By Pamela Pangilinan
It was raining like hell that day. Thousands of people along Commonwealth Avenue did not seem to mind the shower. Red flags were waving; wet placards were everywhere while policemen couldn't wait for the day to end. Mrs. Arroyo was sputtering empty promises and made up accomplishments in front of her bored congressmen and senators.
While trying to listen to the muffled voices of the speakers on the stage, my thoughts persistently wandered on something else. Has he eaten his lunch yet? I hope he doesn't catch pneumonia. I wonder where he is. After coming up with excuses to look for him, I finally gave in. Foregoing the umbrella (just in case he sees me first, I don't want him to think that I'm such a sissy missy), I looked for the avocado green flag to catch a glimpse. Just a glimpse, I told myself.
Then there he was, sitting under the rain, satisfied with the company of comrades to keep him dry and warm. As usual, looking so unkemptly cute. Not heeding the promises I have made, I walked up to him and tried to sound nonchalant, "have you eaten lunch yet?" For whatever reason, his yes sounded like Freddie Mercury belting out Bohemian Rhapsody to me. Okay, he was still doing well. I tried to calm myself, didn't look at his eyes, because otherwise "I'm dead". I had to summon all the strength left in me not to stare in his heavenly eyes, just to be sure that I will be able to maintain an intelligent conversation, least a coherent one with him.
And that scene was from SONA (State of the Nation Address) two years ago.
What has changed? Nothing much really. The reasons that drove the people to the streets to call for the ouster of Gloria two years ago are the very same reasons that they have for this year. More and more people are hungrier than they were two years ago, in fact.
Well, after past and present governments decided that we need to have more hectares of land for golf courses, super malls, subdivisions, cash crop plantations, and mining than for rice fields, it won't take a genius to solve the rice crisis. Most unfortunately, we're not only out of rice, sense and logic among Mrs. Arroyo's political and economic thinkers seem to have run out before the rice did. And so the dimwits decided to import more rice. An imbecile government official one time gallantly mentioned in an interview that we are very lucky because the price of rice in our country is much cheaper than that of Vietnam's. Then someone please explain to me why on earth are we importing rice from Vietnam?
Motorists and commuters for months now are not thanking God when it is Friday. It is because oil companies are increasing their prices every Friday. In the defense of these weekly price hikes, the oil cartels are whining that business is not good and they are "nalulugi". If they refer to billions of pesos in profits as "lugi", then how much blood do we need to bleed just to make business good for them? The government, not missing a beat for media mileage, announced that the high cost of oil is a blessing in disguise. It encouraged everyone to think economical or healthy and take the LRT and MRT instead, or ride bicycles to work. I, even before this weekly price hikes happened, was forced to shed off pounds and inches just so that I could squeeze myself into overcrowded couches of the MRT. I have seriously contemplated of buying a bike to save on fare, but have you seen those red plated SUVs zooming along EDSA? I would rather die of natural causes. I have seen pink fences, pink urinals, pink waiting sheds, pink islands constructed in every corner of Metro Manila, but I don't see any bike lanes for those who are braver and more adventurous than me.
Mrs. Arroyo's government imposed 12% VAT on petroleum products, just so she can have the people line up to collect their one time "pantawid kuryente" assistance worth P500. Why not forget VAT and at least make the hard life easier? But oh no, she would not. She would rather have the people from Tondo, Payatas or Commonwealth wait in queue under the sun to a get a morsel of the money stolen from them. She, in her less that five foot frame has reduced the poor people to beggars.
It has been 2 years since that rainy SONA. Nothing has changed much. The Filipino people still do not have land to till, decent jobs, food on the table, and access to social services. We still have crooks for government officials and a stealing, congenital liar for a president who fattens up her husband with the people's money.
The people have the same reasons why they are protesting on the streets.
It has been two years now since that rainy SONA. I still worry that he might catch pneumonia when it's raining, still wondering if he has eaten lunch. He still is the same unkemptly cute person that he was two SONAs ago. What has changed? I now have the liberty to be lost in his eyes without the fear of revealing how I feel. I do not have to worry about not having any intelligent thing to say. Why, this man hangs on to my every word no matter how mundane my chosen topic is. (Had I known!)
Also, I do not miss out the umbrella anymore. Good for me.
You know what, I know three people who made promises two SONAs ago. But only two kept their promises (Gloria was not one of them). Why? Because we still have the same reasons for falling for each other as we had that one rainy SONA.
That rainy SONA
Ang Kabilang Mukha ng Eraserheads Reunion Concert
ni Mac Ramirez
Kabilang ako sa napakaraming mga kabataang lumaki at namulat noong dekada ‘90. Panahon iyon ng muling pag-arangkada ng Pinoy Rock na may ilang taon ding natulog. Panahon din iyon kung saan sa halos lahat ng kalye, eskinita at eskwelahan sa Metro Manila, may mga kabataang kasama sa banda o kaya’y nagbabalak magtayo ng banda. Sa resurgence ng Pinoy Rock noong early 90’s, hindi matatawaran ang malaking kinalaman ng grupong Eraserheads nina Ely Buendia, Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala at Marcus Adoro.
Bago sila sumikat, tila bahagyang nahirapan ang mga naunang banda sa kanila na mahuli ang kiliti ng publiko. Pero nang mag-umpisang marinig ang mga kantang “Pare ko,” “Ligaya,” “Toyang,” at “Tindahan ni Aling Nena” ng Eraserheads noong 1993 sa kanilang unang album na Ultraelectromagneticpop!, agad tinangkilik ng buong bansa ang dating para sa marami’y “puro ingay lang” na mga banda - nag-umpisa ang Eraserheads Mania. Tuloy, pati ako, nagpabili sa Nanay ko ng drumset at pares ng sapatos na Converse Chuck Taylor, pinraktis ang kanilang mga kanta at nagtayo ng sariling banda.
Nakita ko ng live sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon ang Eraserheads noong Mayo uno ng 1993 sa Amoranto Stadium. Hindi ko makakalimutan ang pa-morningang konsyerto na iyon na alay sa mga manggagawang Pinoy. Kasi naman pumutok ang labi ko dahil sa tama ng lumilipad na takip ng maliit na drum. Pero kahit duguan ang bibig pati damit (naging pula nga ang puti kong suot), nag-enjoy pa rin ako sa dami ng mga bandang maghapon at magdamag na nagpalitan sa entablado.
Kalaunan, grumadweyt din ako sa impluwensiya ng Eraserheads at Beatles, at nag-umpisang makinig sa iba pang mga tugtugan. Hindi na kami nambubulahaw sa mga kapitbahay namin noon ng paulit-ulit na tugtog ng Toyang at Pare Ko (mas maingay na) at nag-umpisa na kaming sumali sa lahat ng Battle of the Bands na mabalitaan. Pagkatapos din ng ilang taon at sunud-sunod na hit albums, nag-disband ang Eraserheads na tinagurian na ring Beatles ng Pilipinas at nagkani-kaniya nang buhay ang mga miyembro. Marami ang nagulat sa kanilang biglaang pagkakawatak-watak, madami rin ang istorya at haka-haka ukol sa dahilan nito.
Pero kahit ganoon, malaki pa rin ang pasalamat ko sa Eraserheads dahil sa himig nila ako nagsimulang ma-hook sa musika at pagbabanda. Hanggang ngayon nga, kahit puro agiw na yung drumset ko sa bahay, tumutugtog pa rin ako paminsan-minsan. Kaya’t nung mabalitaan ko kalian lang na may pinaplanong reunion concert ang E-heads, na-excite ako at agad inalam kung talagang totoo nga ba ito.
E = 83008
Pag-search ko sa Google, nawindang ako sa dami ng blog posts tungkol sa tsismis ng reunion concert. Mga blind item pa ang gimik! May mga ibinigay na clues panaka-naka; gaya ng litrato ng chuck taylor, blurred na picture ng banda at mga miyembro at isang imahe ng titik E na may numerong 83008.
Narito ang ilan sa mga naglipanang blog posts:
“The reuniting band members have already signed the contract and this may-jah event will happen sometime around the last quarter of this year. The venue might probably be at the Pasay Area. Somewhere near that humongous Mall. They are expecting an audience of 35,000.”
“Decoding: “83008” can be a date right? And “E‘ could mean Eraserheads. So does it mean that their reunion concert will be on August 30, 2008? Will the venue be at SM MOA Complex/Grounds/Open Field or, could it also be at the CCP? Am I asking a question? Or, am I stating a fact here? =D Well, it’s the perfect time for them to reunite and for sure, a lot of their fans will be happy if this will be true.”
Ang sabi pa sa mga tsismis sa blogosphere, isang malaking kumpaniya ng sigarilyo ang nakatakdang mag-spo
nsor ng 45 minute concert, at P10 milyon daw ang bayad sa kada isang E-head.
Hanggang sa noong July 13, 2008, kinumpirma na ni Ricky Lo sa kaniyang artikulo sa Philippine Star ang bali-balitang konsert. “Yes, it’s confirmed: The Eraserheads are reuniting after many years of being apart, not for good but only for one show slated for Aug. 30 at the CCP Open Grounds.”
“According to the STAR source, all the original members… are performing — Ely Buendia, Buddy Zabala, Marcus Adoro and Raimund Marasigan. This piece of good news should make the Eraserheads fans very happy,” sabi ni Ricky Lo.
At totoo namang ‘di mapakali sa saya ang sandamukal na mga alagad ng E-heads, lalo na nang ‘opisyal’ na ianunsyo na sa Eraserheads mailing list and mensaheng ito:
“Yes it’s true. It’s been in the works for several months na. Marlboro is sponsoring this concert and paid each of the members a staggering P10M each to do a full 45-minute set. This is the official announcement:
No more blind items my dear friends. Yes. We are confirming it. There is no point denying: August 30, 2008 will be LEGENDARY!!!
The country’s most influential band ever will be reunited for ONE NIGHT ONLY.
This once in a lifetime experience will be staged at the CCP opengrounds. Tickets are free and you can download it early August. Website to be announced. ONE BRAND. ONE BAND. ONE NIGHT ONLY…”
Shrewd, manipulative marketing
Pero kung sadyang napakarami ang naglundagan sa tuwa sa balitang muling pagsasama ng iniidolong Eraserheads, may ilan din naman ang di naiwasang punahin ang maitim na adyenda sa likod ng reunion concert.
“Assuming that all that has been written about this supposed concert is true … I think the Eraserheads are doing a great disservice not just to the generation of Filipinos who were weaned on their music but also to the younger ones who are bound, I am certain, to love their songs,” pakiwari ni Caloy Conde, isang journalist at blogger.
Sa kaniyang blog na naka-post sa pinoypress.com (Why the Eraserheads’ Reunion Concert Sucks); tinukoy niya na isang “shrewd” at “manipulative” na marketing gimmick lamang ito ng Marlboro at ginagamit lamang daw ng kumpaniya ng sigarilyo ang kasikatan ng Eraserheads para bumenta ang kanilang produkto.
Kasi naman, ani Conde, ipinagbabawal na ngayon ng batas ang anumang advertisements ng ‘nakamamatay’ na sigarilyo, kaya sa ganitong paraan naisip ng kumpaniya na ilako ang produkto.
“What Marlboro did was to create the buzz, which later turned into an event that found its way to the mainstream press. In the process, Marlboro got the attention that it craves to sustain interest in its deadly product. Intelligent as they are, the Eraseheads must realize by now that they are being used by Marlboro to peddle a product that has been proven to be so fatal as to force the government to ban their advertisement and promotion in the popular press. I hope that, as the Eheads enjoy the millions that they will earn after this so-called reunion concert, they can sleep better at night,” dagdag pa ni Conde.
May punto naman itong si G. Conde, isang tuwirang pambabaluktot sa batas ang ginagawa ngayon ng kumpaniyang Philip Morris (gumagawa ng Marlboro) para lamang makabenta. Gayunpaman, kahit ako ay aminado na mahusay at pumatok ang kanilang gimik – pinag-usapan, pinag-piyestahan at inaabangan na ngayon ng buong bayan ang konsyerto. Ayon nga sa maraming mga usisero diyan sa tabi-tabi, kahit pa biglang iurong o hindi na ituloy ang Eraserheads reunion concert, wala lang ito sa Marlboro. Ang dami na kasi nilang inaning marketing points sa dami ba naman ng excited na mga Pinoy sa internet.
Pero ako, panonoorin ko pa rin ang reunion concert sa simpleng dahilan na gusto ko ulit marinig at makitang magkasamang muli ang banda na kinagiliwan ko noong hayskul. Hiling ko lang, sana wala nang lumilipad na takip ng drum sa konsyertong ito. Kitakits!###
Kung Saan P7 Lang ang Pamasahe
Mac Ramirez
Alas-kuwatro pa lang ng umaga, gising na si Mang Daniel Soriano, 41, para umpisahan ang maghapong kayod sa manibela. “ ‘Pag hindi ako magsisipag, walang kakainin ang pamilya ko,” aniya, kaya naman ‘hataw’ kung bumiyahe itong si Mang Daniel.
Pero habang maraming mga tsuper ang natuwa sa pagtaas ng minimum na bayad sa pamasahe patungong P8.50 kamakailan dahil na rin sa di maawat na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis at mga produktong petrolyo, wala naman raw itong epekto kay Mang Daniel. Kasi naman, sa lugar kung saan siya bumabiyahe, pitong piso lang ang pamasahe - di hamak na mas mababa sa itinakdang singil ng gubyerno.
EDSA-Bagong Barrio sa Caloocan ang ruta ni Mang Daniel. May halos isang daan ding dyip ang bumabagtas sa rutang ito. “Wala naman kaming magawa. Hindi kami puwedeng magtaas ng pasahe kasi wala nang sasakay sa‘men,” paliwanag ni Mang Daniel habang naghihintay sa pila at sukbit-sukbit pa sa katawan ang sisidlan ng kinita sa maghapon.
May mga bumibiyahe din kasing mga tricycle sa ruta nila na pitong piso din ang sinisingil sa mga pasahero. Kaya naman hindi maaaring sumabay ang mga tsuper ng dyip sa Bagong Barrio sa minimum fare increase na itinakda ng Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board o LTFRB.
Kalbaryo ng mga tsuper sa Bagong Barrio
Sa katunayan, noong Hulyo 7 lamang naging pitong piso ang minimum na pamasahe sa dyip sa Bagong Barrio. Bago nito, limang piso lamang ang kailangang bayaran ng mga pasahero.
Ito ang matinding kalbaryo ni Mang Daniel, sampu ng kaniyang mga kapwa tsuper sa Bagong Barrio. Sabi nila, hirap na hirap na sila sa halos lingguhang pagtaas ng presyo ng krudo. “Hindi na ba matatapos ang mga pagtaas na ito?,” tanong ni Mang Daniel. “Hirap na hirap na kaming mga drayber dito.”
Tatlong daang piso ang karaniwang boundary ng mga tsuper sa Bagong Barrio at P250 naman kung walang pasok. Sabi ni Mang Daniel, suwerte na raw ang mga drayber doon kung makapag-uwi sila ng kita na P200. “Ang kumikita lang talaga dito ng malaki ay ang mga kumpaniya ng langis. Sabi nila nalulugi sila kaya kailangang magtaas ng presyo, kalokohan ‘yon. Imposibleng malugi sila” bulalas pa niya.
Limandaang piso hanggang P700 daw ang ginagastos ng mga tsuper sa Bagong Barrio sa krudo pa lamang. Kung kaya minsan, si Mang Daniel, alas-dose na ng hating-gabi natatapos sa pamamasada, may maiuwi lang kahit kaunting pera sa pamilya.
“Minsan nga pangkain na lang, kulang pa. Wala na nga kaming panahon mag-hapi-hapi,” sabi ni Mang Daniel, sabay tawa. Nang makapanayam ng Pinoy International mag-aalas-singko, Linggo ng hapon; wala pang boundary si Mang Daniel. Idinagdag pa nga niya, baon na baon na siya sa utang. Humiram lang daw siya ng isang libo sa nagpapa-five six noong Sabado para lang may ipantawid sa gutom. May mga kailangan din daw kasing bilhin sa eskwela ang dalawa niyang anak sa hayskul. Daing pa ni Mang Daniel: “Sa sitwasyon nga naming mga drayber ngayon, hindi ko na nga alam kung papaano ko papaaralin ang mga anak ko sa kolehiyo. Bahala na.”
The IMA Communique
The IMA recently concluded its founding assembly in Hong Kong. A communique has been released. Please read more below.
"For a long time, others spoke on our behalf. Now we speak for ourselves."
The message was clear: the time for the voice of the grassroots migrants has come with the resounding success of the International Migrants Alliance (IMA) founding assembly.
They came from all corners of the world. One hundred and sixty seven delegates representing 118 organizations from 25 countries participated in the founding assembly of the first international formation of grassroots migrants on June 15 and 16 in Hong Kong. Among these, 102 were present as founding members (regular and associate members) while 16 have come as observers. The assemblies also noted six organizations who have signified to become founding members but were unable to attend due to visa and financial issues.
In the spirit of international solidarity, the participants shared each other's experiences, learned from each other's actions, debated and reached unities that shall propel the IMA in its future programs.
Inputs from a battery of speakers who were mainly from grassroots organizations of migrants were helpful for the participants to arrive at common understanding of major issues that migrants face. After a painstaking process of finding common grounds, the basic principles of the IMA were firmed up.
With the approval of the IMA Constitution, the election of its leadership and first set of officers and the approval of the General Program of Action (GPOA), the IMA was finally born.
United we shall break the chains of globalization.
The first day of the assembly featured presentations on the different themes relevant to migrants.
Held at the City University of Hong Kong and co-organized by the Women Empowerment in Moslem Context of the Southeast Asia Research Center (WEMC-SEARC), the program was attended by more than 350 migrants including about 200 foreign workers – mostly domestic workers – from Hong Kong.
A well-applauded video that showed the situation that migrants face and why building the IMA is imperative opened the program. The crowd was moved, agitated and was put in high spirits to make the assembly a success.
As the names of the organizations attending the IMA were then called, it even heightened the atmosphere of the success of the assembly.
The Very Revd Andrew Chan, dean of the St. John's Cathedral and board member of the Mission for Migrant Workers (MFMW) and the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) that are both based in Hong Kong, welcomed all the delegates and bid the conference to achieve its aims.
Afterwards, renowned advocate for migrants, Dr. Irene Fernandez of Tenaganita (Women's Force) delivered the keynote address to the assembly. She expounded on the global context of the current migration process, how these processes have changed and were shaped by the developments of the global capitalist system, as well as the increased forced migration, especially of women.
She also took note of the apparent debate between the right to migrate against the right of people against displacement. She said that such was a false debate, imposed by people with a superficial understanding of what it means to be a migrant. "Free movement and the right not to be displaced, are two essential elements to the assertion of collective and individual self-determination," Fernandez explained.
Finally, Dr. Fernandez congratulated all the delegates of the IMA as she also called for revolutionary changes "to break these chains of global exploitation and oppression."
Dr. Fernandez's address was then followed by a battery of panel speakers.
The first panel consisted of noted anti-globalization activists who elaborated on the theme of Wages, Job Security, Remittances and GATS Mode-4. These topics were elaborated on by Mr. Aziz Choudry of the GATT watchdog and MR. Sonny Africa of the respected research think-tank Ibon Philippines. The presentation of Mr. Jose Gonzales of Frente IndÃgena de Organizaciones Binacionales gave a concrete face to the ill-effects of globalization as he expounded on the situation of migrant agricultural workers coming from Mexico.
In the second panel that focused on the War on Terror, Immigration and Refugees and the Criminalization of Undocumented Migrants, speakers that included Ms. Sarwat Viqar of the Center for Philippine Concerns in Canada, Mr. Ufuk Berdan of the Federation of of Turkish Workers in Europe and Mr. Terence Valen of the Filipino Community Center in the United States discussed how the US-led war on terror has eroded the rights of migrants especially with many anti-migrant policies. Mr. Ramon Bultron of the APMM meanwhile expounded on the general situation that faces the undocumented migrants and their different concerns.
Afterwards, Filipino migrants in Hong Kong from the Cordillera region in the Philippines presented a short play that depicted, in a "Torch Relay" the history of the struggle of Filipino migrants in Hong Kong.
The third panel was composed of regional and national women leaders who talked about violence against women, trafficking and globalization. Speakers were Ms. Emmi de Jesus of the militant women's group Gabriela in the Philippines, Ms. Asfinawati of Asia Pacific forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) and Hsiao-Chuan Hsia of the Trans Asia Sisters Association of Taiwan (TASAT) which is an organization of immigrant brides in Taiwan.
The last panel of the day tackled the issue of Health, Family and the Social Costs of Forced Migration. Speakers for the panel were Ms. Valentina Soe of the regional group CARAM-Asia, activists from Australia Ms. Vivi Germanos-Koutsounadis of the Greek Orthodox Community of the New South Wales and Ms. Jane Brock-Corpus of the Immigrant Women Speakout Association, Prof. Robyn Rodriquez of Philippine Forum and the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns in the US, and Mr. Syamsul of SEKBER-BMI which is an organization of returned migrants and families of migrant workers in Indonesia.
In the evening, the IMA delegates discussed and approved the IMA's Basis of Unity that shall serve as the Alliance's guiding principles in its work and activities in the future.
United in one stand, firm and resolute
On the second day, the panel that tackled Organizing, Building of Alliances and Campaign Strategies was held. Panel speakers were all grassroots migrant leaders from different countries – Ms. Connie Bragas-Regalado of Migrante International in the Philippines, Ms. Teresa Gutierrez of the May 1st Coalition for Immgirant and Worker Rights in the US, Ms. Wol San Liem of the Migrants' Trade Union (MTU) in Korea and Ms. Eni Lestari of the Asian Migrant's Coordinating Body (AMCB).
The panel presentations became very important inputs in the finalization of the Alliance's Constitution and General Program of Action.
Plans included in the GPOA included activities and programs for education and information, campaign and mobilization that will pick up from the IMA concerns expressed in the panel topics, international advocacy including challenging the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) in the Philippines this October, and expansion of the Alliance including the formation of country chapters and recruitment of more members from the regions of Africa and Latin America.
The finalization of the IMA's GPOA elated the delegates as it provided the roadmap of what the IMA wishes to to achieve for the next three years.
To lead the IMA, members of the International Coordinating Body (ICB) were chosen by the different global regions as well as elected at-large.
To ensure that global regions are represented in the IMA leadership, regional caucuses were held to elect their representatives to the ICB. Among them were Jose Gonzales of FIOB for Latin America, Teresa Gutierrez of May 1st Coalition for Immigrant and Worker Rights for the USA, Sol Pajadura of Migrante-Ontario for Canada, Mr. Ramesh Pandit of Nepalese Labour Organization for South Asia, Mr. Ufuk Berdan of ATIK for Europe, Mr. Nhel Morona for Middle East and Africa and Dr. Irene Fernandez for East Asia and Oceania.
Among those ICB members elected at-large were: Ms. Tess Tesalona of Immigrant Workers Center, Canada; Prof. Robyn Rodriquez of Philippine Forum, USA; Ms. Rumana Sheikh of BOMSA, Bangladesh; Ms. Grace Punongbayan of MIGRANTE-Europe; Ms. Eni Lestari of AMCB,HK; Mr. Ali of Federation of Workers from Turkey in Switzerland; Hsiao-Chuan Hsia of Taiwan; Ms. Connie Bragas-Regalado of Migrante-International, Philippines.
Associate members that comprised NGOs and migrant-serving 
institutions also selected among themselves two members who will sit as ex officio members to the ICB – Ms. Wahu Kaara of Kenya Debt Relief Network and Mr. Ramon Bultron of the Asia-Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM). Ms. Kaara vowed to assist the IMA in its priority of expanding membership in the African region.
These seventeen members comprised the newly-constituted ICB of the IMA.
The ICB then elected among themselves officers of the executive committee.
Elected members of the executive committee were: Eni Lestari of AMCB-HK, chairperson; Ufuk Berdan of ATIK-Europe, vice chairperson; Connie Bragas-Regalado of Migrante-Philippines, secretary-general; Teresa Gutierrez of the May 1st Coalition for Immigrant and Worker Rights in USA, deputy secretary-general, and; Tess Tesalona of Immigrant Workers Center in Canada, Treasurer.
Migrants on the march, onward we shall move
The establishment of the IMA marked a historic chapter in the movement of migrants and immigrants for rights and welfare and for comprehensive social change.
It was a timely effort of the migrants of the world to forge a stronger and higher unity in the face of daunting problems and issues that worsen the exploitation and oppression of the migrants.
Indeed it is now time to "speak for ourselves."
For we are the migrants forced to leave our countries and families. We are the ones displaced by poverty, political persecution, war on terror, economic hardships and other social ills perpetuated by imperialist globalization.
We are the grassroots migrants. With our solidarity, we shall speak and we shall fight to gain more victories. #
IMA Founding Assembly Participating Organizations
Regular Members (70)*
Australia(6): Gabriela Australia, Greek Orthodox Community of New South Wales, Immigrant Women's Speak Out Association-Australia, Migrante Perth, Migrante Sydney Neighborhood – Inner West of Sydney, Migrante-Melbourne. Austria (1): AYIGF-Federation of Workers from Turkey in Austria. Bangladesh (2): Bangladeshi Ovibashi Mohila Sramik Association, IMA Research Foundation. Canada (6): Migrante Ontario, Pilipinong Migrante sa Canada, Pinay, South Asian Women's Community Center, Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada, Immigrant Workers Centre. Denmark (1): Ugnayan sa Radyo Pinoy. Germany (3): ATIK-Confederation of Workers from Turkey in Europe, ATIK-Yeni Kadin Woman Commission Germany, ATIF-Federation of Workers from Turkey in Germany. Hong Kong (16): Abra Tinguian Ilocano Society, Asian Migrants Coordinating Body, Asosiasi Tenaga Kerja Indonesia, Association of Concerned Filipinos, Association of Sri Lankans, Cordillera Alliance, Filipino Migrant Workers Union, Filipino Women Migrant Workers Association, Friends of Bethune House, Mission Volunteers (MOVERS), PILAR, Pinatud A Saleng Ti Umili, Thai Regional Alliance, United Filipinos in Hong Kong, LIKHA, PIC Choir. Indonesia (1): SEKBER - Family of Migrants. Italy (1): UMANGAT. Japan (4): Filipina Circle for Advancement and Progress (FICAP), KAFIN, KAFIN-Tokyo Akishima, Philippine Women's League of Japan. Korea (2): KASAMMAKO, New Era Foundation. Macau (2): ATKI Macau, Migrante Macau. Malaysia (2): Nepalese Labor Organization, TENAGANITA. The Netherlands (2): HITIF-Federation of Workers from Turkey in Holland, Migrante Europe. New Zealand (1): MIGRANTE-New Zealand. Philippines (2): Migrante International, Coalition of Agricultural Workers Internonational. Switzerland (1): ITIF-Federation of Workers from Turkey in Switzerland. Taiwan (3): Migrante – Taiwan, Trans-Asia Sisters Association of Taiwan, Taiwan International Workers Association. United Kingdom (3): Migrante UK, Tohum Cultural Center, YDG-Europe. United Arab Emirates (1): Migrante UAE. United States of America (10): Anakbayan Los Angeles, Anakbayan New York New Jersey, BAYAN-USA, Frente IndÃgena de Organizaciones Binacionales, Habi Arts, Bayan USA, May 1st Coalition for Immigrant and Workers Rights, Movement of Action, Inspiring Service (MAIZ), Philippine Forum, Migrante New York, Chelsea Uniting Against the War.
Associate Members (32)
Australia (3): Australia Asia Workers Link, Philippine Australia Solidarity Association, Work@Justice. Canada (5): CATTA, Centre for People's Concerns (CAP-CPC), Movement Against Rape and Incest, Philippines-Canada Solidarity for Human Rights, Women of Diverse Origins for March 8. Hong Kong (6): Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants, Asian Students Association, Bethune House Migrant Women's Refuge, ENGENDER Hong Kong, Mission For Migrant Workers (HK) Society, St John's Cathedral HIV Education Centre. Indonesia (1): Indies. India (1): Sahanivasa. Japan (1): Filipino Migrants Center. Kenya (1): Kenya Debt Relief Network. Malaysia (2): CARAM – Asia, Pesticide Action Network – Asia Pacific. Pakistan (1): Roots for Equity. Philippines (7): Alliance of Health Workers, Center for Women's Resources, GABRIELA, IBON, Institute of Political Economy (IPE), Solidarity and People's Advocacy Network, Student Christian Movement of the Philippines. Taiwan (2): Labor Rights Association, New Immigrants Labor Rights Association. Thailand (1): Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development. United States of America (1): Filipino Community Center-San Francisco
Observers (16)
Australia (2): Asian Women at Work, Researchers from the University of Sydney. Canada (1): Vancouver Bus Riders Association. Hong Kong (3): World Student Christian Federation Asia Pacific, Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, Asian Monitor Resource Centre. Indonesia (2): Partisan Foundation, Solidaritas Perempuan. Japan (3): Asia Wide Campaign (AWC-Japan), Global Collaboration Center, Japanese Filipino Children's Network. Korea (1): Migrants Trade Union. New Zealand (1): GATT-Watchdog. Philippines (1): Gabriela Women's Party. Thailand (1): Global Alliance Against Trafficking of Women. United States of America (1): Critical Filipino Studies Collective.
*Six organizations who were not present during the assembly but signified their intent to join the IMA as regular members are: Japan (3) – DUYAN, League of Filipino Seniors, Philippine Society in Japan. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (2): Kapatiran sa Gitnang Silangan-Migrante Al Jouf, Migrante-Jeddah-KSA. Korea (1): Migrant Workers Television South Korea (MWTV).
The 2008 State of the Nation Address of Bogus President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
A Statement by Bayan-Canada National Organizing Committee*
Whether on Sunday, July 27 or the Monday after, whether in Canada's west coast gateway, Vancouver, to its capital, Ottawa, and Canada's financial heartland, Toronto, in between; Bayan-Canada organizations from the west to the province of Quebec, will be holding various events from a People's Festival, a People's Worship, and a picket in front of the Philippine Embassy to celebrate the Filipino people's movement as it struggles for a better future for the Filipino people and international solidarity, and to unmask the glittering falsehoods that will be peddled on July 28 in the Philippine Congress.
As you know, that very day the bogus President of the Republic of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, will be delivering her fantastical state of the nation address. She will stand there before a body that is overwhelmingly made up of ill-gotten millionaires to weave a mendacious tale of advancement for the Filipino people. Ever mindful of the largess out of Macapagal Arroyo's schemes to cling to the throne, the Philippine Congress will sycophantically grunt at this fool's gold as their minds wander off to thoughts of another year's worth of pork barrel.
As the great anti-imperialist author Mark Twain once made popular, there are "lies, damned lies, and statistics." No doubt Arroyo will dip frequently into her grab bag of numerical sorcery to chant her incantation that her so-called Medium Term Philippine Development Plan of 2004-2010 is actually working. This kind of plan, premised as it is on the old wives' tale that subjecting a maldeveloped country's proto-industries to the brutal competition of a world market dominated at all levels by imperial powers develops that country, has been cliché in the Philippines now for a century. Only a psychotic can believe that doing the same thing again will somehow get different results.
To disabuse us of this notion that any development is actually happening in the Philippines, we need only recall that the National Statistics Office of the Philippine government can actually claim with a straight face that April 2008 unemployment in the Philippines is only 8%. Just to compare, Canada's unemployment rate is said to be only 6.2% by Statistics Canada. In other words, we are supposed to believe that a country in deep, deep, deep, deep, deep depression and backward maldevelopment has barely worse unemployment than one of the richest countries in the world possibly in the throes of a mild economic contraction?
This staggers the mind and no Filipino, except in the worst bad faith, will believe it. To be fair, perhaps the numbers were conjured by leaving out the fact that last year 1,070,192 Filipinos were deployed abroad as overseas workers, not to mention those that actually emigrated, or did not return after doing some tourism, etc.
The Filipino people know the palpable truth through the ache of their growling stomachs, and the silent emptiness of another loved one in strange foreign lands just so the family might survive another day that the country's situation is again worsening as it did the year before, and the year before that, and so on. The most accurate way to picture the direction of the Philippine economy is going down stairs. On those rare best of years, when everything goes right, it either does not get worse or it gets just a little worse. This is one of those years in which not only are the Filipino people hit with weekly oil price increases of P1.50, rice prices have already soared by 1/3 and corn prices by 1/5 even as daily minimum wages hover between P345 or P382, or between $8.00 and $9.00 Canadian per day.
As we vow to redouble our efforts to arouse, organize and mobilize the Filipino people in Canada to struggle for a brighter future for the Filipino people overall, and to defend our rights and improve our welfare in Canada; we also call on our Canadian friends to redouble their efforts to arouse, organize and mobilize the Canadian people to pry away the blood-soaked talons of its imperialist state from its loving embrace with the Philippine fascist state.
*Bayan-Canada organizing committees exist in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.
