NAFCON-US Demands the Immediate Release of 43 Health Workers Illegally Arrested and Illegally Detained in a Military Raid

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
8 February 2010

Reference: NAFCON National Office
info@nafconusa.org 718-565-8862 718-565-8856 (fax)

The National Alliance for Filipino Concerns-US (NAFCON-US) Demands the Immediate Release of 43 Health Workers Illegally Arrested and Illegally Detained in a Military Raid, Rizal Province, Philippines

New York—NAFCON-US, an alliance of Filipino American organizations based in 23 cities, condemns the Philippine police and military’s illegal raid and abduction of 43 health workers and doctors who were conducting health skills training in Morong, Rizal, Philippines on Saturday, February 6. The health workers and doctors administer health services to poor communities, and were participating in a First Responders Training, sponsored by the Community Medicine Foundation, Inc. (COMMED) and Council for Health and Development (CHD). Their personal belongings, as well the training materials used, were all confiscated by the military.

The human rights alliance KARAPATAN reports approximately 300 soldiers and police of the Southern Luzon Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Rizal Philippine National Police (PNP) forcibly entered the farmhouse of Dr. Melecia Velmonte at 6:15 AM. At gunpoint, the military forced the caretaker to open the gates. Inside, the soldiers fanned out to different directions. They also kicked the main door to get into the building.

When Dr. Velmonte and her son, Bob demanded for a search warrant, they were merely brushed aside by the military. All medical practitioners and health workers, were ordered to line up at the garage, frisked, and handcuffed. The victims were also questioned and photographed by the military, while another took a video recording of the interrogation. The male victims were then blindfolded with old shirts brought in by the soldiers and secured with packaging tape.

When the participants were already handcuffed, it was only then that Police Superintendent Marion P. Balonglong showed Bob a search warrant for a certain Mario Condes of Bgy. Maybangcal, Morong, Rizal, charged with illegal possession of firearms. The search warrant dated February 5, 2010 and issued by Judge Cesar A. Mangrobang of Branch 22 of the Imus, Cavite Regional Trial Court, did not indicate the exact address of the Velmonte compound. Bob asserted that the warrant did not specify their address, and that Mario Condes, who is subject of the warrant, is not even the owner of the house, but he was ignored by the authorities.

The health workers were forced into the military trucks and were brought to Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, headquarters of the 202nd Infantry Brigade of Philippine Army. The health workers have been held incommunicado since then, and have been denied their right to legal counsel. A team from the Commission on Human Rights was also blocked from seeing the detainees.

“The PNP and AFP’s illegal abduction and detention of health professionals is reprehensible and again highlights the Arroyo regime’s disregard for human rights,” states Father Benjamin Alforque, NAFCON-US President. “We condemn the government for arresting these health care providers while they were undergoing ‘First Response Training,’ to serve the poor who are in most need of critical healthcare.”

“If the Philippine government was truly concerned with the welfare of the Filipino people, especially in light of the recent devastation caused by natural disasters such as Ondoy and Pepeng, it would be supporting, not arresting, health professionals who are trained in emergency response and who seek to serve communities,” adds Julia Camagong, NAFCON Vice President of Programs.

Karapatan Recommended action endorsed by NAFCON-US:
Send letters, emails or fax messages calling for:

1. The immediate release of the health workers who are illegally arrested and illegally detained at Camp Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal.

2. The government to ensure the safety of the victims and that they are not harmed; their belongings be returned immediately to them.

3. The immediate formation of an independent fact-finding and investigation team composed of representatives from human rights groups, the Church, local government, and the Commission on Human Rights that will look into raid and illegal arrest of the health workers conducting health skills training in Morong, Rizal.

4. The military to stop the labeling and targeting of human rights defenders as “members of front organizations of the communists” and “enemies of the state.”

5. The Philippine Government to be reminded that it is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that it is also a party to all the major Human Rights instruments, thus it is bound to observe all of these instruments’ provisions.

You may send your communications to:
H.E.Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President of the Republic
Malacañang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila Philippines
Voice: (+632) 564 1451 to 80
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
Cell#: (+ 63) 919 898 4622 / (+63) 917 839 8462
E-mail: corres@op.gov.ph / opnet@ops.gov.ph

Gen. Avelino Razon, Ret. PNP
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
7th Floor Agustin Building I
Emerald Avenue
Pasig City 1605
Voice:+63 (2) 636 0701 to 066
Fax:+63 (2) 638 2216
osec@opapp.gov.ph

Norberto Gonzales
Secretary, Department of National Defense
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
E. de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City
Voice:+63(2) 911-9281 / 911-0488
Fax:+63(2) 911 6213
Email: osnd@philonline.com

Atty. Agnes Devanadera
Secretary, Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila
Direct Line 521-8344; 5213721
Trunkline 523-84-81 loc.214
Fax: (+632) 521-1614
Email: soj@doj.gov.ph

Atty. Leila De Lima
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Voice: (+632) 928-5655, 926-6188
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
Email: chr.delima@yahoo.com

GMA STOP THE ILLEGAL ABDUCTION AND DETENTION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS!

JUSTICE FOR ALL VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS UNDER THE ARROYO REGIME!

NO TO US MILITARY AID THAT SUPPORTS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATORS

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NAFCON Mission and Purpose

The National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) is a national network of Filipino organizations, institutions, and individuals committed to advancing the rights and welfare, celebrating culture and history, and building unity among Filipinos living and working in the United States. Founded in 2003, NAFCON members are based in over 23 cities across the country. Member organizations include: SanDiwa National Alliance of Fil-Am Youth, National Ecumenical Forum for Filipino Concerns, Filipino Community Center–San Francisco, Filipino Community Support–Silicon Valley, Philippine Forum—New York and New Jersey, F.I.R.E.—New York, Habi Arts—Los Angeles, Liwanag Kultural Center—Daly City, Filipino Ministry of DSB—San Bernardino, Fellowship for Filipino Migrants—Illinois, and Filipino Migrant Heritage Commission—Virginia.

The main purpose of NAFCON is to contribute our time and efforts to fight and protect the Rights and Welfare of the Filipino immigrants all over the globe. Through education, organizing, mobilizing, fundraising, networking and lobbying; we hope to restore social justice and equality for our people in the United States and in the Philippines.

“They Don’t Really Care About Us”

As a dancer and passionate Michael Jackson fan, just by the aesthetics alone, I was floored in amazement by this awesome performance. This is one of countless examples that Pin@ys are among the best damn dancers in the world. I give mad props to Travis Payne for even going to the Philippines and wanting to share with the inmates of Cebu Provincial Detention & Rehabilitation Center, the closest they’ll ever get to the dream of dancing with the late MJ. These prisoners, deemed criminals and banished from society, became international superstars from their now infamous YouTube performance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” all without ever leaving the prison industrial complex.

After the thrill and amazement from watching that performance, I find myself internally very conflicted. But I strongly feel that it needs to be part of our discourse as artists.

Now from a socio-political analysis, I can’t help but wonder about the sheer exploitation and abuse these prisoners go through, and in the end they get what, besides international fame? The only one I see reaping the material benefits from all of this is warden Byron Garcia. It’s very true that prison is a microcosm of society, where artists are among the most exploited by those in positions of power, like mainstream media. Like MJ said, “They Don’t Really Care About Us.”

I really would like to see if anything beyond just this video performance would happen to benefit the prisoners for their talents.

Helping Our Brothers and Sisters in Haiti

(photos taken from time.com)

Here are some ways we can help Haiti, grassroots style. Let’s help our brothers and sisters struggling and recovering from the disaster, both caused by nature and caused by imperialism.

Haiti Emergency Relief Fund

Partners in Health: Stand with Haiti

Lambdi Fund of Haiti

Also, an awesome article from the Seattle Times contextualizing the socio-political history of Haiti and in the aftermath of the earthquake.

My 2009 Retrospective

Thought I’d do something different with this particular blog. 2009 has had many successes, failures, gains, losses, and valuable lessons learned. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

To the people who played integral roles in my growth this past year; SanDiwa, NAFCON, Bayan-USA, Gabriela-USA, Pin@y Educational Partnerships, Galing Bata, Soulidified Project, an everybody in between; much thanks and love always. I won’t make a long laundry list of all that has happened. If you were there with me, you know that this was indeed my most challenging year as an academe, an artist, and an activist.

One has to first look back before heading to the next destination. Here’s to an amazing 2009 and an ambitious 2010!

My 2009 Retrospective from Ryan Leano on Vimeo.

Raise Your Voice & Raise Your Fist! Martial Law WE MUST RESIST! Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) attempts to hold on to power by declaring a State of Martial Law in Maguindanao.

For Immediate Release
December 7, 2009
References:
Jo Quiambao- Co-Vice Chair of SanDiwa National Alliance of Fil-Am Youth
Ryan Leano- Secretary General of SanDiwa National Alliance of Fil-Am Youth

email: sandiwa.national@gmail.com

Raise Your Voice & Raise Your Fist! Martial Law WE MUST RESIST! Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) attempts to hold on to power by declaring a State of Martial Law in Maguindanao.

Filipina/o American Youth stand in solidarity with our kababayans back home in the Philippines in condemning Arroyo’s recent attempt to hold on to power by declaring a State of Martial Law and suspending the writ of habeas corpus in the southern province of Maguindanao. The Philippine Congress plans to vote on Arroyo’s signing of Presidential Proclamation of 1959 on Monday. She is now using the brutal and gruesome acts of the November 23rd Maguindanao Massacre as an excuse to keep her and her administration’s control within the region. Instead of conducting fair and just investigations for the 60+ victims and their families, Arroyo’s goal is to manipulate/mask the investigations of the acts and to continue to implement the political violence and impunity within the region. As the president’s term ends soon and as Philippine elections will take place for 2010, the Pilipino people are demanding for fair election practices as well as an end to violence throughout the country. The anticipated elections are an opportunity for all Pilipinos to participate in choosing their government leaders; however, the majority fears the continued fraud and corruption within campaigns and elections.

GMA claims that the declaration of Martial Law in Maguindanao is needed in order to pursue peace, order, and safety within the region. This declaration poses as a grave danger for the near future, especially for our brothers and sisters in the Bangsamoro areas that have been struggling in warlord led villages. While arguments of armed conflict are claimed to be the causes of violence, the administration neglects to address the grassroots issues of socio-economic exploitation and political abuse in these regions, which are elements often supported by or orchestrated by the state. Peace and order cannot be created without justice, and justice cannot be served when the people mistrust police and military officials to pursue fair investigations. Meanwhile many continue to criticize the national government in maintaining a culture of impunity throughout the country.

The Philippine government has worked together with the AFP forces to embed fear in various communities in order to maintain power. The reality is that political killings, torture, disappearances and other tactics of repression have been used throughout her presidential term as strategies to keep critics and marginalized groups silent. False accusations have led to the filing of fake cases against activists, laborers/workers, students, etc., which enable the police to convict “suspected” individuals. What was their crime? There are recent discussions regarding cases of “hamletting” where communities are blocked from food and other provisions, and their families are being detained and tortured over and over again until some individuals choose to commit suicide. These types of acts neutralize others in the communities and prevent them from speaking out against the perpetrators. While victims have tried to file a number of complaints, cases are being repeatedly dismissed and criminal proceedings neglected or not implemented at all. The judges and justices are also afraid of the Philippine military and thus the president has succeeded in pursuing judicial complicity as well. The violent and horrific acts continue, because perpetrators commit such acts without consciousness – they know that they will not be caught or punished for their actions.

The declaration of Martial Law in the Philippines manifests the failure of the president and her administration in condemning political killings and violence as well as failure to uphold the rule of law in order to protect the people. It is also a possible opportunity for Arroyo to try to pursue charter change/CHA-CHA again. It is evident now more than ever that her “Excellency” and her administration remain firm in their convictions to pursue nation wide repression. While our people continue the fight to be heard and struggle to survive, it is our duty to voice demands for honest and fair investigations in such heinous cases as what was demonstrated this past November, as well as democratic and fair elections. It is critical for the Filipina(o) American communities to persist in efforts to educate others, especially our congressional representatives, on the recent events that have led to this declaration of Martial Law. We must remind the Obama administration that they are supporting a power-hungry dictatorship supported by the state military, which relies heavily on the foreign military financing provided by the U.S. to the Philippine government. The international community must put pressure on the President Arroyo to lift the declaration of Martial Law in Maguindanao and for the Philippine congress to repeal this effort.

RAISE YOUR VOICE & RAISE YOUR FIST, Martial Law WE MUST RESIST!

SanDiwa would like to express our deepest sympathy and condolences to the family and friends of the victims in the Maguindanao Massacre. We express our solidarity with our fellow kababayans in the motherland in our constant struggle for justice and peace.
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SanDiwa, the youth and students arm of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), is a national alliance of youth, students, and community youth organizations, united to (re) educate, celebrate, and advocate for issues that affect our Filipino communities in the United States and in the Philippines. As an alliance, we seek to work cross-culturally in reclaiming our humanity and to work collaboratively with “other” minority groups to protect the rights and welfare of young Filipinos all over the United States.

Power, Not Justice, is What Arroyo Seeks With Martial Law — BAYAN USA

News Statement
December 4, 2009

Reference: Rhonda Ramiro, Secretary-General, BAYAN USA, email:secgen@bayanusa.org

POWER, NOT JUSTICE, IS WHAT ARROYO SEEKS WITH MARTIAL LAW
BAYAN USA Urges Phil. Congress to Revoke Proclamation 1959, Demands Obama Withdraw Support

The US Chapter of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, or BAYAN USA, an alliance of 14 Filipino organizations across the United States is urging Filipinos in the United States and around the world to heighten their vigilance and resolve against the Arroyo government’s recent declaration of a State of Martial Law in the Southern Philippine province of Maguindanao. Following Arroyo’s signing of Presidential Proclamation 1959 last Friday, the Philippine Congress is set to resume on Monday, will review Arroyo’s action, and will vote on it.

“This is not about seeking justice for the victims of the Maguindanao massacre. This is about taking advantage of what is perhaps the most insolent election-related act of violence in recent Philippine history to justify abuse of executive powers,” states BAYAN USA Chair Berna Ellorin. “Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo does nothing but dishonor the 64+ massacred last November 23rd in Maguindanao by riding on the tragedy to serve her own narrow interest to cling to power, especially when her Presidential term must end next year.”

No Justice for Maguindanao Massacre Victims Under Arroyo

The alliance chided the Arroyo government’s delayed handling of the Maguindanao massacre as intentional and supported growing calls for a third party to conduct an impartial, thorough investigation of the crime scene and ensure swift arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators. But the lack of timely effort on the Arroyo government’s part to go after the obvious suspects– the Ampatuan family, a powerful political dynasty that has ruled Maguindanao for over a decade– clearly posed roadblocks to justice.

Nearly two weeks after the massacre, and with only one suspect in custody who voluntarily surrendered, Arroyo signed Proclamation 1959, placing Maguindanao province under a State of Martial Law, under the auspices of arresting the other members of the Ampatuan family and calling them in for questioning.

“The Arroyos and Ampatuans are close political allies, therefore the Arroyo government is in no rightful position to present itself as capable of enacting swift justice, especially in light of key witnesses coming forward confirming their long-time political patronage included the sales of arms, arms that were used to kill last week,” Ellorin added.

“Declaring martial law does not negate the Arroyo government’s policy of impunity for perpetrators of human rights abuses,” Ellorin continued. “It is a means to mask the Arroyo government’s own culpability in the massacre itself and consolidate power through military rule under a military well-documented for sowing the country’s human rights crisis with the assistance of US military aid.”

Obama Standing on the Wrong Side of History?

Since it’s founding in 2005, BAYAN USA has been actively campaigning for the withdrawal of US military aid to the Philippines, which account for the training, advising, and arming of the Philippine military under Arroyo. A US Senate hearing in 2007 raised concerns that funding from the US government was directly linked to rampant pattern of state-sponsored killings and disappearances of critics
of the Arroyo government.

Referring to his now-famous inaugural words criticizing world leaders who “cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent,” the alliance also welcomed the Obama administration last January in Washington DC with calls to withdraw all forms of support to the Arroyo government for its proven track record in corruption, fraud, and gross human rights violations.

“If Obama stands with Arroyo’s proclamation of Martial Law, he is no different than Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan whose support for the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos fostered and enabled a dark period in Philippine history when warrantless arrests, torture, and assassinations were routine for the ruling military but terrorizing for the Filipino people,” Ellorin claimed. “The international community, especially US tax payers, play a role in pressuring both the US and Philippine governments to ensure the lifting of martial law in Maguindanao, an end to policy of impunity for human rights abusers in the Philippines, and that justice for the victims of the Maguindanao massacre is truly obtained void of the Arroyo government’s handling.”

Filipina/o American Youth Denounces the Arroyo Administration’s Renewed Campaign Against Activists

For Immediate Release

December 1, 2009

Reference: Ryan Leano, Secretary General of SanDiwa National Alliance of Fil-Am Youth

email: sandiwa.national@gmail.com

Filipina/o American Youth Denounces the Arroyo Administration’s Renewed Campaign Against Activists
Scare Tactics by “Special Intelligence Group” Claims the Life of a Migrant Organizer

SanDiwa National Alliance of Fil-Am Youth mourns and expresses outrage over the death of Danilo Benalo, a member of the Center for Filipino Seafarers (CENTERFILS), who, after harassment by suspected state agents, died of a stroke on November 24. Benalo was an organizer for Migrante International, a worldwide alliance of grassroots organizations addressing concerns of Filipino migrants.

Members of a “special intelligence group” confronted Benalo around noon on November 23 and threatened to harm his family should he refuse to cooperate with the group. They warned him that they had information about him, including his record as an activist and the whereabouts of his family. In distress Benalo agreed to meet with the state agents again that afternoon. However, when a friend, with whom
he had shared the incident and whom he had promised to call after his meeting, tried to reach him later that day, Benalo had already been rushed to a hospital due to a stroke. Benalo died the next morning.

SanDiwa not only grieves the loss of a dedicated migrant organizer, but also condemns the Arroyo administration’s renewed campaign against activists critical of the government, under the direction of newly appointed Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzeles. The death of Mr. Benalo is an addition to the growing list of political killings, enforced disappearances and torture of activists committed by military and secret intelligence groups under the Arroyo regime. “This is no different from the abduction of student activists such as Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan, the abduction and torture of Filipino American Melissa Roxas, and the violent dispersal of student rallyists at Malacanang last August. All these human rights violations were committed by state forces under the direct watch of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. All the victims were people advocating for human rights and fighting for positive and genuine change in Philippine society,” said Aurora Victoria David, officer of Stanford University’s Pilipino American Student Union, a member organization of Sandiwa.

“Because of desperation of the Arroyo government in quelling resistance, it is willing to use any strategy—scare tactics, torture, or direct abduction and killing—to silence its critics. This brutal campaign indiscriminately victimizes activists, journalists, women, and church people. As long as you are vocal in criticizing the government, you are an enemy and a target.” declared Anne Beryl Corotan, Chairperson of Sandiwa. With the 2010 Philippine elections fast approaching, and due to fear of losing their positions, those in power resort to coercive acts. The recent massacre of journalists and innocent civilians over local electoral campaigns in Maguindanao, and the delisting of Migrante Partylist from contending in the coming elections are just a couple of examples of countless repressive tactics utilized by the Arroyo administration and its allies in their desperate clutch to power.

Despite all of the repression, SanDiwa vows to continue to educate, organize, and mobilize Filipina/os in the United States in demanding justice for these violations of human rights. “We will continue to protect the rights of the people and will not stop until justice is brought to Mr. Benalo and all victims of human rights violations in the Philippines,” ended Corotan.

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SanDiwa, the youth and students arm of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), is a national alliance of youth, students, and community youth organizations, united to (re)educate, celebrate, and advocate for issues that affect our Filipino communities in the United States and in the Philippines. As an alliance, we seek to work cross-culturally in reclaiming our humanity and to work collaboratively with “other” minority groups to protect the rights and welfare of young Filipinos all over the United States.

SANDIWA STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE UC STUDENT PROTESTS

For Immediate Release
November 21, 2009

Reference: Ryan Leano, Secretary General, SanDiwa National Alliance of Fil-Am Youth
Email: sandiwa.national@gmail.com

THE SANDIWA NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF FIL-AM YOUTH STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE UC STUDENT PROTESTS

The SanDiwa National Alliance of Fil-Am Youth extends its strongest solidarity with the protests led by students of the University of California system. The University of California Board of Regents committee just recently approved a series of controversial increases in student fees that will raise UC undergraduate education costs by 32% by Fall 2010. UC students across all its campuses expressed their outrage at this un-democratic decision and are demanding their right to affordable education by conducting a series of protests. This decision by the UC Regents is another step in a series of other actions throughout the UC and Cal State systems towards the erosion of public education, making college more and more unaffordable for many students and their families, especially low-income families, who are predominantly people of color.

In one protest, students at UC Berkeley took over and occupied Wheeler Hall to demand the UC Board of Regents to rescind their decision to increase student fees. One of the student protestors is PJ Nadal, a Filipino American Ph.D. student in Rhetoric Studies, and a participant of the Philippine Studies Program in 2004, a program whose past participants were the founding members of SanDiwa.

Tuition fee hikes are not unfamiliar to the Filipino student community, both here in the United States and in the Philippines. What is also happening in the Philippines that students in the U.S. can closely relate to is the rising cost of tuition at universities throughout the nation. More and more funding is being taken out of education, and college is becoming more and more unaffordable. Similar situations are happening in the U.S. In New York, the City University of New York system cut $51 million from its budget as the governor’s plan to address the state’s finances in the current financial crisis. In July 2009, The Cal State University system increased student fees by 20% and is not accepting applicants for Winter 2010 and Spring 2010 terms. In addition, classes are being cut and in effect lengthening the time for students to graduate. It is the students who are directly and severely affected by these budget cuts and tuition increases. These are just a few examples of countless others throughout the U.S. What we see is less investment on education and more funding towards law enforcement and military, which is a very similar situation in the Philippines.

Aurora David, a student coordinator of the Pilipino American Student Union at Stanford University, also a member organization of SanDiwa, stated, “We believe that this issue is not just about the UC’s or not even just about the educational system. This issue speaks volumes about our priorities as a society. Why do we keep funding wars and prisons when we can’t even educate our people? What does this reveal about those who make these decisions and their real interests?”

SanDiwa reiterates its strong solidarity with the UC student protestors and demands the UC Regents rescind its decision on the tuition fee increase, a demand that extends to all university systems across the United States and around the world. An affordable and compulsory education is a basic human right, and raising the costs of tuition at unaffordable rates for the majority of the people is a direct violation to this basic human right.

SanDiwa, the youth and students arm of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), is a national alliance of youth, students, and community youth organizations, united to (re)educate, celebrate, and advocate for issues that affect our Filipino communities in the United States and in the Philippines. As an alliance, we seek to work cross-culturally in reclaiming our humanity and to work collaboratively with “other” minority groups to protect the rights and welfare of young Filipinos all over the United States.

Fil-Am Groups Spearhead Relief Drive for Typhoon Victims

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

27 September 2009

Reference: Ryan Leano, Secretary General, Sandiwa National Alliance of Filipino American Youth, sandiwa.national@gmail.com

Fil-Am Groups Spearhead Relief Drive for Typhoon Victims

SanDiwa National Alliance of Filipino American Youth and its mother alliance, the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), with member organizations in over 13 major states in the United States of America, are spearheading a nationwide campaign “Bayanihan for Typhoon Ondoy Disaster Relief” to help our Kababayans who were struck by the typhoon Ondoy (also known internationally as Ketsena).

Ondoy, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), surpassed the highest 24-hour rainfall in June 1967 in Metro Manila. This historic typhoon placed 26 provinces, including the National Capital Region, under the state of calamity and sent thousands of Filipino families onto their rooftops to seek safety from flash floods in only a matter of 6 hours.

“More or less 280,000 people were reportedly affected and were left hungry, sick, wet and cold by Ondoy,” said Anne Beryl Corotan, National Chairperson of SanDiwa.

As news, photos and videos of this epic tragedy reached the US, Filipino im/migrants could not help but express their concerns towards their families and friends back home who were devastated by the calamity.

“So as a quick response and as part of the alliances’ disaster relief program, SanDiwa and NAFCON will be accepting donations, specifically in forms of monetary support, medical supplies, clothes and blankets, starting today, September 27,” added Corotan.

Drop off center for the North East region will be at NAFCON and SanDiwa’s National Office, the BAYANIHAN Filipino Community Center, 40-21 69th Street, Woodside NY 11377. Locations of other regional drop-off centers are still being determined and will be announced immediately.

For the first wave of collection, donors are requested to send in monetary support on or before October 3 to be sent to the Philippines for immediate assistance. Tax-exempt donations can be made payable to Philippine Forum, a non-profit member organization of NAFCON based in New York. Material support will follow mid-October and will continue until such time that the motherland has recovered from the damages caused by typhoon Ondoy.

“In this time of tragedy, we call on all our fellow Fil-Ams and im/migrants to extend a helping hand to our Kababayans. Let us do whatever we can — whether it be a fundraising concert, mass offering, or just simply donate your extra jacket or blanket to a fellow Filipino affected by Ondoy,” ends Corotan.

“Bayanihan for Typhoon Ondoy Disaster Relief” will be facilitated with partner organizations in the Philippines, while at the same time, encouraging other organizations and individuals in the US to send back to the Inang Bayan. Collections and other related events will be monitored and updated at http://bayanihan4ondoy.wordpress.com. For more information and updates on regional drop-off centers, please call (516) 9011832 or email at sandiwa.national@gmail.com.

ON THE 37TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECLARATION OF MARTIAL LAW IN THE PHILIPPINES, FILIPINA/O YOUTH & STUDENTS ARE VOCAL AS EVER AGAINST OPPRESSION.

For Immediate Release

Reference: Ryan Leano, Secretary General, SanDiwa National Alliance of Fil-Am Youth
Contact: sandiwa.national@gmail.com

ON THE 37TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECLARATION OF MARTIAL LAW IN THE PHILIPPINES, FILIPINA/O YOUTH & STUDENTS ARE VOCAL AS EVER AGAINST OPPRESSION.

September 21, 1972, is a day that the Filipina/o people bitterly remember as the day their freedom was suppressed by then President Ferdinand Marcos. Marcos declared the Philippines placed under martial law, an abuse of power he exercised to silence his critics and suppress the opposition. Marcos ruled the Philippines with an iron fist for the subsequent years until his downfall in 1986, when the people rose up against his brutal dictatorship and ousted him from office. The years during his rule are remembered a dark period in Philippine history, when human rights violations ran rampant, which included, but limited to, enforced disappearances, arrests based on trumped up charges, torture, and extrajudicial killings.

In the years leading up to the declaration of martial law, Marcos was facing a growing opposition for a failing Philippine economy, riddled with government graft and corruption. Among the many criticisms of his administration was also a failing education system, during which the Philippine youth and student population grew restless and began massive organizing to demand education reforms. Youth and students held massive rallies, some having up to 50,000 participants. The youth and students were among those in the forefront of this opposition, during a period of time known as the First Quarter Storm. Massive oppositions from the youth and students, as well as the poor and working class, are what led Marcos to violently retaliate by declaring martial law, fearful that his power over the people was waning.

37 years later, we are seeing striking similarities. Current President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) is also facing massive opposition from the Philippine people. Her administration has also faced several charges of graft and corruption, as well as over 1,000 cases of human rights violations, the same brutal power tactics of Marcos that the GMA administration is seemingly trying to emulate. Again, the youth and students are among the forefront of the opposition, this time against GMA.

In May 2009, Melissa Roxas, a Filipina American student and human rights activist, was abducted along with two companions while doing volunteer medical work in the Philippines by elements believed to be the Philippine military. After being brutally tortured for five days, she resurfaced and returned to the safety of her family in the United States. However, instead of quietly accepting this injustice, she courageously returned to the Philippines to speak out and seek justice for these atrocities, not just for her, but for all victims of human rights violations under GMA. In August 2009, about 200 youth and students conducted a rally in front of Malacañang Palace to express their outrage and disgust over the expensive international trips of Arroyo and her large entourage, prime examples of the President’s insensitivity towards the majority of Philippines who live in immense hunger and poverty. This raises the question of how much of the people’s money is being used to fund these excesses. The youth and student rallyists were met with indiscriminant and arbitrary arrests, as well as brutal physical injuries at the hands of the Philippine police.

The SanDiwa National Alliance of Fil-Am youth joins with their fellow youth and student kababayans in the Philippines and Filipina/os worldwide in remembering the dark and brutal days of martial law, and the conditions of today that are strikingly similar. We recognize that it is because of oppressive regimes like those of Marcos and GMA that thousands of Filipina/os were and are forced to make the choice to leave the Philippines. Because of massive unemployment and poverty in the Philippines, many Filipina/os immigrated to other countries like the United States, which has the largest Filipina/o population outside of the Philippines. It is also because of oppression that a massive resistance was fomented, which ousted the Marcos dictatorship in the People Power uprising in 1986. And with the current state of “undeclared martial law” in the Philippines under the GMA administration, the youth and student opposition is as strong as ever. We will never forget the dark days of martial law and the many Filipina/os who suffered and died during this period. We will never forget the victims of the current brutal regime of GMA. And with the power of our youth voice, we will continue fighting until declared and “undeclared” martial law is “never again.”

SanDiwa, the youth and students arm of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), is a national alliance of youth, students, and community youth organizations, united to (re)educate, celebrate, and advocate for issues that affect our Filipino communities in the United States and in the Philippines. As an alliance, we seek to work cross-culturally in reclaiming our humanity and to work collaboratively with “other” minority groups to protect the rights and welfare of young Filipinos all over the United States.