PHILIPPINES: 7/28, 6pm SONA in NYC!

***ACTION ALERT****

Monday, July 28th, 6pm

PHILIPPINES:
STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS (S.O.N.A.)

Every year in the Philippines, the Philippine president addresses the entire Filipino nation with a very public "State of the Nation Address", popularly referred to as SONA. In this traditional speech, the state of the Philippine Republic is shared, including the state of economic, political, military, and social affairs.

This year, since ascending to the Presidential seat in 2001, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be delivering the scheduled SONA speech in Manila. SONA is also traditionally the day of the largest annual protest actions throughout the Philippines. Today, Filipinos in the Philippines and throughout the diaspora have much to criticize the Arroyo government for, principally the intensifying socio-economic crisis, where basic commodities for every day survival-- namely oil and rice--- are being monopolized by private cartels fueled by government corruption that are driving the people further into the throes of poverty. The Arroyo family is owner of one of the largest rice cartels in the Philippine today and largely responsible for the skyrocketing and out-of-reach rates of rice in the Philippines. Last month, the devastation of Typhoon Frank killed nearly 900 passengers in the Merchant Vessel "Princess of the Stars" when it sank and also caused a massive spillage of toxic chemicals into the sea. On tour in the US at the time, the Arroyo clique failed to act accordingly to this disaster, and stayed in the US to secure more US tax dollars in military aid to the Philippine military, a known human rights violator.

As Filipinos in the Philippines go out onto the streets to expose the true, tragic state of the Philippine nation, Filipinos in New York will hold a local New York City Speak Out-Demonstration addressing the economic crisis and corruption of the Arroyo administration. JOIN US! ALL ARE WELCOME!

When: Monday, July 28th
Time: 6pm
Where: Philippine Consulate of NYC, 5th Ave between 45th and 46th Streets in Manhattan
Train: F/V to Rockefeller Center

Organized by:

BAYAN USA (www.bayanusa.org)
NY Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (NYCHRP)
Anakbayan NY/NJ
Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE)

Endorsed by:

National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON)
Philippine Forum
Sandiwa: National Fil-Am Youth Alliance
Kapatirang Pilipino (Kappa Pi)
Kabalikat Domestic Workers Support Group

For inquiries or to endorse this action, please email Christina Hilo at cshilo@gmail.com

cshilo@gmail.com

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Filipino-American Youth Calls Gloria Biggest Disaster to the Philippines

Press Release
For Immediate Release

Reference; Dani Galan and Yves Nibungco, Anakbayan NY/NJ
Email: Anakbayan.nynj @ gmail.com

Filipino-American Youth Calls Gloria Biggest Disaster to the Philippines
Anakbayan youth brings homefront issues to Filipino community in Jersey City .

Jersey City , New Jersey- Anakbayan NY/NJ joined the Philippine American Friendship Committee Inc.'s street fair last Sunday, June 29, 2008. Members of the organization presented various issues to the Filipino-American community in Jersey City ; such as the Arroyo regime's rampant corruption, and the politically-motivated killings in the Philippines .

One of the many colorful displays on the organization's table was a scoreboard with the number 903 prominently shown as it is the current number of victims of extra-judicial killings in the Philippines . Also, a collage of pictures of victims of these killings and their families and factoids where exhibited beside the scoreboard.

A life-like dummy, painstakingly made by the members of Anakbayan from scratch, was laid in front of the booth. Dressed in a black long-sleeved shirt, olive green cargo pants, black shoes with its hands tied in the back and a white garbage bag over its head as it laid face down on the pavement a few feet from the booth. A sign signifying that it is a victim of politically-motivated killing in the Philippines was propped up next to the dummy.

"Various International Human Rights organization already published statement and reports implicating the Philippine military in over 1000 atrocities ranging from the murders to forced disappearances of members and supporters of progressive groups like ours. We also hold accountable Gloria Macapagal Arroyo being the head of state and commander of chief for allowing, if not masterminding, these human rights violations." Yves Nibungco of Anakbayan NY/NJ said.

The youth also carried banners criticizing President Arroyo's recent visit to New York City . Citing that at a time when the nation is in great distress after going through typhoon Frank and while still coping with rice crisis, Mrs. Arroyo still pursued her extravagant trip to the US .

"Our country has been going through one disaster after another ever since Gloria Macapagal Arroyo cheated her way into presidency. Her most recent trip just shows how apathetic she is to the needs of the Filipino people. She is spending our hard earned tax pesos and dollar remittances on lavish dinners and trips while our people are starving and dying back home." stated Dani Galan, Anakbayan NY/NJ Chairperson.

Aside from banners and props, the Filipino Youth Organization also offered merchandise handcrafted from the cordillera and proudly Filipino made as part of the income generating project of not-for-profit organization.

"Our merchandise was made by hand from our sister organization in the Philippines , Cordillera People's Alliance and various supporters both back home and here in the US . We promote the ingenuity of Filipino." Ms. Galan added.

The Filipino-American Friendship day celebration was cut short due to weather as strong winds pounded the street vendors and visitors of the fair.

"It (weather) reminds us of the harsh conditions the Filipino people have to endure back home. It also reaffirms our commitment to serve the people. We vow not to stop exposing and opposing the anti-people and fascist policies of Arroyo's Government. So far she is the biggest disaster to have ever hit the Philippines. We join the majority of FIlipinos in saying enough is enough! Oust Gloria! " Mr. Nibungco stated. ###