Author: Joe Lampasa
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Migrante Europe joins global commemoration of Flor Contemplacion’s Death Anniversary
Today, 17th of March 2018, Migrante Europe joins the millions of Filipino migrants and migrant advocacy groups all over the globe marking the Global Day of Action in commemoration of the 23rd Death Anniversary of Flor Contemplacion.
Flor Contemplacion was a Filipina domestic worker who was convicted by a Singaporean court for the death of Filipina worker Delia Maga and Nicholas Huang, the three-year-old son of her employer, on May 4, 1991.
Despite the protests of about 75,000 Filipino workers in Singapore and the millions of Filipino compatriots at home and abroad, the appeals of human rights groups, the pleas of Philippine church leaders, the personal appeal of then President Fidel Ramos, and the presentation of evidence that may prove her innocence, the Singapore government proceeded with the hanging of Flor Contemplacion on 17 March 1995.
Flor Contemplacion’s death exposed the inhumane conditions of many Filipina domestic workers overseas. It further exposed the inability of the Philippine government to defend and protect Filipino workers abroad. The immediate enactment of the Magna Carta for Migrant Workers or Republic Act 8042 in 1995 allowed the Ramos government to save face amidst the social upheaval created by Flor’s hanging.
More than two decades later, hundreds of thousands of Filipino migrant workers, particularly women domestic workers, continue to confront the same issues: brutal treatment from their employers, long hours of work on slave wages, non-existent or barely existing protection by host countries and the Manila government. Many host countries, especially in the Middle East, turn a blind eye to the slave-like treatment of women domestic workers from poor countries.
The so-called Magna Carta for Migrant Workers is nothing but a piece of paper. In reality, protection and security of Filipinos working and living abroad have not improved in any way in the last two decades. The Manila government is more interested in receiving foreign currency from Filipino migrants than in promoting the rights & welfare of its citizens abroad.
As long as the government continues to promote its Labor Export Policy and sell millions of its labor force abroad instead of implementing genuine land reform, creating industries and decent jobs for Filipinos at home, Filipinos are always at risk of suffering the same fate as Flor Contemplacion and many others who were sent homes in coffins.
For reference:
Father Herbert Fadriquela Jr.
Migrante Europe, Chairperson
Email: [email protected]
[email protected] -
Mensahe ng pakikiisa sa Migrante Canada
Video message from Fr. Herbert Fadriquela, Jr., Chairperson, Migrante Europe
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Mga kahilingan, panawagan, pagtutol at agam-agam ukol sa kalagayan sa Inang-Bayan
Ito ang pasalubong natin kay DFA Sec. Cayetano , DOLE Sec. Bello at USEC Mocha Uson, ang ginanap na OFW forum nitong lingo Jan. 28, 2018 ay matagumpay na naipaabot ang ating hinaing at kahilingan kay Sec. Cayetano , Sec. Bello, at napirmahan ang tatlong pahina na naglalaman ng mga mahahalagang isyu na dapat bigyan ng kaukulang pansin at solusyonan ng ating gobyerno.
Hindi rin pinalampas ang pagkakataon ng Migrante Milan para makapagtanong at ipaalala kay Sec. Bello ang usapin sa ibinibida ng gobyerno na independent foreign policy, ang usapin sa land reform at pagpapatuloy ng usapang pangkapayapaan para tugunan ang ugat ng armadong pakikibaka sa pamamagitan ng “CASER”.
Honorable,
Secretary Allan Peter Cayetano
Department of Foreign Affairs
Government of the Republic of the Philippines28 January, 2018
Dear Hon. Secretary,
Bukas na Pahayag Hinggil sa mga Kahilingan, Panawagan, Pagtutol at Agam-Agam Likha ng mga Kaganapan sa Inang Bayan
“Labis naming ikinagagalak at pinasasalamatan ang inyong pagdalaw sa aming pamayanan migrante dito sa Milan at Italya upang maging daan para maiparating sa iyong kaalaman ang mga nabanggit gaya ng nasa itaas.”
1.) HINGGIL SA KALAGAYAN NG KAPATID NA MIGRANTE, MARY JANE VELOSO.
Hindi na lingid sa inyong kaalaman ang malupit at kawawang kalagayan ni M.J. Veloso na ilang taon na rin nakapiit sa selda sa ibayong dagat sa bansa ng Indonesia sa kasong kinasasangkutan ng “drugs traficking” sang-ayon sa awtoridad ng naturang bansa. Subalit, sa paniniwala ng marami kasama kami migrante,ang naturang akusasyon ay hindi pa rin pumapabor sa ilalim ng “standard legal proceedings” hangga’t ang kanya karapatan umapela sa Korte ay nanatiling ipinagkakait..Dahil dito, hinihiling namin sa inyong Tanggapan at Kagawaran kasama ang panawagan ng sambayanan na mabigyan ng tama proseso at hustisya ang malupit na kapalaran ni M.J. Veloso gaya ng positibong posisyon ng Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) na nakikiisa sa panawagan ng sambayanan;2.) HINGGIL SA USAPIN ILEGAL NA PANANAKOP NG BANSA TSINA SA SCARBOROGH SHOAL AT BENHAM RISE.
Isa sa mga binitiwan pangako ng Pangulo DU30 during his electoral campaigns ay ipaglaban ang sovereign rights at territorial integrity ng bansa at aniya “kung kinakailangan, pupunta ako roon at itatayo ko ang bandila ng Pilipinas, gagawin ko” Subalit, tila yata nagkamali ng bandila ang itinayo ng ating Pangulo DU30, sa halip na bandila Pilipino, ang bandila ng Tsina ang kanya itinayo.Ang naturang Shoal at Benham Rise, batay sa United Nation Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLS) ay legal at teritoryal na pag-aari ng Pilipinas at ito rin ang kumpirmasyon ng The Hague Tribunal decision in July 2016. It is an exclusive maritime economic zone of the country and therefore it should be protected not only a question of sovereign rights and territorial integrity but a patrimony of the nation. Kgg na Secretary, hiling namin sa inyo bilang nangunguna ang inyong Tanggapan at Kagawaran sa relasyon panlabas, na ipaglaban ang ating pambansa soberenya at dignidad panteritoryo. Kung hindi pa tayo tututol, baka wala na kami dadatnan pa Inang Bayan during our retirement and final homecoming for good sa dahilan nasakop na ng bansa Tsina ang buong Pilipinas.
3.) MAXIMUM PROTECTION, SERVICES AND WELFARE ACCORDING TO RA 8042 BETTER KNOWN AS MIGRANTS ACT OF 1995.
Hiling namin sa inyo ang makatotohanan at seryosong implemetasyon ng naturan proteksyon, serbisyo at paglingap mula sa inyong Tanggapan, Kagawaran at mga kaakibat na ahensya ng gubyerno gaya ng OWWA, POEA, DOLE atbp. may kagyat na ugnay at kinalaman sa kalagayan ng migrante at kanila pamilya.. Kahit kailan at kahit saan lugar, nananatiling bulnerabile ang migrante di lang sa usapin relasyon sa trabaho, kultura at maging sa immigration policies in every host country. Hwag na natin banggitin pa ang bulnerabileng sitwasyon sa pagitan ng mga pamilya naiwan sa Pilipinas, lalo na..
4.) MGA USAPIN HINGGIL SA TRAIN LAW, CHA-CHA, TOKHANG, EJKs, HUMAN RIGHTS VILATIONS, CON-ASS, PEDERALISMO, MARTIAL LAW WITH PLANNED EXTENSION AND REV-GOV.
Ang pag-iral at pagtataas ng presyo ng mga bilihin lalo na iyong sa parte ng basic commodities, pagtaas ng mga taxes ay malupit na nakapataw sa araw-araw na buhay ng mamamayan lalo na sa hanay ng maralita at di rin nakaligtas ang mga pamilya ng migrante habang sa kabilang banda, walang nagaganap na pagtaas ng sahod ng manggagawa, pesante, mga kawani ng gubyerno lalo na ang ating mga guro o dili kaya’y garansiya batas mula sa lehislatura o gubyerno, at kung mayroon ma’y ito’y para lamang sa AFP at PNP..This one leaves and provokes a big question…bakit nga kaya?
Ang “Tokhang”, EJKs at Human Rights Violations, kailanma’y di umiiral sa isang sibilisadong lipunan bagkus ito’y pangkaraniwang nagaganap sa ating bansa at lipunan at kalimitan ang nabibiktima ay pawang mga “street-level” suspects maliban pa mismo mula sa pamilya ng OFW o migrante at nakakalungkot isipin na batay sa stats, umaabot na sa 17 libo ang bilang ng bikitma sa paraang EJKs (killings/salvaging w/o judicial process maliban sa utos mismo ng Pangulo DU30). Dagdag pa, ang mga biktima ng EJKs sa hanay ng mga progresibo organisasyon gaya ng pesante, manggagawa, aktibista, human rights activist at mga lider katutubo..Kung susumain, ang lahat ng biktima ng EJKs ay mga grabe at matitinding paglabag sa karapatan pantao.
Hinggil sa napipintong CHA-CHA, CON-ASS, REV-GOV, PEDERALISMO at Martial Law extension, ang aming interpretasyon ay malinaw na indikasyon may tunguhin diktadurya masahol pa sa panahon ng diktadurya Marcos; at sa huli,
5.) ANG PANAWAGAN “RESUMPTION OF PEACE TALKS”.
Thru your good and respective Department, we the OFWs on global level call on both panels, the GRP and the NDFP to go back at the negotiating table and start anew and without delays the resumption of peace talks that is on stalled status after the successful 5th round of talks. Both panels must sincerely respect and adhere to agreements forged and signed bilaterally starting from The Hague Joint Declaration of 1992 and onward declarations and agreements. We have only one common goal and mission with such peace talks. “To find a solution to address the root causes of the decades armed conflict in the country”.##Thank you for your kind attention with hope of fruitful visits with us in Milan and Italy..
For reference:
Nicolas “ka Mike” B. Montemayor, President
Milan-OFW Kapit Bisig(KB), Migrante Europe
Migrante Italy & Chapters
Milan, Bologna, Firenze, Mantova, Rome
OFW Forum January 28, 2018
Milan-OFW Kapit Bisig(KB), Migrante Europe, Migrante Italy & Chapters Milan, Bologna, Firenze, Mantova, Rome
OFW Forum January 28, 2018
Milan-OFW Kapit Bisig(KB), Migrante Europe, Migrante Italy & Chapters Milan, Bologna, Firenze, Mantova, Rome
OFW Forum January 28, 2018
Milan-OFW Kapit Bisig(KB), Migrante Europe, Migrante Italy & Chapters Milan, Bologna, Firenze, Mantova, Rome
OFW Forum January 28, 2018
Milan-OFW Kapit Bisig(KB), Migrante Europe, Migrante Italy & Chapters Milan, Bologna, Firenze, Mantova, Rome -
Migrants Of The World Unite, Resist And Fight!
Press Statement
“Today, as we commemorate the 17th year of International Migrants Day, let us remember all migrants from different parts of the globe who are forced to flee their homes and their countries for urgent need and survival. Let us remember that every person deserved a free and dignified life, and so the migrants and refugees,“
– Fr. Herbert Fadriquela Jr. Chairperson, Migrante EuropeWhile many people, the global elite and the privileged are enjoying the freedom of movement, but not for millions of people who are daily facing discrimination, inhumane labor condition, anti-migrants and anti-people policies not just from their host countries but from the countries of their origin.
With Donald Trump’s policy of fear against immigrants in the United States, as his critics described it as cruel and unconstitutional, about 800,000 young immigrants future are in uncertainties. Mr. Trump’s deporting criminals is in his top priority list. The Trump government definitions of criminals are undocumented workers and their families, students, and simple people who used to have normal daily lives, but now, under Trump’s government, their normal lives and dreams were shuttered and much worse, if you are a Muslim, any moment you will be suspected or accused as security threats.
Migrants in UK Dec. 17, 2017 How is EU coping with migration and refugees, after the tragedy in Lampedusa with 359 confirmed deaths when the boat carrying migrants from Libya to Italy sank in the said island? With unprecedented influx of migrants and refugees in 2015 and 2016, today European Union intensified efforts to prevent African migrants from traveling north. In Italy, with the blessing of European Union, Italy is off shoring its Mediterranean migration problem to Libya. In spite of reported cooperation funding and investment of millions of Euros to improve conditions in Libyan camp, the migrant detention center at Abu Salim is reportedly horrifying and degrading. Detainees are subjected to forced labor, beatings, torture and rape.
While in other parts of Europe, the ongoing refugee crisis and attacks by armed extremists in Belgium, France, and Germany reinforced xenophobic, Islamophobic and anti-immigrant sentiment, manifest in attacks on Muslims, migrants and even members of advocacy groups and activists in many EU states.
After the deadly attack in France in 2015, President Francois Hollande declared the state of emergency; it was renewed and extended until July 2017. Under the emergency law, police carried out almost 4,000 warrantless raids, and placed 400 people under house arrests. Mostly targeted were Muslims and led to abuses of the rights to liberty, privacy, freedom of movement, and discrimination.
In the United Kingdom, after Brexit, Britain intends to approach the politically charged issue of immigration, dramatically refocusing policy to put British workers first. The determination to end free movement to skilled EU migration, end the role of the European court of justice in family migration and may create a hostile environment for long-term EU migrants without residence permits.
Philippine migration
As of April 2017, the number of overseas Filipinos abroad was estimated at 2.2 million, excluding undocumented workers, which are doubled in number.
Migrants in Italy Dec. 16, 2017 The Philippine government has long lauded the fact that, every day, some 6,000 Filipinos are sent abroad to work. The remittances they send back keep the Philippine economy afloat. Instead of addressing poverty or lack of jobs at home, the government continues to implement the corrupt Labor Export Policy (LEP) in connivance with the host governments like the United States and other countries to maintain a steadily increasing flow of cheap, temporary migrant labor.
Exorbitant fees to OFWs are just unnecessary like the mandatory Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC). The Duterte government had promised to scrap OEC and instead to issue an iDOLE or OFW card to be granted free of charge. But in reality is not really free and does not really replace the OEC.
In Clark International Airport, the collection of 600 pesos terminal fee to OFWs continues, in spite the fact that DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello issued an order for travel tax and terminal fees exemption to OFWs; lamented Migrante Firenze Chair. Richard Torres Garcia.
Events and protest on International Migrants Day in Europe
Amidst of ongoing political repression and threats against migrants, no state forces succeed in blocking the courageous migrants on the streets to shout, to protests, to resist and to fight for their fundamental rights.
Last Saturday, December 16, the Umangat Migrante and Gabriela Rome members joined the march of thousands of migrants in Italy that paralyzed the usual busy traffic of the city of Rome. Outrages migrants carried the placards and banners calling for the rights of migrants
without borders, right to citizenship of children born in Italy, a general amnesty and regularization of undocumented migrants.
In the United Kingdom yesterday, OFWs led by Filipino Domestic Workers Association (FDWA) gathered and call to stop the criminalization of undocumented migrants, and reminded politician and governments that migrants are people and not commodities.
The exodus of people from poorest countries to overseas, particularly Filipinos will rapidly increase as long as the root causes of forced migration remain unsolved, if national industrialization is just an unfulfilled promise, and if the future of the country is being handed to foreign capitalists.
Migrants of the world unite, resist and fight!
Stop exploitation and commodification of migrant workers!
Trabaho sa Pilipinas, hindi sa labas ng bansa!
For reference:
Fr. Herbert Fadriquela Jr.
Chairperson, Migrante Europe
Email:
[email protected]
[email protected]Anglican Chaplain for the Filipino Community
Diocese of Leicester UK
Mobile: +44 7456 042156
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Migrante-Europe supports the showing of a migrant-related film in the Philippine Film Festival – Berlin
Migrante-Europe supported the showing of the film Sunday Beauty Queen in this year’s 2nd Philippine Film Festival-Berlin. It was the culminating film for the festival, which ran from November 3-5, and 8-12. The film, directed by Baby Ruth Villarama, is a documentary featuring the lives of five domestic workers in Hong Kong and how they spend their Sundays organizing and participating in beauty pageants in order to alleviate homesickness and foster community in a foreign land. More than a hundred people, mostly Filipinos and some Germans went to see the film and participated in the roundtable discussion (RTD) held afterwards. The Philippine Film Festival-Berlin, the only film festival in Germany that showcases Filipino films is organized by The First Reel, and the Philippine Studies Series-Berlin, and supported by various organizations in Germany.
The discussion theme for the SBQ was “Philippine Migrants’ struggles and desires”. Two Germany-based members of Migrante-Europe–Elnora Held and Father Mark Jun Yañez were invited as panelists to the RTD. Held is a member of Gabriela-Germany and the auditor of the Migrante-Europe, while Yañez is the port chaplain of the Seamen mission in Hamburg. The other panelists were Krisanta Caguioa-Moenich, a language mediator in Banying, organization that helps migrant women who are victims of violence, Megha Amrith, an urban anthropologist of migration, and Lisa May David, an artist who previously worked on issues of identity and migration.
The discussion lasted for more than an hour, as the audience got actively engaged by asking questions and sharing some thoughts about the theme and the film. During the discussion, there was a general agreement among the panelists and the audience that the film presents a sad reality on how hard the lives of the majority of domestic workers in Hong Kong are. Most of the discussions also revolved around the significant contributions of Migrant workers to the Philippine economy and the government’s weak efforts in securing their rights abroad and helping migrants facing various problems such as violence or abuse in their host country. Held emphasized that present-day migration is mostly forced migration: caused by war, poverty, and even climate change. She added that forced migration can only be addressed by solving these root causes. Father Yañez stated that Filipino seafarers are in demand as they are of highly qualified but cheap. “The government however is not bent on addressing this issue believing that pushing for the increase of Seafarers’ wages will prompt hiring companies to take cheaper labor from other countries, thus reducing their potential remittances” he added. In his experience working with the Seamen, most of them are not happy with their work because it means being away from the family. However, their family and the desire to give them a better future are the reasons why they take these jobs. The seamen hope that Philippine economy will get better soon and that they no longer need to be away from their families just do they can provide for their needs.
Some notable contributions from the audience were on the discussion of the Labor Export Policy and the sharing of an experience by a former overseas domestic worker herself. The discussion ended with insights from the panel and the audience on what migrants in Germany can do to help their fellow migrants.
PhilFilmFestBerlin_DSC00577 
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Pahayag ng Migrante Italya sa ika-119 taong araw ng kalayaan ng Pilipinas
Isang daan at labing siyam na taon mula nang ideklara sa Kawit, Cavite ang kasarinlan ng Pilipinas. Kalayaan na kung saan magpahanggang sa ngayon ay nanatiling salitang salat sa tunay na kahulugan. Nakawala ang ating mga kamay sa pagkakagapos sa pamamahala ng dayong Kastila subalit itinali naman ang ating mga leeg sa kontrol ng mananakop na mga Amerikano. Ibinenta ng isang mananakop ang ating pagkaalipin sa isa pang mananakop sa pakikipagtulungan ng mga elitistang nagkunwaring mga may malasakit sa kapakanan ng taong bayan. Pinatay, pinarusahan, kinulong at itinuring na mga rebelde ang mga tunay na rebolusyonaryong Pilipinong lumalaban. Binaluktot ang mga aral at kwento ng kasaysayan at itinuturing na mga bayani ang mga takwil na elitistang masugid na naglingkod sa dayuhang pamumuno.
Independensya, kasarinlan at kalayaan, mga salitang makalipas ang isang daan at labing siyam na taon ay nananatiling mga salitang may kanya kanyang kahulugan sa bawat administrasyon ng gobyernong naluklok sa kapangyarihan. Ang kahulugan ng kalayaan sa malawak na mamamayang naghihirap ay kaiba sa kahulugan ng maliit na minoryang nakakadama ng kaginhawaan. Ang kalayaan para sa mga naghahari sa lipunan ay kaiba sa kalayaan ng mga pinaghaharian. Ang pagbibigay kahulugan sa salitang ito ang isa sa pinag-uugatan ng kahirapan ng malawak na sektor ng lipunang Pilipino kabilang tayong mga migrante sa labas ng bansa.
Mismong si pangulong Duterte sa panahon ng kanyang kampanya ay kumilala sa pangangailangang makawala tayo sa dikta at kontrol ng Amerika. Ibinabandila ang kanyang Independent Foreign Policy ngunit magpahanggang sa kasalukuyan ay patuloy ang pakikialam sa atin ng Amerika sa pamamagitan ng mga mapagkunwaring mga kasunduan at tratado tulad ng Mutual Defence Treaty, Visiting Forces Agreement, at Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement. Sinusuhayan ito ng mga ayuda at utang pinansyal sa ating bansa na pangunahing pinakikinabangan ng mga burukrata kapitalistang mga namumuno sa gobyerno.
Patuloy na hinahadlangan ang implementasyon ng mga makabayang programa tulad ng pamamahagi ng lupa. Sinasagkaan at kinukutya ang mga progresista at makabayang lider na siyang mga karapat-dapat na namumuno sa gobyerno tulad nina Gina Lopez, Sec. Judy Taguiwalo, at Sec. Rafael Mariano. Nilalait ang mga organisasyong masang nagsusulong ng kanilang mga lehitimong kahilingan sa batayang karapatan ng libreng pabahay, edukasyon at sahod. Maging tayong mga migrante ay pinaiikot sa pamamagitan ng planong doblehin ang singil sa ating pasaporte kapalit nang pagtugon nila sa matagal na nating kahilingang gawing 10 taon ang bisa nito.
Patuloy na namamayagpag ang dominasyon ng Imperyalismong Amerika sa pamamagitan ng mga neoliberal na patakaran sa ekonomiya ng bansa. Dahilan kung bakit patuloy na nakapako ang sweldo at nananatiling kontraktwal ang ating mga kapatid na manggagawa sa Pilipinas kung saan dumarami ang nagsisilikas sa ibang bansa upang maghanap ng magandang kinabukasan para sa kanya kanyang pamilya. Neoliberalismo ang nagtatali sa dapat sanay maayos na distribusyon ng budyet ng bansa kung bakit kulang ang pensyon ng ating mga magulang upang makabili ng gamot o ang mataas na gastos sa pagpapaospital.
Tagos hanggang pulitika ang dominasyong ito. Ang usapang pangkapayapaan na dapat sana’y magluluwal ng paglutas ng mga batayang suliranin ng mamamayang Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng Comprehensive Agreement on Socio Economic Reforms ay patuloy na sinasabotahe. Lumilikha ng mga kaganapan upang yanigin ang kaayusan ng ating bansa, tulad ng paglikha ng mga kaguluhan sa pamamagitan ng pagpapalaganap ng terorismo. Dalubhasa ang Imperyalismong Amerika sa larangang ito kung saan ginamit sa napakaraming bansa na tumutol sa kanyang dominasyon.
Hangga’t ang salitang KALAYAAN ay hindi buo at ganap ang kahulugan, ang salitang ito ay patuloy na aalingawngaw sa kawalan tulad ng naunang sigaw ng ating magigiting na rebolusyonaryong ninuno na nagbuwis ng buhay mula nuong naunang ika-isang daan labing siyam na taon at higit pa.
KAMTIN NATIN ANG TUNAY NA KALAYAAN ! IPAGLABAN ANG ATING MGA KARAPATAN !
IGIIT ANG NAGSASARILING PATAKARANG PANLABAS ! WAKASAN ANG DIKTA NG DAYUHAN !
Para po sa may mga katanungan o nagnanais na makipagtalakayan, kayo po ay aming inaanyayahan na dumalo sa ika – 18 ng Hunyo 2017 sa Parco Conca de oro sa ganap na ika – 2 ng hapon.
Ugaliing Makinig sa UGNAYAN sa HIMPAPAWID – tune in sa www.radiocittaperta.it tuwing Lingo 11:00am – 12noon
Umangat-Migrante Rome/Migrante-Milan /Milan-OFW Kapit-Bisig/Migrante-Firenze /Migrante-Bologna/Migrante-
Caserta
