This Sun. 6/1: March against the commercialization of the PIDC Parade 2008!!!

Mga Kababayan:

The National Alliance For Filipino Concerns* invites you to march with our contingent in the Philippine Independence Day Parade this coming Sunday, June 1st, 2008!
***************************

Meet at 10:00 AM
on the Southeast corner of 39th Street and 5th Avenue in Manhattan
Click for map
Subway Directions:
B, D, F, V to 42nd Street - Bryant Park
7 Train to 42 Street - Bryant Park

Come and march in the annual Philippine Independence Day Parade under the mighty banner of The National Alliance For Filipino Concerns and all organizations behind it.

We will call attention to the unfortunate and corrupt commercialization of the Philippine Independence Day Parade. The parade is meant to celebrate our independence, but the outrageous costs set by the PIDC, $1100 for a corner booth! We will also show our concern for the current Rice Crisis in the Philippines, another issue that highlights the Philippines' lack of independence when rice- a basic necessity- is controlled by foreign markets.

Bring empty pots, pans, and wooden spoons as noisemakers, so that the Filipino community of NYC will be pushed to take notice of our calls!

Finally, Let us come together as a united community to show our continuing and unwavering support for the beleaguered Sentosa 27++ nurses who are demanding justice for themselves and for all Filipinos working In the U.S. and abroad, and to express our community's stand to legalize all undocumented Filipinos in the United States.

Please call (718 )565-8862 or
Visit us at the Bayanihan Filipino Community Center
40-21 69th Street Woodside, NY 11377

* National Alliance For Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), Philippine Forum,
Sandiwa, New York Committee For Human Rights In The Philippines.,
Anakbayan New York / New Jersey, Filipinas For Rights And Empowerment
(FIRE), Movement For A Free Philippines

Link Resources:
http://www.anakbayan-ny.blogspot.com
http://www.firenyc.blogspot.com


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Press Release

May 29, 2008

Reference: Rico Foz, Executive Vice President, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), email:nafconusa@yahoo.com

Philippine Independence Day Celebration 2008-NYC
TRIBUTE TO THE PHILIPPINE'S GOVERNMENT'S EXCELLENCE in CORRUPTION

Madison Avenue, NYC - In commemoration of the 110th anniversary of Philippine Independence, NAFCON (National Alliance for Filipino Concerns) will be marching to expose the corruption and commercialization of the New York Philippine Independence Day Celebration (PIDC). NAFCON will be emphasizing the outrageous fees of the PIDC march, the rice crisis in the Philippines, and the ongoing Sentosa 27++ struggle of immigrant healthcare workers.

When the cost of a booth at the PIDC's celebration is $1100, and the cost of a simple barbeque stick is an arm and a leg--in this celebration of freedom, people are not celebrating independence, instead it is a time for Filipinos to exploit one another at exaggerated costs. "These prices are ridiculous, and PIDC, INC. should be ashamed of themselves. It is a disgrace to our Filipino heritage of those who fought for independence, and now there are organizations like PIDC, INC. that commercialize this day of independence," remarks Rico Foz, Executive Vice President of NAFCON.

Although it is the 110th year celebration of Philippine independence, the majority of Filipinos are far from free; especially during this current rice crisis. During the 1970s, the Philippines used to be one of the leaders in production of rice, however, the liberalization of the market and dependence on foreign markets for basic staples puts Filipinos in a stressful situation. When majority of the Philippines, who live in poverty, depend on rice as a basic source of nutrition, and the prices are increasing, how can Filipinos afford their rice? The Philippines to this day cannot call itself independent when access to basic needs are dominated by foreign markets.

NAFCON will also be highlighting during the march the ongoing Sentosa 27++ case, which represents the struggle that thousands of overseas Filipino healthcare workers must undergo. Upon arrival in the United States, SentosaCare LLC recruitment agency not only failed to honor the tenets of the nurses' contracts, but subjected them to a steep 60:1 patient-to-nurse ratio and withheld their wages. At least 27 healthcare workers resigned from their posts in response to such horrible working conditions and contract violations, but 10 nurses in Long Island and their lawyer were criminally charged.

If you want to take part in the NAFCON contingent and make a stand for a more genuine independence of the Philippines, please meet at the Southeast corner of 39th St. and 5th Avenue at 10 a.m.

The National Alliance for Filipino Concerns or NAFCON, is a national, US wide alliance of Filipino groups and individuals in over 23 states committed to protecting and advancing the rights and welfare of Filipinos in the United States.

Members of NAFCON in New York and New Jersey area include Philippine Forum, Anakbayan NY/NJ, NY Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines, Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment, Sandiwa National Fil-Am Youth Alliance, and Lakas Diwa.

For more information, contact nafconusa@yahoo.com. ###

Filipinos in New York Celebrate a True Filipino Hero, Ka Bel

Berna Ellorin of BAYAN USA

Jonna Baldres of Anakbayan NY/NJ

Valerie Francisco of Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE)

Steve Raga of NY Committee for Human Rights in the Phils (NYCHRP)

Rico Foz of National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2008


Contact: Steve Raga, BAYAN-USA Northeast Coordinator, 917-392-4546,


Filipinos in New York Celebrate a True Filipino Hero, Ka Bel


Queens, New York—In a solemn gathering of 30 to 50, Filipinos from all over New York City came to salute the life and contributions of the late Congressman Crispin Beltran, known to many community members across the Philippines and the world as Ka Bel.

BAYAN-USA organizations New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (NYCHRP), Anakbayan New York/New Jersey and Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE) led the vigil for the night with prayer, songs and reflections. "What does Ka Bel have to do with me? Everything," stated Valerie Francisco, chair of FiRE, "His service to the people was and continues to be a sparkling example of what fighting for justice is supposed to mean."

The action held in the heart of the Filipino community in Queens, New York coincided with a national work halt called by the militant union Kilusang Mayo Uno (May 1st Movement – KMU) in the Philippines in honor of Beltran on the day of his funeral. The vigils for Ka Bel -- spread throughout the US happening in Seattle, San Francisco and LA -- was a testament to Ka Bel's widespread influence, even in the US.

Born and raised in New York, Steve Raga from NYCHRP was greatly inspired by Ka Bel's life and work from the Philippines and around the world. He remembered, "When Ka Bel was released from a 16-month detention under the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo regime, he insisted that it didn't matter if he was out of jail because there is a bigger fight to be fought." Deeply affected by the life and death of Ka Bel, Raga declared that the way we will commemorate his life is through organizing and mobilizing for the rights of the workers and the poor in the Philippines.

Bernadette Ellorin, secretary general of BAYAN-USA, stated, "Ka Bel was a true example of a kasama who dedicated his life to serving the people and living simply." At the age of 75, still strong and committed, Ka Bel served in the Philippine congress as a representative of Anakpawis since 2001. Premised by over 55 years of work with several worker organizations like the Taxi Driver Union and Kilusang Mayo Uno, Ka Bel worked hard to champion the rights of workers.

"Ka Bel's legacy lives on in the militant struggle against the fascist GMA administration, US imperialism and the landlessness in the Philippines," Jonna Baldres, secretary general of Anakbayan NY-NJ added, "It's not about the way he died, it's about the way he lived."

Vice chair of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns Rico Foz reminded the crowd about Ka Bel's international work, fighting not only for better working conditions and livable wages for Filipino workers but for workers worldwide. As the first chairman of the International League of Peoples Struggle, Ka Bel was a staunch advocate the way to establish international alliances between people's movements globally.

The somber evening closed with tears and heartfelt goodbyes but, more importantly, all of the Filipino youth, community members and leaders recommitted to the very fight for justice that Ka Bel's life represented.


The upcoming "CRICES: Got rice?" concert by BAYAN USA Northeast will also include cultural performances as tribute to Ka Bel. The concert will be held at the BarYo Restaurant in Woodside, Queens on May 31.



Mabuhay si Ka bel!
Patuloy ang laban, Ka Bel!
Sulong Anakpawis!
Mabuhay ang Sambayanang Pilipino!

###

Anakbayan US Chapters' Statement on the Tuition Fee Increase in the Philippines

PRESS STATEMENT

May 25, 2008

Reference:
Bev Tang e-mail: bev@anakbayanla.org

Jonna Baldres e-mail: jonnabebeh@gmail.com

The US-based chapters of ANAKBAYAN today express solidarity with the Filipino youth and students in condeming the Arroyo government's neglect of the Philippine educational system through it's continuing increase of tuition fees.

We also express our unity and overwhelming support for the student protest against tuition fee increase.

As overseas Filipinos, we are concerned about the plight of our fellow youth. As the Philippine education crisis worsens, it is setting a trap for the future of the Filipino youth.

While the Philippine educational system is already geared towards developing an army of well-equipped and well-educated professionals for employment abroad, the government's neglect to provide affordable higher education for the rest is designed to provide a steady supply of vulnerable workforce ready to take on jobs for various factories and other semi-skilled employment in other countries since it is also incapable of providing jobs at home.

We join the calls and demands of ANAKBAYAN, Kabataang Artista para sa Tunay na Kalayaan, League of Filipino Students (LFS), National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) and Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP) in protesting the meaningless pronouncement of the Arroyo government and in condemning all unecessary tuition fee increases.

ANAKBAYAN-Los Angeles, CA San Diego, CA, New York/New Jersey
##

LFS wants Shooli ads pulled out and investigated

LFS wants "right-wing" Shooli commercials pulled out and investigated;
says ads a waste of taxpayer money

The League of Filipino Students (LFS) is calling for the pull-out and
investigation of the controversial television advertisement featuring
Jun Urbano a.k.a "Mr. Shooli" which, using "Mongolian Barbeque" humor,
assails people power protests and proclaims that "change starts with
one's self."

LFS national chairperson Vencer Crisostomo said the ads are a "big
waste of taxpayer's money, as hundreds of thousands, if not millions
of pesos are being spent on mindless, pro-government propaganda."

The ads are reportedly funded by the Development Bank of the
Philippines (DBP) and Landbank, both corporations government owned and
controlled.

"Instead of allotting subsidies for rice, education and other badly
needed services, the government opts to use to fund a right-wing
political comic which no one really buys. This is a further insult to
the people who are getting poorer and hungrier precisely because of
senseless projects like this one," said Crisostomo.

The Shooli ad featured a staged rally using banners of people's
organizations including LFS. After discrediting people power and
enumerating Shooli's suggestions for self-discipline, it implied that
the rally organizers pay P500 for people to participate.

"Tell that to Ka Bel. Everyone knows that LFS, BAYAN, KMU and other
people's organizations do not pay a cent to its members and supporters
participating in protest actions," said Crisostomo.

As to Shooli's "self-transformatio n" formula: "The suggestions are as
lame as the ad. It's telling everyone to just mind their own business
and stop protesting, as if that's going to stop Arroyo from lies,
treachery and corruption. This is clearly a desperate attempt to stop
the snowball of protests and prevent the downfall of the Arroyo
government," he said.

LFS suspects that the video is part of a military intelligence psy-ops
strategy as Jun Urbano is reportedly directing a series of
anti-communist films. One, which starred Bembol Roco, already came out
May of last year. "We will not be surprised if the military is behind
this. What we fear is that via these films, they are now setting the
stage for further killings and abductions, this time, probably,
focusing in the 'people power' centers: Metro Manila and nearby
cities," Crisostomo said. #

The ad can be seen online here:
http://karlc. multiply. com/video/ item/13/Pagbabag o_TVC_Govt_ smear_campaign_ vs_peoples_ organizations
(Scroll at the end of the article on the linked page to locate the video.)

Reference: Vencer Crisostomo, LFS National Chairperson, 09157991059, 09228262606

--
Visit the NEW LFS WEBSITE: http://www.lfs. ph

Anakbayan Los Angeles and San Diego Pay Tribute to Crispin Beltran

Anakbayan Los Angeles and San Diego Pay Tribute to Crispin Beltran

May 20, 2008

Anakbayan Los Angeles and San Diego mourn with Filipinos across the globe the unfortunate death of beloved labor leader Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran. Ka Bel was an exemplary model to youth and students of the true fighting spirit, a tireless soul who never stopped working for the liberation of his people even until his death at the age of 75. Anakbayan San Diego and Los Angeles pay our utmost respect to Ka Bel and salutes his life devoted to truly serving the people.

As a trade unionist he fought alongside the manggagawa (workers) as the chairperson of the militant labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) in the 80’s, the chairperson of BAYAN Philippines in the 90’s, the first chairperson of International League of People’s Struggle (ILPS), and more recently as a representative of the party list representing workers – Anakpawis.

A political prisoner of the Marcos dictatorship, congressperson Ka Bel was placed under hospital arrest just two years ago when the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo regime declared a “state of emergency” placing the country under virtual martial law. Even from his hospital bed, he continued adamantly to expose the government’s imposition of state terror and to fight the outrageous false charges placed against him and fellow progressive colleagues of the House known as the Batasan 6.

Ka Bel died Tuesday, May 20th, after sustaining massive head injuries caused by falling from his house’s rooftop while making household repairs.

Anakbayan Los Angeles and San Diego send our condolences to the Beltran family, Anakpawis partylist, KMU, BAYAN, ILPS, and friends of our dear kasama, and vows to carry on the legacy of Ka Bel and all workers towards the eradication of exploitation and oppression of the Filipino people in the Philippines, the US and throughout the world.

For a special slideshow tribute to Ka Bel, please visit myspace.com/anakbayanla.

To check out Anakbayan San Diego, go to myspace.com/anakbayansd

Ka Bel: People's Hero

Ka Bel: People's Hero

AnakBayan pays the highest tribute to Anakpawis Rep. Crisin "Ka Bel" Beltran for his selfless dedication in serving the toiling masses and for his leadership in the people's struggle for national independence and genuine democracy. Ka Bel is a great revolutionary and a hero of the Filipino people.

We salute Ka Bel for his life of arduous struggle and simple living. As a Congressman, he wished no favor for himself and never took advantage of his position. Despite his illness and old age, Ka Bel tirelessly advanced the interest of the masses within the halls of Congress and in the streets. His exemplary life should serve as an inspiration to all freedom-loving Filipinos, especially the younger generation of activists.

Ka Bel represented and still represents the progressive movement and the people's aspirations to rid of oppression and exploitation. For this reason, he was constantly subjected to harassment and suppression by the state in an attempt to demoralize him and weaken the struggle he led. Despite these, he furiously defied state fascism and proved that the people's struggle could triumph over tyranny.

The ruling clique of the Arroyo regime should be condemned for its flagrant act of suppression against Ka Bel. It displayed no regard for his health and old age in its desperate attempt to stay in power. Ka Bel best articulated in his fiery speeches and statements how the Arroyo regime continues to oppress the masses.

Ka Bel's death is a great loss to the progressive movement. The life and death of Ka Bel inspires the youth to persist in the struggle for national democracy. The people shall always remember him; his revolutionary spirit shall live on among the youth and the people he loved and served.

The National Executive Committee

ANAKBAYAN

Anakbayan NY/NJ Honors Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran

Press Statement
21 May 2008


Reference: Jonna Baldres, Secretary General, Anakbayan New York/New Jersey
Contact info: anakbayan_ny@yahoo.com, 1(646)5787390


Anakbayan NY/NJ Honors Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran


As Anakpawis Partylist Representative Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran meets his untimely demise on the 20th of May at the age of 75, the Filipino youth of New York/New Jersey shares with the whole Filipino nation the grief of losing a great role model who tirelessly fought for the advancement of workers’ rights and who ceaselessly struggled for nationalism, democracy and freedom of the Filipino people.

Despite the government’s persecution, from the Marcos regime up to the present, Ka Bel has been loved by many -- most especially by people from marginalized sectors -- as he lived his life in genuine service of the people. Two years ago, Ka Bel was arrested and detained at the Philippine Heart Center on charges of inciting to sedition and rebellion as he, and 5 other representatives, were accused by the government of collaborating with elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in a coup attempt to remove Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from office. The charges had not been proven and Ka Bel was finally released last year after spending a year and a half in detention.

As a member of the house of representatives, having been arrested while the congress was in session at the time, Ka Bel was not granted his parliamentary immunity, thus making him a victim of unjust and unreasonable detention, a concrete manifestation of the worsening condition of political repression in the Philippines.

In a display of unwavering fighting spirit, Ka Bel had also served as leader of Yellow Taxi Drivers' Union and the Amalgamated Taxi Drivers Federation, and of numerous unions and militant organizations such as Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) and the founding chairperson of International League of People’s Struggle (ILPS). As a representative to the Congress, he served under Bayan Muna, and as of recent, Anakpawis, partylists.

As an advocate of workers' rights, Ka Bel lobbied and campaigned for the passage of pro-worker, pro-poor bills such as HB 345, the bill legislating a P125 across-the-board wage increase for all workers nationwide. This, among a hundred and thirty (130) other bills and resolutions, had been proof of Ka Bel’s commitment to serve the majority of the Filipino people.

“Dying while fixing his own roof only shows how Ka Bel is tightly linked to the grassroots of Philippine society,” Anakbayan NY/NJ Vice President Yancy Gandionco remarks, “He will forever serve as inspiration for us young people to continue the fight until we grow old. Up to his last breath, Ka Bel had been a faithful embodiment of a true working class hero.”

Anakbayan New York/New Jersey will be joining other organizations nationwide under BAYAN USA and National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) on May 31 in paying tribute to the humble life lived by Ka Bel. ###

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/95481/Activists-call-on-CHED-to-impose-moratorium-on-tuition-hikes

Activists call on CHED to impose moratorium on tuition hikes

Article posted May 15, 2008 - 11:09 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Activist group Anakbayan trooped to the Commision on Higher Education on Thursday to demand an immediate moratorium on tuition increases, in light of the continuous increases in the prices of basic commodities.

The youth group claimed that "a moratorium (on tuition increases) is imperative now more than ever with the skyrocketting of oil, food, and electricity prices."

Anakbayan expressed fears that tuition hikes will only increase the number of out-of-school youth.

"With the prices of basic commodities and services continuously rising, the Filipino family is left no choice but to minimize spending on the educational needs of their children," said Anakbayan spokesperson Ken Ramos.

Ramos criticized CHED for its "ineptitude in controlling the rising cost of tertiary education."

"For the past years, the CHED has remained a mere observer as both private and state universities have increased their tuition by as much as 100%," said Ramos.

The University of the Philippines is now charging freshmen with a P1,000 per unit tuition, while the Philippine Normal University increased its tuition from P50 to P100 per unit.The Polytechnic University of the Philippines is collecting a new "developmental fee" amounting to P250 per student.

Private tertiary schools have also applied for tuition increases. The University of Santo Tomas has set a 7% increase. In Western Visayas, around 33 schools have been reported to hike their tuition, some by as much as 15%.

At least 19 private colleges and universities in Cebu City plan to increase tuition by 5 percent to 16 percent when classes resume in June.

Anakbayan challenged CHED Chairman Romulo Neri to intervene in this situation of crisis, and implement a moratorium on all tuition increases in tertiary schools. - GMANews.TV

Youth groups slam arrest order for Bishop Cruz; Warn of early school opening protests if warrant served

May 14, 2008
NEWS RELEASE

Youth groups slam arrest order for Bishop Cruz
Warn of early school opening protests if warrant served

YOUTH ACT NOW! (Youth for Accountability and Truth Now!) expressed its strongest condemnation against the arrest order for Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz on grounds of a resurrected four-year-old libel case.

YOUTH ACT Now! spokesperson Alvin Peters warned authorities against serving the warrant saying that the bishop's arrest would spark early school opening protests.

"We are yet again disgusted at how this administration sinks to the lowest of the low just to silence its critics. Bishop Cruz is a role model of youth and students and we admire him for standing up to his convictions despite political harassment," said Peters.

Peters said, "If they dare arrest the good bishop, they'll be up against youth and students. Bishop Cruz once said in a gathering that he decided to break his silence in order to inspire and propel the youth into collective action for truth, accountability and social change. He has likewise always had the youth's support."

Libel with neither rhyme nor reason
For his part, CEGP (College Editors' Guild of the Philippines) Spokesperson Vijae Alquizola likened the persecution of Bishop Cruz to the 45 libel cases filed by First Gentleman Mike Arroyo against members of the press. CEGP is a member of YOUTH ACT NOW!

In 2006, Arroyo filed a barrage of libel cases against journalists who reported his involvement in anomalies and commented on his actions. The journalists had since filed a civil case to counter Arroyo's allegations.

"This case is another clear attack on freedom of expression. Like the other 45 libel cases, FG Mike Arroyo is once again involved. Where in the world can you find no less than the DOJ assaulting the rights of an elderly and respectable bishop just because he managed to annoy some very influential people? Only in the Philippines," Alquizola said.

Alquizola said that CEGP is a signatory of a petition calling for the de-criminalization of libel. "We simply cannot allow the likes of Arroyos and Gonzalezes freely brandishing out libel cases against known critics of the government with neither rhyme nor reason."

Alquizola cited that the United States had since de-criminalized libel since 1963.

Meanwhile, YOUTH ACT NOW! committed to support Bishop Cruz if he so decides to file a libel case against DOJ Sec. Raul Gonzalez. "He should be given a taste of his own medicine." ###

Reference: Alvin Peters, Spokesperson, 09206209362

Militant youth leaders cry military harassment

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080513-136355/Militant-youth-leaders-cry-military-harassment

Militant youth leaders cry military harassment

By Jerome Aning Philippine Daily Inquirer

Posted date: May 13, 2008

MANILA, Philippines -- A militant youth group on Tuesday accused the military of harassing one of its leaders but said this would not deter them from continuing calls for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Youth Revolt said Glaiza Dimapilis, secretary general of the Metro Manila chapter of the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) and the current president of the student government of the Philippine Christian University (PCU), claimed a military intelligence operative has been tailing her and that even her parents were subjected to harassment. Youth Revolt is a broad alliance of various youth and student groups calling for social change and immediate resignation of the President. It mobilized for and joined anti-Arroyo protest rallies last February. In a statement, Dimapilis said she received threats from a certain Mike Santos who is allegedly an agent of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP). In an affidavit, she narrated that Santos had been following her from school all the way to their house. She said she knew then that he was a military agent and a member of the intelligence service and that he wanted Dimapilis to stop her activities as current president of the PCU student government and her affiliation in NUSP. A few days later, a certain Major Francisco, who also claimed to be an ISAFP agent, talked to her parents and told them that Dimapilis was on the top list of ISAFP’s order of battle. Youth Revolt accused the Arroyo administration of trying to “eradicate” progressive youth and student leaders who speak against the government. “We should mark an end to political harassment like these and oppose all forms of repression of the government against her critics,” Youth Revolt spokesman Mark Louie Aquino said in a separate statement. Youth Revolt said it was “very clear” that the administration was counter-maneuvering to prevent big mobilizations to ensure Arroyo’s stay in power.

LFS: Enrollment rate to drop due to crisis

www.lfs.ph

May 5, 2008
LFS: Enrollment rate to drop due to crisis

The League of Filipino Students (LFS) warned today that the number of students who will opt not continue with their education and instead dropout of school will increase dramatically this year due to skyrocketing price increases in basic commodities and living costs.

“The enrollment rate has been at a steady decline under Arroyo’s government. From 1995 to 2002, enrollment grew at a rate of 1.98 percent. Since 2003 to 2007, it has dropped to 0.97 percent. We expect this figure to drop dramatically this year due to the crisis,” LFS national chairperson Vencer Crisostomo said.

According to Crisostomo, many parents might not be able to enroll their children in the coming school year as the price increases are also expected to raise the costs of sending young people to school.

Crisostomo said that while tuition may be free in public schools, it still takes around P15,000 to P20,000 to send a student to a public elementary or high school for a whole school year, considering school fees, transportation, food and other expenses. This figure, according to him, is even expected to rise as costs of basic commodities are constantly increasing.

“Parents are now being forced to choose between sending their children to school or spending that amount to buy rice and other necessities. This is apart from the fact that school fees are also on the rise due to lack of budgetary allocation,” he added.

“If the government does not properly address the current crisis, more parents and students might be forced to drop out from schools. PMA na lang sila: Pahinga Muna Anak or Pangkain na lang Muna Anak,” he added.

According to LFS, the drop out rate as it is now is already a cause for alarm, as only 60 percent of those who enter grade one finish basic education and 40 percent finish high school, 20 percent enroll to college and only 10 percent finishes to receive a degree.

“With the current crisis and the continued lack of government response, we can expect these figures to go up this coming school year. The Arroyo government has made education less accessible to Filipinos,” said Crisostomo.

The LFS called on the government to “act quickly and decisively” to address the “worsening education crisis which it has only its self and its flawed policies to blame.”

In order to avert this worsening education crisis, the government must:

• 1. Increase budgetary allocation and subsidy to education,
• 2. Stop the implementation of unjust tuition and other fee increases this coming year, and
• 3. Stop the imposition of school fees and compulsory payments in public elementary and high schools.

“If the Arroyo government fails to act on these calls, more students and youth will surely take the streets to protest her corrupt and anti-youth policies,” Crisostomo said. ###


News Release

Reference:
Ron Villegas, National Vice Chairperson and Information Officer,
09154943120, ronvil@gmail.com

Vencer Crisostomo, National Chairperson, 09157991059, venzie@gmail.com

Filipinos in New York Unite for Immigrant Rights on May 1 Rally

News Release

May 3, 2008

Reference: Steven Raga; Coordinator, BAYAN USA Northeast, email: NY@bayanusa.org

Filipinos in New York Unite for Immigrant Rights on May 1 Rally

New York City, NY—New York is an immigrant city, and Filipinos are a central part of it. In the midst of thousands of immigrants and demonstrators on May 1 rally, the Filipino contingent showed their unity with the broader immigrant community of New York City.

Under the banners of BAYAN USA and the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), over 100 Filipinos joined the May 1st mobilization in Union Square, New York. Demonstrating for rights and legalization for undocumented immigrants and workers, the contingent demanded legalization for all the undocumented, family reunification for immigrants, a scrapping of the immigration backlog, and worker rights for immigrant workers. The contingent also raised the issue of the Philippine government's Labor Export Policy, in which the result is over 3,000 Filipinos leaving the Philippines per day, further highlighting the importance of immigrant rights for the Filipino community.

"The issue of immigration in the US is not just about borders," stated Valerie Francisco of FiRE, "raids and deportations are breaking up our community, the backlog of immigrants put on hold has a stranglehold on families that yearn to be together again."

Conditions for immigrant workers have worsened, as now the Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE is enacting random checkpoints and raids on many immigrant families, including Filipinos. The Filipino group stood in solidarity with other immigrant communities to demand that policy and legislation safeguard the rights of immigrant workers.

Julia Camagong of NAFCON stated "In the United States, immigrant's rights and worker's rights are one in the same, and the Filipino immigrant community is the embodiment of it. A case like that of the Sentosa 27 Nurses proves that no matter your profession, immigrants must be made aware of their rights as workers in this country."

"We cannot deny that the US immigration system has deep impact on the lives of nearly four million Filipinos in the US, one million of which remain undocumented," expressed Anakbayan's Jonna Baldres. "If we don't demand that this broken system be positively reformed so that it recognizes all immigrants as human beings with inalienable rights, then we are accepting defeat against the capitalist monster."

The worsening living conditions for the Filipino people under President Gloria Macapaga Arroyo are also at play when forcing Filipinos to migrate out of their motherland to the United States.

"The truth is the extreme poverty, corruption, and now food crisis in the Philippines sends over 3000 Filipinos out of the Philippines daily. Many come to the US seeking decent lives and to support their loved ones back home. We cannot tolerate a racist and xenophobic immigration system here in the US. May Day must be a day we fight for our rights, just as the early manongs did along the Pacific Coastline at the turn of the 20th century. No concession from the state ever came without extreme struggle. May Day is no different," Baldres added.

Among the demands at the May 1 action was an end to the ICE raids and deportations, which continue to intensify in the tri-state area. Many Filipinos have fallen victim to random checks by security forces in trains, buses, and other means of public transportation. Many more are rounded up, detained without due process, and deported back to the Philippines.

Active and founding members of the New York May 1st Coalition for Immigrant Rights, BAYAN USA and NAFCON have done their part in rallying Filipino representation in these historic marches, the first of which ballooned into the largest mobilization in New York history back on May 1st, 2006.

For more information, contact Steve Raga at NY@bayanusa.org.

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