Filipino Youth Group Denounces Brutal Dispersal, Calls for Immediate Investigation

A member of the Presidential Security Group kicks a protester in the face even after he is subdued. -photo by Danny Boy Pata

A protester is gripped by the neck and is reduced to near-nakedness after police tear his clothes to shreds. -photo by Danny Boy Pata

-photo by Aaron Favila

Cops attempt to crush a downed protester with a steel barrier. -photo by Aaron Favila

The chairperson of the UP-CSWCD Student Council is lifted by her hair by a member of the PSG.

August 19, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Reference: Kathleen Dy, Anakbayan New York/ New Jersey

anakbayan.nynj@gmail.com

Filipino Youth Group Denounces Brutal Dispersal, Calls for Immediate Investigation

New Jersey- Filipino youth group Anakbayan New York/ New Jersey strongly denounce the brutal dispersal of a youth protest held yesterday at the Malacañang Palace, official residence of the Philippine president. Youth and student demonstrators held a peaceful lightning rally in front of the presidential palace to condemn Arroyo and her entourage’s controversial US-trip. The progressive youth group from Jersey city supports call for a just investigation of the Philippine National Police (PNP )and Presidential Security Group (PSG)personnel involved in the said incident.

“We are outraged by the exercise of violence by the PNP and members of the PSG. We support Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond Palatino’s resolution to call for an immediate investigation of those PNP and PSG personnel involved in the brutal dispersal of activists. They and their superiors must be held accountable for their acts of brutality,” said Anakbayan Deputy Sec. Gen. Yves Nibungco.

Videos and footages taken by the media show police and members of the Presidential Security Group snatching and taking turns in beating and dragging demonstrators. One photo even shows an enforcer in civilian attire kicking an already restrained activist in the face. According to Fil-am youth activists, the cruel acts of the Police are manifestations of state-sponsored violence.

“These security personnel and law enforcers are supposed to protect the citizens but it is clear that they were violating the right to peacefully assemble and air grievances. If they are capable of such brutality against the people in broad daylight and in the front of the media, what more horrible acts can they do when no one’s looking?” added Bea Sabino, a member of Anakbayan NY/NJ.

The said protest action was held in condemnation of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s most recent and controversial trip to the United States. Arroyo and her entourage reportedly spent over Php37 million in extravagant dinners and hotel stays in Manhattan and in Washington, D.C. This earned major disapproval from Filipinos back home and abroad.

“We call on our kababayans in New York and New Jersey to not let this incident pass. They already insulted our intellect by bombarding us with lies and alibis to cover-up the lavish trip, now they are brutalizing our brothers and sisters in the Philippines for telling the truth,” Ms. Sabino ended.

On Friday, August 21, Anakbayan New York/ New Jersey, together with allied organizations under Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-USA (BAYAN-USA) will be staging an indignation protest in front of the Philippine Consulate in New York at 3:00pm-4:00pm. These said protest is in condemnation of Arroyo’s lavish dinners and the brutal dispersal of the protest in Malacañang.###

Filipino Youth Group Calls for an End to Arroyo’s “Glo-ttony”, Dares Arroyo to Surrender Wealth

Filipino Youth Group Calls for an End to Arroyo’s “Glo-ttony”, Dares Arroyo to Surrender Wealth

New Jersey-Filipino youth of Anakbayan New York/ New Jersey call for an end to Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s gluttony and greed after a recent controversial $20,000 dinner at Manhattan’s Le Cirque and a previous one at Bobby Van’s Steakhouse in Washington, D.C. for $15,000. This overindulgence earned criticisms from the opposition, as it was held amidst an appalling poverty and economic situation in the Philippines.

Guilty of “Glo-ttony”

Mrs. Arroyo and her entourage began their alleged spending extravaganza before meeting Pres. Obama in Washington, D.C. on July 30. According to two separate articles from the online edition of the New York Post, Arroyo and company came to spend $15,000 in D.C. and an alleged $20,000 at Le Cirque, hours before heading back to the Philippines.

The article, titled “Eat and Drink” described the feast as “enjoying the good life”, adding that, “Macapagal-Arroyo ordered several bottles of very expensive wine, pushing the dinner tab up to $20,000”. Another report came out on Aug.12 claiming that Arroyo and her cohorts had a prior “feast frenzy” in D.C. before meeting president Obama last July 30th. The commentary stated “The party spared no expense, and had lobster, steak and expensive wines”.

“One of the deadly sins is gluttony, which means excessive eating and consumption. We declare this regime guilty of this deadly sin. This latest debacle is a testament to Arroyo’s unquestionable corruption and insensitivity to the poverty of our countrymen back home. The sum of both lavish dinners, around $35,000, could have been spent on vital social services and poverty eradication measures that 2 out of 5 “food hungry” Filipinos should have benefitted from.” Said Jules Danzey of Anakbayan NY/NJ

Not a Simple Dinner

In an effort to justify the allegations, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde immediately responded to critics, dismissing the incident as a “simple dinner”. In another effort to respond to criticisms, Remonde added that the president cannot be expected to eat in a hotdog stand.

“The Administration’s statements reflect the kind of government we have under Arroyo’s rule - an arrogant government of the few who bask in luxury. This government has repeatedly misused the hard-earned tax money of the Filipino people,” said Anakbayan member, Kathleen Dy.

This, according to the young activist, shows the Administration’s elitism and ignorance of the people’s real conditions.

“Arroyo, Mr. Remonde and the rest of the administration’s lap dogs should go to the countryside, factories, urban-poor communities and to the cramped apartments of Overseas Filipino Workers in order for them to see what a simple dinner is. Consuming fine wine and caviar at the expense of millions of starving Filipinos is not and will never be just a simple dinner,” Ms. Dy added.

The Youth Challenge

On Aug.10, a report from the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) on the exponential growth of Arroyo’s wealth came out. According to the report, Arroyo acquired more wealth than the wealth of Cory, Erap and Ramos’ combined since she came to power.

According to PCIJ’s statement, “Arroyo’s declared net worth more than doubled (pegged only on the book or acquisition value of her assets), from P66.8 million in 2001 to P143.54 million in 2008. The increase of P76.74 million represents a growth rate of 114 percent.” In comparison to the country’s past three presidents, Arroyo’s rapid wealth increase dwarfs Corazon Aquino’s 4.8 percent from 1989 to 1992, Fidel Ramos’s 34.2 percent from 1992 to 1998, and Joseph Estrada’s 7.2 percent from 1998 to1999.

“No amount of finger-pointing and issue-dodging can distort the issue in the eyes of the vigilant masses. Whether the dinner was paid by congressman Romualdez, his relative or the first couple, it is clear that Arroyo’s lavish spending and amassing of wealth embody government corruption. This is how the elite uses our government as a milking cow to accumulate more wealth from the toiling Filipino people and perpetuate themselves in power,” stated Yves Nibungco, Deputy Sec. Gen. of Anakbayan New York/ New Jersey.

Mr. Nibungco concluded with a challenge, “We dare Arroyo and the rest of the her clique, particularly Cerge Remonde, to surrender all their amassed wealth to the Filipino people and find out what a real simple dinner actually looks like. Either they start telling the truth or run the risk of another people’s revolt.”

Youth Group Calls on Filipinos to Register for 2010 Elections, Be Part of Change

August 6, 2009

For Immediate Release

Refrence: Yves Nibungco, Deputy Sec. Gen. of Anakbayan New York/ New Jersey

Email: anakbayan.nynj@gmail.com

Youth Group Calls on Filipinos to Register for 2010 Elections, Be Part of Change

New Jersey- Filipino youth group Anakbayan New York/ New Jersey and Philippine Forum-NJ calls on the Filipino people in Jersey city to be part of change by registering for the 2010 Philippine National Elections.

On August 8, 2009, the said Filipino groups will be holding an Overseas Absentee Voter’s Registration at Kalusugan Coalition’s office at Suite 413 4th floor, 591 Summit Ave. Jersey city. The said event will take place from 10:00am to 3:00pm. A Free health screening, that includes blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol check, will be generously provided by Kalusugan Coalition alongside with the voter’s registration.

Time to Make OFW Voices Heard

Filipinos overseas comprises a huge part of the voting population as more than 3000 Filipinos leave every day. According to Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA), in the first two months of 2009 alone, a total of 283,348 Filipinos went abroad. Also, remittances from OFW’s have been keeping the ailing Philippine economy afloat amidst a global economic crisis. Last year, remittances went up to $16B and $6.98B in the first 5 months of 2009 alone.

While the Overseas Filipino Workers keeps the Philippine economy alive, the government continues to neglect its so-called “Bagong Bayani”. Based on Migrante International’s report to the UN Committee on Migrant Workers, as of April 2009, there are 35 OFW’s in the death row in 6 countries and 10,000 still stranded mostly because they ran away from their abusive employer

“Philippine Consulates, Embassies and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) seem incapable and uninterested in protecting and advancing the rights and welfare of our compatriots around the world, a clear refleaction of the Arroyo regime's attitude towards OFW's. That is why we, as Overseas Filipino Workers, must start flexing our political muscle and demand a more accountable government that will truly serve our needs. Now is the time for us Filipinos abroad to get involved and be part of the movement to bring change in our motherland.” Said Yves Nibungco, Deputy Sec. Gen. of Anakbayan New York/New Jersey.

9 Years of Labor Export Policy Must End

Under Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s regime, the Labor Export Policy became full blown. Concretely, under Arroyo, Administrative Order no. 247, was put into place, shifting the function of Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) from regulatory to a full blown marketing of OFW’s abroad. Labor Export Policy (LEP) became Arroyo’s substitute for the absence of national industrialization and genuine agrarian reform in the Philippines. This said government policy, according to members of Anakbayan, is responsible for the massive diaspora of Filipinos abroad and the rise of unemployment and poverty back home.

“We, the Filipino youth, believe that 9 years of Labor Export Policy must come to an end together with GMA's regime this coming 2010. But we have reasons to believe that Arroyo is planning to rule beyond 2010, regardless whether it is through charter change or martial rule. The Filipino people are not commodities to be sent and sold on the international labor market. We want genuine change back home. By registering to be an overseas absentee voter and encouraging our kababayans to do the same, we are sending a clear message to Ms. Arroyo not to even dare to extend her term. 9 years of being pimped across the globe must end now!”, said Kathleen Dy, member of Anakbayan New York/ New Jersey.

Rumors of a “No Election” scenario surfaced when the Philippine Congress rammed through the controversial House Resolution 1109 on June 2, 2009. H.R. 1109 is a resolution calling for the convening of a constituent assembly to amend the 1987 Philippine constitution. This move by the administration-dominated lower house, according to members of Anakbayan, was meant to extend Arroyo’s cling to power.

"If Arroyo pushes for the Constituent Assembly and Charter Change, she will definitely see more militant mass actions from Filipinos abroad and in the home front." concluded Ms. Dy.###

Filipino Youth Group calls on Filipinos to register for 2010 polls

Why is it important to register as an Overseas Absentee Voter (OAV)?

Last year, Overseas Filipino workers contributed more than $15 Billion to the ailing Philippine Economy. While Filipinos overseas keep the Philippine economy afloat, it is sad, even offensive, that we lack representation in the political arena back home. By registering as an Overseas Absentee Voter, we will be able to play a role in choosing leaders who will fight for our rights while we are away from the Philippines. You should register as an OAV in order to vote for the 2010 Philippine National Election.

Why should you vote on the May 10, 2010 Philippine National Election?

You should vote not just because it is your civic duty, you should vote because the Philippines is in dire need of change and you have the ability to make that CHANGE happen. You may think that as an individual your vote may be little more than a whisper but when your vote is combined with the votes of others who share your views, it becomes a loud voice that cannot be ignored. As Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo plots to change the constitution and prolong her stay in power through Constituent Assembly and Charter Change, registering to vote and VOTING itself are ways to strongly remind the current administration how much we value true democracy.

Who is eligible to vote?

According to the Commission on Elections, all citizens of the Philippines abroad, not otherwise disqualified by law, at least eighteen (18) years of age on the day of the election and who wish to vote for President, Vice-President, Senators and Party List Representatives for purposes of the May 10, 2010 National Elections must file applications for registration/certification as overseas absentee voters from December 1, 2008 to August 31, 2009. The voting period will be from April 10, 2010 until 3:00 p.m. Philippine time of May 10, 2010.

How can you register to be an Overseas Absentee Voter?

On August 8, 2009, an Overseas Absentee Voter’s Registration will be held in the Five Corners area of Jersey City from 10am-3pm. You will need a valid Philippine Passport or Dual Citizenship Documents to register. In addition to the voter’s registration, Kalusugan Coalition will hold a free health screening (Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar and Cholesterol). Two-hour fasting is required for the health screening. Details of the event are at the back of this page. If you cannot make it on August 8, you can go to the Philippine Consulate in NY to register on or before August 31, 2009.

This community event is organized by Anakbayan New York/New Jersey, Kalusugan Coalition and Philippine Forum New Jersey .

For questions, feel free to email us at anakbayan.nynj@gmail.com or call Kathleen at 2012535765.