Category: Events

  • It rained lies inside congress during BBM’s SONA

    It rained lies inside congress during BBM’s SONA

    BAYAN reaction to Sona 2024

    It may be raining hard in the streets but it was raining lies inside the Batasang Pambansa during the State of the Nation Address of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

    After two years in power, he keeps on saying the lives of ordinary Filipinos have improved. He failed to mention his epic failure to bring down the prices of basic goods, particularly rice; and the refusal of his government to support a substantial wage hike for workers.

    He mentions extending support to our people through crop insurance, medical assistance, and technology-driven education reforms which are at best palliative compared to what we have been demanding: genuine land reform and production subsidy for farmers, bona fide universal health care, and higher state subsidy for the education sector. He also would take away Philhealth funds for his administration’s pork barrel expenditures.

    He claimed to be a “proactive advocate for heightened climate responsibility and justice” but contradicted himself by mentioning the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project, a large-scale construction that threatens to destroy the environment and displace Tumandok Indigenous Peoples.

    He cited the “KALINISAN sa Bagong Pilipinas” and the “Bigyang Buhay Muli ang Ilog Pasig” yet his government has approved destructive projects like PAREX, reclamation, and mining. He also didn’t speak about the dirty impact of foreign military basing and frequent military exercises on our shores and inside our territories.

    He was silent about several controversial initiatives like the Maharlika Investment Fund, expansion of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the United States, intensified military exercises with foreign troops, the signing of the Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan – all of which are costly programs that allow foreigners to undermine our sovereignty and exploit our resources.

    He has the temerity to brag about the “bloodless war on dangerous drugs” even if a considerable number of drug-related killings have been documented over the past two years. He said that the 8 E’s of his government’s anti-drug campaign does not include “Extermination”. On the contrary, cases of Extrajudicial killings and Enforced Disappearances have continued to persist under his presidency.

    His “peace program” has resulted in numerous violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. Red-tagging remains the de facto response of state forces to dissent and activism; trumped-up cases are filed against critics and human rights defenders; and militarization in rural communities involve the use of aerial bombs.

    Marcos Jr. once again was ominously silent about peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. He is clearly one with the militarist mindset that denies legitimate and deeply rooted reasons for armed conflict; considers the violations of human rights and IHL as acceptable “collateral damage” in its counterinsurgency program; and the bloated and graft-ridden NTF-ELCAC “baranggay development funds” as the answer to socioeconomic injustice. History has proven such all-out war policy is doomed to fail.

    He bragged about new jobs created under his watch, but have hardly made a dent on chronic unemployment and underemployment. Not to mention are these decent, stable, and high quality jobs? He enumerated several infrastructure projects but are they accessible to the poor and the PWD? Have they made a difference to the harried commuter making do with a broken transportation system? Or are they similar to the PWD footbridge ramp of the MMDA that looks more like a slide in an amusement park? He talked about “railway renaissance” even if most of the projects are focused in Metro Manila and what’s more the prospect that these are tainted with corruption with only favored cronies benefitting from these investments.

    He identified smugglers, hoarders, companies who overcharged consumers, and POGO operators yet he didn’t mention the actions taken by the government against these unscrupulous groups and their powerful benefactors in government. Despite the applause of his select audience at the Batasan, there is the question whether only certain POGOs will be shut down while those given a new name — internet gaming licensees — will continue.

    Lastly, the hardline stance of the Marcos Jr government and its intolerance to dissent is proven once more in the announcement of the police to file charges against SONA protesters. We condemn the continued use of Martial Law tactics and ML laws like BP 880 in undermining the people’s freedom of expression and assembly. We will continue to defy unjust restrictions as we call on authorities to stop weaponizing the laws and judicial process to stifle legitimate criticism and dissent.

    Marcos Jr’s SONA once again confirms our assertion that his regime is insincere and resorting to lies about bringing real change in Philippine society. He is obsessed with rebranding, self-assured in his empty rhetoric and treasonously embracing the agenda of foreign powers like the US. It is up to our people to continue the struggle for real freedom, justice, and democracy in our country.

    #SONA2024 #PEOPLESSONA2024 #PEOPLESSONA See less

  • Pahayag ng UMANGAT-MIGRANTE sa paggunita ng Pandaigdigang Araw ng mga Manggagawa

    Pahayag ng UMANGAT-MIGRANTE sa paggunita ng Pandaigdigang Araw ng mga Manggagawa

    Isang taas kamaong pagbati sa lahat ng mga kapwa Migrante at lahat ng mga Manggagawa sa buong mundo. Isang napakahalagang tungkulin ang paggunita sa Pandaigdigang Araw ng mga Manggagawa, dahil ito ay simbolo ng pagkilala sa kadakilaan ng Uring Manggagawa na nakikibaka para sa ikabubuti ng Sangkatauhan. Kung wala ang mga manggagawa: ay walang lilikha ng gusali o bahay na ating matitirhan, walang mga damit na ating maisusuot, walang maghahatid sa ating destinasyon, walang mag-aalaga sa atin sa mga ospital, walang magtuturo sa mga paaralan, walang mga makinarya, household appliances at gadgets na gagamitin, at higit sa lahat walang yaman na malilikha para sa Sangkatauhan.

    Ito ang kahalagahan nating mga manggagawa, tayo ang lumilikha ng yaman ng bawat bansa subalit patuloy na naghihirap ang mayorya ng mga manggagawa, lalo na sa ating bansa, dahil nakapako sa mababang sahod at karampot na benepisyo ang natatanggap ng mga manggagawa. Hindi rin ginagalang ng Estado at ng kanilang imperyalistang amo ang kanilang mga batayang karapatan at mariing sinusupil ang unyon ng mga manggagawa. Sa halip na dinggin ang kanilang mga hinaing ay dahas at pagyurak sa karapatan ng mga Manggagawa ang kanilang ginagawa.

    Kaya naman napakahalaga na tayong mga manggagawa ay magkaisa at ipagpatuloy ang laban para sa ikabubuti nating mga manggagawa at ng ating pamilya at para sa Sangkatauhan.

    Mabuhay ang Uring Manggagawa ang Hukbong Mapagpalaya!

    Mabuhay ang mga Migrante saan man panig ng Mundo!

    Longlive International Solidarity!

  • The April 28 Coalition focuses on Refugees and their situations on its 3rd online Forum-Protest

    The April 28 Coalition focuses on Refugees and their situations on its 3rd online Forum-Protest

    The April 28 Coalition [for Migrants’ and Refugees’ Rights and Welfare]* staged its 3rd Online Forum – Protest focusing on Refugees and Refugees Situation on June 6. This protest is a continuation of the series of actions as the Coalitions continue to call for the granting of full citizenship rights for all migrants, refugees and displaced peoples among other things.

    https://www.facebook.com/April28Coalition/videos/275921816929608

    The program included series of speeches from an invited speaker and two reactors, interspersed with chanting of the Coalition’s calls and cultural presentations. Majed Abusalama, a member of the Palestine Speaks Coalition-Berlin was the Speaker. Being born in a refugee camp in Gaza open air prison, he later become and still is, a staunch human rights defender and an award winning journalist. As a refugee himself, he narrated his long and continuing journey of being with grassroots organisations of mainly POCs and Palestinians in advancing the fight for basic human rights, and their enduring call for a free Palestine. He reiterated the need for a radical change, to push the boundaries and mobilise for more grassroots movements to attain our basic rights.

    Abusalama’s inspiring at the same time challenging speech was followed by a heartfelt poetry reading by Nora Rajab, also a member of the Palestine Speaks Coalition Berlin. The poems she read were written by Mahmoud Darwish, a famous Palestinian poet and intellectual. They captured the persistent longing of many displaced Palestinians to return to their homeland and lead a simple normal life, as well as their spirit and determination to fight for it.

    Phil Butland from Die Linke Berlin Internationals, in his reaction, agreed that many Refugees in Germany are from Palestine. In fact, he says many are already displaced more than once. According to him, there have been a rise of anti-racism demonstrations in Berlin. He was in a huge Black Lives Matter demonstration in Berlin as he delivered his statement, and noted that it is highly multi-racial and the biggest he had seen so far. He is hopeful that people will continue to see where the world is really going and the need to get together to change this course.

    The second reactor is George Porgetto from Free African Movement. Porgetto drew a lot from his own long experience of a decade long struggle be it in the parliament or in the streets. He criticized that the very institutions that legislate policies and laws fail to heed the rights and welfare of migrants and refugees. He likewise emphasized the importance of uniting together in order to win the struggle.

    As a synthesis, Yasmin Ahmed of Revolutionaire Einheit echoed that most people who migrate are forced to do so or displaced not on their will. She furthered elaborated the sorry state of Refugees in different European Countries and the need to work together to change these.

    The Forum Protest ended with a reverberating chanting of the demands of the Coalition: Full Citizenship Rights for ALL Migrants and Refugees, GRANT NOW! Bail Out Migrants, Not Corporate Giants, and Long live International Solidarity!

    *The April 28 Coalition [for Migrants’ and Refugees’ Rights and Welfare] is a broad Europe-wide formation composed of mainly grassroots organizations with a migration background, together with religious and non-governmental organizations, civil society formations, institutions, political parties, influencers, academics and concerned individuals.

    It is united by the common objective to advance the rights and welfare of migrants (regular and irregular), immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and displaced peoples, and that all people have the right for equal protection in the continent.  It was launched online on April 28 itself, and to date it has grown into 72 Organizations and 18 Individuals. The official Facebook page is : https://www.facebook.com/April28Coalition/

  • Migrante Europe Members Spoke Up in a Mass on Forced Migration and Alarming Human Rights Situation in the Philippines

    Migrante Europe Members Spoke Up in a Mass on Forced Migration and Alarming Human Rights Situation in the Philippines

    Como, Italy – Three members of Migrante-Europe, Stella Matutina  of ICHRP-EU (Germany), Victor Salloman of Umangat Rome (Italy), and Prof. Alex Pasion  of Migrante Como (Italy), spoke up in front of the  of the numerous parishioners during the Liturgical Celebration for the Feast of the  Immaculate Conception, last Sunday, 08 December.

    Through the invitation of Don Giusto Della Valle, the Rector of Parrocchia San Martino di Rebbio, Como, the three representatives of Migrante Europe mentioned the two historical events that took place in the Parish: 2nd Assembly IMA Europe and 2nd Congress Migrante Europe.

    Prof. Alex Passion (Migrante Como)

    Alex, a university professor, shared the significance of the International Migrant’s Alliance (IMA) and Migrante Europe Congress to migrants, refugees and displaced peoples. He explained further that poverty is the root cause of forced migration of the majority of Filipinos. Violent conflicts forced people to attempt dangerous border crossings, while the impact of climate change is already being felt in many parts of the world, as prolonged droughts, desertification, and more frequent natural calamities are already eroding livelihoods and leading to displacement. He also reminded the parishioners not to accept the current narratives coming from the right-wing governments including those from Italy, that migrants are a threat to national security and employment (job-stealing). 

    Victor Salloman (Umangat Rome)

    Victor spoke about the Photo Exhibit of the victims of the Drug War and how Duterte’s “drug war” is affecting the Filipino people of which mostly the poor. Stella shared how everyone was not safe, including church people. At least three Italian missionaries were killed defending the rights of indigenous peoples in the Philippines, and she also shared the dangers of red-tagging of genuine defenders of human rights in the country.

    The “Speak Up Event” on Migration and Human Rights Situation in the Philippines that took place in the Parrocchia San Martino was warmly accepted by the congregation, and thanks to the generosity of the Rector Don Giusto Della Valle and the community.

    The Speak Up Event and the Photo Exhibits in the Parish were organized by the Migrante Milan Como in collaboration with Migrante Europe and IMA Europe.

  • Migrante-Europe Second Congress: A Manifestation of Continuous Commitment

    Migrante-Europe Second Congress: A Manifestation of Continuous Commitment

    Como, Italy – Migrante-Europe held a fun-filled but full of militancy its 2nd congress on 8 December 2019 in Como, Italy. With the theme “ Expand and strengthen our unity! Promote and defend the rights and welfare of Filipinos and their families in Europe and abroad! Contribute and participate in the struggle for national freedom and democracy!”  The congress was attended by more than one hundred participants representing 28 Filipino organizations coming from various countries in Europe.

    Fr Herbert Fadriquela Jr, the incumbent Chairperson of Migrante-Europe opened the congress with a roll call of member organizations as well as welcoming new member organizations. The occasion was also graced with the presence of  Bishop Antonio Ablon of the Iglesia Filipina Independent (IFI) of the Diocese of Pagadian City, Philippines and Don Giusto Della Valle, Rector of the Parrocchia San Martino di Rebbio, Como. Both clergy gave very challenging and inspiring messages to the participants.

    “Migrants, migrant workers and refugees of all kinds are all part of diaspora — the exodus or mass relocation of peoples due to societal or/and natural causes. The individual who migrated autonomously is still part of a phenomenon of mass displacement. Whether the displacement is apparently voluntary or involuntary through commercial recruiters (such as manning agencies, placement services, and other private trafficking businesses and ‘official trafficking policies’). Conflicts and natural calamities are sudden events that produce refugees on a mass scale. But societal or/and natural conditions can also be slow-evolving, resulting involuntary migration of individuals. All of this result in a diaspora – displacement and the creation of a mass of peoples or communities of the displaced. The worsening economic, environmental and human rights crisis in the Philippines continues to drive 7,000 Filipinos out of the country every day;” stressed Bishop Ablon.

    San Martino Parochial Priest Don Giusto Della Valle

    San Martino Parochial Priest Don Giusto Della Valle, shared the works of his parish helping undocumented migrants as well as refugees. He also shared his reflections on how human lives are becoming hostages to the ever-changing political landscape in Italy. 

    The Congress elected the officers that will compose the Executive Committee of the alliance in the next three years, namely: Fr. Herbert Fadriquela Jr. of Bayanihan Leicestershire in United Kingdom as Chairperson; Ann Brusola  of Gabriela-Rome as Vice-Chairperson for Internal Affairs; Evangeline Irabon of Migrante-Como as Vice-Chairperson for External Affairs; Marlon Lacsamana of Migrante-The Hague, Netherlands as Secretary General; Rhodney Pasion of Migrante-Bologna as Deputy Secretary General;  Kendy Sario, of Ugnayan ng mga Pilipino sa Belgium as Treasurer; and Elnora Held of Gabriela-Germany as Auditor,

    The congress also approved the General Program of Action (GPOA) for 2020-2023 and the Constitution and By-Laws of Migrante-Europe. 

    Reference:

    Marlon T. Lacsamana
    Secretary General, Migrante Europe
    [email protected]

    Revd Fr. Herbert F. Fadriquela Jr.
    Chairperson, Migrante Europe
    [email protected]

  • IMA-Europe 2nd Congress A Success!

    IMA-Europe 2nd Congress A Success!

    The International Migrants Alliance (IMA)-Europe held a successful 2nd congress on 07 December 2019 in Como, Italy. With the theme of “Migrants, Refugees and Displaced Peoples Building Unity, Organizing to Reclaim Rights”, the congress was attended by over 100 participants representing 31 grassroots organizations and migrants, refugees and displaced peoples from Asia, Africa, and Latin America.  

    Don Giusto Della Valle, Rector of the Parrocchia San Martino di Rebbio welcomed the congress delegates to his parish, known in the area for its work with displaced migrants and refugees.  “We are builders of peace. But what kind of society do we want to build in Italy? How are we going to build it if we do not allow people to stay and allow them to contribute to this project? We need to support migrants because local legislation is becoming more and more unfriendly towards them.”

    Bishop Antonio Ablon of the Philippine Independent Church (IFI) and representing the European Network for Justice and Peace in the Philippines (ENJPP) stressed how the worsening economic and human rights crisis in the Philippines continues to drive 7,000 Filipinos out of the country everyday. He further stressed the role of the diaspora in the project of social and national liberation in their countries of origin.

    Fabio Cani of Como Senza Frontiere said that we have to narrate migrant stories as testimonies of unjust global structural problems.  Pietro Bassi, Professor of Sociology and Director of the Masteral Course in Immigration at the University of Venice, warned of a ‘war’ against migrants and immigrants being waged by Europe. ‘It seems Europe does not want migrant workers. But in fact, they contribute 10% to the receiving country’s GDP.  They want migrants but if possible on their knees, naked and without expectations or irregular – that is, irregularized, with no rights and clandestine.’

    The assembly also elected their new set of officers including (Chairperson) Zaria Galiano of Comitato Degli Immigrati, Italy; (Vice Chairperson) Ibrahim Coulibaly of Associazione Mande, Europe; (Secretary General) Maitet Ledesma of Pinay sa Holland-GBARIELA, Netherlands; and (Treasurer) Helen Bulusan of the Filipino Domestic Workers Association, UK. Revelin Irabon of Migrante Como-Milano youth committee, Italy was elected as representative for refugees.

    As a sign of their growing commitment to strengthen their unity across Europe, the assembly welcomed 20 new members to the regional alliance. The general program of action approved by the assembly aims to grow the alliance in the next 3 years to provide an effective network that will bring the voices of migrants, refugees and displaced peoples in all arenas of advocacy – from the local to the regional – for the purpose of organizing to reclaim their rights!

    International Migrants Alliance (IMA)-Europe

    Contact: Maitet Ledesma

    [email protected]

  • ‘Tao Po’ tour  in Rome a resounding success

    ‘Tao Po’ tour in Rome a resounding success

    PRESS STATEMENT
    13 October 2019

    The Tao Po play was a resounding success with a big number in attendance that crowded the courtyard of the Basilica di San Silvestro in Capite, Piazza San Silvestro Rome last Thursday night, October 10, 2019.

    Tao Po, an award-winning play by theater actor and cultural activist Mae Paner – also known as ‘Juana Change’, gave life to four characters in separate monologues – a photojournalist, a Zumba instructor, a police officer/hit man, and an orphaned girl, whose lives have been gravely affected by the government’s war on drugs.

    According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), 22,983 deaths since the war on drugs began are classified as “homicides under investigation.” The exact number of fatalities is difficult to ascertain because the government has failed to disclose official documents about the drug war.

    Human rights groups assert that the death toll has surpassed 30,000 with many cases either perpetrated by undercover police officers or hitmen under police supervision.

    Victims’ mothers hands letter to Pope Francis

    Last Wednesday, October 9, the Tao Po Europe team, Rise Up members Marissa Lazaro who lost her 20 year old son Chris in 2017 and Katherine Bautista who found her 21-year-old son John in a Manila morgue in January 2017, joined a crowd who waited for the regular public audience of Pope Francis on the grounds of the Vatican, and successfully handed a letter to an aide of the Pope. The letter was a request to the Pope to pray for their sons and for all the victims of the drug war.

    Marissa and Katherine were both overwhelmed to see the Pope and have raised their hopes for justice because of this memorable encounter.

    Talk back

    Marissa Lazaro while holding her son’s photo faced the audience together with other panelists, Fr. Noel Rosas of the Order of Carmelites, Sr. Beth Pedernal of the Scalabrinian Missionaries, Rubilyn Litao of Rise Up, and Mae Paner of Tao Po, in a related open forum.

    For Sister Beth, Tao Po draws on compassion, that no one deserves to die without due process and was vocal in her advocacy to defend human rights, dignity, and justice.

    “It is always the poor who are the victims. If change is to be achieved, why not implement genuine land reform, and stop the forced migration of Filipinos? Justice for the poor!” said Father Noel Rosas.

    Noel Aragon from the Duterte group observed that the videos shown were pure propaganda against the Duterte administration and that it seems only the poor are being killed, that there are important facts which were not mentioned in the videos like the police forces who were also killed, the rape victims of drug addicts, and some well-to-do people who were also apprehended because of their involvement in drugs.

    Rubilyn Litao of Rise Up acknowledged that the previous administration was not able to address the drug problem, and it was a revelation for them from the church people that there are communities in the Philippines where the drug problem is rampant. So she invited everyone to the Tao Po call to become a venue to gather together for the common interest.

    Nardi Sabino also from Rise Up stressed that as long as the policy of liberalization of the government continues because of the country’s membership to GATT-WTO, the drug trade will continue, where imported goods freely pass through customs with fewer restrictions. But the question he said is do the killings resolve the problem on drugs? As long as the root causes of poverty are not addressed the poor will always be vulnerable to drugs.

    Ms. Mae Paner expressed her sadness over the black propaganda against her. Prior to the performance, in social media and facebook, some Duterte groups tagged her as a member of the CPP and a terrorist. She was called by many names. She stressed that she is an artist and a cultural activist. She’s here to show four narratives of four people who had been killed. The killings are real. Whatever person you are, an addict, or whoever, they deserve due process because they are human. So she’s knocking on our door. To open our minds and our heart.

    Mother Mary John Mananzan of the Benedictine Sisters also stressed that there is now an erosion of moral fiber in the Philippines. The lost of respect to people…to life… to the law (example of how Sereno was removed from office by the Supreme Court) …the lost of respect to the truth (the truth for many is actually fake news) and the loss of morality. It is beyond politics. We are being called to defend our dignity as human beings.

    Exhibit of Laundered T-shirts

    Another impressive part of the event prior to the performance was the exhibit of t-shirts with photos of the many victims who had been killed since the President took the office in 2016. It has attracted many passers-by. For those who were unable to watch ‘Tao Po’, the exhibit served as an eye-opener for those who didn’t know about the brutal killings in many parts of the country because of the drug war of the government.

    Indeed, the ‘Tao Po” performance in Rome was a resounding success. The organizers wish to thank the following for their presence and support: Director Bengie Vasquez, Mr. Romulo Salvador, Fr. Rory Hanley of the Pallottine’s and San Silvestro LINK Community, Ms. Jackie de Vega of ABS-CBN News, Sr. Beth Pedernal of the Scalabrinian Missionaries, Sr. Jenny and company from the Dominican Sisters of Sienna, Fr. Noel Rosas of the Order of Carmelites, Sr. Mary John Mananzan of the Benedictine Order, Irma Tobias of KAMPI-CGIL, Filipino Women’s Council, Ako’y Pilipino, The Order of Camillians in Rome, Gran Madre di Dio Filipino Community, Sta. Croce Filipino Community, San Leone Magno Filipino Community, Euclide Kaibigan Group and many more who have extended their unconditional support to the event.

    Tao Po Tour in Vienna, Austria

    The Tao Po performance had its run in Vienna, Austria yesterday, October 12 and was an also a great success and watched by more than a hundred people.

    Once again, Mae Paner, impressed the audience with her outstanding performance.

    In the interview today, October 13 by Ugnayan sa Himpapawid with Migrante Austria Chairperson Manuel Sarmiento, he said that the event there “was overwhelming!”. He said the big attendance was unexpected. He also said the panelists during the open forum were able to answer the questions raised by the Duterte groups.

    Sarmiento invited everyone to open their eyes, not to believe in fake news and to support the call to stop the killings in the Philippines and to end the drug

    War, which has victimized many innocent lives.

    Today at 3pm, the Tao Po Discussion will be held at Amerlinghaus, Stiffgasse, 1070 Vienna.

    Migrante Austria, Pinas Fight Na and Antifaschistische Aktion Group organized the Tao Po in Vienna

    The Tao Po Tour in Europe continues

    In London, the United Kingdom, Tao Po will be staged at the Brunei Gallery, Lecture Theatre Hall, SOAS on Wednesday, October 16 from 18:00-20:00.

    In Germany, Tao Po will be shown on Monday, October 21 from 17:00-19:00 in RaumerstraBe 16, 10437 Berlin, Deutschland.

    The Tao Tour in Europe is strongly supported by Migrante Europe and its chapters in the region.

    The Tao Po Tour in Europe is a joint effort of Rise Up, Juana Change Movement and the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines. #

    For reference:

    Revd Fr. Herbert F. Fadriquela Jr.
    Chaplain to the Filipino Community
    Diocese of Leicester
    Church of England
    Mobile Number: +447456042156
    Chairperson Migrante Europe
    Email: [email protected]

    Ed del Carmen
    Chairperson UMANGAT-MIGRANTE ROME
    Email: [email protected]

    Manuel Sarmiento
    Chairperson Migrante Austria
    Tel: +43 678 1262021

    Luzie Salvador
    Tel: 0664 4263 465

    Philip Unlayao
    Tel: +43 660 3472525

    Coordinators of PINAS FIGHT NA! – Pinoy in Austrian Society to Fight Tyranny and for Nationalism

  • Tao Po is truth knocking  your door

    Tao Po is truth knocking your door

    After two extra-ordinary performances of Tao Po which were well received by big audiences in Geneva, Switzerland and Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the ‘Tao Po’ performance will be shown today in Rome, Italy.

    The most awaited ‘Tao Po’ will be staged in the historical center of Rome, in the courtyard of the Basilica di San Silvestro in Capite, Piazza San Silvestro 17A, today, Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7pm.

    ‘Tao Po’ is a play/monologue by award-winning theater actor and cultural activist Mae Paner also known as Juana Change, is about the untold heartbreaking stories behind the Duterte government’s “war on drugs.” Mae Paner gives life to four characters, in four separate monologues – a photojournalist, a ‘zumba’ dance instructor, an assassin and an orphaned girl.

    The play is followed by ‘Talk Back’ panel discussion and dialogue with the audience, artist and members of Rise UP for Life and for Rights and their stories and the quest for justice.

    In a radio interview of Ugnayan sa Himpapawid (wwwradiocittaperta.it) with Nardi Sabino of Rise Up and a team member of Tao Po Europe Tour, he said they hope to meet the communities who supported the Iceland resolution, and are eager to know how people will feel and respond to the call of the victims for justice after they watch Tao Po.

    In another interview with Ms. Paner, she stressed that it was her idea to produce a play in response to the issue of extrajudicial killings that are happening in relation to the war on drugs, and decided to make the play, with writer Maynard Manansala. Together, they joined the ‘night callers’, photojournalists who are covering the war on drugs and had seen the actual events. Through Rise Up they were able to interview the families of the victims.

    “We are hoping that many kababayans in Rome will watch Tao Po. It is high time for overseas Filipinos to know and understand what is really happening in our country and they need to know the truth about the war on drugs, after a number of the victims of the killings are families of migrant Filipinos”, said Umangat-Migrante chairperson Ed del Carmen.

    Umangat-Migrante, Gabriela Rome, Italy-Philippines Friendship Association, Migrante Europe and generous individuals sponsor the Tao Po performance in Rome.

    The Tao Po Europe Tour is a joint effort of Rise Up, Juana Change Movement and the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines. Its showing is part of the Philippine Solidarity Month declared by the Europe Network for Justice and Peace in the Philippines.

     More schedules of Tao Po in other cities:

     October 12, Saturday at 18:30 in Vienna, Austria
    October 16, Wednesday at 19:00 in London, UK
    October 21, Monday at 17:00 in Berlin, Germany

    For reference:

    Ed del Carmen
    Chairperson UMANGAT-Migrante Rome
    Email: [email protected]

    Revd Fr. Herbert F. Fadriquela Jr.
    Chaplain to the Filipino Community
    Diocese of Leicester
    Church of England
    Mobile Number: +447456042156
    Email: [email protected]

  • A Two-day forum on anticolonial struggles marks the opening of the first Anticolonial Month in Berlin

    A Two-day forum on anticolonial struggles marks the opening of the first Anticolonial Month in Berlin

    [Berlin, 09 October 2019] A two-day forum on 5-6 October composed of panel discussions and workshops tackling political and social issues such as imperialism and neo-colonialism,  racism, territorial and natural resources defense, anti-patriarchal struggles, and internationalism marked the opening of the first Anticolonial Month (5 Oct- 15 Nov) in Berlin. The forum which gathered together more than 200 participants from Berlin and elsewhere is  designed as a venue not only to discuss and consume information but an open space to acquire a deeper understanding of each other’s struggles and strategies in order to forge a strong unity to mutually advance all struggles.

    Zara Alvarez of Negros Island Health Integrated Program for Community Development Inc., along with Abel from the National Indigenous Association of Colombia, and Ferhat from the Kurdish Student Federation were the invited speakers in the Panel “Defending Our Territories and Natural Resources: Strategies and Practices of Resistance in the Global South”. The three shared and illustrated their particular conditions and peoples’ resistance against the control of their lands and rivers by aggressive imperialist powers through their local ruling elites.  

    Zara is actively involved in campaigns against the construction of a Mega Shipyard that will displace hundreds of poor families in the coastal area of Negros, of the continuing operations and applications of foreign mining companies exacerbated by the foreign serving Philippine Mining Act of 1995, as well as in strengthening the collective actions of farmers in occupying idle landlord lands thru “Bungkalan”.  She expressed her increasing alarm as the peoples’ resistance are being met by heightened Duterte government’s sponsored killings and harassments thru the Oplan Sauron, where 87 deaths have been recorded in the last three years since Duterte came to power. As a conclusion she thanked the people in Anticolonial Berlin and all those who are present in creating spaces to listen to their plight and struggles and to be in solidarity with them.

    Abel belongs to an Indigenous Group in Colombia, and was part of the Asturias program in Spain for temporary protection. The Program enabled him to travel to Germany and speak in the panel. The Program is now over and he has to go back to Colombia despite the imminent threat to his life. He discussed with fervor their century old suffering from colonial power, the betrayal of their own ruling government and their- the indigenous peoples enduring fight for their rights, lands and territories.   Their groups’ symbol of struggle is an Indigenous Guard with a wooden spear, denoting their principle to non- violent means of resistance. He noted however that the increasingly brutal and repressive state reactions against their non-violent defiance is pushing them to even consider taking up arms.  He ended with a call for support to their struggle, not for him but for the generations to come and expression of his peoples’ staunch oath to defend their mother earth, as good sons and daughters would do.

    Ferhat talked about the threat of a mega dam that will not only displace hundreds  of families but could wipe out a thousands of years old world historical heritage, the birthplace of the oldest civilization discovered so far that emerged from the fertile lands of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris. The resistance of the Kurdish people, who highly value not only the rights of the affected peoples in the proposed dam but also the historic significance of this heritage have been met with repression from the Turkish government, the main sponsor for the construction.

    The panel concluded with discussions revolving around how imperialist powers and their hands thru repressive local regimes have its deep historical colonial roots and that it continues and increasingly becoming more aggressive in the face of ever worsening crisis of the monopoly capitalist system, wanton destruction of natural resources that results to the climate crisis, and the growing resistance of the peoples in different parts of the globe.

    The Anticolonial month is organized to actively claim the space and platform to speak for ourselves, the exploited and the oppressed, particularly the conditions in our home countries and how they are connected to the politics and economics of our residence country, Germany and to engage in defining solutions that are just and humane. Different activities organized by the anticolonial Berlin and other independent organizations are spread out in different days within the duration of the Anticolonial Month.

    The idea is initiated by the Bloque Latino Americano Berlin, a progressive internationalist network of individuals and social and political organisations coming from different countries in South America. It is then taken up as a collaborative work by various organisations and network based in Berlin including Gabriela Germany, Migrante Europe, Africa United Sports Club, Unidos por la Paz-Alemania, Ni Una Menos Berlin, Mapuche Solidaritaetsgruppe, Voces de Guatemala, Schwarze Hochshulgruppe, Refracta, Humboldt Huaca, Nav-Dem, Academics for Peace, Frauenstreik Komitee Berlin, Palestina Speaks, JXK & YXK Berlin, Kale Amenge, and Revolutionaere Internationalistische Organisation/Klasse gegen Klasse.

    REFERENCES:
    Gabriela Germany
    [email protected]
    Migrante Europe
    [email protected]