overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) express their views on the recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) of Philippine Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
The real State of the Nation
a speech by Dolores Balladares-Pelaez, Chairperson of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK), the progressive alliance of Filipino migrant associations in this former British colony.
GMA’s State Terrorism is a sign of Weakness
a speech by Rima Cunanan, Chairperson of United Pangasinan Hong Kong (UPHK), the federation of Pangasinense migrant associations in Hong Kong.
OFWs and the Human Security Act of 2007
a speech by Josie Pingkihan, Chairperson of Cordillera Alliance Hong Kong (CORALL-HK), the only alliance of Cordilleran migrant workers’ associations in Hong Kong.
State of migrant workers under GMA
a speech by Vicky Casia-Cabantac, Chairperson of MIGRANTE Sectoral Party – Hong Kong Chapter.
Our struggle for wage increase
a speech by Albert Laconsay, Chairman of the Filipino Migrant Workers’ Union (FMWU), the first Filipino migrant workers union in Hong Kong. FMWU is affiliated with the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU).
The Filipino people cannot be fooled by GMA’s SONA
a speech by Eman Villanueva, Secretary General of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK), the progressive alliance of Filipino migrant associations in this former British colony.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
PAGHAHANDA
"Paghahanda" (Preparation) is a poem written by Axel Pinpin, a political detainee who was abducted by government agents last year and later surfaced by the Philippine National Police. He and his colleagues are still being detained by authorities using fabricated charges.
“Migrante Blues”
“Migrante Blues” is a song about the real intention of the new POEA Guidelines on the deployment of Filipino household service workers – that is to collect more money from migrant workers through the so-called “skills training and assessment”. More than 10,000 Filipino women migrants in Hong Kong protested the guidelines early this year. The campaign against this policy still continues.
“HAGIBIS vs. Gloria”
“HAGIBIS vs. Gloria” is a music medley about Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s anti-people policies: government exaction on overseas Filipino workers, corruption, POEA guidelines and extrajudicial killings. The music used in this song is from an album popularized by the group “Hagibis”, the Filipino version of Village People.
"Reyna ng Terorismo"
Filipino migrants in HK sing "Reyna ng Terorismo" (Queen of Terrorism) referring to Philippine Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s state terrorism in the Philippines and the “anti-terror law” recently enacted by congress.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
HK OFWs, outraged with ‘forgive-and-forget appeal’
Press Release
28 June 2005
Reference: Dolores Balladares
Chairperson
Tel. No.: (852) 97472986, (852) 28104379
HK OFWs, outraged with ‘forgive-and-forget appeal’
“Oust GMA” campaign abroad pushes through
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has no more moral, legal or political right to stay in office. There’s no way for her to go but out of Malacañang.
This was declared by the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-HK) after Mrs. Arroyo finally admitted yesterday in public that she was indeed the woman in the very controversial “Hello, Garci” recorded conversation.
“After a long silence, the people’s pressure and the mounting call to oust her from office has succeeded in putting Mrs. Arroyo to the defense and make her scramble for excuses to extricate herself from the mess she made,” said Dolores Balladares, UNIFIL-HK chairperson.
However, the UNIFIL – the group that led the protest action during Mrs. Arroyo’s recent visit to HK – was far from appeased by Mrs. Arroyo’s admission.
“Up to now, she is trying to hoodwink the Filipino people by not admitting that she cheated though she has already claimed that she was the woman in the tape. We will not be taken in by such an obvious ploy to rally the emotions of the people without questioning what is just and right,” Balladares added.
Additionally, Balladares also scored Mrs. Arroyo’s appeal for unity in the face of what happened.
“It is disgusting and condemnable. If she wants the Filipino people to accept an illegitimate, cheat, and fake president, she’s grossly mistaken. Each day that Mrs. Arroyo stays in Malacañang is an insult to the Filipino people,” Balladres said.
According to Balladares, Mrs. Arroyo is trying to manipulate the Filipino people by apparently taking the moral and political high grounds. She said that Mrs. Arroyo’s “underdog, forgive and forget appeal” is a farce and a sly move to veer away from the issue of her accountability to the crime she committed against the Filipinos.
“Mere apology will not change the fact that we’ve been fooled for more than a year. A million sorry will not change the fact that Mrs. Arroyo’s manipulations have disenfranchised the Filipinos, including OFWs who voted for the first time overseas,” Balladares stressed.
The UNIFIL said that Mrs. Arroyo’s declaration that her call to the COMELEC official, believed to be Commissioner Garcilllano, was merely a “lapse in judgment” is “nonsensical and a mere ‘palusot’ (way out)”.
“Such a lame excuse for a very big crime! If this is how she plans to answer the other anomalies besieging her including the ‘jueteng payola’ scandal, she is blatantly insulting the intelligence of the public,” the group stated.
Balladares affirmed that her group shall continue to drumbeat the campaign to oust Mrs. Arroyo. She pledged to rally thousands of Filipino migrants in the coming weeks, especially for Mrs. Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).
“Only Mrs. Arroyo’s ouster shall calm the outcry of the people. The only responsible thing for her to do now is to step down – or be ousted,” Balladares concluded.#
28 June 2005
Reference: Dolores Balladares
Chairperson
Tel. No.: (852) 97472986, (852) 28104379
HK OFWs, outraged with ‘forgive-and-forget appeal’
“Oust GMA” campaign abroad pushes through
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has no more moral, legal or political right to stay in office. There’s no way for her to go but out of Malacañang.
This was declared by the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-HK) after Mrs. Arroyo finally admitted yesterday in public that she was indeed the woman in the very controversial “Hello, Garci” recorded conversation.
“After a long silence, the people’s pressure and the mounting call to oust her from office has succeeded in putting Mrs. Arroyo to the defense and make her scramble for excuses to extricate herself from the mess she made,” said Dolores Balladares, UNIFIL-HK chairperson.
However, the UNIFIL – the group that led the protest action during Mrs. Arroyo’s recent visit to HK – was far from appeased by Mrs. Arroyo’s admission.
“Up to now, she is trying to hoodwink the Filipino people by not admitting that she cheated though she has already claimed that she was the woman in the tape. We will not be taken in by such an obvious ploy to rally the emotions of the people without questioning what is just and right,” Balladares added.
Additionally, Balladares also scored Mrs. Arroyo’s appeal for unity in the face of what happened.
“It is disgusting and condemnable. If she wants the Filipino people to accept an illegitimate, cheat, and fake president, she’s grossly mistaken. Each day that Mrs. Arroyo stays in Malacañang is an insult to the Filipino people,” Balladres said.
According to Balladares, Mrs. Arroyo is trying to manipulate the Filipino people by apparently taking the moral and political high grounds. She said that Mrs. Arroyo’s “underdog, forgive and forget appeal” is a farce and a sly move to veer away from the issue of her accountability to the crime she committed against the Filipinos.
“Mere apology will not change the fact that we’ve been fooled for more than a year. A million sorry will not change the fact that Mrs. Arroyo’s manipulations have disenfranchised the Filipinos, including OFWs who voted for the first time overseas,” Balladares stressed.
The UNIFIL said that Mrs. Arroyo’s declaration that her call to the COMELEC official, believed to be Commissioner Garcilllano, was merely a “lapse in judgment” is “nonsensical and a mere ‘palusot’ (way out)”.
“Such a lame excuse for a very big crime! If this is how she plans to answer the other anomalies besieging her including the ‘jueteng payola’ scandal, she is blatantly insulting the intelligence of the public,” the group stated.
Balladares affirmed that her group shall continue to drumbeat the campaign to oust Mrs. Arroyo. She pledged to rally thousands of Filipino migrants in the coming weeks, especially for Mrs. Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).
“Only Mrs. Arroyo’s ouster shall calm the outcry of the people. The only responsible thing for her to do now is to step down – or be ousted,” Balladares concluded.#
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Press Release
20 June 2005
For reference: Dolores Balladares
Chairperson
Tel Nos: 28104379, 97472986
“Arroyo exports her fascism to HK”
OFW groups vow more protest to oust GMA
A dastardly act of cowardice and fascism.
This was how the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-HK) called blocking of their protest action with big police vans just as Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was stepping out of the Island Shari-la hotel, the site of her meeting with the business community of Hong Kong.
“For sure, this uncalled for action was ordered by Mrs. Arroyo. It is not beyond her to resort to such repressive actions when faced with protests from the Filipino people,” declared Dolores Balladares, UNIFIL-HK chairperson.
The UNIFIL and about 30 migrant workers conducted the protest action today to call for the ouster of Mrs. Arroyo amidst the controversies surrounding her election, the massive corruption that involved her family, and the escalating violations of human rights in the country.
Balladares reported that UNIFIL-HK and its allied organizations have been conducting the said peaceful protest action across the road facing the hotel when about after an hour, two huge police vans parked in front of them. After a little while, a convoy of vehicles moved out of the hotel premises including the vehicle of Mrs. Arroyo.
“Mrs. Arroyo is much too afraid of the backlash of the numerous anomalies and controversies that she has been involved in. She cannot even face the glaring truth that even Filipinos abroad want her out of office,” Balladares added.
Balladares believed that the move of Mrs. Arroyo was made to “save face”.
“However, she should know that she has no more face to save. She has no more credibility to preserve. She has been exposed for what she really is: an illegitimate president, corrupt and fascist to the core.”
The group also said that the action of Mrs. Arroyo was a reflection of the treatment of the Philippine Consulate General in HK to protest actions.
“Whenever we conduct a peaceful and legitimate picket protest at the PCG lobby, they turn off the lights, lock the glass doors, and block us from the sight of onlookers. Is this how Mrs. Arroyo’s democracy works?” Balladares asked.
UNIFIL-HK said that Mrs. Arroyo is mistaken if she will think that her action today will deter Filipinos abroad from calling for her ouster.
“In fact, this has given us even more reasons to bring the full weight of the OFW’s wrath to kick out Arroyo from office. She doesn’t deserve to be there and there is no more ground for her to stay in Malacañang,” Balladres concluded.
20 June 2005
For reference: Dolores Balladares
Chairperson
Tel Nos: 28104379, 97472986
“Arroyo exports her fascism to HK”
OFW groups vow more protest to oust GMA
A dastardly act of cowardice and fascism.
This was how the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-HK) called blocking of their protest action with big police vans just as Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was stepping out of the Island Shari-la hotel, the site of her meeting with the business community of Hong Kong.
“For sure, this uncalled for action was ordered by Mrs. Arroyo. It is not beyond her to resort to such repressive actions when faced with protests from the Filipino people,” declared Dolores Balladares, UNIFIL-HK chairperson.
The UNIFIL and about 30 migrant workers conducted the protest action today to call for the ouster of Mrs. Arroyo amidst the controversies surrounding her election, the massive corruption that involved her family, and the escalating violations of human rights in the country.
Balladares reported that UNIFIL-HK and its allied organizations have been conducting the said peaceful protest action across the road facing the hotel when about after an hour, two huge police vans parked in front of them. After a little while, a convoy of vehicles moved out of the hotel premises including the vehicle of Mrs. Arroyo.
“Mrs. Arroyo is much too afraid of the backlash of the numerous anomalies and controversies that she has been involved in. She cannot even face the glaring truth that even Filipinos abroad want her out of office,” Balladares added.
Balladares believed that the move of Mrs. Arroyo was made to “save face”.
“However, she should know that she has no more face to save. She has no more credibility to preserve. She has been exposed for what she really is: an illegitimate president, corrupt and fascist to the core.”
The group also said that the action of Mrs. Arroyo was a reflection of the treatment of the Philippine Consulate General in HK to protest actions.
“Whenever we conduct a peaceful and legitimate picket protest at the PCG lobby, they turn off the lights, lock the glass doors, and block us from the sight of onlookers. Is this how Mrs. Arroyo’s democracy works?” Balladares asked.
UNIFIL-HK said that Mrs. Arroyo is mistaken if she will think that her action today will deter Filipinos abroad from calling for her ouster.
“In fact, this has given us even more reasons to bring the full weight of the OFW’s wrath to kick out Arroyo from office. She doesn’t deserve to be there and there is no more ground for her to stay in Malacañang,” Balladres concluded.
Press Release
20 June 2005
For reference:
Dolores Balladares
Chairperson
Tel Nos: 28104379, 97472986
"GMA should stop dodging and face the music"
HK OFWs challenge GMA to face community on controversy
Instead of running abroad, deflecting the issue, issuing threats, and drumming up the hysteria of destabilization, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo must squarely face the allegations of her fraudulent presidency and corruption-ridden rule. She owes it to the Filipino people.
This was declared by the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-HK) in a picket protest at the Island Shangri-la Hotel on the occasion of GMA's meeting today with business people of Hong Kong to show them that she's still in control of the country.
"If she really won fairly and squarely in the last elections as what she has been bragging, why doesn't she face the "mother of all tapes" fairly and squarely as well? No amount of dodging from the real issues shall save her now," said Dolores Balladares, UNIFIL-HK chairperson.
Instead of veering away from the real issue of election fraud, Balladares added, Mrs. Arroyo is instead fanning fears of destabilization plots to scare the Filipino people.
"She is the greatest destabilizer in the country. She has destabilized it by her mudded credibility not only in the last elections but in all other anomalies that have beset her administration," she declared.
Balladares also slammed the news that Mrs. Arroyo is planning to declare Martial Law anytime soon.
"Mrs. Arroyo is fast becoming the biggest fascist rivaling even former president Marcos. She has already threatened those that exposed the election scam. She has also clamped down on the media and threatened them with legal actions if they air the contents of the CD. Worse, she kills those that she cannot silence as experienced by activists and progressive groups."
"Martial Law will be the final act of desperation of a president who did not even win her position," she declared.
Balladares added that GMA's visit to HK shows her "desperation to salvage her fast-sliding grip of the country" by putting up a front to the business community overseas and get their confidence and trust.
"However, it is the Filipino people's trust and confidence that she is rapidly losing. How can you trust a cheat? How can you trust a president that rails against illegal gambling at every opportunity but turns a blind eye when it is her husband, brother-in-law and son who collect millions from jueteng?" she stressed.
According to the group, the absence of meeting the Filipino community in Mrs. Arroyo's agenda in Hong Kong reflects her fear of facing the OFWs on the anomalies surrounding her position. This, UNIFIL relayed, was much different from her previous visit that was full of pomp and promises.
"She knows that even abroad, we are watching. And what we are seeing is her illegitimacy, incompetence, fascism and corruption. For Filipinos abroad, she'll go down the same way as her disgraced predecessor," Balladares stated.
Balladares reported that a "broad and massive" campaign, which shall be joined with the call to oust Mrs. Arroyo in the Philippines, is already being planned by OFW groups around the world. She said that groups such as the UNIFIL and other allied organizations of the militant Migrante International that figured prominently abroad during the Oust Estrada campaign are at the front of the brewing oust GMA movement overseas.
"The latest fiasco that Mrs. Arroyo found herself in just capped the restlessness felt by migrant Filipinos over her government. We are all too prepared to join in the chorus for Mrs. Arroyo's ouster," Balladares concluded.
20 June 2005
For reference:
Dolores Balladares
Chairperson
Tel Nos: 28104379, 97472986
"GMA should stop dodging and face the music"
HK OFWs challenge GMA to face community on controversy
Instead of running abroad, deflecting the issue, issuing threats, and drumming up the hysteria of destabilization, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo must squarely face the allegations of her fraudulent presidency and corruption-ridden rule. She owes it to the Filipino people.
This was declared by the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-HK) in a picket protest at the Island Shangri-la Hotel on the occasion of GMA's meeting today with business people of Hong Kong to show them that she's still in control of the country.
"If she really won fairly and squarely in the last elections as what she has been bragging, why doesn't she face the "mother of all tapes" fairly and squarely as well? No amount of dodging from the real issues shall save her now," said Dolores Balladares, UNIFIL-HK chairperson.
Instead of veering away from the real issue of election fraud, Balladares added, Mrs. Arroyo is instead fanning fears of destabilization plots to scare the Filipino people.
"She is the greatest destabilizer in the country. She has destabilized it by her mudded credibility not only in the last elections but in all other anomalies that have beset her administration," she declared.
Balladares also slammed the news that Mrs. Arroyo is planning to declare Martial Law anytime soon.
"Mrs. Arroyo is fast becoming the biggest fascist rivaling even former president Marcos. She has already threatened those that exposed the election scam. She has also clamped down on the media and threatened them with legal actions if they air the contents of the CD. Worse, she kills those that she cannot silence as experienced by activists and progressive groups."
"Martial Law will be the final act of desperation of a president who did not even win her position," she declared.
Balladares added that GMA's visit to HK shows her "desperation to salvage her fast-sliding grip of the country" by putting up a front to the business community overseas and get their confidence and trust.
"However, it is the Filipino people's trust and confidence that she is rapidly losing. How can you trust a cheat? How can you trust a president that rails against illegal gambling at every opportunity but turns a blind eye when it is her husband, brother-in-law and son who collect millions from jueteng?" she stressed.
According to the group, the absence of meeting the Filipino community in Mrs. Arroyo's agenda in Hong Kong reflects her fear of facing the OFWs on the anomalies surrounding her position. This, UNIFIL relayed, was much different from her previous visit that was full of pomp and promises.
"She knows that even abroad, we are watching. And what we are seeing is her illegitimacy, incompetence, fascism and corruption. For Filipinos abroad, she'll go down the same way as her disgraced predecessor," Balladares stated.
Balladares reported that a "broad and massive" campaign, which shall be joined with the call to oust Mrs. Arroyo in the Philippines, is already being planned by OFW groups around the world. She said that groups such as the UNIFIL and other allied organizations of the militant Migrante International that figured prominently abroad during the Oust Estrada campaign are at the front of the brewing oust GMA movement overseas.
"The latest fiasco that Mrs. Arroyo found herself in just capped the restlessness felt by migrant Filipinos over her government. We are all too prepared to join in the chorus for Mrs. Arroyo's ouster," Balladares concluded.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
OFWs in HK assail government neglect, call to save life of OFW in death row
Press Release
7 June 2007
On the occasion of Migrant Workers Day
OFWs in HK assail government neglect, call to save life of OFW in death row and for services to all OFWs
While the life of OFW Rey Cortez hangs in the balance, while the government's responsibility for services and protection to Filipino migrants is denied, while dereliction of duty for Filipinos abroad of government officials in the Philippines and abroad persists - the government-declared Migrant Worker's Day shall remain shallow, hypocritical and pointless.
This was declared today by the United Filipinos in
According to Eman Villanueva, UNIFIL-HK secretary general, the action was held as a part of the International Day of Protest to Save the Life of OFW Rey Cortez, scheduled to be executed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), called by Migrante International.
Cortez was given the death sentence by the
"OFW Cortez, reported MSP-HK chairperson Vicky Cabantac, "was denied assistance by the Philippine Embassy in KSA. On his last hearing, it was reported that the Philippine Embassy did not provide him with a lawyer nor an interpreter for the whole proceeding."
The groups assailed the Philippine government's inaction on the case of Cortez. They said that his case reflects the sorry state of distressed overseas Filipinos in the hands of the government.
"Ten years after, the Philippine government continues to neglect the plight of OFWs and their families. Thousands of OFWs continue to languish in jails all over the world and many are in death row. Meanwhile, those who need immediate medical attention end up waiting until they die," said Cabantac.
Villanueva stated that the lack of services and protection from the Philippine government can be traced to its policies for OFWs such as the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Omnibus Policy. This, he said, was even revealed in a leaders' forum organized by the Philippine Consulate General on Sunday, June 5, where OWWA Administrator Marianito Roque was a guest.
"How can the Philippine government claim of services to OFWs when in the OWWA Omnibus Policy they have decided that only those paying the OWWA fees can avail of the OWWA programs? Even this contradicts the Migrants Act of 1995 that explicitly stated the duty of the government to provide services and protection to ALL overseas Filipinos," he furthered.
Additionally, Villanueva said that they were not impressed by Administrator Roque's positive picture of his plans for the OWWA.
"The real benefits to all OFWs of the plans he presented are still in question. Also, these are just coming soon. How about the now? What are they going to do with Cortez and the numerous more who are in need of direct and on-site services? Will they just wait until they die while the government comes up with more hullabaloo schemes, or worse, continue to squander the OFW money in the OWWA on corruption and anomalous investments?," he said.
Villanueva also raised the issue of transparency of the OWWA Fund. He reported that government moves such as the transfer of the OWWA Medicare to PhilHealth or the transfer of the OWWA money to the Landbank even without prior consultation nor information have been criticized by OFWs. Under the OWWA Omnibus Policy, he said that such secret deals are sanctioned.
Cabantac reported that MSP and its allied groups are still actively lobbying to scrap the OWWA Omnibus Policy. She urged OFWs who have been denied assistance to come out in order to make stronger the case against the said policy.
"The OWWA Omnibus Policy is a bane for all migrant workers and our families. What we need is fast and comprehensive services for all. What we demand is total protection of rights and wellbeing. Until then, the Migrant Workers Day shall only be an exercise in futility," Villanueva concluded.#
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
A celebration of militancy, a commitment to fight
For Immediate Release
Please circulate widely
30 May 2005
Click the link bellow to see pictures
UNIFIL-HK Photo archive
http://www.unifil.org.hk/20th_anniversary/
Photos courtesy of Azon Amaya-Canete
http://kisapmata.com/unifil20/
For reference:
Dolores Balladares
Chairperson
Tel. No.: 28104379
A celebration of militancy, a commitment to fight
Thousands join UNIFIL’s 20th anniversary, commit to oust GMA
I was invited here to give the keynote speech. But when I saw your cultural presentations, how you carried your issues, and how multitalented the OFWs are – I think that each of you are the keynote speakers of this event.
Thus said Cong. Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna partylist before a jam-packed crowd of 3,000 Filipino migrant workers who celebrated the 20th anniversary of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-HK) yesterday, May 29 at Chater Road. Congressman Ocampo was guest speaker for the said event.
Under the theme, “Sahod, serbisyo, proteksyon, karapatan – Ipaglaban! Kalayaan at Demokrasya para sa Inang Bayan” (Struggle for wage, services, protection and rights. Freedom and democracy for the Motherland), members and allies of the UNIFIL filled the dayoff of Filipinos in Hong Kong, mostly domestic workers, with cultural presentations that include songs, dances, choral recitation (sabayang bigkas), skits and live bands.
The audience heartily applauded the Balagtasan, a traditional cultural form in the Philippines where two contending parties hurl arguments against each other facilitated by a Lakambini – all done in a poetic style. The Balagtasan showed a comprehensive view of the sentiments of Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong. The character Billion Dollar Woman represented the defenders and cohorts of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo while Bayang Barya Lamang epitomized the poor majority. The presentation ended with a call to oust GMA that was met by the resounding support of the crowd.
“This day was a showcase of the cultural talents of Filipino migrant workers. This day highlighted the continuing struggle of overseas Filipinos for wage increase, services, protection and rights. This day was an affirmation of our conviction to fight for national freedom and genuine democracy for our Motherland,” said Dolores Balladares, UNIFIL chairperson.
More than 20 presentations were featured in the migrants cultural festival held from 11 am to 1pm. Different OFW groups from the northern to the southern provinces of the Philippines presented songs and dances that include, among others, the war dance Sakuting from Abra, the traditional Bicolano dance Pantomina, Kini-Kini of Mindanao and a hilarious puppet-style dance number of Yoyoy Vilame’s Butsikik.
Afterwards, the launching of the CD “Songs of Love and Struggle – from Andres Bonifacio to Jose Maria Sison” was held. Bruce Van Voorhis spoke in behalf of the DEFEND Committee in HK. The DEFEND-HK is part of an international campaign to remove the terrorist tagging of Prof. Jose Maria Sison by the US, Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands governments. It also advocates for the defense of the rights of Filipino progressives overseas.
The main program, which was also a cultural extravaganza, was opened by Balladares.
“Filipino overseas and our families in the Philippines are being attacked at all fronts both by the Philippine and the Hong Kong governments. Our wage is relentlessly depressed by the periodic wage cuts, additional taxes in the Philippines and the meteoric rise of prices of basic commodities,” she stated, “The HK government even insulted us by giving us a measly HK$50 wage increase after cutting our wage by almost HK$600 since 1999. We are denied of services and protection and our comprehensive rights are violated.”
Congressman Ocampo, meanwhile, exhorted the crowd to join the campaign against the rampant violations of political and civil rights in the Philippines. He urged the UNIFIL and the other groups present to fight the growing fascism in the country as shown by the killings of activists and critics of the government from different groups such as Bayan Muna, the media, and human rights advocates including priests and lawyers.
According to him, Bayan Muna and other progressive party lists and activist groups are now in the process of building international support to the campaign to stop the killings of activists. He rallied the support of migrant workers who, he said, also played significant roles in the past movement against Martial Law and even with the issues during the succeeding governments.
In the main event, members and friends of the UNIFIL combined and cooperated with each other to come out with a creative and innovative program that highlighted the various concerns of the Filipino migrant workers. The issues of Filipino migrants and their families were effectively shown in different cultural forms.
Binibining OWWA 2005, a parody of the traditional beauty pageants, presented the issues of OFWs regarding government services and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). With candidates called Miss (mis)Information, Miss (mis)Allocation and Miss (mis)Management, the said presentation from the Filipino Migrant Workers Union (FMWU) conveyed the problems that besiege the OWWA including the widely-criticized OWWA Omnibus Policy.
The Mission Volunteers (MOVERS), meanwhile, tackled the issue of excessive government fees charged by the Philippine government to the OFWs through the choral recitation (sabayang bigkas) entitled “Huwag nyo kaming pagkakitaan! Kami’y tao hindi kalakal!” (Do not commodify us! We are human beings and not commodities!).
Friends of Bethune House (FBH) lambasted the Value Added Tax in a comic presentation of OFWs in an airplane called flight VAT 12% captained by US President George Bush and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the flight stewardess. The skit also showed how the tax will unevenly impact the few who are rich and the majority of the Filipinos who are poor. The group also used the popular “Bulagaan” of the Philippine noontime show Eat Bulaga, with their VAT Bulagaan that further drove their point on the said regressive tax.
Meanwhile, groups from Abra and the Cordilleras showed the impacts of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 in their presentation called “Didigra!” (Destruction!). It illustrated how the law endangers the national patrimony of the Philippines, the tradition and culture of indigenous peoples, and the livelihood of those living in mining communities.
A joint cultural presentation of different UNIFIL member groups on the World Trade Organization (WTO) featured a description of the WTO, its policies and impacts to the Filipino people. It also called for the massive participation of OFWs in the upcoming protest against the 6th WTO ministerial conference in Hong Kong in December.
Apo Leung of the HK People’s Alliance on the WTO (HKPA) congratulated the UNIFIL and rallied the crowd for the coming anti-WTO events.
The audiences were also led to a mass singing of the songs created by Likha that used popular tunes such as the Beatle’s “Help” and dealt with issues of misuse of OWWA funds and the US War on Terror.
Two bands, “The Rascals” and “Onstage”, composed of Filipino residents capped the celebration while the audience danced with jubilation.
“The 20th anniversary of the UNIFIL showed the migrant worker’s commitment to fight. We are prepared to fight for our rights and wellbeing in Hong Kong. We are prepared to fight against the policies of the Arroyo government that plunge the Filipino people to heightened poverty, unemployment and forced migration. We are prepared to kick out GMA. We are prepared to confront imperialist plunder and aggression to the Filipino people and of the world,” concluded Balladres.
The UNIFIL is the oldest-existing alliance of Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong. It is considered as the leading Filipino activist group in Hong Kong and also played a major role in the formation of the Asian Migrants Coordinating (AMCB) who led the thousands-strong marches against the wage cut and other imposition of the HK government to foreign domestic workers since 1997. #
Please circulate widely
30 May 2005
Click the link bellow to see pictures
UNIFIL-HK Photo archive
http://www.unifil.org.hk/20th_anniversary/
Photos courtesy of Azon Amaya-Canete
http://kisapmata.com/unifil20/
For reference:
Dolores Balladares
Chairperson
Tel. No.: 28104379
A celebration of militancy, a commitment to fight
Thousands join UNIFIL’s 20th anniversary, commit to oust GMA
I was invited here to give the keynote speech. But when I saw your cultural presentations, how you carried your issues, and how multitalented the OFWs are – I think that each of you are the keynote speakers of this event.
Thus said Cong. Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna partylist before a jam-packed crowd of 3,000 Filipino migrant workers who celebrated the 20th anniversary of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-HK) yesterday, May 29 at Chater Road. Congressman Ocampo was guest speaker for the said event.
Under the theme, “Sahod, serbisyo, proteksyon, karapatan – Ipaglaban! Kalayaan at Demokrasya para sa Inang Bayan” (Struggle for wage, services, protection and rights. Freedom and democracy for the Motherland), members and allies of the UNIFIL filled the dayoff of Filipinos in Hong Kong, mostly domestic workers, with cultural presentations that include songs, dances, choral recitation (sabayang bigkas), skits and live bands.
The audience heartily applauded the Balagtasan, a traditional cultural form in the Philippines where two contending parties hurl arguments against each other facilitated by a Lakambini – all done in a poetic style. The Balagtasan showed a comprehensive view of the sentiments of Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong. The character Billion Dollar Woman represented the defenders and cohorts of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo while Bayang Barya Lamang epitomized the poor majority. The presentation ended with a call to oust GMA that was met by the resounding support of the crowd.
“This day was a showcase of the cultural talents of Filipino migrant workers. This day highlighted the continuing struggle of overseas Filipinos for wage increase, services, protection and rights. This day was an affirmation of our conviction to fight for national freedom and genuine democracy for our Motherland,” said Dolores Balladares, UNIFIL chairperson.
More than 20 presentations were featured in the migrants cultural festival held from 11 am to 1pm. Different OFW groups from the northern to the southern provinces of the Philippines presented songs and dances that include, among others, the war dance Sakuting from Abra, the traditional Bicolano dance Pantomina, Kini-Kini of Mindanao and a hilarious puppet-style dance number of Yoyoy Vilame’s Butsikik.
Afterwards, the launching of the CD “Songs of Love and Struggle – from Andres Bonifacio to Jose Maria Sison” was held. Bruce Van Voorhis spoke in behalf of the DEFEND Committee in HK. The DEFEND-HK is part of an international campaign to remove the terrorist tagging of Prof. Jose Maria Sison by the US, Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands governments. It also advocates for the defense of the rights of Filipino progressives overseas.
The main program, which was also a cultural extravaganza, was opened by Balladares.
“Filipino overseas and our families in the Philippines are being attacked at all fronts both by the Philippine and the Hong Kong governments. Our wage is relentlessly depressed by the periodic wage cuts, additional taxes in the Philippines and the meteoric rise of prices of basic commodities,” she stated, “The HK government even insulted us by giving us a measly HK$50 wage increase after cutting our wage by almost HK$600 since 1999. We are denied of services and protection and our comprehensive rights are violated.”
Congressman Ocampo, meanwhile, exhorted the crowd to join the campaign against the rampant violations of political and civil rights in the Philippines. He urged the UNIFIL and the other groups present to fight the growing fascism in the country as shown by the killings of activists and critics of the government from different groups such as Bayan Muna, the media, and human rights advocates including priests and lawyers.
According to him, Bayan Muna and other progressive party lists and activist groups are now in the process of building international support to the campaign to stop the killings of activists. He rallied the support of migrant workers who, he said, also played significant roles in the past movement against Martial Law and even with the issues during the succeeding governments.
In the main event, members and friends of the UNIFIL combined and cooperated with each other to come out with a creative and innovative program that highlighted the various concerns of the Filipino migrant workers. The issues of Filipino migrants and their families were effectively shown in different cultural forms.
Binibining OWWA 2005, a parody of the traditional beauty pageants, presented the issues of OFWs regarding government services and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). With candidates called Miss (mis)Information, Miss (mis)Allocation and Miss (mis)Management, the said presentation from the Filipino Migrant Workers Union (FMWU) conveyed the problems that besiege the OWWA including the widely-criticized OWWA Omnibus Policy.
The Mission Volunteers (MOVERS), meanwhile, tackled the issue of excessive government fees charged by the Philippine government to the OFWs through the choral recitation (sabayang bigkas) entitled “Huwag nyo kaming pagkakitaan! Kami’y tao hindi kalakal!” (Do not commodify us! We are human beings and not commodities!).
Friends of Bethune House (FBH) lambasted the Value Added Tax in a comic presentation of OFWs in an airplane called flight VAT 12% captained by US President George Bush and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the flight stewardess. The skit also showed how the tax will unevenly impact the few who are rich and the majority of the Filipinos who are poor. The group also used the popular “Bulagaan” of the Philippine noontime show Eat Bulaga, with their VAT Bulagaan that further drove their point on the said regressive tax.
Meanwhile, groups from Abra and the Cordilleras showed the impacts of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 in their presentation called “Didigra!” (Destruction!). It illustrated how the law endangers the national patrimony of the Philippines, the tradition and culture of indigenous peoples, and the livelihood of those living in mining communities.
A joint cultural presentation of different UNIFIL member groups on the World Trade Organization (WTO) featured a description of the WTO, its policies and impacts to the Filipino people. It also called for the massive participation of OFWs in the upcoming protest against the 6th WTO ministerial conference in Hong Kong in December.
Apo Leung of the HK People’s Alliance on the WTO (HKPA) congratulated the UNIFIL and rallied the crowd for the coming anti-WTO events.
The audiences were also led to a mass singing of the songs created by Likha that used popular tunes such as the Beatle’s “Help” and dealt with issues of misuse of OWWA funds and the US War on Terror.
Two bands, “The Rascals” and “Onstage”, composed of Filipino residents capped the celebration while the audience danced with jubilation.
“The 20th anniversary of the UNIFIL showed the migrant worker’s commitment to fight. We are prepared to fight for our rights and wellbeing in Hong Kong. We are prepared to fight against the policies of the Arroyo government that plunge the Filipino people to heightened poverty, unemployment and forced migration. We are prepared to kick out GMA. We are prepared to confront imperialist plunder and aggression to the Filipino people and of the world,” concluded Balladres.
The UNIFIL is the oldest-existing alliance of Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong. It is considered as the leading Filipino activist group in Hong Kong and also played a major role in the formation of the Asian Migrants Coordinating (AMCB) who led the thousands-strong marches against the wage cut and other imposition of the HK government to foreign domestic workers since 1997. #
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
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