Filipino-American Women Travel to the Philippines to Participate in Typhoon Relief Missions and GABRIELA’s 25th Anniversary Activities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Reference: Valerie Francisco, Vice Chair, GABRIELA USA, gabrielawomen@gmail.com
Photos and video available for media distribution

GABRIELA USA Raised $8,000 and Helped Distribute 2,000 Bags of Food

Quezon City, PHIILIPPINES– After successful grassroots fund raising in the US for Ondoy victims, Filipino-American women from GABRIELA USA, an overseas chapter of GABRIELA Philippines with member organizations across the United States, arrived in the Philippines in mid-October to participate in relief missions in devastated areas of Dagupan City, Pangasinan, and Tatalon, Quezon City. In a caravan of volunteers from the Gabriela Women’s Partylist, including Congresswoman Liza Maza, they were able to deliver over 2,000 bags of food to the lines of hundreds of typhoon victims in 4 different barangays. In Dagupan City, Typhoon Pepeng displaced over 155,071 people and submerged over 60% of the residences.

“Although the water has subsided, you could see the effects of Typhoon Pepeng in the people. Hundreds of people waiting in line in 100 degree heat for bare essentials to survive: a kilogram of rice, three sardine cans, and two packs of noodles. These conditions were not only the cause of a typhoon, but an administration that is incompetent in responding to the people’s basic needs of food, shelter, and proper health care,” said Raquel Redondiez, chair of GABRIELA USA, who participated in giving out relief goods.

Continuing the legacy of 25 years of service and advocacy for women and children’s concerns, GABRIELA’s response to the needs of typhoon victims was swift and painstaking. As they provided food and assistance to affected communities, they also encouraged women to hold the government accountable for their lack of preparedness and response.

“Seeing the work of GABRIELA to provide relief and rehabilitation directly to affected communities has given me hope that we can rebuild this nation. And we are not going to only be here after a typhoon hit, but organizations like GABRIELA are in communities day in and day out working to build a more sustainable society,” added Raquel Redondiez.

Natural disasters like this often have a more devastating effect in the Philippines because of a number of factors, including deforestation and poor public infrastructure resulting from government neglect and corruption. Many of the communities that GABRIELA USA has worked closely with-Tatalon, Bagong Silangan and Commonwealth in Quezon City- were devastated. Families were forced to climb up to their roofs for safety and rescue, not unlike the experience of Katrina victims in the U.S. a few years ago. In Bagong Silangan, four houses, with whole families still inside, were swept away by the raging waters of the river.

Following the relief missions, GABRIELA USA members also participated in the 10th national congress of the national women’s alliance, that recently started to establish chapters in countries where overseas Filipino women live. The plenary of the congress shed light on the reasons why the natural disasters aren’t plain consequences of Mother Nature but a product of climate change, and multi-national and local corporate aggression on the land and resources of the Philippines and the lack of initiative from the Philippine government to undertake serious disaster preparedness.

The GABRIELA Congress was followed by a women’s march to Malacanang on the morning of October 28, to protest the criminal negligence of the Arroyo administration which has lead to over 900 deaths, many of whom where women and young children, who could have survived given adequate government preparedness and support. The women also demanded accountability for the 800 million pesos for calamity preparedness that was instead spent by Arroyo to fund her many extravagant travels abroad.

That afternoon, GABRIELA USA members also attended the 25-year anniversary event that honored many long-time women organizers from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and celebrity personalities like Angel Locsin and Bebeth Ortiz, and Evalyn Ursua, the lawyer of “Nicole”, who have helped advance women’s causes.

“We are convinced that the only way to change the conditions of the Filipino people is to organize and ensure women’s participation in shaping the society,” stated Valerie Francisco, vice chair of GABRIELA USA, “The history and current work of GABRIELA is the best example of this empowerment and GABRIELA USA is honored to be part of this history of resistance.”

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Inspiring Response to Typhoon Ondoy Fundraising of Progressive Women’s Group in New York

Please donate to GABRIELA here, via one of FiRE’s  PayPal account:  http://bit.ly/ornJy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 5, 2009
Reference: Valerie Francisco, Chairperson of Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE), Secretary General of GABRIELA-USA
Email: fire.nyc@gmail.com

Inspiring Response to Typhoon Ondoy Fundraising of Progressive Women’s Group in New York

New York – On September 26, 2009, Typhoon Ondoy, also known as Typhoon Ketsana, made landfall in the Philippines and laid waste to 26 provinces, including the National Capital Region (NCR).  The typhoon has displaced more than 300,000 people, with a death toll of 200 and rising.  Filipinos around the world immediately responded with grass-roots fundraising to help rebuild the damages by the typhoon and assist families who lost their homes or their loved ones.  In New York, the progressive women’s group, Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE), member of GABRIELA-USA and BAYAN-USA, committed to raising $1,000 by October 3rd, for immediate assistance to affected communities in the Philippines.  They also committed gathering in-kind donations to follow.   An inspiring response has met FiRE’s efforts.  FiRE has raised more than $2,000, surpassing their immediate goal for immediate relief.  Donations are still coming in and are being gladly accepted.

“It is definitely amazing,” says Irma Bajar, Secretary General of FiRE.  “That even in the midst of disaster, Filipinos can come together like this.  Even our non-Filipino friends, co-workers and family have given us a lot of support, from clothing drives to financial donations.”

However, humbled and grateful as Bajar is, she is also angry, citing the Philippine government’s inaction before the typhoon and their suspicious response afterward.  “You can see how broken, how corrupt Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration is.  Before, she spent all of the Filipino people’s money on her trips to other countries.  Now, she wants all donations to go through her government.  Does she think we’re stupid, that we can’t see what she’s trying to do?”

Bajar is referring to a Philippine Star article that came out in August 15, exposing the overbudget spending of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on her diplomatic trips abroad.  Arroyo had rerouted Php 800 million ($17 million) from the government’s contingency fund for emergencies, such as the Typhoon Ondoy calamity, to cover her visits to other nations.  After the typhoon, Arroyo had also set out directives that relief goods and donations from that do not go through the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) would be taxed.    She recently backtracked and claimed that only aid from “unaccredited” organizations would be taxed.

However, the effect is tremendous on grass-roots, community-based organizations independent of the government.  The directives of Arroyo keep much-needed relief from getting to communities. Grass-roots organizations, such as GABRIELA working on the ground with poverty-stricken communities and guarantee that aid will go to directly go to these communities, are being restricted by the government.  With the Arroyo administration’s track record of corruption scandals, handing donations to Philippine government agencies is seen as particularly foolhardy.

Filipino-Americans and Filipino immigrants view Arroyo’s response to the typhoon as a cover-up for her administration’s criminal negligence and corruption.  Jackie Mariano, Deputy Secretary General of FiRE and a student at Hunter College of the City University of New York (CUNY), comments, “This disaster wasn’t God-sent.  This was man-made.  It’s not just the lack of government preparation for typhoon season that comes every year; it is also the government’s policy in allowing corporations to acquire Philippine land and use it however they want, without any oversight on how they might weaken urban infrastructure.”

Mariano mentions Marikina, a part of Metro Manila that was heavily hit by the storm.  Land use conversion of Marikina has been rampant and the area has housed export processing zones, which are free trade zones exempting businesses from taxes or government regulations.  An unintended effect of land use conversion is the restructuring and weakening of the land, making it more vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season.

This has made community workers such as Bajar more determined to get in-kind donations and aid straight to stricken communities and people’s organizations in the Philippines, without being held up by government officials.  “People who were displaced by Ondoy deserve better.  We all know it.  This is why so many people in the community responded.”

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Typhoon Ondoy/Ketsana: Please donate to the people!

Please donate to GABRIELA here, via one of FiRE’s  PayPal account:  http://bit.ly/ornJy

Dear Friends,

This past weekend, tropical typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) ravaged northern Philippines, causing epic flooding to metropolitan Manila. At least 86 people have died, with dozens of others still missing- nearly 300,000 people are displaced, unable to return to what, if any, is left of their homes. Many of those who died were women and children of the communities we serve.

Natural disasters like this often have a more devastating effect in the Philippines because of a number of factors, including deforestation and poor public infrastructure resulting from government neglect and corruption. Many of the communities and chapters we, as members of Gabriela USA, work closely with- Tatalon, Bagong Silangan and Commonwealth in Quezon City- are devastated. Families were forced to climb up to their roofs for safety and rescue. In Bagong Silangan, four houses, with whole families still inside, were swept away by the raging waters of the river.

Here are just small glimpses of the calamity:

We have always been proud to serve these communities, and now they need our help more than ever. We humbly ask for your assistance, in any way you can. FiRE is undertaking two fundraising drives. Recognizing that sending in-kind donations such as food or clothing may take at least a month, we are raising monetary donations first to send to the Philippines for immediate assistance, then gathering in-kind donations to send in a month.

Our goal is to raise $1000 in cash to send directly to GABRIELA Philippines by October 3. If you can spare $5, $10, or $20 to help us reach this goal, we would be eternally grateful. Donations can be made in cash or check to any of the FiRE sisters, or through our PayPal account here.

Thank you so much for your time, and in advance for your compassion.

Sincerely,
Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE)

Fil-Ams Look Back at Martial Law by Remembering Today’s Struggle Against Tyranny

For Immediate Release
September 22, 2009

Reference: Valerie Francisco, Chair, Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE-GABRIELA USA), fire.nyc@gmail.com

Fil-Ams Look Back at Martial Law by Remembering Today’s Struggle Against Tyranny

New York, NY–September 21, 2009, marked the 37th Anniversary of the Declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines. Members of BAYAN-USA, Anakbayan New York/New Jersey, New York Committee for Human Rights and Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE), commemorated this event by holding an educational forum at Bluestockings Bookstore in New York City. The well-attended forum featured speakers who were activists in the Philippines during the Martial Law era. Ramon Mappala and Ramon Castaneda each shared their experiences as youth in the Philippines during this time. Both men were detained by Philippine military and intelligence forces that sought to quell their organizing efforts as members of opposition groups against the Marcos regime.

Members of FiRE performed an interpretive dance as a tribute to victims of human rights violations. “We want to honor the Filipino people’s resistance against state oppression that continues to this day. We especially want to pay tribute to Melissa Roxas, a Fil-Am activist like ourselves, who was recently abducted and tortured by the Philippine military,” claimed Jackelyn Mariano, a FiRE member. “Despite the Philippine government’s attempt to silence Melissa, she resisted and is today a strong voice of truth.”

BAYAN-USA sought to educate the new generation of Fil-Am youth about the conditions of the Philippines and paint a clear picture of what their parents may have experienced and encountered during their own youth. Valerie Francisco, chairperson of FiRE, stressed the importance of connecting the past to the present. “Filipino people today must recognize the similarities between the conditions of the Marcos Regime during Martial Law and the conditions of the current regime under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Human rights violations are at an all-time high. Violence against women is increasing as militarization of Philippine communities increases,” Francisco said. “Freedom of speech is in as much danger today as it was during Martial Law.”

The forum concluded with a candlelight vigil, as Taospuso sang original songs, to also pay tribute to the late Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino and President Corazon “Cory” Aquino.

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Mon 9/21: Martial Law Commemoration 2009

Philippines Martial Law Commemoration 2009

Join member organizations of Bayan USA (Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment, AnakBayan NY/NJ, and New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines) for a short film and discussion about life during Martial Law in the Philippines. Guest speaker, Bebot Galvan from KABALIKAT Domestic Workers Support Network will be sharing her life stories during Martia lLaw.  The discussion will be followed by a tribute to the late Ninoy and Cory Aquino and all victims of Martial Law in the Philippines.

Please come if you’ve ever been curious about life for Filipinos during this era, and meet other community workers in the local New York City area.

Bluestockings Bookstore
172 Allen St. New York, NY 10002
Monday, September 21, 2009
7:00pm-9:00pm
$5 suggestion donation

G.I. JOES MUST GO! – MAZA

PRESS RELEASE

22 August 2009

For Reference: REP. LIZA LARGOZA MAZA 0920-9134540

Francis Uyanguren (Public Information Officer) 0915-9329407

G.I. JOES MUST GO! – MAZA

“The presence of U.S. troops in the country is a blatant intervention to the internal affairs of our country. In fact, their decision to continuously deploy U.S. soldiers in the Philippines not only violates our sovereignty but it also puts our national security under threat. We do not need G.I. Joes to fight our own battles.”

This is the statement of Rep. Liza Maza of Gabriela Women’s party today as the Arroyo administration welcomed the report of the US Defense Secretary Robert Gates to keep an elite 600-soldier counterinsurgency operation deployed in the Philippines.

Maza said that this is a glaring violation of the 1987 Philippine Constitution and cited Sec.25, Art. XVIII of the law that states that “After the expiration in 1991 of the Agreement between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America concerning military bases, foreign military bases, troops, or facilities shall not be allowed in the Philippines except under a treaty duly concurred in by the Senate and, when the Congress so requires, ratified by a majority of the votes cast by the people in a national referendum held for that purpose, and recognized as a treaty by the other contracting State.

Maza further stressed that the U.S. has not recognized the VFA as a treaty, and has refused to have it ratified by the U.S. Senate until today. According to the Gabriela solon, the Arroyo government shows extreme servility to U.S. interests at the expense of our country’s sovereignty and patrimony.

“What is their real mission in the country? After the Philippine Senate rejected the treaty extending the stay of US military bases in the country in 1991, US troops have been constantly deployed since 2002 under the pretext of civilian-military operations and counterterrorism trainings,” Maza said.

“Harap-harapan na tayong pinagsasamantalahan ngunit pinamumukma pa sa atin na tayo pa ang may utang na loob sa U.S. dahil umano sa mga humanitarian missions nila. Hindi mga bobo at mangmang ang mga Pilipino para maniwalang walang malaking kapalit sa sabwatang ito ni GMA at ng U.S.” Maza added.

Maza recently filed a Resolution in the Lower House questioning the presence of 6,000 troops aboard the US Navy aircraft carrier USS George Washington for their so-called “goodwill” visit to the Philippines the other week. She has also asked the Department of Foreign Affairs to explain the nature and scope of their continued deployment in the land. ###

–
Gabriela Women’s Party National Headquarters
118 Scout Rallos, Brgy. Sacred Heart,
Quezon City
Telefax: (632) 9295342
Email: gabrielawomensparty@gmail.com
Website: www.gabrielawomensparty.net

Office of Gabriela Rep. Liza Largoza Maza
Rm 309 South Wing Bldg.,
House of Representatives, Quezon City
Telefax: (632) 9316268
Email: lizalmaza@yahoo.com

Office of Gabriela Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan
Rm. 601 South Wing Bldg.
House of Representatives, Quezon City
Telefax: (632) 9315586
E-mail: repluzilagan@gmail.com

Bayan slams “permanent presence and combat functions” of US troops in RP

News Release
August 22, 2009

A reversal of 1991: Bayan slams “permanent presence and combat functions” of US troops in RP

For all intents and purposes, US troops have been based in the Philippines since 2002 sans any basing treaty, in violation of the Philippine Constitution. They have been engaged in other activities that go against the Constitution. Eighteen years after the Philippine Senate rejected a new bases treaty with the US, the American forces are again well entrenched in the country.

This was the reaction made by the umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan amid news reports from the New York Times that some 600 American troops will be retained in Mindanao, according to US Defense Secretary Robert Gates.Bayan accused Arroyo of single-handedly reversing the gains of the 1991 bases treaty rejection.

“The retention of US troops in the Philippines is an affront to our sovereignty, disguised as some questionable humanitarian mission. They have based themselves in the Philippines, particularly in Camp Navarro in Zamboanga since 2002, without any basing treaty. There’s not even a time frame for the deployment. It’s open ended. It could be forever,” said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.

“Under the regime of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, US troops are no longer just visitors. They are now permanently deployed here, 365 days a year, 24/7. The Visiting Forces Agreement covers the supposedly the temporary stay of American forces, but these US troops have been here seven years now. These US troops in Mindanao are also operating outside the Balikatan exercises or any other training program for that matter,” Reyes added.

Bayan said that the continued presence of foreign troops, even if only 600, sets a dangerous precedent. “The US troops might decide to stay longer. They might decide to deploy more troops, maybe thousands. What’s to stop them from doing that? What’s to stop them from setting up de facto bases in Mindanao?” Reyes said.

The militant group said that it will raise before the Supreme Court these new developments as part of their petition to declare the VFA unconstitutional. Bayan along with Gabriela and Bayan Muna were among the petitioners questioning the validity of the VFA.

“What we know is that 1) the American troops have overstayed, beyond the period supposedly contemplated by the VFA, 2) they have set up de facto bases and permanent structures in Mindanao, and 3) they are engaged in combat functions,” Reyes said.

“All these violate the constitution and are an insult to our sovereignty. They have managed to get basing rights even without a treaty concurred in by the Senate. If the US and Philippines invoke the VFA as the basis of the prolonged stay, then the Senate has been duped by when it ratified the VFA.. The Senate should then seek the termination of the VFA,” he said.

The VFA has been in effect since 1999 and has encountered many controversies, including the treatment on American marine who was convicted for rape but later on acquitted by the appeal court.

“The latest development affirms the warnings aired by critics of the VFA in 1999, that the pact will allow US troops permanent presence in the country. These warnings were not taken into account by previous rulings of the Supreme Court. It is our hope that they will consider these now that the US government has announced that the US troops are staying,” Reyes said.

Senate should probe activities of JSOTFP

Bayan doubted the real activities of the Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines, a special forces unit under the US Pacific Command, based in Camp Navarro in Zamboanga.

“The JSOTFP is composed of the elite fighting units of the US armed forces. Their primary function is combat, so it is really doubtful when the US government says that these troops are engaged primarily in humanitarian efforts. Even if the US says 80% of their work is focused on alleged humanitarian work, that would still mean 20% of their work is combat-related,” Reyes said.

“The question is, does the Philippine constitution allow foreign troops to have ANY combat role in the Philippines? It is our view that the US troops’ activities are not limited to training and that they are operating together with AFP combat units in actual combat operations or in conditions were armed adversaries are present,” Reyes said.

Bayan called on the Philippine senate to investigate the gains of the Philippines from the prolonged stay of the US troops in Mindanao. “We want to know, after seven years of having US troops operate in Mindanao, why is it that the Abu Sayyaf group has not been eliminated? Or is it because US troops have other ‘missions’ that we are not aware of and that the ASG is just being used as a pretext for the stay of US forces?” Reyes asked. ###

GMA in NYC!

URGENT ACTION ALERT!
JULY 31, 2009.

The most hated President of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, will be in New York city TODAY!
We urge you to stand in solidarity with the Filipino people and join us for a protest rally to condemn Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s morally bankrupt regime!

Where: Waldorf Astoria, 301 Park Ave. New York, NY 10022

When: July 31, 2009.

Time: 6:00pm to 8:00pm

WHY: Since Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed power in 2001, human rights violations, suppression of civil liberties and massive poverty fell upon the Filipino people. 1013 peasant, labor, student, youth, human rights worker and civil society leaders have been murdered in cold blood, 200+ have been dissappeared and are yet to be found and a thousand more suffered the most inhumane torture.

Last May 19, 2009. A US-citizen of Filipino descent, by the name of Melissa Roxas was abducted in La Paz, Pampanga, Philippines was abducted while doing volunteer work as a community health worker. She was then released on May 25, 2009 after being tortured for 6 straight days. (see justiceformelissa.org for more info). Now she is standing up against the atrocities that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s regime committed to her and to countless more victims of human rights.

While we, here in the US are suffering from rabid budget cuts to our social services, such as education and health care, the US government, now under the Obama administration, is planning to send $33 million more for military aidout of our hard earned tax dollars, which will inevitably us by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s private army (the Armed Forces of the Philippines) into weapons for murdering more of our brothers and sisters in the Philippines, who, just like you and me, are just struggling to live a better and decent life.

Now, we strongly urge you to stand in solidarity with the Filipino people all over the world in condemning Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s tyrannical regime. Today, while the FIlipino people are dying from poverty, she, along with her cronies, will be staying lavishly at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York. Now is the time to speak out! Now is the time to stand on the right side of history, on the side of the struggling Filipino people!


OUST THE FASCIST ARROYO REGIME!
NO TO STATE-SPONSORED KILLINGS IN THE PHILIPPINES!
NO TO TORTURE AND ABDUCTION IN THE PHILIPPINES!
NO TO US-TAX DOLLARS FOR STATE TERRORISM!
JUSTICE FOR MELISSA ROXAS!

Dear President Obama

Please watch:

I Am Melissa Roxas: http://www.vimeo.com/5446595

Obama, What About the Philippines: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbOQSv-DcMM

Dear Obama, GMA is on the Wrong Side of History: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFANG4L8d1Y

Please act:

Yup, it’s our turn. Please send a quick email to the White House! Here’s a template letter! Click, copy and send! HERE: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

Template Letter to President Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama,

Before you meet with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the White House on July 30, I urge you to look into the case of Melissa Roxas, a U.S. citizen and survivor of torture in the Philippines. I urge you to include human rights in the Philippines and Melissa Roxas as an integral portion of your meeting with President Arroyo.

I am deeply concerned for the well-being of U.S. citizen, Melissa Roxas, a survivor of torture. On May 19, 2009, she was abducted while doing community health work in the Philippines. She has spoken out publicly in Los Angeles and is testifying in the Philippines right now about her traumatic experience of being abducted and tortured for almost one week. I know you share this concern. On the U.N. International Day in Support of Torture Victims, you declared, “Torture is contrary to the founding documents of our country and the fundamental values of our people. The U.S. must stand against torture wherever it takes place.”

With your support, we can move another step closer to demanding justice for Melissa Roxas by way of a criminal investigation, arrest and prosecution of the parties responsible for her abduction and torture.

Unfortunately, Melissa is one of thousands of victims of human right violations in the Philippines. She is among the very few survivors of abduction, and I admire her courage to speak out so that we will know the truth and take a stand for justice.

With your support, we can move another step closer to ensuring that no more U.S. tax-payers’ dollars are being used to enable state-sponsored human rights violations in the Philippines.

During your Inaugural Speech, you said, “To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history.”

Please take a stand for justice and do not hesitate to defend and demand justice for our sister, Melissa, when you meet with President Arroyo.

Sincerely,

______________________________________ ____________
Signature and Date

______________________________________
Print Name

______________________________________
Address (Street)

______________________________________
Address (City, State, Zip Code)

NYC FilAm Women Call in Solidarity with Thousands in RP No to ChaCha and No to Gloria Mother Mary John Mananzan to Join NYC SONA Actions

For Immediate Release
July 27, 2009

Reference: Valerie Francisco, Chairperson, Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE), fire.nyc@gmail.com

NYC FilAm Women Call in Solidarity with Thousands in RP No to ChaCha and No to Gloria
Mother Mary John Mananzan to Join NYC SONA Actions

New York, NY– In the Philippines, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo delivers the Philippine ’s state of the nation address (SONA) on July 27th, 2009, her annual address will report an laudatory state of the country’s economic, political, and social state. In past years, her singular declaration has been met with the fervor of the thousands of voices demonstrating in the streets of what progressive Filipino alliances like BAYAN and GABRIELA call “The People’s SONA.” In the annual largest, militant protest, the Philippine masses have exposed the truth about the dismal poverty, skyrocketing prices of goods and widespread landlessness; all of which have resulted in a calculated and steady stream of migration from the country.

To add insult to injury, GMA’s incorrigible human rights violations record has over and again been investigated, arraigned and found guilty by international bodies, special agents and, most importantly, the Filipino people in the Philippines and abroad. The most recent case of the abduction and torture of Melissa Roxas, a Filipino American human rights advocate, is a key manifestation of GMA’s negligence around the human rights and welfare of Filipinos.

Joined by Mother Mary John Mananzan, the honorary and long time, chair of GABRIELA, and also chair of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP), FilAm women in New York, along with other Filipino organizations in the city bring light to the continued inequalities faced by Filipinos worldwide as direct result of faulty policies and practices supported by US-Philippine relations. Mananzan will speak at the July 27 New York activities to illuminate FilAms on the real state of the nation.

Three days after GMA’s SONA, she will arrive in Washington, DC, to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama, making her the first Southeast nation head of state to do so. It is clear that GMA’s longstanding desire to meet with President Obama is motivated by her low approval ratings in her nation and need to cleanse her tainted 8-administration cluttered with scandal, corruption, graft, thievery and authoritarian politics. Arroyo’s administration is attempting to reform the 1987 constitution of the Philippines that will give GMA the ability to govern with less oversight by and accountability for the people. Her administration’s economic policies have prioritized foreign-owned big business over healthy, local economies, to the disadvantage of the country she should serve. If President Obama supports GMA’s dishonest claims to democracy, endangerment of human rights and welfare of the Filipino people will surely ensue.

In GMA’s current regime, broken democracy and an unfair economy have left Filipino citizens no recourse but to leave their homeland in search of livelihood. The Philippines’ number one export is human labor; 70% of those leaving are women working as domestic servants, nannies, caretakers, and nurses across the globe. Many of these women are rendered defenseless in the face of abuse and exploitation because of their transitional citizenship status.

Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE)-GABRIELA USA calls attention to the continued injustices faced by Filipina women, which are direct results of the broken systems that the Arroyo administration fails to address. We demand that President Obama question the Arroyo administration in its practices of human rights violations, its efforts for a charter change, and its support for economic inequality. These actions have wrongly curbed civil liberties in the Philippines, and will continue to disadvantage Filipinas across the globe.

Filipino American women in FiRE-GABRIELA USA join in the international call to scrap Cha-Cha! We demand a real change in Philippine politics, out with Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo! The Filipino people, immigrants and generations of Filipinos outside of the Philippines say we need CHANGE, not charter change!

Join FIRE-GABRIELA USA and BAYAN USA at the
NYC People’s State of the Nation Forum and Mobilization!
Monday July 27th 6PM @ the Bayanihan Community Center (40-21 69th st)
Take the 7 to 69th St.

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