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| May 18, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Reference: Sarah Katrina Maramag Media Officer, 09193486790 Maritess Lopez Bicol Coordinator, 09103199044 NEWS FLASH! Kabataan poll watchers abducted and slain by military in Camarines Norte Kabataan Party-list strongly condemns the abduction and murder of two of its poll watchers in Capalonga, Camarines Norte. Jun Bagasbas, 20 years old, of Ulipanan Jose Panganiban; and Ronilo Vallevare, 16 years old, of Brgy. Old Camp Capalonga, both Kabataan organizers and poll watchers, were abducted by suspected soldiers on May 15. The two were on their way home after delivering food to Kabataan Party-list volunteers when they were abducted by uniformed men near the Brgy. Old Camp Capalong polling place. They next day, May 16, they were found dead along the boundaries of Brgys. Mataqui and Catabaguangan, Capalonga, Camarines Norte. On the same day, the military issued a statement that Bagasbas and Vallevare were civilian casualties of an encounter between the New People's Army and the AFP on May 15. "This is a very sad period for all vigilant youth and citizens. First the heroic deaths of two teachers in Batangas and now the senseless killing of two youths who have vowed to protect the votes of the youth and people," said Raymond Palatino, national president and nominee. "We condemn the brutal murders of Jun and Ronilo. This extra-judicial killing is undoubtedly election and political-related. We hold the government accountable for failing to address the climate of impunity that has permeated this election period at the onset. We will not rest until justice is served." Kabataan Party-list called on the Comelec to immediately conduct an investigation on the killings. Kabataan Party-list is set to hold an indignation rally in front of Comelec at 4pm today. ### | | |
| News Release
May 8, 2007
Reference: Archiel Buagas, Justice for Sentosa 27 Campaign, email: justice4sentosanurses @ yahoo.com; Rico Foz, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns, email: nafconusa @ yahoo.com
Fil-Am Groups Laud "Sentosa 27" Healthworkers for Fighting Injustice
International Campaign, Online Petition Launches on National Nurses Week
New York - At the end of an intensely emotional town hall meeting at the Philippine Forum headquarters last Sunday evening, individuals and groups officially kicked off National Nurses week in the United States with vows to clear the 27 former Sentosa-employed health workers, including one of their lawyers, Atty. Felix Vinluan, from all criminal and civil charges filed against them by the former, officially registered as Sentosa Care LLC and its various health care facilities in New York.
The National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), a national alliance of Filipino organizations in the US with international networks, is spearheading the "Justice for the Sentosa 27" campaign along with said healthworkers that also aims to collect unpaid overtime and back wages due the Sentosa refused to release, have the State of New York investigate the agency's overseas hiring and work operations, and have US Senator Charles Schumer, a Democrat of New York and Philippine senatorial candidate Michael Defensor to explain their roles in the lifting of the suspension of the Sentosa license in Philippines two weeks after it was ordered by the Philippine Overseas and Employment Agency (POEA).
An online petition outlining these demands can be found at www.petitiononline.com/j4s27/.
"We arrived in New York in November, in the cold season. We were brought to the staff house where we were stay for two months for free and save money we need when we move to an apartment. When we got there, Dr. Jacinto (the famous top notcher doctor-turned-top notcher nurse) and I shared the room with other Filipino nurses. We took turns sleeping on the bed and on the floor. It wasn't comfortable, but I didn't complain. I told myself, if Dr. Jacinto who topped the board exams is not complaining, I shouldn't be complaining," said James Millena, also a nurse-turned-doctor who revealed that he was assigned to handle 100 patients by himself throughout his shift.
NAFCON hailed the "Sentosa 27", as the health workers are now called, for "standing up to Goliath" in the defense of their rights as immigrant workers and as Filipinos. Stories of how Filipino workers, particularly health professionals, suffer in the hands of their employers in the United States circulate from time to time.
"For the first time, health professionals bravely came out to fight for what is right. To defend not only their dignity but that of the Filipino people in the US," community lawyer Merit Salud said in his statement of support to the Sentosa 27.
The World Health Organization has cited the Philippines as the "largest source of registered nurses working overseas". They also cite that there are about 15,000 nurses who leave the Philippines annually to be farmed in 30 different countries. The United States remains to top destination for Filipino nurses, who train aggressively under the Philippine government's Labor Export Policy (LEP).
"We are launching this campaign with our international friends to expose failures in the US government's domestic policies on immigration and labor and the Philippine government's domestic policies in outmigration and protecting the basic rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers," stated Berna Ellorin, Special Commissioner on Philippine Affairs for NAFCON and secretary-general of BAYAN USA.
International carriers of the "Justice for the Sentosa 27" campaign include the Philippine-based Alliance of Health Workers, Migrante International, Health Alliance for Democracy, and BAYAN Philippines. US-based carriers include labor groups as well as Filipino-American groups spanning over 23 cities under NAFCON.
Philippine Forum conferred the "Gawad Bulosan (Bulosan Award)" to the Sentosa 27 "for their bravery and courage" to fight for their rights as immigrant workers. The award is given annually in honor of Filipino immigrant worker Carlos Bulosan who became a celebrated writer/activist in the United States in the 1930s and 40s.
Sen. Schumer wrote the Philippines Government after the Order for Preventive Suspension was given to the Sentosa Recruitment Agency, the Philippine branch of Sentosa Care Group. Acting on the US senator's letter, the aspiring Philippine senator Defensor called POEA administrator Rosalinda Baldoz. The "Sentosa 27" acquired copies/records of said correspondences.
"We came to America, like most Filipinos, in search of the better life," Maricelle Dealo said to stress that what they found out as soon as they arrived in New York to work for the Sentosa facilities was exactly the opposite.
The next public campaign meeting for the Sentosa 27 is this Sunday, May 13th, 5pm at the Philippine Forum office at 54-05 Seabury Street, in Elmhurst. (Take V/G/R to Grand Ave/Newtown).
For more information on the Justice for the Sentosa 27 campaign, email: justice4sentosanurses@yahoo.com or call 718-565-8862. ###
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| SanDiwa, Philippine Studies Program, Philippine Forum and NAFCON would like to announce our 3rd Annual SanDiwa Conference “We Stand on Their Shoulders: Globally, Locally, and Personally” FEBRUARY 16 – 18, 2007
Hosted by the Filipino Community Center & San Francisco State University The conference theme is based on a mural collaborative organized by the Filipino mural committee and painted by 200 students, faculty, and staff with lead artist James Garcia, Andre Sibayan, and Cece Carpio at San Francisco State University. "We stand on their shoulders," depicts community, independence, solidarity, and the history of Filipinos in the United States. In addition to the quote, members of SanDiwa added 'Globally, Locally, and Personally,' to reflect the struggles and triumphs of Filipinos around the world, within our communities, and within our family and ourselves.
This year’s conference will be focused on cultural understanding and expression through art. Our hope is that this conference recognizes the various facets of modern expression through art and culture. The conference will also be based on coalition building. We are hoping to work alongside various Filipino community organizations and members such as NAFCON to create an umbrella and an outlet for youth nationwide to become aware of the various issues facing Filipinos and unite all Filipinos nationwide. Featured at the conference will be: Keynote Speakers: Professor Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales, Professor Peter Chua, & Kiwi (from Native Guns) Workshops by League of Filipino Students-SFSU, NAFCON, and Ryan Leano Report Back from Philippine Studies Program 2006 Alumni And featuring special events… “Laugh About Love” a Pin@y Educational Partnership Comedy Show Fundraiser & “Stop the Killings” a hip hop showcase hosted by Bindlestiff Studios benefiting Karapatan. REGISTER NOW at: WWW.SANDIWA.ORG Registration fee: $25 (General & alumni) / $15 (High School Students)
Fee includes food, ticket to “Stop the Killings” and entry to raffle drawing to win artwork by James Garcia aka gaNyan and more Filipino artists!http://www.cell68.com/stk/index.html ***SanDiwa means conciousness and spirit in Tagalog and is a Filipino American National Organization started by alumni from the Philippine Studies Program. ***NAFCON stands for National Alliance for Filipino Concerns. | | |
| haha- i just read my old school entries from 2 years ago... lemme do up another one for the new year. Issue # 1- I'm not really a Manny Pacquiao fan. - now to the untrained eye that might seem mad crab-mentality like, BUT he keeps saying hes repping for the Filipino people then he takes all his $ and chills in his mansion....again capitalism trumps any sense of humanity. Once youve made it, no need to look back huh? hmmmmmmm he might as well be a fil-am then... P.S. Can he please fight a white guy? The system really got this thing manipulated when the minorities keep fighting eachother....PEACE to the ingenious white man and his strategy of Divide and Rule. Issue # 2- Yeah Nas, hip hop is dead. And dont worry, I'm sure its not because you used the same beat from your last album or are now working for the man who slept with the mother of your child.- if you cant tell, im dissapointed. On the other hand, Nas is a "chess-player" and thinking 10 moves ahead. So you heard it here first: NAS & BEYONCE. Issue # 3- Saw "In The Pursuit of Happyness"- Reminds me of me and my mom back in the day. Makes me think if we were black, we'd be on those shelter lines too. Thank God for Filipino family support! Issue # 4- Lil Wayne can eat shit. hes wack. those are not his lyrics! "2 at the same time call it changing faces" -no way he can think that shit up! Issue #5- Everytime I see a kid with those roller-sneaker things, I just wanna close-line them. I know its wrong and thats why I wont actually do it, but I'd think the fuck out of it. But maybe I'm just jealous since the best sneaker i had were the L.A. Gears that had the lights. Issue # 6- So the typhoons are F'ing up Filipinas right now, and what are we doing about it? Well SOME are donating back, and rightly so. BUT please, if your org is going through Red Cross, Ayala Group, Gawad Kalinga, etc, you might as well buy yourself a PS3, then give the rest to Bayan Balsa or BICOL MOVEMENT FOR DISASTER RESPONSE , because thats the amount they wouldve got anyway.pls remember to "rep for the masses- not the upperclasses" people. check it out. http://www.arkibongbayan.org/2006-12Dec14-TabangBikol/tabangbikol.htm Issue #7: So my Tiger Loache was eating up all my fish in my tank. Probably more than $160 worth of fish died bc of that greedy bastard. He died and now all my fish are alive and free and can swim where they please...but in the end of the day- theyre still just in my tank, so how "free" can they actually be.... now if thats not a relation to political and social issues, i dunno what is..lol Issue #8: Has anyone else noticed that Jim Jones has managed to stretch 1 single through 7 months? I heard that song in June before I went to Philippines. its now January. lol - 3 remixes? Cmon now. Issue #9: You dont believe in Global Warming? Tell that to the Chinese delivery man who was biking down Hudson Street yesterday in a tank top and shorts. WTF is up with the weather? Issue #10: Holy fuck I'm 23. At 23 Castro was making plans to free Cuba, Rizal started writing Noli, and Alexander the Great just became a King. But on the other hand, Malcolm X was in a Massachusetts prison, so I'm not THAT far behind. PS: New Year's Resolution: Hold nothing back/ Say what i feel /Speak from the heart. | | |
| KILUSANG MAYO UNO
(May First Labor Center)
TAGAPAMANDILA NG TUNAY NA UNYONISMO
No. 63 Narra St. Bgy. Claro, Proj. 3 Quezon City
Telefax 421-0768, 421-0986
website:www.kilusangmayouno.org
US participant of counter-Asean activity deported at NAIA
International Airport Manila
The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) condemns the harassment and deportation
of Atty. Brian Campbell, a progressive foreign lawyer and
internationalist supporting the struggles of the Filipino people.
Yesterday evening, Atty. Brian Campbell, a participant of the
conference on "Jobs and Justice", was deported from the country. At
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) he was refused to enter the
country by the immigration authorities. Atty. Campbell is a labor
lawyer affiliated with the Washington DC-based International Labor Rights Fund.
The conference on Jobs and Justice is organized by the Asia Pacific
Workers Solidarity Links (APWSL) - Philippines and the Asia Pacific
Research Network (APRN), and will be held from December 7-8, 2006 in
Cebu City, Philippines.
While he was waiting for this deportation, Atty. Campbell wrote this letter:
Dear ______
As I write this letter, I am sitting in the Manila airport under
guard awaiting expulsion from the Philippines. I have not yet been
told the exact nature of my transgression, yet official silence is
nothing new here. You can rest assure that I am being denied entry
into the Philippines as just another small part of the government's
concerted long-standing campaign to silence the critics of the Arroyo
regime and the political killings.
Only just a few months ago, I participated in an International
Solidarity Mission sponsored by the Center for Trade Union and Human
Rights and the Ecumenical Institute of Labor Education and Research.
During my stay here, I met with several families of political
killings, including the Mrs. Luz Fortuna, the husband of Diasdado "Ka
Fort" Fortuna, I had the privilege of meeting with the Commission of
Human Rights of the Philippines where, to our relief, the commission
officially ruled that his murder was a human rights violation and a
violation of international law.
I was returning again to the Philippines at the invitation of other
human rights organizations to discuss the ongoing killings of
community leaders and critics of the Arroyo regime. Specifically, I
was to meet with the family of Bishop Ramento who was killed just two
months ago, to offer my condolences and to discuss how organizations
like mine in other countries can help Bishop Ramento's family
continue his great work helping the families of the Hacienda Luscita
Massacre and other workers in the Philippines.
Unfortunately, I have been denied entry into the country. And, I,
along with many other participants of the last May's International
Labor Solidarity Mission, has been blacklisted from returning to the
Philippines. I am not the only attorney barred from the country. When
attempting to determine why I was on the blacklist, I was able to see
other names of human rights attorneys who have also been barred
entry. Though I was only able to take a glance at the list, I
recognized the names of other well-known U.S. human rights attorneys,
including Atty. Rachel Lederman and Tina Monshipur Foster, who were
both recently the guests of Gabriella and Karapatan and published a
report in the United States critical of the Arroyo government efforts
to bring an end to the killings.
The Filipino government's reasons for expelling me from this country
will never be known to me or the others on the blacklist. Perhaps
they've labeled me a communist sympathizer and a threat to the peace
of the Philippines as they have most other critics of the
government's policies. Perhaps they are simply seeking to prevent
others like me from helping our friends in the Philippines who remain
under constant military surveillance and threat, like the attorneys
at Pro-Labor Legal Assistance Center. What is clear, though, is that
rule of law and freedom of speech is suffering in the Philippines
today. As the Philippines moves further away from the principle upon
which it was founded, people are afraid to speak out for fear of
being listed on the Order of Battle, something far worse than the
blacklist I am on. Though I applaud the idea of an independent
commission, such as the Melo Commission, for investigating these
political killings, any investigation will remain inadequate so long
as the people are afraid to speak and those who order the killings
remain in leadership position in the police and military.
Brian Campbell
Attorney-at-Law
International Labor Rights Fund | | |
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