with the Balao family, appeal to the public for support in our effort to have James immediately surfaced. This is our task as Filipino citizens to always uphold and protect the right to life and not deny it to anyone.

A State that violates basic human rights and brazenly denies the right to life must not be tolerated. We will not tolerate each passing day with passivity nor will we tolerate the impunity bred in this fascist regime. We will heighten our vigilance and most especially, resist and defy state terrorism. We will not be lameducks waiting for prolonged surveillance and harassment and the next extrajudicial killing. We will resist all forms of state terror and if necessary, through self defense as an assertion of our rights to life and self determination!

SURFACE JAMES BALAO NOW!
RESIST AND DEFY STATE TERRORISM!

CORDILLERA PEOPLES ALLIANCE

Reference:
Beverly Longid
Chairperson, Cordillera Peoples Alliance

CORDILLERA PEOPLES' ALLIANCE
# 2 P. Guevarra Street, West Modern
Aurora Hill, 2600 Baguio City, Philippines
Tel: +63-74-442-2115
Fax: +63-74-443-7159
Website: www.cpaphils.org

GABRIELA USA DENOUNCES ARROYO'S MARTIAL LAW OF TODAY

2008-09-21T00:24:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 20, 2008
Reference: Joanne Alcantara, GABRIELA-USA, National Coordinator
(206) 859-7525, email gabrielawomen@gmail.com

GABRIELA USA DENOUNCES ARROYO'S MARTIAL LAW OF TODAY

Thirty-six years ago, on September 21, 1972, Ferdinand Marcos, the
former US-supported dictator of the Philippines, declared Martial Law
in his country. The political repression, liberalization of economic
policies and social constriction following his declaration claimed the
lives of hundreds of Filipinos. Today, the historical trauma of that
period and the continuation of backwards economic and political
policies still resonate. Filipino American women denounce the ongoing
militarization of the Philippines and the undeclared state of Martial
Law in the Philippines under Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA).

The resonance of Martial Law can be more accurately described as an
extension and continuation of graft and corruption from the Marcos
dictatorship all the way through the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo regime.
While she sits in her stolen presidential seat, GMA has washed her
hands in the blood of over a thousand community leaders, activists and
common people. GMA's eagerness to bend over backwards to the dictates
of United States politics and its IMF/World Bank appendages have
outdone the assaults of Marcos on his own people.

The increasing conflict in Mindanao, falsely assigned religious
undertones as its source, finds its origins in the years of Martial
Law when Marcos engineered Philippine policies and legislation to open
up to the demands and orders of countless transnational, multinational
corporations and the then emerging IMF/World Bank. These grievances
exacted on the people of Mindanao pushed the Bangsamoro people to
fight against economic and state aggression to protect their land,
life and resources.

The very same fight exists today in Mindanao, the violence erupting is
from a people defending themselves and their land. The easy fallback
story of Christians versus Muslims is one of the fables in GMA's
fictional legacy in her presidency, just like her claims to appease
the poverty and labor situation in the Philippines. US-backed foreign
intervention and the return of permanent US military bases is again a
reality for the Philippine people under the watch and permission of
the GMA administration.

The direct impacts of GMA's foreign diplomacy results in the
displacement of women and children in Mindanao, beginning with the
arrival of US military occupation in 2001. Family homes, children's
schools and community spaces have been readily disposed to be replaced
by military development and corporate aggression. The "collateral
damage" and the lives of women and children taken by these settlements
are shocking and continue to escalate.

The entrance of US military bases in Mindanao opens the doors for the
proliferation of bases elsewhere in the Philippines, Zamboanga being a
site for expansion. These conditions, tried and true, leave women more
vulnerable to prostitution, sexual terrorism and rape with the arrival
of military servicemen in the thousands.

GABRIELA-USA, consisting of babae, San Francisco, Pinay Sa Seattle and
Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment in New York, unite to call for a
serious investigation of the US military encampments in the
Philippines and a restoration of constitutional law and Philippine
sovereignty. GABRIELA-USA demands that respect be reinstated to the
people of Mindanao, that they be granted their ancestral domain and be
able to live with the dignity of their full human rights.

On September 20, 2008, at the Bayanihan Filipino Community Center,
FiRE-GABRIELA USA hosts "On Martial Law." This event features special
guest Bebot Galvan from KABALIKAT, support network for Filipina
domestic workers. Together, community members remember the conditions
of Martial Law under Marcos, his overthrow during People Power I in
1986 and discuss today's conditions of ongoing militarization and the
call to oust Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

NEVER AGAIN! NEVER AGAIN TO MARTIAL LAW!
US TROOPS OUT OF THE PHILIPPINES! US MILITARY AID OUT OF THE PHILIPPINES!
NO TO ANOTHER GENERATION OF WAR ON WOMEN AND CHILDREN!
OUST GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO!
SELF-DETERMINATON FOR THE BANGSAMORO PEOPLE!

###

Bay Area Commemoration of Martial Law & Ecumenical Program on Human Rights

2008-09-12T10:26:00.000-07:00

Volunteers Needed: Diwata Young Women's Group Coordinators!

2008-09-08T14:16:00.000-07:00

Hey fams!

Just a heads up that i'm looking for a few fresh ladies to be the new Coordinators for Diwata, Babae's young women's group program out of the Filipino Community Center in the Excelsior. This a wonderful volunteer opportunity!

Diwata is a program that provides a space for young pinays once a week at the FCC. The group's activities and projects are determined by the young women themselves, and in the past have ranged from painting a mural, arts and crafts projects, film/movie nights, and putting together a skit performance for Diwang Pinay. More importantly, the young women's group provides the women a space to talk about their issues, receive mentorship, and gain leadership skills.

We had up to 12 young women participants last year ranging from 17yrs-20. We're looking to incorporate some younger youth (possible age 15 and above) this year, and currently only have one coordinator for the whole group (me!). I NEED help! Here's an overview of the responsibilities:

- Attend weekly young women's group meetings and activities (currently set for Friday evenings from 6pm-8pm, but may change depending on availability of the new participants)
- Attend a minimum of one planning meeting per week to plan the week's activities
- Attend and help coordinate a weekend leadership retreat.
- Serve as a mentor and adult ally to the young women participants.
- Help in creating monthly report of the group's activities.
- Oversee and help with recruiting new members.
- Oversee and help with implementation of the projects and activities.

Qualifications:
- Must be 21 yrs old or older
- Must be invested in youth empowerment and advocacy!

Not 21?? Join the group! We're always looking for young women to train into youth leaders.

For folks who are interested in this volunteer opportunity, please email me directly at lainerz@gmail.com. Diwata meetings start soon...don't miss out! :D

Thanks all! Pls. forward to anyone who may be interested!

--
Elaine Villasper
www.babaesf.org

GAB-USA in Philippine News!

2008-09-03T13:24:00.000-07:00

View the article here: http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/july2008/index.htm

2008-08-12T14:46:00.001-07:00

News Release

13 August 2008

Reference: Joms Salvador, Spokesperson, 371-2302, 0917-3221203

AFP wantonly violates rules of war in North Cotabato -- GABRIELA

"The Arroyo-led AFP is committing a grave violation by conducting intensified military offensives in North Cotabato with utter disregard of the lives of civilians. Under the guise of protecting civilians from so-called occupation of MILF in certain areas in North Cotabato , the joint operations of the PNP and AFP resulted to immeasurable damage of lives and livelihood. It further exposes the fascist character of Arroyo government." This was the statement of GABRIELA National Alliance of Women on the ongoing conflict in Mindanao .

The women's group said that the AFP attacks in North Cotabato is a violation of Part IV of Protocol II of the Geneva Conventions, which outlines the just treatment of civilian populations during armed conflict The Geneva Conventions form the core of International Humanitarian Law, which is commemorated annually in the Philippines during August 12.

"The Arroyo government and its Armed Forces are liars, hypocrites and cheats. No lasting peace can ever spring from this government," said Joms Salvador, GABRIELA spokesperson.

According to Salvador , in times of war, 80% of civilians affected are women and children.

"And if indeed, the ulterior motive in this military attack is to create a scenario to push for charter change, then this government is even more abominable by staking the lives of women and children in exchange for Arroyo's personal political agenda," said Salvador .

The women's group said that the military should immediately cease its operations in North Cotabato . ###

SONA ng Bayan

2008-08-02T02:11:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Aurora Victoria Herrera David!

2008-06-13T21:04:00.000-07:00

Aurora is a member of Babae's young women's group, Diwata and a mass member of Active Leadership to Advance the Youth (ALAY). Congratulations AV!

The corresponding video interview can be found here: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=121594

--
Pinay whiz gets to pick between Harvard, Stanford
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=121634

The Filipino community in Daly City is proud of the achievement of 17-year-old AV Herrera who recently graduated from secondary school with top honors.

Herrera, who immigrated to US in 2005, finished as valedictorian of the Westmoor High School.

Her 4.3 grade point average became her ticket to be accepted as a freshman in Harvard and Standford universities.

But while she's contemplating on what school to choose and if it seems that her entry is a dream come true, Herrera said that life in the US isn't that easy.

"Akala ko pagpunta ko dito, maganda ang America, ganyan. Pero pagdating ko, nakita ko ring mahirap ang buhay," Herrera said, as she narrated how she fought her way to the top.

Before immigrating to the US, Herrera was a scholar at the Philippine Science High School in Quezon City.

Her mother, Bernadette, worked hard to be able to take her three children to the US and invest in their education.

Mrs. Herrera went to the US in 2000. She initially worked illegally for three years before she was given her legal papers.

"Kung hindi kami nagtatrabaho, hindi kami makakakain sa maghapon. wala kaming sasakyan. Wala kaming bahay. Nagre-rent lang kami ng isang kuwarto, pero tatlo ang anak ko. Pero nabubuhay kami ng maayos," Mrs. Herrera said.

The Herrera family said that life in the US is hard but they found support from new friends in the Filipino community.

Now, Herrera, who dreams of becoming a human rights lawyer someday, is also working as a coordinator of the Filipino Community Center.

Her mother, meanwhile, has this message to Filipinos who are also dreaming of making it big someday.

"Kung ano man ang darating na panahon, kung ano ang plano niya sa buhay, huwag niyang kalimutan ang kanyang pinanggalingan," she said. With reports from Henni Espinosa and Ging Reyes, ABS-CBN North America Bureau

GAB-USA goes on our first Exposure Trip!

2008-06-09T00:04:00.000-07:00

and you can read about all our adventures here: www.gabusaexpo08.blogspot.com

A daughter's wish for her missing father on FATHER'S DAY

2008-06-09T00:02:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Please find below and attached a letter of Lorena "Aya" Santos for her father LEO VELASCO, who was abducted last year and is still missing. It is her Father's Day message and an appeal to her father's captors to surface him. We hope that you could provide space for it in your media outlets or you could send this to as many people who would care and help in the search for the desaparecidos.

Thank you so much.

Best regards,

Ruth G. Cervantes
International Liaison and Public Information Officer
Karapatan Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights
Telefax: + 632 4354146 / + 632 4342837
www.karapatan.org

=============
9 June 2008

To my missing father Leo,

I wish I could personally greet you a Happy Father’s Day and give you a really big hug. But how can I?

Ever since you were abducted, my only contact with you is in my dreams. Oh, how I wish I would see you and say “Happy Father’s Day, Tatay!”

Nanay and I will surely remember you as I visit her today in jail in Camp Crame. You must have heard by now (through your captors or if you have access to news) that Nanay has also been abducted and surfaced after three days (nine months after you were abducted and disappeared). You must have been so worried for her. You need not be, worried though because we are all taking care of her. Even in detention, she makes good use of her time in reading books and helping her inmates with their different problems.

How I wish that you can just be like Nanay instead of this. I would rather want to see you in jail than not see you at all. At least I would have visiting days to see you and we could eat our favorite food together. We can tell each other all the stories and laugh about them.

But because I have not found you yet, I would have to be contented in writing to you, hoping that through media, you would be able to read this and that your captors will let you read this.

Tatay, I am sorry for not being able to find you up to now. I know I have done everything I could but I also know that Mrs. Arroyo’s government should do more. After all, it is her military that has made you captive and has denied you of your rights to due process. I should have asked more people who might have known which safe house you are in, but then again, government’s agents have the obligation to surface you and bring you to trial.

Along the way of searching for you, I have encountered others who are also searching for their son, daughter, brother, sister, mother, father or even both parents. I have met Deka who has been searching for her father, Philip Limjoco who was abducted in Pampanga. I have met Noel (not his real name) whose parents are both missing. I have also met Baby (not her real name), a three year old girl who keeps asking for her father who was abducted in Quezon Province. I have also gotten to know Guy whose father was abducted twenty years ago but still continue to make cards for him during his birthdays.

We understand each other how painful it is to long for missing parents. We share the same rage against your abductors and their bosses and this repressive system. We wonder how these people can make our loved ones disappear and can still sleep at night (with their own families beside them, I imagine.)

I know we are all connected because of this tragedy of enforced disappearance, a state practice that should be stopped and never repeated.

I feel we are all siblings and that they are also your sons and daughters too. We are the children of the Desaparecidos. We are also the children whose parents have fought for their principles and have served the oppressed.

People whom you met constantly reminded me of you as a great father through their wonderful stories about you: how you helped them in their sickness as a medical worker, how you make them believe that peace based on justice is possible and how you gave them advice and strength in times of adversity. Just like me, these common folk whom you have served, embraced, and lived with, is also hoping to see you very.

I say, I am proud of you, Tatay. I have always been. I thank you for showing me the realities of life and society. Thank you for showing me the importance of service. Had you not taught me these, my life would have no other meaning.

And we, the children of disappeared fathers and mothers say we miss you so much. We will never stop looking for you until we find you. We will never stop fighting until we secure justice.

I hope that I will still have the chance to see you alive soon. I pray that your captors will find some conscience to bring our family back together and Deka’s, Noel’s, Baby’s and all the families of victims of enforced disappearances in this country.

Today is Father’s Day. Just greet your captors HAPPY Father’s Day for me.

I miss you and wishing hard to see you soon.

Your loving daughter,
Aya

I am Lorena “Aya” Santos, 25 years old. Both my parents are NDFP Consultants for the Peace Process and both were abducted. My father Leo Velasco was abducted in Cagayan de Oro on February 19, 2007 and is still missing. My mother, Elizabeth Principe is currently detained at the Camp Crame Custodial Center.

Photos from Diwang Pinay

2008-05-03T16:45:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who helped make our 6th Annual Diwang Pinay a success! It was a pleasure to spend the night with all of you :)

Please visit http://picasaweb.google.com/paula.lozano/DiwangPinay200842508 for photos of the event!

THIS MONDAY: People Power Tour with Geologic + Kiwi!

2008-04-30T23:19:00.000-07:00

TWO DAYS IN THE BAY!!!!

MON MAY 5th in SF
&
WED MAY 7th in Berkeley

Monday May 5th - San Francisco

Buy tickets now: www. cafedunord. com

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2007

Premier Filipino American emcees, KIWI (formerly of Native Guns) and GEOLOGIC (aka Prometheus Brown of Seattle's Blue Scholars) launch social justice benefit, People Power Tour.

Media Contacts:

Bernadette Ellorin, Secretary General - BAYAN USA
secgen@bayanusa.org

Brian Myers, People Power Tour – National Coordinator/Booking
brian.jl.myers@gmail.com (contact now for Fall 2008 shows)

Two of the West Coast's premier Filipino American emcees, Geologic aka Prometheus Brown of Seattle's Blue Scholars and San Francisco's Kiwi, formerly of Native Guns, are teaming up again to rally youth and students to raise awareness with a nationwide People Power Tour. Kiwi elaborated, "We are volunteering to do this concert because we have a responsibility, beyond music, to raise awareness and hopefully incite action that addresses the human rights crisis and government corruption in our homeland.

"

Over the next 3 weeks, this dynamic duo will criss-cross the West Coast and Midwest, collaborating with local groups and emcees for 13 shows in 11 cities. Proceeds from the tour will be donated to Bayan-USA, an alliance of progressive Filipino American organizations advocating for social justice and democracy in the Philippines.

Both Kiwi and Geo are active Filipino community organizers, drawing connections between the struggles of Filipinos in the US and their compatriots back home. They share the view that art is not only a reflection of the world, but a tool which can shape a more just future society. Kiwi shares, "For me personally, I found my identity and was eventually politicized through hip hop, and I feel like I owe it to this culture to make music and do shows that will hopefully have the same impact on this generation of youth and hip hop fans.

From the rapidly gentrifying street-corner to the Ivory Tower of academia, Kiwi and Geo bring forth a message of resistance and self-determination in the tradition of pro-people hip-hop music by such artists as Dead Prez, Public Enemy and KRS-One.

Kiwi adds, "The name of the tour was inspired by the "People Power" movement that drove out two corrupt Presidential regimes in the Philippines. Because part of the focus of this tour is the corruption of the current GMA regime, we felt like the name made a lot of sense." A rapidly growing movement comprising of all sectors of the Filipino community are mobilizing to oust the corrupt administration. In the two previous non-violent People Power movements, the Filipino people ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos (1986) and the corruption-ridden Joseph Estrada (2001). While 2007 has seen a decline in politically-motivated killings (a decline, not a stop), in 2008 political and economic conditions in the Philippines have worsened as the GMA administration is wrought in corruption scandals, including the rice crisis, election fraud, corporate nepotism and kickbacks. Increased US military presence threatens Philippine civilians' lives and livelihood. The February, 4, 2008, Sulu Massacre and numerous military rape cases are just some of the most recent violence.

Proceeds from the tour will be donated to support Bayan-USA's local and international campaigns advocating for social justice and democracy in the Philippines. People Power Tour, Part 1 includes shows on International Workers Day, May 1st, and Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Contact Brian Meyers (brian.jl.myers@gmail.com) to book People Power Tour, Part 2, during Filipino heritage month (October 2008).

Kiwi's website: http://www. myspace. com/kiwi
Geologic's website: http://www. myspace. com/probrown

Bayan-USA website: http://www. bayanusa. org

April 25: 6th ANNUAL DIWANG PINAY!

2008-04-04T00:04:00.000-07:00

Filipinos in San Francisco Celebrate International Women’s Day

2008-03-12T23:55:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2008

Reference: Marisa Mariano, Chair, Babae - San Francisco
www.babaesf.org, info@babaesf.org

Filipinos in San Francisco Celebrate International Women’s Day
By Remembering Victims of U.S. Military Occupation

San Francisco, CA – Union Square passersby received quite a surprise this past Saturday when a group of Filipino Americans gathered around the Dewey Monument, subsequently dropped to the floor. Scattered amongst the bodies on the floor were placards containing documented statistics of rape, abuse, even murder committed by U.S. military personnel against women from different countries.

This attention grabbing action was organized by Babae San Francisco, a local Filipino women’s organization, to commemorate International Women’s Day. “March 8 has long been a day to celebrate the accomplishments of women globally, but we live in a time where violence against women is heavily increasing, particularly in locations with U.S. military presence,” explains Marisa Mariano, Chair of Babae. “As we celebrate the beauty of sisterhood on this special day, it is also our responsibility to shed light on issues that continue to affect the well-being of women. Each person laying on the floor signifies hundreds of others who fall victim to violence perpetrated by the U.S. military.”

Some recent accounts of violence highlighted by the action were the two rapes that occurred only a week apart in Okinawa Japan. On February 2008, a 14-year old Okinawan girl came forward as a victim of rape by 38-year old U.S. Marine sergeant Tyrone Hadnott. A week later, a 21-year old Filipina woman came forward as also being raped by a U.S. serviceman. The rape occurred only two days after the woman arrived on the island as a contract worker from the Philippines.

“It is situations like these that affirm the need for a militant women’s movement,” adds Mariano. “A corrupt president like GMA only serves her own personal interests, so it is up to us to fight against atrocities committed against us. We must insist to be the change that we seek.”

Babae used the Dewey Monument “die-in” to also project the newly formed GABRIELA-USA chapter composed of Babae SF, Pinay sa Seattle, and Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE) in NY. The chapter is the first international chapter of GABRIELA Philippines, an alliance of over 250 women’s organizations in the Philippines. Members of Babae passed out buttons and informational postcards about GABRIELA-USA as crowds gathered around the bodies on the floor.

The simple act of resistance successfully carried out a strong and stern message on this International Women’s Day.

2008-03-07T11:52:00.001-08:00

MEDIA ADVISORY

For Reference:
Joanne Alcantara
GABRIELA National Organizing Committee Coordinator
gabrielawomen@gmail.com
(641) 715-3900

March 8th – Overseas Filipinas Rally and March as GABRIELA-USA,
Extending the Philippine Women's Movement Internationally

On March 8, 2008, Filipino women in the United States will proclaim
the formalization of a GABRIELA-USA Chapter, the first international
overseas chapter of the Philippine-based women's organization
GABRIELA, through nationally-coordinated protest actions celebrating
women's resistance and calling for the ouster of Philippine President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

GABRIELA, the General Assembly Binding Women for Reforms, Integrity,
Equality, Leadership and Action, was first established in 1984 by 42
women's organizations in the Philippines uniting against the US-backed
Marcos dictatorship. In November of 2007, Pinay sa Seattle, babae in
San Francisco and FiRE (Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment) in New
York planted the seeds for a USA-based GABRIELA. Subsequently,
GABRIELA has committed to expanding our work in the US by providing
organizing around the conditions of Filipinas in the USA.

In the seven years that the US-backed Arroyo has been President in the
Philippines, she has worsened the economic conditions of the Filipino
people and especially women. Her stark human rights violations
record, subservience to US imperialism and militarization has
materialized in the murder of Filipino women and children in the hand
of US troops supposedly training the Philippine military in Balikatan
exercises. Arroyo has also stood silent on the increasing numbers of
Filipino women raped by US military troops in the Philippines, and
recently in Japan.

The corruption of President Arroyo has been exposed through the
NBN-ZTE scandal and the Filipino people are expressing their
intolerance. We are uniting across continents and oceans to call for a
new brand of people power. The intensifying political climate in the
Philippines calls for genuine social change, an ouster of a decrepit
president and the restoration of democracy in the Philippines.

GABRIELA-USA will rally to this call. As migrant women, we recognize
that the majority of Overseas Filipino Workers are women. The
worsening economic and political crisis of the Philippines pushes
Filipino women out only to be subjected to exploitation, human
trafficking, domestic abuse, sexual assault, torture and even death.
We recognize our place is in the struggle to oust a puppet president
and we will mobilize around our responsibility to the Filipino people.

During these times of heightened political crisis in the Philippines
the women of Pinay sa Seattle, babae San Francisco and FiRE New York,
all members of GABRIELA-USA, will continue to carry out the vigilant
task of intensifying the people's resistance against a tyrannical and
immoral government. GABRIELA-USA stands behind all working women and
Filipino progressives to expose the truth and call for Arroyo's ouster
from presidency.

On this March 8, we call on all peace loving people, advocates for
human rights, and women's organizations to stand in solidarity with
GABRIELA and its newly formed USA-based chapter by joining us in the
following mobilizations:

New York:
12pm-3pm
A Salute to Women's Resistance
Union Square

Seattle:
12pm-2pm
Women Hold Up Half the Sky
Cultural Performances and Speakers
Jose Rizal Park

San Francisco
2:00pm
For Our Sisters, We Must RESIST
San Francisco Dewey Monument
Union Square Plaza at Stockton and Powell

Women unite!
Struggle against oppression and exploitation!
Fight the Arroyo regime's corruption and tyranny!
Oust President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo!
Long Live International Working Women's Day!
Long Live International Solidarity!

SF This Saturday: "Die-in" for International Women's Day

2008-03-03T23:48:00.000-08:00

Feb 28: Community Vigil for People Power in the Philippines

2008-02-25T23:28:00.000-08:00

Bay Area community demands government accountability
and support our kababayan's call for GMA to resign!

People's Power Lives On!

On February 25, 1986, the oppressive dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos was
put to an end by the power of the people. Twenty-two years later, we are faced
with ousting another tyrant, one who's record surpasses those of Marcos'.

Join us in commemorating the success of People Power I,
and call for the RESIGNATION of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo!

Community Vigil
Thursday, February 28, 2008
5pm
In front of the SF Philippine Consulate
447 Sutter St. (cross is Powell)
San Francisco, CA 94108

Sponsored by BAYAN USA organizations: babae-San Francisco,
League of Filipino Students-SFSU, Anakbayan-East Bay, and the Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (CHRP). Endorsed by the ILPS-Bay Area Grassroots School Of Unity and Liberation (SOUL).

US "Water Cure" Torture Tactic Used on Filipinos in 1901

2008-02-21T14:30:00.000-08:00

The Water Cure

Debating torture and counterinsurgency—a century ago.

by Paul Kramer

Original article can be found here: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/02/25/080225fa_fact_kramer

A picture of a “water detail,” reportedly taken in May, 1901, in Sual, the Philippines. “It is a terrible torture,” one soldier wrote.

Many Americans were puzzled by the news, in 1902, that United States soldiers were torturing Filipinos with water. The United States, throughout its emergence as a world power, had spoken the language of liberation, rescue, and freedom. This was the language that, when coupled with expanding military and commercial ambitions, had helped launch two very different wars. The first had been in 1898, against Spain, whose remaining empire was crumbling in the face of popular revolts in two of its colonies, Cuba and the Philippines. The brief campaign was pitched to the American public in terms of freedom and national honor (the U.S.S. Maine had blown up mysteriously in Havana Harbor), rather than of sugar and naval bases, and resulted in a formally independent Cuba.

The Americans were not done liberating. Rising trade in East Asia suggested to imperialists that the Philippines, Spain’s largest colony, might serve as an effective “stepping stone” to China’s markets. U.S. naval plans included provisions for an attack on the Spanish Navy in the event of war, and led to a decisive victory against the Spanish fleet at Manila Bay in May, 1898. Shortly afterward, Commodore George Dewey returned the exiled Filipino revolutionary Emilio Aguinaldo to the islands. Aguinaldo defeated Spanish forces on land, declared the Philippines independent in June, and organized a government led by the Philippine élite.

During the next half year, it became clear that American and Filipino visions for the islands’ future were at odds. U.S. forces seized Manila from Spain—keeping the army of their ostensible ally Aguinaldo from entering the city—and President William McKinley refused to recognize Filipino claims to independence, pushing his negotiators to demand that Spain cede sovereignty over the islands to the United States, while talking about Filipinos’ need for “benevolent assimilation.” Aguinaldo and some of his advisers, who had been inspired by the United States as a model republic and had greeted its soldiers as liberators, became increasingly suspicious of American motivations. When, after a period of mounting tensions, a U.S. sentry fired on Filipino soldiers outside Manila in February, 1899, the second war erupted, just days before the Senate ratified a treaty with Spain securing American sovereignty over the islands in exchange for twenty million dollars. In the next three years, U.S. troops waged a war to “free” the islands’ population from the regime that Aguinaldo had established. The conflict cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of Filipinos and about four thousand U.S. soldiers.

Within the first year of the war, news of atrocities by U.S. forces—the torching of villages, the killing of prisoners—began to appear in American newspapers. Although the U.S. military censored outgoing cables, stories crossed the Pacific through the mail, which wasn’t censored. Soldiers, in their letters home, wrote about extreme violence against Filipinos, alongside complaints about the weather, the food, and their officers; and some of these letters were published in home-town newspapers. A letter by A. F. Miller, of the 32nd Volunteer Infantry Regiment, published in the Omaha World-Herald in May, 1900, told of how Miller’s unit uncovered hidden weapons by subjecting a prisoner to what he and others called the “water cure.” “Now, this is the way we give them the water cure,” he explained. “Lay them on their backs, a man standing on each hand and each foot, then put a round stick in the mouth and pour a pail of water in the mouth and nose, and if they don’t give up pour in another pail. They swell up like toads. I’ll tell you it is a terrible torture.”

Please click here for the rest of the article.

U.S. Troops Sighted During Sulu Massacre

2008-02-13T14:58:00.000-08:00

BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO
Bulatlat
Vol. VIII, No. 2, February 10-16, 2008

original article can be found at: http://www.bulatlat.com/2008/02/u-s-troops-sighted-during-sulu-massacre

U.S. troops were present during the Feb. 4 assault by combined Army and Navy elite forces on Barangay (village) Ipil, Maimbung, Sulu that killed eight non-combatants, including an Army soldier on vacation. Worse, they tolerated what had taken place.

Soldiers from the Army's Light Reaction Company (LRC) – a unit composed of Philippine soldiers who had received training from U.S. troops during the RP-U.S. joint military exercises –and the Navy's Special Weapons Group (Swag) attacked Brgy. Ipil early morning, while most villagers were still sleeping, on Feb. 4, said Concerned Citizens of Sulu convener and former Jolo councilor Temogen "Cocoy" Tulawie in an interview with Bulatlat.

Killed in the attack were Marisa Payian, 4; Wedme Lahim, 9; Alnalyn Lahim, 15; Sulayman Hakob, 17; Kirah Lahim, 45; Eldisim Lahim, 43; Narcia Abon, 24 – all civilians. Also killed was Pfc. Ibnul Wahid of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, who was then on vacation.

"Wahid's hands were even tied behind his back," Tulawie said, citing an account by Sandrawina Wahid, the slain soldier's wife. "He was forced to lie face down on the ground and they stepped on his back. His wife ran into their hut and back out, showing the soldiers his Army ID and bag, begging them to not hurt him. But still, they shot him."

One of the victims, Kirah Lahim, was even mutilated. "They took out his eyes and cut off his fingers and ears," Tulawie said.

Military officials have given varying explanations of the incident. One explanation was that the non-combatants were killed in a firefight between soldiers and "terrorists," while another points to a "family feud" as having triggered the killings.

One Army general said what happened on Feb. 4 was a "legitimate encounter," claiming that troops searching for kidnapped trader Rosalie Lao clashed with Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits and members of the terrorist Jema'ah Islamiyah.

The military did not say whether Lao, who was kidnapped on Jan. 28 while on the way home from her store, was being held in Sulu.

Maj. Gen. Ruben Rafael, commander of an anti-"terrorist" task force in Sulu, said two soldiers and three bandits – including ASG leader Abu Muktadil – were killed in the "encounter."

"It was a legitimate encounter," Rafael told media. "As far as we are concerned, troops clashed with the Abu Sayyaf and Jema'ah Islamiyah. We have recovered the bodies of Muktadil, but soldiers also found eight more bodies in the area and we are trying to find out whether they were caught in the crossfire or slain by terrorists."

Tulawie, however, said this was not true.

"That's a lie," Tulawie said. "Most of these people (who were killed) are just seaweed farmers. There is no ASG there. In the case of Wahid, they killed their own fellow soldier."

"They were quiet people who had no enemies," Tulawie said of the victims.

Meanwhile, Maj. Eugene Batara, spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said authorities are presently investigating reports that the killings were sparked by a family feud.

As the killings were taking place, there were U.S. troops nearby. Tulawie said Sandrawina was taken into a Navy boat, where she saw four U.S. soldiers.

"They were just nearby and they tolerated what was happening," Tulawie said. "There was only one who was heard shouting, 'Hold your fire!' but that was all. They tolerated these human rights violations committed by the soldiers they had trained."

Westmincom chief Maj. Gen. Nelson Allaga said there were no U.S. troops involved in the operation.

"There was no direct involvement of the Americans," Allaga said. "It is strictly prohibited."

Not the first time

Sulu Gov. Abdulsakur Tan said this was not the first time that U.S. troops were reported to have taken part in Philippine military operations in Sulu. With this, he corroborated what Tulawie had said in an earlier interview with Bulatlat.

When an encounter between the AFP and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) broke out in Brgy. Buansa, Indanan, Sulu in early 2007, U.S. troops who were a few kilometers away were seen running toward the direction of the gunfire. They were carrying their guns.

Military spokespersons said the attack was brought about by reports that members of the ASG were in the MNLF camp. The MNLF – with which the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) signed a Final Peace Agreement in 1996 – has repeatedly denied that it coddles ASG members.

During that same period, U.S. troops were busy with a road construction project in Brgy. Bato-Bato, Indanan. At that time, the area was the center of Philippine military operations in Sulu.

These were gathered by Bulatlat in its interview with Tulawie in March last year.

This, Tulawie said, is just part of a larger picture that has been developing in Sulu since 2004.

"Military operations always take place not far from where U.S. troops are," said Tulawie. "The presence of U.S. troops has been visible in areas where military operations have taken place."

While Tulawie says there is yet no evidence that U.S. troops have actually participated in combat operations, their visibility in areas where AFP operations have been conducted raises questions on the real reasons behind their presence in the country's southernmost province.

U.S. military presence in Sulu

The presence of U.S. troops in Sulu started in 2004 and has been continuous since then.

U.S. troops would have entered Sulu as early as February 2003. The AFP and the U.S. Armed Forces had both announced that the Balikatan military exercises for that year would be held in Sulu.

This provoked a wave of protest from the people of Sulu, who had not yet forgotten what has come to be known as the Bud Dajo Massacre.

The Bud Dajo massacre, which took place in 1906, is described in some history texts as the "First Battle of Bud Dajo." It was an operation against Moro fighters resisting the American occupation.

The description of the incident as a "battle," however, is disputed considering the sheer mismatch in firepower between U.S. forces and the Moro resistance fighters. The 790 U.S. troops who assaulted Bud Dajo used naval cannons against the 800-1,000 Moro resistance fighters who were mostly armed only with melee weapons.

In the end, only six of the hundreds of Moro resistance fighters holding Bud Dajo as a stronghold survived, while there were 15-20 casualties among the U.S. troops.

The announcement in February 2003 that the year's Balikatan military exercises would be held in Sulu summoned bitter memories of the Bud Dajo Massacre and led to protest actions where thousands of Sulu residents participated.

The next year, however, U.S. troops came up with ingenious ways to find their way into Sulu – coming in small groups and bringing relief goods. This "neutralized" the residents' resistance to their presence.

"Unconventional warfare"

The U.S. troops in Sulu are part of the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P). Based on several news items from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the JSOTF-P are in Sulu to train the AFP's Southern Command (Southcom) and to conduct civic actions.

However, an article written by Command Sgt. Maj. William Eckert of the JSOTF-P, "Defeating the Idea: Unconventional Warfare in Southern Philippines," hints that there is more to the task force's work than training AFP troops and embarking on "humanitarian actions." Wrote Eckert:

"Working in close coordination with the U.S. Embassy, JSOTF-P uses Special Forces, Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations forces to conduct deliberate intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in very focused areas, and based on collection plans, to perform tasks to prepare the environment and obtain critical information requirements. The information is used to determine the capabilities, intentions and activities of threat groups that exist within the local population and to focus U.S. forces – and the AFP – on providing security to the local populace. It is truly a joint operation, in which Navy SEALs and SOF aviators work with their AFP counterparts to enhance the AFP's capacities."

These U.S. troops have always been seen near the sites of Philippine military operations in Sulu. The latest sighting was during the Feb. 4 attack on Brgy. Ipil, Maimbung where seven civilians and one Army soldier on vacation were killed. Bulatlat

Babae 3 Year Anniversary and Fundraiser

2008-02-11T19:41:00.000-08:00

International League of People's Struggles

2008-02-09T23:41:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends and Allies in Struggle:

Greetings of Peace and Solidarity from BAYAN USA!

We would like to announce the Third International Assembly of the
International League of People's Struggle (ILPS TIA) on June 17-22, 2008
in Hong Kong. This year's assembly will focus on the theme ""Strengthen
the People's Struggle, Unite to Build a New World Against Imperialist
Aggression, State Terrorism, Plunder and Social Destruction!"

Founded in 2001, ILPS is an anti-imperialist and democratic formation
that promotes, supports and developes the anti-imperialist and
democratic struggles of the people of the world, including the workers,
peasants, women, youth, professionals and other sectors of society
against the ideological, political, military, economic, social and
cultural domination and attacks of imperialism and reaction.

It strives to realize the unity, cooperation and coordination of
anti-imperialist and democratic struggles throughout the world. Through
its study commissions, research and solidarity campaigns and actions, it
exposes and opposes the oppressive and exploitative policies and acts of
the imperialist and puppet states, the multinational companies and
imperialist-dominated international agencies, such as the IMF, World
Bank and WTO, and the military alliances such as the NATO and the
US-Japan Security Council.

As member of the ILPS International Coordinating Committee in the United States (ICC-US),
we invite all US-based anti-imperialist organizations and individuals who are interested
to attend the Assembly. The Assembly is open for member and
non-member organizations and individuals who want to apply for
membership or observe and/or attend conferences being organized by the
study commissions.

We will send more information regarding the Assembly in June. For more information
about ILPS please visit www.ilps2001.com.

Thank you and MABUHAY KAYONG LAHAT!

In solidarity,

Chito Quijano
Chair, BAYAN USA
member, ICC-US

Philippine-U.S. War: "Kill Everyone Over Ten"

2008-02-04T17:50:00.000-08:00

"Kill Everyone Over Ten"

"I want no prisoners. I wish you to kill and burn, the more you kill and burn the better it will please me. I want all persons killed who are capable of bearing arms in actual hostilities against the United States." General Jacob H. Smith said.

Since it was a popular belief among the Americans serving in the Philippines that native males were born with bolos in their hands, Major Littleton "Tony" Waller asked "I would like to know the limit of age to respect, sir?."

"Ten years," Smith said.

-Benevolent Assimilation: The American Conquest of the Philippines, 1899-1903, Stuart Creighton Miller, (Yale University Press, 1982)

100 years later...

The untold story of our people's bravery and sacrifice remains buried beneath the soil where over 1 million Filipinos were killed.

Today, our children are still being robbed of their history.

Let us unearth our people's legacy of resistance and provide for our youth, what the government does not.

Feb 4: In Comemoration of the Phil-US War

2008-01-30T17:29:00.001-08:00

PINAY Star Power!

2008-01-03T17:37:00.000-08:00

Her name is Charice Pempengco, and she is a 15 year old Pinay sensation!

Here's Charice on the Ellen Degeneres show:

Happy New Year everyone :)

2 Missing UP Students Tortured, Raped inside Military Camp

2007-11-27T13:15:00.000-08:00

Original article: http://www.bulatlat.com/2007/11/2-missing-students-tortured-raped-inside-military-camp

By Dabet Castañeda
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
BULATLAT
VOL. VII, No. 42, November 25- December 1, 2007

One year and five months after their abduction, a witness testified that he had actually seen and talked to Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, the two scholars of the University of the Philippines (UP) who were abducted allegedly by soldiers on June 26, 2006 while doing research in a farming community in Barangay (village) San Miguel, Hagonoy, Bulacan. Farmer Manuel Merino was abducted together with the two.

The witness, Raymund Manalo, also confirmed what had been feared all along - that the UP students were raped by their abductors.

First meeting

Manalo, who was abducted together with his brother, Reynaldo, in their home in Barangay Buhol na Mangga, San Ildefonso, Bulacan, on Feb. 14, 2006, said he first met Cadapan sometime in November 2006 at the barracks of Camp Tecson in San Miguel, Bulacan. Camp Tecson hosts the First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR).

It was an uncanny meeting, Manalo said in his signed affidavit submitted at the Court of Appeals (CA) on Nov. 12. "Sa loob ng barracks ko nakilala si Sherlyn, isang estudyante ng UP," (I met Sherlyn, a UP student, inside the barracks.) Manalo said as she described Sherlyn as a "babaeng nakakadena (chained woman)."

At first, Manalo said he was told not to converse with the chained woman. But on the third or fourth day, Manalo said he approached Sherlyn and gave her food.

Sherlyn, meanwhile, gave Manalo some information about herself. "Sinabi nya sa akin na …matindi ang tortyur na dinaranas niya. Umiiyak sya," (She told me she experienced heavy torture. She was crying.) Manalo said in his testimony.

Manalo also said Sherlyn was ordered to do the laundry during the day. But more than this, what was bothersome was Sherlyn's confession that she had been molested by a certain Mickey, Donald and Billy. "Sabi ni Sherlyn sa akin na siya'y ginahasa," ((Sherlyn told me she was raped.) Manalo said in his testimony.

Manalo described Mickey as "pandak na mataba, maputi," (short, fat, and fair-skinned) while Billy is "maitim, bungi, pinakamataba sa kanila, pandak." (dark, with missing teeth, the fattest, and short) Donald is Master Sgt. Donald Caigas, the same suspect in the killing of human rights worker Eden Marcellana and peasant leader Eddie Gumanoy in April 2003.

Manalo said the words "24th IB" was tattooed on the shoulders of Caigas.

Nine days after meeting Sherlyn, Manalo said, he also met Karen and Manuel inside the same military camp.

During the day, Manalo said he, Reynaldo and Manuel were told to do errands while the two women were made to do the laundry.

An unexpected visit

On Nov. 22, 2006, the Manalo brothers, Manuel, Sherlyn and Karen were transferred to 24th Infantry Battalion (IB) camp in Limay, Bataan. According to Raymund's testimony, they stayed there until May 8 of this year.

Going to Bataan, Karen was separated from the four and was forced to ride a black car with Caigas. The rest of the captives rode a stainless jeep.

Raymund said it was in Bataan where he witnessed the torture of Sherlyn and Karen.

The torture happened after Sherlyn told their soldier-captors that she kept a gun at her mother-in-law's place in Calumpit, Bulacan. She was taken to the place but the soldiers found no firearm there. Sherlyn also tried to leave a letter for her mother-in-law but her military escorts saw the letter and confiscated it.

At the hearing for the writ of amparo Nov. 21 at the Court of Appeals (CA), Sherlyn's mother-in-law, Adoracion Paulino, testified that Sherlyn indeed visited her in the evening of April 11. Paulino said she hugged and kissed Sherlyn but the latter just looked at her and took some clothes. Paulino said her daughter-in-law had five escorts at that time. The visit was swift, Paulino told the court.

After the visit, Paulino said the threats to her life had become endless. As she broke down during her testimony, she said soldiers and police had been visiting her at home, asking if it was true that Sherlyn and five of her escorts paid a visit. "Dinenay ko dahil natakot ako para kay Sherlyn, para sa anak ko at para sa sarili ko." (I denied it because I fear for Sherlyn, my son, and myself.)

Paulino said she tried to keep the brief encounter with Sherlyn to herself. It was only in May when she decided to tell Sherlyn's mother, Linda, about the visit.

Torture

When Sherlyn was taken back to the camp in Bataan, Raymund said, he saw the soldiers torture Sherlyn, "Itinali sya sa bangko, itinaas ang kanyang mga paa, binuhusan siya ng tubig sa ilong, kinuryente sya." (She was tied to a bench, her feet were lifted, water was poured to her nose, and she was electrocuted.)

"Sumisigaw sya.Matagal syang pinahirapan," (She shouted. She was tortured for a long time.) Raymund added.

When Sherlyn told the soldiers that Karen helped her write the letter for her mother-in-law, Raymund said, he saw the soldiers take Karen outside. However, Raymund said, he did not see what the soldiers had done to Karen. "Narinig ko lang ang mga sigaw nya," (I just heard her cries.) Raymund said.

The following day, Raymund said, he heard the soldiers hurling invectives at the two UP students. "Inuyam sila sa ginawang pananakit, ipinaalala sa kanila ang ginawang paghipo sa kanilang ari at pagpasok ng kahoy sa kanilang ari," (They were taunted regarding the pain inflicted on them; they were reminded that their private parts were touched and a wooden stick was inserted inside their sex organ.) Raymund said in his testimony.

On the other hand, Raymund said, he and Manuel where forced to join military operations in Bataan. Raymund said they witnessed how the soldiers killed two relatives of suspected New People's Army (NPA) guerillas.

Last sighting

From Limay, Bataan, Raymund said, the five of them (Manalo brothers, Sherlyn, Karen and Manuel) were transferred to a safehouse off the shore of Zambales. They stayed in the said place from May 8 or 9 (Raymund was not sure of the exact date) until June.

The five captives were taken back to Limay, Bataan sometime in June. After two or three weeks, Raymund said, he, Reynaldo and Manuel were taken to a forest by a certain "Lat." They were made to sleep in the forest until Caigas ordered Lat to bring them back to the camp.

At night time, the three male captives were again taken to the forest, this time by a certain "Robin." They were taken back to the camp the next morning. Raymund said it was then that he noticed that Sherlyn and Karen were gone. "Hindi ko na sila nakita," (I never saw them again.) Raymund said.

The three male captives were then chained inside the cell where Sherlyn and Karen were kept before. They stayed there for three days, Raymund added.

Burned

On the third day, Raymund said "Lat" took Manuel outside the cell. "Kakausapin daw sya ni Gen. Palparan," ( They said Gen. Palaparan would talk with him.) Raymund said, referring to retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, then the commanding officer of the 7th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army (ID PA) based in Fort Magsaysay in Laur, Nueva Ecija.

"Nakapiring si Manuel, wala siyang suot pang-itaas, pinosasan," (Manuel was blindfolded, he had no shirt and was handcuffed.) Raymund said in his testimony.

"Ði nagtagal, narinig ko ang hiyaw o ungol ni Manuel. Sumilip ako sa isang haligi ng kamalig at nakita kong sinisilaban si Manuel," (After a while, I heard the shouts and moans of Manuel. I peeked and saw Manuel being burned.) Raymund said.

That was the last time Raymund would see Manuel alive. "Sabi ni Donald (Caigas) huwag na raw naming hanapin ang dalawang babae at si Manuel dahil magkakasama na sila." (Donald told us not to look for the two women and Manuel anymore because they are already together.)

The Manalo brothers were then transferred to Pangasinan where they were allowed to tend a small farm owned by Caigas. Around 1 a.m. of Aug. 14, the brothers were able to escape from their captors when the soldiers became drunk.
A writ of amparo has also been filed for the Manalo brothers who are still kept in a sanctuary as threats hound them and their family to this day.

Raymund is scheduled to testify for Sherlyn, Karen and Manuel on Dec. 18. Bulatlat

Progressive Filipino Women's Alliance Calls for Urgent Action to Condemn the Batasan Bombing

2007-11-14T20:25:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2007

Media Contact:
Valerie Francisco, Secretary General,
Email: fire.nyc@gmail. com
Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE), NY

Marisa Mariano, Chair, babae, San Francisco
Email: info@babaesf. org

Donna Denina, Vice Chair, Pinay sa Seattle
Email: pinayinfo@gmail. com

Pinay sa Seattle, Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE) NY and babae SF denounce the bombing of the south wing of Batasan Pambansa (House of Representatives) in Quezon City, Philippines and condemn the systematic acts of state terror perpetrated by the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Administration. The U.S. based progressive Filipino women's alliance calls for an immediate independent probe to bring justice to the innocent lives lost during this heinous crime.

The bombing occurred last Tuesday night at about 8:30pm which claimed the lives Marcial Talbo, driver of GABRIELA Partylist Representative Luz Ilagan, Basilan Representative Wahab Akbar and congressional staff member Maan Gale Bustalino. There were 11 others who sustained injuries, including Representative Ilagan and Mike Lim, the driver of another GABRIELA Women's Partylist Representative, Liza Maza.

The explosion at the House of Representatives happened as the day's legislative session was ending. Rep. Luz Ilagan and other progressive partylist members filed an impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macagapagal Arroyo on charges of gross human rights violations, graft and corruption, bribery and electoral fraud. Rep. Luz Ilagan, a human rights lawyer who is known to be a staunch advocate for women's rights in the Philippines, has been a reliable supporter of migrant women's issues in the US, the human trafficking of the Sentosa 27 nurses and the deceased NYC domestic worker, Fely Garcia.

"We are deeply concerned that Luz Ilagan was one of the main targets of the bombing," states Valerie Francisco, Secretary General of Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment in New York City. Francisco continues, "In light of her endorsement of the impeachment charges filed against President Arroyo, this attack could be another tactic to deter the impeachment proceedings and quell the people's voice."

Progressive groups are concerned that the recent bombing of the House of Representatives as well as the bombing at Glorietta Mall earlier this year are reminiscent of pre-Martial Law conditions in the Philippines and will be used as an excuse to further curtail civil liberties. Although government officials are quick to call this an act of terror, the U.S. national women's alliance questions the timing of this attack and hold the Philippine government accountable for a thorough investigation, including the possibility of state terrorism.

"The recent Batasan bombing is the latest chapter in Malacanang's larger scheme to justify full-implementation of Martial Law. US-based Filipinos played a big role in condemning Marcos during the dictatorship. Filipino-Americans of today will show the same conviction against GMA's administration," states Bernadette Ellorin, Bayan USA Secretary General.

A U.N. Special Rapporteur, Philip Alston issued a report to the United Nations in August on the state of human rights violations in the Philippines under the current administration claimed that the military was in a "state of denial" about its role in the more then 900 political killings since GMA came into power in 2001. As indicated in the recent bombing, even those of the congressional body are not immune to these human rights violations.

There is grave concern over the amount of U.S. military aid provided to the Philippines in the U.S. Senate bill, which is three times the $11.1 million originally requested by the State Department for FY 2008. Increasing the amount of aid by $19million over the State Department's request has already sent a message to the Philippine Government that the U.S. supports the Philippine's counter insurgency strategy cited in the U.N. Rapporteur's report as the cause of so many human rights abuses.

A national day of action via candle light vigil will take place on Thursday, November 15th to honor and remember the victims of the Batasan Bombing and to pay tribute to the countless lives that have fallen victim to state terror in the Philippines. The U.S. based Filipino women's alliance stands in solidarity with GABRIELA in the Philippines and the progressive people's movement to call for an independent probe of the Batasan Blast and to seek justice for Marcial Tuadlo, a victim to the explosion.

Los Angeles:
Exact time to be announced
In front of Philippine Consulate
3600 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90010

New York:
6pm
In front of Philippine Consulate
556 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
Contact Person: Valerie Francisco (925) 726-5768

San Francisco:
5:30pm
In front of the Philippine Consulate
447 Sutter St. (cross street is Powell)
San Francisco, CA 94108

Seattle:
5:30pm
Westlake Plaza
4th & Pine Dowtown Seattle
Seattle, WA 98101

####

FiRE, babae and Pinay sa Seattle represent the women's sector of BAYAN-USA, an alliance of progressive Filipino groups in the U.S.representing groups of students, scholars, women, workers, and youth. As the only international chapter of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN-Philippines) , BAYAN-USA serves as an information bureau for the national democratic movement of the Philippines and as a campaign center for anti-imperialist Filipinos in the U.S. who are committed to undoing over 500 years of colonial rule and to bringing freedom and justice to the people of the Philippines.

Ay, Babae!

2007-11-06T20:36:00.000-08:00

Grassroots Organization Empowers Filipinas Across the Bay
by Tuongvi Tran, staff writer
November 6, 2007 12:19 PM

http://xpress.sfsu.edu/archives/magazine/009256.html

A young Filipino mother and her children come home one Fall evening after having dinner with friends. Despite being harassed by her ex-boyfriend, she managed to live a “normal” life. After walking into her Richmond district home, she noticed her ex-boyfriend was already inside waiting for her.

On the night of Oct. 22, 2000, police entered the Richmond district home and entered a gruesome scene – a bloody young woman slouched over a kitchen chair. Claire Joyce Tempongko had been stabbed to death in front of her children by ex-boyfriend Tari Ramirez.

Prior to her death, Tempongko had called 911 six times over the past 18 months, according to San Francisco’s Department on the Status of Women. In addition she had also filed police reports, stating his abusive behavior, and filed for a restraining order.

Tempongko’s death sparked outrage in the Filipino community, as many wondered why nothing had been done to protect Tempongko and her children prior to the homicide.

Babae, meaning “woman” in Tagalog, is a grassroots organization created in 2004 by eight women who wanted to prevent future domestic violence-related homicides from occurring. Also, it serves as a resource for a topic that is prevalent, but rarely discussed, in the Filipino community.

“In general, Filipino men always feel dominant,” says SF State student Cherryl Llamas, who believes it’s very typical in the Filipino culture to have some degree of violence. She also believes Filipinas continue to be in domestically abusive relationships due to their upbringing. “Usually, they don’t have a father figure and they see their parents’ relationship and they think that’s the way their boyfriend should act – the trend basically gets misconcepted generally from their family values and ethics.”

According to a fact sheet released by the California State Domestic Violence Interagency Collaborative, 5.8% of California women experience domestic violence a year – 4.8% of which are Asian females. Also, of the 54 undocumented Filipino women residing in the Bay Area, 20% have reported experiencing some form of domestic violence, according to Babae’s website.

Three years later on the night of Oct. 29, seventeen men and women gather at the Filipino Community Center – it’s Babae’s open house. While Villasper and her colleague Marisa Mariano tells the attendees about the organization’s work and reasons why they should volunteer, the topic of conversation naturally gravitates towards the catalyst in why Babae was formed – Claire Joyce Tempongko.

“She did everything right,” says Babae’s organization development coordinator Elaine Villasper in the bottom floor of the Filipino Community Center in the Excelsior district. “She filed for a restraining order, called the police and her partner went through batterer classes. There just weren’t enough services to address her needs.”

Babae uses educational workshops and community forums and acts as a liaison between battered women and the resources they need to be connected with. Unlike many of the city services available, Babae has Tagalog-speaking volunteers that are able to communicate easier with victims.

Also according to the fact sheet, “language, fear about immigration status, and other barriers may limit an immigrant woman’s resources to shelter or financial assistance should she attempt to flee her abuser.”

“There are major loopholes in the system,” says 24-year-old Villasper, who recently graduated from SF State in the spring. “It specifically targets women of color – immigrants – who won’t have, or don’t know of, the resources available to them.”

In addition to not knowing the language or having citizenship, a lot of Filipino women are not telling others about their abusive relationship because they do not want to be looked down at by their peers.

“Nakaka hiya – it means ‘it’s embarrassing,’” explains Villasper. “Some women think it’s shameful to burden other people with their problems – it’s a closed door policy.”

While Babae’s Tagalog-speaking volunteers have opened many lines of communication between the organization and the community, other volunteers’ unique skills have been helpful. Villasper is a certified domestic violence counselor.

And tonight’s open house also brings out 25-year-old Madeline Stacy, who is a quarter Filipina and eager to join Babae and help victims.

“I’ve never been part of a community like this – I’ve always looked white and had those privileges,” says Stacy, whose grandma was born in the Philippines. “I’m trained in crisis intervention for domestic violence and sexual assaults. I want to help.”

As the open house ends and people slowly trickle out of the Filipino Community Center, Villasper and a few other attendees stay behind to clean up the refreshments table and put away tables and chairs. While seventeen people may sound like a no-show event, for the organization that was formed on eight women, it’s an ever-expanding collective.

Isang Bagsak.

Lisette Poole | staff photographer
At the BABAE Open House on Oct. 29, 2007, attendees make gingerbread men cutouts, and write their goals and interests on them to later share with the group. Tina Shauf, (left) 26, explains her gingerbread man to the group and everyone took turns presenting their art project to the group as a way to get to know each other.

This Saturday: End the War NOW!

2007-10-24T00:34:00.000-07:00

babae Open House - October 29

2007-10-10T14:16:00.002-07:00

Looking for a space to organize around Pinay issues? Interested in doing women's work? Curious to know about babae as an organization? Please join us!

babae Open House

Monday, October 29, 2007
7-8:30pm
Filipino Community Center
35 San Juan Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94112

Please RSVP at info@babaesf.org so that we may make the appropriate accommodations.

2007-10-10T14:16:00.001-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Joanna Robledo-Maderazo, P: (415) 637-4129 E: jomadzo@gmail.com

BAYAN-USA Bay Area Remembers the Declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines

San Francisco – Over 200 Filipinos and allies packed the Filipino Community Center last Friday, October 7th to remember the 35th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines. The event was sponsored by BAYAN-USA Bay Area organizations: Anakbayan – East Bay, babae – San Francisco, and League of Filipino Students.

The night kicked-off with an audio recording of President Ferdinand Marcos declaring Martial Law while various images of a well-dressed Marcos and his family rubbing elbows with international celebrities and world leaders flashed across the screen; interspersed amongst these images were those of massive poverty and popular protests in the Philippines during that time. Bindlestiff's Movement Troupe along with local Bay Area organizations ALAY, babae, and Anakbayan performed a shadow puppet theater play based on an adaptation of Augie Rivera's book entitled Si Jhun-Jhun, Noong Bago Ideklara Ang Batas Militar, the story of the declaration of Martial Law as witnessed by a young Filipino boy. Various speakers also shared their own stories from Martial Law. Elaine Villasper shared a tragic family story about a relative who was killed by the Philippine military for being suspected as a subversive. Former anti-Marcos activist, Emil de Guzman also shared his experiences as a Filipino organizing against the Marcos regime in San Francisco during the 1970s and 1980s. Revered Michael Yoshii of the Buena Vista United Methodist Church in Alameda addressed the crowd about his recent fact-finding mission in the Philippines with the United Methodist Church and how the current spate of political killings in the Philippines is all too similar to the level of violence and political repression of the Martial Law period.

The finale of the evening featured a special performance by Pendong Aban Jr. of Philippine folk supergroup, Asin. The crowd erupted in applause as he started off his set with the chorus of "Balita," a song recently sampled by the hip-hop group, Black Eyed Peas. He then continued on with other familiar songs about peace and justice. Aban's performance was followed by a candlelight ceremony to pay tribute to the martyrs who gave up their lives struggling against the Marcos dictatorship as well as under the current Arroyo regime.

For many in the audience, Martial Law symbolized the repression and corruption of the Marcos regime and the reason why many of their families immigrated to the United States. Although the time of Martial Law has passed, the stories of the current repression of the Arroyo regime were a major theme of the night. A short documentary was shown about the political killings—numbering almost 900—that have taken place in the Philippines since 2001. The current attack on Filipino progressives worldwide is also reminiscent of the Martial Law days. Certain BAYAN-USA members are on a blacklist of 504 people from 50 countries, including overseas Filipinos that were barred from entering the Philippines last July, when the country hosted the ASEAN ministerial meetings. The unlawful arrest and detention of Jose Maria Sison in the Netherlands is more evidence that the current Arroyo regime is bent on mirroring Marcos' record of repression and violation of human rights.

To view photos from this event, visit:

Memoirs of Martial Law

October 5: Memoirs of Martial Law

2007-09-27T14:05:00.000-07:00

MEMOIRS OF MARTIAL LAW

Remember…
Relive…
Revisit…

Join us for a night of theater and performances as we remember the 35th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines.

Friday, October 5, 2007
7:00-8:30pm

Doors open at 6:30pm
Filipino Community Center
35 San Juan Ave.
(between Mission St. and Alemany St.)
San Francisco, CA

This is a FREE event!

The evening will feature a special performance by Pendong Aban Jr. of Asin, Bindlestiff's Movement Troupe will also perform along with ALAY, babae, and Anakbayan; together will present an adaptation of Augie Rivera's book entitled: Si Jhun-Jhun, Noong Bago Ideklara Ang Batas Militar

Sponsored by: BAYAN-USA, babae - San Francisco, Anakbayan - East Bay, League of Filipino Students - San Francisco State University

For more information, please call (415) 637-4129 or email nc@bayanusa.org

2007-09-24T16:07:00.001-07:00

September 21, 2007

Professor Jose Maria Sison Addresses San Francisco Crowd on the 35th Anniversary of the Declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines

The 68-year old Political Prisoner under the Marcos Dictatorship Receives Accolades and Moral Support from the San Francisco Audience

San Francisco--The sense of anticipation steadily grew among over 75 participants at a forum hosted by BAYAN USA and International League of People's Struggle (ILPS) at the Manilatown Center in downtown San Francisco. They were about to have a question and answer session via internet audio chat from the Netherlands with the Philippine revolutionary leader Jose Maria Sison. Sison was arrested several weeks ago by Dutch authorities on trumped-up charges of murdering two-ex guerrilla fighters in the Philippines. Sison was released on September 13 after a Dutch court found no sufficient evidence linking him to the murders.

The program titled Justice for JOMA, featured a new 20 minute film by Collision Course Video Productions. This video presented Sison's role in the resurgence of the Philippine national democratic movement in the late 60's, his nine years of imprisonment during the Marcos regime, the threats of his life that forced him into political exile in the Netherlands twenty years ago, and his view of the current crisis of the imperialist system.

Doug Norberg of ILPS spoke about Sison's work as chairperson of ILPS. Dave Pugh of ILPS suggested that a trigger for the arrest and detention of Sison may have been the stinging fact finding reports by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and by UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston. The reports focused on the killings and forced disappearances of over 1,000 political activists in the Philippines that pointed to the involvement of the Philippine military.

Members of the local Filipino community read poems from Sison's collection of poetry "Prison and Beyond", and shared songs in Tagalog and English. San Francisco indie rock musician Sergio Robledo-Maderazo of From Monuments to Masses, spoke of Professor Sison's contributions as a cultural worker and artist.

Sison's voice appeared via live internet chat and answered a half dozen questions including whether he has ever grown tired of the attempts by the Philippine government to persecute him. Sison answered simply, "I thrive on struggle. The more they try to silence me, the more resolve I have to fight for peace and genuine democracy in our homeland."

In response to a question about the role of culture in the people's struggle, Sison said that visual art and music is often superior to political speeches: "Can you think of people memorizing a political speech the way they can learn dozens of revolutionary songs by heart?"

Sison called on people to "remain vigilant and militant" in defense of his political rights. Even after 17 days of solitary confinement and 7 days of intensive interrogation, Sison stated that the Dutch, Philippine and U.S. governments are still trying to silence him with the U.S. ambassador to the Philippines offering to help the Dutch government prosecute him, as well as the deployment of six Dutch intelligence agents sent to the Philippines to fabricate more "evidence" against him.

The charges against Sison have not yet been dropped. The Dutch prosecutor's office will appeal the decision to release him from detention at an upcoming hearing on September 26th. Sison faces no criminal charges of any kind in the Philippines. In fact, the same trumped up charges against Sison were dropped by the Philippine Supreme Court earlier this year.

The forum was only one of many activities organized in over 20 countries since Sison's arrest in late August 2007 to call on the Dutch government to stop persecuting Filipino progressives, to immediately drop the false charges against Sison, and to cease harassment of political exiles in the Netherlands.

For more info:
nc@bayanusa.org

To view photos from this event, visit: ..>..>

Justice For JoMa Forum

Forum On Unjust Arrest of Prof. Jose Maria Sison

2007-09-12T22:55:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

Many of you may have heard about the arrest of Prof. Jose Maria Sison, but have many questions answered regarding this case. Please join us at this FREE forum to learn more about the unjust arrest and detention of Prof. Jose Maria Sison.

FREEDOM FOR JOSE MARIA SISON!!!

On the morning of August 28, Philippine revolutionary leader Jose Maria Sison was arrested in the Netherlands on trumped-up charges. Sison has been the leading figure of the Philippine national democratic movement for more than 40 years. He was the most prominent political prisoner under the U.S.-supported Marcos dictatorship. Due to serious threats on his life, Sison and his family were forced into exile in the Netherlands twenty years ago. By targetting Sison, the Philippines, Dutch, and U.S. governments are trying to deflect attention from the assassination of over 900 Filipino political activists by military death squads over the past six years.

Sison is currently the Chief Political Consultant of the underground National Democratic Front of the Philippines, and Chairperson of the International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS), an anti-imperialist alliance of 325 mass organizations from over 40 countries.

Come and learn about Jose Maria Sison and the implications of his arrest for the worldwide struggle against imperialism. The program will feature a video with recent and archival footage of this courageous fighter for the people.

Friday, September 21, 2007
7-8:30pm
International Hotel Manilatown Center
848 Kearny Street at Jackson
San Francisco, CA

Co-Sponsored by:
BAYAN USA: AnakBayan - East Bay, babae - San Francisco, League of Filipino Students - SFSU, Center for Political Education, Collision Course Video, Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), ILPS, ILPS Bay Area Organizing Committee, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, and SOUL (School of Unity and Liberation)

For more info visit:
www.bayanusa.org

2007-09-10T20:11:00.000-07:00

On the Unjust Arrest, Continuing Detention and Torture

of Prof. Jose Maria Sison

A Case of Dutch Imperialist Intervention and Repression and an Affront to the Right of the Filipino People to Self-Determination

International League of Peoples' Struggle - Hong Kong

1 September 2007

On the morning of August 28, Filipino political refugee Prof. Jose Maria Sison was unjustly arrested by the Dutch Police on trumped-up charges. Simultaneously, raids and ransackings were conducted on several houses of Filipinos in the Netherlands including the NDF International Information Office.

Immediately, freedom and peace-loving peoples of the world condemned in the harshest manner this grave violation of the rights of Prof. Sison and other Filipino progressives in the Netherlands.

Currently, Prof. Sison is languishing in solitary confinement and is suffering torture by the Dutch government.

This incident is a clear manifestation of Dutch imperialist intervention and repression as well as an affront to the right of the Filipino people to self-determination.

Why do we say that the charges are trumped up?

The Dutch police and prosecutors have fabricated charges against Prof. Sison of ordering the alleged murder of Romulo Kintanar and Arturo Tabara from the Netherlands. On the bases of these false charges, Prof. Sison was arrested in an entrapment operation and the raids of the offices and residences of other Filipinos in the Netherlands carried out.

However, the so-called charges are obviously trumped up:

(a) The charges are already included in a case that has been nullified and dismissed with finality by the Philippine Supreme Court in its decision last July 2, 2007. Together with 50 others, Prof. Sison has been exonerated and the case has been shown to be completely without basis and politically motivated.

(b) The specific charges have currently no corresponding cases in any Philippine court.

(c) Assuming that such charges are filed in Philippine courts, these would have to fall under the political offense of rebellion and not as a criminal offense which the Dutch authorities claim these to be.

Under what right and authority therefore does the Dutch government seek to intervene in the internal affairs of the Filipino people by prosecuting Prof. Jose Maria Sison? How can they utterly disregard Philippine Supreme Court decisions and choose to fabricate an offense where there is no corresponding criminal case in Philippine courts?

Why do we say that the charges are politically-motivated?

The US-Arroyo regime, through its National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, Philippine National Police Deputy Director General Avelino Razon, and Secretary of the Department of Justice Raul Gonzales, has admitted that they have been helping the Dutch police since January this year in building the case against Prof. Sison. They have even admitted providing airfare and travel allowances to the accusers.

(a) This contradicts and belies the statement of the spokesperson of the Dutch Prosecutors' Office, Wim de Bruin, that the filing of the case is exclusively a Dutch initiative.

(b) This clearly shows the conspiracy between the Dutch and Philippine governments to politically persecute Prof. Sison.

(c) The US government, the main author in the terrorist labeling of Prof. Sison and the revolutionary movement and number one supporter of the criminal and murderous Arroyo government, immediately volunteered to assist in the investigation and prosecution of Prof. Sison.

(d) This exposes their political agenda of attempting to pressure the National Democratic Front of the Philippines to capitulate to the Arroyo government across the negotiating table.

What are the economic interests of The Netherlands that prompted it to side with the US-Arroyo regime â€" the promoter of repression and state terrorism in the Philippines?

In exchange for allowing the Dutch government and multinational corporations the unhampered plunder of Philippine national resources, the US-Arroyo regime has managed to secure a deal with the Dutch authorities to persecute Prof. Sison.

(a) The Netherlands is the third largest trading partner and the second largest foreign investor in the country.

(b) The Netherlands maintains significant business interests in the Philippines in strategic industries including:

Â· oil industry (Royal Dutch Shell),

Â· petroleum trading, oil and gas exploration (Vitol Group),

Â· consumer product brands in foods, beverages and personal care products (Unilever),

Â· banking (ABN-AMRO),

Â· insurance (AXA-Life),

Â· coco coir export (Rinos B.V-Corion),

Â· consumer electronics (Phillips),

Â· retail industry (Makro),

Â· solar energy (Shell Solar Philippines, Inc) among others

(c) The US-Arroyo regime has virtually turned over the gas reserves of Malampaya and the indigenous peoples' ancestral lands into agricultural plantations to serve Dutch multinational corporations. Earlier this month Premier Oil was granted the right to drill an exploration well in the Ragay Gulf in the Bicol region. Premier has earmarked between $3.6 million and $9.6 million to drill its first exploration well by July-September 2007.

Why do we say that the case of Prof. Sison is a case of Dutch imperialist intervention?

With the case of Prof. Sison, the Dutch authorities arrogantly impose their own judicial system and jurisprudence over that of the Philippines. They completely disregard Philippine Supreme Court decisions and the fact that there are no cases in any Philippine court against Prof. Sison for the deaths of Kintanar and Tabara. The political persecution of Prof. Sison by the Dutch government is an arrogant display of superiority over the Philippine judicial system and jurisprudence.

This infringes on Philippine sovereignty and clearly meddles with the internal affairs of the Philippines. The arrest, continued detention and torture of Prof. Sison, the chief political consultant of the NDFP Negotiating Panel, has also effectively terminated the peace negotiations between the NDFP and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.

The Dutch government is reliving its colonial past when it decided to meddle in Philippine affairs with the political persecution of Prof. Sison. This the Dutch government does to protect and advance their economic interests in the Philippines.

This is reminiscent of the era of Dutch colonialism when the Dutch East Indies Company expanded its hegemony in Asia, especially Indonesia, and Latin America (Suriname and the Dutch Antilles).

In its interventionist actions, the Dutch government is violating the right of the Filipino people to self-determination.

It is hypocritical for the Dutch government to attack the historical and inherent right of peoples, particularly the Filipino people, to struggle against an illegitimate, corrupt, brutal and tyrannical regime and to determine their own economic, social, political and cultural development free from any foreign control and interference.

We would beg to ask where the House of Orange (The Netherlands) would be if the Dutch people had not asserted the same right to rebel against Spanish colonial rule? Where would The Netherlands be if the Dutch people did not forcefully remove by armed struggle the yoke of Spanish rule?

The hypocrisy of the Dutch government towards human rights and the rights of peoples betrays the current interventionist policies of this imperialist state.

Why do we say that the unjust arrest of Prof. Sison and the ransacking of the residences and offices of Filipino progressives in the Netherlands is a clear case of repression?

Instead of dragging the Arroyo government into court for its war crimes and crimes against humanity, the Dutch authorities chose to persecute Prof. Sison, a patriot and exceptional freedom fighter for cause of the Filipino working class and people.

By aligning itself with the murderous and criminal Arroyo regime which masterminded the more than 800 extrajudicial killings in the Philippines, the enforced disappearances of hundreds more and the forced displacement of millions of Filipinos from their communities, the Dutch government has clearly taken the side of state terrorism.

Particularly in the case of Prof. Sison and his colleagues,

(a) In true blue Gestapo fashion, the Dutch police arrested Prof. Sison and conducted the raids. T he police used a ruse to take Prof. Sison into custody. Also during the raids, the raiding team in some cases, did not show any search warrant and forced their entry into the houses by breaking the doors even if people were inside. In some of the houses that were raided, only minors were present.

(b) Julie de Lima Sison, wife of Sison, said at around 9:30 am last Aug. 28, the Dutch police in plainclothes did not even ring or knock, but instead broke down their front door. She was reportedly asked to sit in one corner of their house while the police carted away their computers, documents, CDs, and other files. The search lasted until early evening. She sustained bruises because of manhandling.

(c) Simultaneous with Joma's arrest and the search on his house, the NDF International Information Office and several other houses of Filipinos in Utrecht, were raided. The Dutch police confiscated computers, laptops, papers, diskettes, CD Roms, and DVDs.

Why do we say that Prof. Sison is suffering torture?

(a) His lawyer, Michiel Pestman, said that he is being kept in solitary confinement, denied visits from his wife, denied warm clothing, denied access to his medicines and access to his own doctor, denied access to newspapers and TV.

(b) Julie De Lima, wife of Professor Sison, tried to see him last Aug. 30 but was denied. She said she also brought some prescription medicines and warm clothes, but prison authorities said these were not allowed.

(c) Professor Sison is being detained at the National Penitentiary in Scheveningen, a facility which was used by the Nazis during World War II to imprison and torture Dutch resistance fighters.

(d) Despite the weak evidence presented by the Dutch prosecutor in the remand hearing in The Hague last Aug. 31, the Dutch judge extended the detention of Professor Sison to 14 more days.

Even when the case against Prof. Sison is still in the stage of being heard and investigated, the Dutch government is determined to violate his basic rights and is treating him torturously. This is a testimony to the hypocrisy of the Dutch government's adherence to human rights and the rule of law.

Why do we say that the most just demand is to immediately and unconditionally release Prof. Jose Maria Sison?

(a) The case against him is based on trumped up charges and is politically-motivated.

(b) There is a conspiracy by the Dutch and Philippine governments to persecute Prof. Sison politically.

(c) The persecution of Sison through the use of judicial processes exposes the rottenness and corruption of the Dutch justice and political system.

(d) The unjust arrest shows Dutch repression. The Dutch authorities are now torturing Prof. Sison.

(e) The conspiracy of persecution is a concrete manifestation of Dutch imperialist intervention and repression and is an affront to the right of the Filipino people to self-determination.

--
International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS)
Hong Kong Chapter

Join Us!

2007-08-24T00:02:00.001-07:00

From September 11 -15, several women activists from the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, South Korea, and Guam will be gathering in the San Fransisco bay area to share and talk about their experiences, strategies, and projects to transform local communities and cultures affected by U.S. militarism.

Women Resisting Militarism and Creating a Culture of Life
6th International Meeting

Tuesday Sept. 11
VOICES FROM THE PHILIPPINES
Filipino Community Center, 35 San Juan Ave, San Francisco
(buses 14, 49; Balboa BART)
hosted by babae, FACES, Gabnet.

Wednesday Sept. 12
VOICES FROM PUERTO RICO & HAWAII
La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley
(Ashby BART)
hosted by Bay Area Boricuas and others

Thursday Sept. 13
VOICES FROM SOUTH KOREA
Pacific School For Religion Chapel, 1798 Scenic Ave, Berkeley
(Berkeley BART)
hosted by KAWAN, KAUP and PANA Institute

Friday Sept. 14
VOICES FROM OKINAWA & GUAM
American Friends Service Committee, 65-9th St, San Francisco
(Civic Center BART)
hosted by Famoksaiyan, Friends of Okinawa

September 15, 7pm
WITH THESE VOICES: ART & EXPRESSION OF WOMEN IN RESISTANCE
Join women from Guam, Hawaii, Japan, Okinawa, the Philippines, Puerto
Rico, South Korea and the Bay Area in an evening of art and celebration!
DANCE / HIP HOP / MUSIC / POETRY / THEATRE / VISUAL ART
FREE -- donations accepted!
San Francisco Women's Building, 3543 18th Street, San Francisco (Mission/16th St. BART)

Sponsored by Women for Genuine Security and PANA Institute Civil Liberty and Faith Project, this is the sixth meeting of its kind since 1997.

For more information, you can visit http://www.genuinesecurity.org/ or contact Women for Genuine Security, info@genuinesecurity.org, 510 849-8260.