Anakbayan New York/New Jersey's Solidarity Statement for FiRE's 2nd Anniversary (April 14)

Refined but notorious, subtle but grim, traditional but revolutionary—this is the empowered Filipina, the vision GABRIELA has upheld with all its fervor and tenacity for the past 25 years.

Organizing has always been an imperative step to provide tools of awareness and camaraderie to women — including but not limited to domestic workers, professionals, and especially those with the simple, often-underrated “job” description of “mother”— leading them to discover their strength. It is that power, lying dormant for too long, which GABRIELA aims to liberate from each and every woman who has been made to accept the idea of being the victim in a society run by the menacing “man’s-world” excuse even up to the present. It is in this light that women have begun to achieve that potent blend of compassion and ability to influence, command and bear the light of an awakening revolution.

Having worked closely with Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment in New York City (FiRE-NYC), one of the four member organizations of the newly-founded GABRIELA-USA, we continue to draw inspiration from each other. We have experienced FiRE’s dynamic approach to finding our identities and being proud of our heritage through joint educational discussions, providing workshops in student conferences throughout the East Coast and storming the streets together and fighting for the rights of our fellow Filipinos and Filipinas here in the belly of the beast. We are truly pleased to have witnessed the growth of FiRE as a successful progressive women’s organization in such a short period of time (2 years!).

With this, we, the Filipino youth from Anakbayan New York/New Jersey, extend our utmost congratulations to FiRE and the rest of the GABRIELA family for this excellent milestone. We salute your persistent unrest as shown in your consistency in addressing women’s issues and upholding women’s rights in the Philippines as well as abroad. We are greatly honored to have you as part of our struggle, our community, and our lives.

Mabuhay ang Pilipina! Sulong, GABRIELA!


Fueled by the power of love and service to the people,
Anakbayan New York/New Jersey


(Statement written by Bea Sabino)

U.S. Chapters of AnakBayan celebrate Kabataan Party-list securing a seat in the Philippine House of Representatives

April 24, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Reference: Jeff Rice, AnakBayan Seattle, email: edjop82@gmail.com



U.S. Chapters of AnakBayan celebrate Kabataan Party-list securing a seat in the Philippine House of Representatives



The chapters of AnakBayan in the United States are celebrating the historic victory of the 1st youth representative to the Philippine Congress held by the Kabataan (Youth) Partylist. The position will be held by 29 year old Raymond Palatino who was once chair of the University Student Council of the University of the Philippines Diliman and president of the National Union of Students of the Philippines. This comes after the Philippine Supreme Court overturned a previous decision on partylist elections and now allows for a full representation from the 2007 elections. In addition to the Kabataan partylist, the decision has now increased the progressive block in Congress with an additional seat for both BAYAN-MUNA and Anakpawis.


The Kabataan Partylist ran for Congress in 2007 and garnered 225,000 votes based on a platform opposing tuition fee increases, supporting increased funding for education, creating adequate jobs for new graduates, promotion of genuine national industrialization, agrarian reform and pro-people economic policies. Its campaign was supported by its founding organizations, the National Union of Students of the Philippines, College Editors Guild of the Philippines, League of Filipino Students and AnakBayan along with other allies nationwide and abroad. In the US, BAYAN-USA and chapters of AnakBayan launched a “TEXT B.A.C.K. (Text Brigade Against Cheating and Killings)” campaign to encourage Filipinos in the US to vote for and support progressive partylists. However, the Supreme Court at the time limited the number of seats for partylist winners including the one for Kabataan. The Supreme Court has now reversed that decision due to the need for more representatives to counter the US-GMA regime which rabidly insists on Charter Change.


Once in office, Kabataan will immediately submit legislation concerning youth empowerment in governance, employment for the 900,000 new Filipino graduates, and tuition fee hike moratorium, among others. Kabataan will now have a stronger voice to advocate for the youth in fighting for a better society devoid of corruption, inequality and social injustice. They will continue to be vigilant and vocal against issues of electoral fraud, corruption and plunder, human rights violations, tyranny and the root causes of poverty, hunger and indecent living conditions to the people. The need to uphold national sovereignty is all the more pressing with thousands of US troops in Bicol due to the VFA and the Philippine government colluding with the US government in overturning the conviction of rapist Daniel Smith.


It is all the more important to have a youth voice in Congress during this economic crisis of imperialism. With the current crisis caused by the overproduction of goods and services, the bursting of the US real estate bubble and greed of financial services, it is necessary to have a voice in the congress that opposes further orientation of the Philippine economy to low-value exports and more foreign exploitation of its natural resources. It is Filipino youth who are the future of the country and clamor for national industrialization & genuine land reform to create jobs in the Philippines. The Filipino youth have always played a pivotal role in ushering in significant changes in history whenever the social, political and economic conditions in society became too intolerable to endure. It was young men and women who prevailed in the fight against Spanish colonialism, US colonization, Japanese fascism and who toppled the Marcos dictatorship in 1986 and ousted the Estrada regime in 2001.


As Filipino-Americans, Kabataan Partylist serves as an inspiration of what young Filipinos can accomplish. The US chapters of AnakBayan will also continue to advocate for young Fil-Ams and to be the voice for our local communities. In the US, Filipino youth have often been in the forefront for social change. Young Filipinos, including Carlos Bulosan, in the 1930’s & 40’s unionized in the salmon canneries for better working and living conditions. Filipino-American youth in the 70’s organized into the KDP to fight against the Marcos dictatorship as well as struggling for civil rights in the US. Today there is the need for Filipino youth to further organize in local communities, schools and colleges around immigration reform, cuts to social services, tuition increases, joblessness, gang violence, police brutality, military recruiters, domestic violence, homophobia and racism.


The current crisis has exposed the need for a new generation of Filipinos and Filipino Americans to struggle for the world we want to live in. It is the youth who can fight to change their society into one with social justice and respect for human rights and dignity. We congratulate Kabataan Partylist for holding high the torch of social change by the youth at a time of global crisis.


MABUHAY ANG KABATAAN PARYLIST!

MABUHAY ANG ANAKBAYAN NG US!

STRUGGLE FOR THE RIGHTS OF FILIPINO YOUTH!

JUSTICE FOR REBELYN PITAO AND ALL VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS!

SURFACE KAREN EMPENO, SHERYLN KADAPAN AND JONAS BURGOS!

END BALIKATAN EXERCISES!

US TROOPS OUT OF THE PHILIPPINES NOW!

JUNK VFA NOW!


-------------------------------------

April 23, 2009

PRESS STATEMENT

Kabataan, tayo ang pagbabago.

Message of Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino to the Filipino youth on the historical event of seating the first youth representative in Congress

Five years in the making for the country’s sole youth sectoral party-list, but better late than never and victory is still sweet for all Filipino youth.

Kabataan Party-list, the largest youth party in the country, represented the youth sector in the 2007 elections. It was the second time for our organization to run in the party-list elections. In 2004, we ran under our previous name, Anak ng Bayan, and were among the top choices for party-list based on pre-election surveys. Anak ng Bayan, however, fell prey to massive cheating. A significant number of our votes were anomalously counted in favor of another party-list group, thus our change of name in the 2007 party-list elections.

Despite not winning, we went on with our advocacies and continued to carry on with our principles and general program of action with the help of our founding organizations, such as the National Union of Students of the Philippines, College Editors Guild of the Philippines, League of Filipino Students and Anakbayan and other supporters nationwide and abroad.

Now, five years after our first electoral bid, Kabataan Party-list has finally secured a seat in the House of Representatives per SC GR No. 179271, promulgated April 29, 2009.

Now, we are happy to convey the message to all Filipino youth that the SC Resolution, in effect, has once again marked the youth’s rightful place in history by granting the first ever youth sectoral representation in the House of Representatives.

This is truly a historical event and we share this resounding victory to all Filipino youth who voted for and supported Kabataan Party-list. We are overwhelmed but more than ready to take on the task and challenge of being the sole voice of the youth in Congress.

We are youth from different walks of life. We have long-ago advocated for the youth to devote its intellect, energy and courage to building a better society devoid of corruption, inequality and social injustice. We are youth that foster active participation in nation-building, good governance and change.

In this junction in history in light of our recent victory, we, the youth, are change. Kabataan, tayo ang pagbabago.

We will uphold, promote and defend the interests of the youth to be able to harness our potential as a vital, albeit marginalized, sector in society.

The Filipino youth have always played a pivotal role in ushering in significant changes in history. We have always been at the forefront of uprisings and revolutions every time the social, political and economic conditions in society became too intolerable for Filipinos to endure.

It was young men and women who prevailed in the leadership and membership of the revolutionary army and other patriotic forces against Spanish colonialism, against US colonization, against Japanese fascism and against the puppet regimes in the Philippines.

It was also the Filipino youth who were the biggest marchers and rallyists during the historical First Quarter Storm of 1970, the people power uprising that toppled the Marcos dictatorship in 1986 and once again in the similar uprising that ousted the Estrada regime in 2001.

We are more than willing to take up the cudgels our forebears left us. Right now, a rotten system of governance and a severe global economic crisis confront us but we rise to the challenge of our times.

In the past eight years of the Arroyo administration, the youth has also always been amongst the most vigilant and vocal against issues of electoral fraud, corruption and plunder, human rights violations, tyranny and social injustice causing poverty, hunger and indecent living conditions to the people.

While we recognize that one year is too short a time in the House of Representatives, we pledge to work tenfold to efficiently and effectively bring our new brand of politics to Philippine government. To be able to fully realize this, we appeal to all Filipino youth to work hand-in-hand with us. We reiterate the need for active youth participation in nation-building and continue to rely on the strength and unity of the youth movement to reinforce our sole youth voice in Congress.

We will immediately register our opposition against charter change and join moves by other progressive party-lists to disqualify human rights violator Ret. Gen. Jovito Palparan from assuming party-list representation.

We are also now consulting with youth from different sectors to aid in our plans to immediately submit for legislation bills concerning youth empowerment in governance, employment for the 900,000 new graduates, and tuition fee hike moratorium, among others.

Finally, we look forward to bigger things that lie ahead in the future. It is the Arroyo administration’s last year in office and the youth are anticipating and working for significant changes come 2010. As early as now, we pledge to work for a transparent and clean 2010 elections that will realize the youth’s clamor for good governance and change. We are set to embark on a nationwide youth voters’ registration and education campaign in the aim to collectively mobilize the broadest number of young Filipinos to register, vote, and guard the 2010 ballot.

Change is bound to happen if and when the youth strives for it.

Kabataan, maraming salamat!

Kabataan, tayo ang pagbabago.

----------------------------------------

Rep. Raymond Palatino, the first youth sectoral representative in Congress

29-year-old Raymond “Mong” Palatino is considered as one of the most brilliant youth leaders in the country. He was chair of the University Student Council of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman in 2000 and president of the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), the largest alliance of tertiary student councils nationwide from 2001 to 2003. He is also one of the leading youth veterans of EDSA Dos.

An education graduate of UP, Palatino has been a prominent figure in various campaigns and issues concerning youth and students. He was convenor to several youth alliances such as the Education for All (e4all) Movement, Abolish ROTC, Tuition Refund, Youth Action Network against electoral fraud and violence, Youth Demanding Arroyo’s Removal (Youth DARE), Youth against Charter Change and Tyranny (Y-CHAT), Youth for Accountability and Truth Now (Youth ACT Now), and TxtPower, a consumer rights advocacy group, among others.

In 2004, Palatino was recognized by the Quezon City government for exemplary youth leadership and was awarded by the United Nations Association of the Philippines as an Outstanding Youth Leader for Advocacy on National Concerns.

Palatino also writes for several online publications, aside from maintaining his own web blog. He is a web columnist for tinig.com, former news editor of yehey.com, a contributing editor for Global Voices Online, and one of the leading members of Bloggers’ Kapihan, an online network of young bloggers. He has also been a regular resource speaker of both Houses of Congress on youth and education issues.

Palatino is also a proud father to his new son Neil Esmond, born a day after the issuance of the SC Resolution, and daughter Renee Elle, 4 years old. ###

IMMIGRANTS MARCH FOR DIGNITY IN QUEENS, CALL FOR ACTION ON MAY DAY 2009

Photos by Jonna Baldres

News Release
April 20, 2009

References:
Christina Hilo, BAYANIHAN Filipino Community Center, email: cshilo@gmail.com;
Roberto Meneses, Jornaleros Unidos de Woodside, email: jornalerosunidosdewoodside@hotmail.com

For photos please go to: http://photobucket.com/jornalerosmarch_19april2009

IMMIGRANTS MARCH FOR DIGNITY IN QUEENS, CALL FOR ACTION ON MAY DAY 2009

WOODSIDE-- Latino, Filipino, Korean, South Asian, and Indigenous South American immigrant rights groups marched together last Sunday in a 150+ strong march along Roosevelt Avenue to demand an end to random police raids, arrests, ticketing against immigrants, and scam employment agencies. The march, beginning at 69th Street and ending up at 83rd Street, ran up Filipino immigrant businesses as well as South Asian and Latino immigrant-owned businesses in a show of stunning multi-ethnic solidarity for a common cause-- dignity for all immigrants. Amongst the key organizers and sponsors of the march were the Jornaleros Unidos de Woodside (United Day Laborers of Woodside), Philippine Forum, NAFCON (National Alliance for Filipino Concerns), Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE), New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (NYCHRP), Anakbayan NY/NJ, Nodutdol for Korean Community Development, Sisa Pikari Labor Center, No Raids Committee in Queens, BAYAN USA and the May 1st Coalition for Workers and Immigrant Rights.

The Queens rally and march come at a critical time as Capitol Hill turns its attention to US immigration policy next month. Two weeks ago, President Barack Obama announced that US immigration reform would be a subject on the table of lawmakers this May. The following week, two major national labor federations, AFL-CIO and Change to Win, announced their united endorsement for comprehensive immgration reform.

For the grassroots immigrant rights groups marching last Sunday, however, the developments call for more urgent pressure coming from the most oppressed and victimized from the broken immigration system-- immigrants themselves-- and the immigrants of Queens are especially ready to speak out.

Latino day laborers stand along Roosevelt Avenue generally looking for work and have founded a protective community for themselves. Despite this, growing anti-immigrant attacks by the NYPD, such as random ticketing for standing on the sidewalk, culminated in an arrest and detention of 10 day laborers for no apparent reason other than standing this past October 2008.

"Yesterday, we wanted to show the local community that it’s not just the day laborers that are fighting but the rest of the community. We also wanted to show the real problems that are going on in the community especially the police harassment," stated Felix Ortiz, a day laborer with the Jornaleros Unidos de Woodside and victim of the said harassment by the police.

"Together we are fighting for our human and constitutional rights," said Attorney Felix Vinluan from National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON)."And we will not stop until we have equality amongst all people of all races.

The Roosevelt Avenue march comes weeks before the upcoming May 1st rally and march for immigrant rights in Union Square at 4pm. Every May 1st since 2006, thousands of New Yorkers have rallied and marched for comprehensive immigration reform, including a path to legalization for all, end to ICE raids and deportations, and swift family re-unification for separated families. This is also a beginning for groups to come together and plan for neighborhood clean-ups and other community-based activities in the local Woodside and Jackson Heights area. ###

April 19: March for Dignity and Workers' Rights!

Flyer by Christina Hilo of FiRE

March for Dignity and Workers' Rights:
Stop Police Harassment! Shut Down Scam Employment Agencies!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
11:30 am
69th St. and Roosevelt Ave.
Take 7 Train to 69th St.

You are invited to march with us on Sunday, April 19 for our rights and welfare as immigrants in our local community. In Woodside, immigrant workers have faced ongoing police harassment and have been ticketed without reason. In October 2008, 10 day laborers were arrested by the police for standing on the sidewalk on 69th St. and 37th Ave. In Jackson Heights on 84th St., workers have been scammed at a local recruitment agency called People Helping People, where they charge over $100 without any available work in return. In Astoria, rent prices have gone so high--forcing immigrant workers to live in cramped housing. This exploitation and harassment needs to stop!

On April 19 we are marching to say ENOUGH is ENOUGH!

On May 1, we will march again with the rest of NYC! 14th St.- Union Square @ 4pm.

STOP HARASSMENT BY THE POLICE AND POLICE BRUTALITY!
SHUTDOWN SCAM EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES!
LOWER THE RENT IN QUEENS NOW!
BRING STIMULUS FUNDING TO QUEENS, AND START BY BUILDING WORKERS' CENTERS!
RESPECT & DIGNITY FOR ALL IMMIGRANT WORKERS!
LEGALIZATION NOW! STOP RAIDS! REUNITE FAMILIES!

Organized by Jornaleros Unidos de Woodside, Philippine Forum, Sisa Pakari Labor Center, Anakbayan-NY/NJ, Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment, NY Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (NYCHRP), No Raids Committee in Queens, Nodutdol, May 1st Coalition for Workers and Immigrant Rights (www.may1.info)

KAMAYAN sa APOLLO

Photos courtesy of UNIFIED Band

Thanks to Genesis, Raymond, Miracle, Aubi & Brian of UNIFIED Band for coming to the 2nd Anakbayan NY/NJ's KAMAYAN sa APOLLO! And thanks for sharing the "movie that made you cry"! 'Til the next KAMAYAN! :)

Props to Yves, Yancy, Jonna & Jules of AB NY/NJ for having complete attendance so far... hehehe. To other AB members who missed this month's KAMAYAN, you can still catch up! For our next stop, it would be at Sinugba in Jersey City on May 16, 2009! Kitakits! :)

Flyer by Yves Nibungco

Date: April 11, 2009
Time: 12noon
Place APOLLO 472 West Side Ave. Jersey city, NJ 07304

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=94501&id=698851562#/event.php?eid=67939681217&ref=mf

This is a call to all Filipino youth out there who misses eating food with their clean bare hands, and also to those Fil-Ams who wants to experience it as well. This is your chance not just to experience KAMAYAN but also to able to meet other Filipinos over a nice plate of Filipino food.

KAMAYAN is organized by Anakbayan, with the purpose of having fun and bringing other Filipino youth together. So what are you waiting for? Confirm now and make sure to wash your hands.

National Democratic Filipino Youth Join Forces in LA

Photo courtesy of Maridel Andrada of Anakbayan San Diego

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
02 April 2009


References:
Jonna Baldres, Secretary General, Anakbayan New York/New Jersey, jonnabebeh@gmail.com
Katie Joaquin, Secretary General, Anakbayan East Bay, kjoaquin@gmail.com
Maridel Andrada, Secretary General, Anakbayan San Diego, maridel.andrada@gmail.com
Jeff Rice, Secretary General, Anakbayan Seattle, edjop82@gmail.com
Kuusela Hilo, Organizer, Anakbayan Los Angeles, kuusela@gmail.com
Jaye Cho, Secretary General, League of Filipino Students-SFSU, actionitemlist@hotmail.com


National Democratic Filipino Youth Join Forces in LA

LOS ANGELES, CA - The City of Angels had been a witness to the growing movement of Filipino youth in the United States. Last March 27 to 28, the BAYAN USA 3rd National Congress was held at the UCLA Downtown Labor Center in Los Angeles City, California with the theme "Strengthen our alliance and intensify our political struggle against the US-Arroyo clique and for the rights and welfare of Filipinos in the US".

Among the participating youth and student organizations were chapters of Anakbayan from East Bay (EB), San Diego (SD), Seattle, Los Angeles (LA) and New York/New Jersey (NY/NJ) and the League of Filipino Students-San Francisco State University (LFS-SFSU). Also present were US representatives to the International League of People's Struggle (ILPS) Youth Study Commission. Officers of Sandiwa National Alliance of Fil-Am Youth and members of Active Leadership for the Advancement of Youth (ALAY), a community-based youth organization in the Bay Area, San Francisco also attended as observers.

"Two years have passed since the last congress and here we are again -- stronger, bigger and more united than ever," Yancy Gandionco, Vice Chairperson of Anakbayan NY/NJ remarked as the congress had seen the largest number of delegates since the founding assembly of BAYAN USA in 2005.

On March 29, while the GABRIELA USA Founding Assembly was taking place, BAYAN USA member organizations broke out into sector caucuses, one of which is the youth and students sector, the biggest constituting BAYAN USA.

"Even though our sector represents the most number in the US chapter of the alliance, as Filipino youth fighting for national democracy overseas, the task and challenge is still for us to intensify and make known to our compatriots and other nationalities the fight for the rights of the majority of the Filipino people -- the workers and the peasants. We believe that our fight is still connected to the fight of our people back home even if most of us grew here in the US," Sincere Born, Chairperson of Anakbayan Seattle stated.

During the caucus, the youth and student organizations shared experiences and practices in educating, organizing, mobilizing, finance and alliance work among the youth in their respective regions.

"We identified the strengths and weaknesses of each organization, shared them with other regions, and with renewed vigor, we will bring back to our own areas what we've learned and improve on practices so we could better serve the Filipino youth, here in the US and back home in the Philippines. We view these lessons as important tools in strengthening our fight against the oppression of our people by the US imperialist and the Arroyo regime," said Armael Malinis, Chairperson of Anakbayan East Bay.

The youth and student member organizations resolved to systematize communications, hold regular conference calls, share resources and educational materials, plan and hold nationwide actions for Filipino youth in line with the campaigns of BAYAN USA, and designate a youth coordinator within the next few months.

Lyle Prijoles, Chairperson of LFS-SFSU said, "In this period wherein corruption, pursuit of profit, wars of aggression and anti-terrorism are the concepts being advanced by the United States and Philippine governments at the expense of accessible and quality education and basic services, the Filipino youth in the US must come together and emulate the militancy of the Filipino youth in the 1950's when huge student demonstrations broke out in protest of the Vietnam war and in the 1960's and 70's when Kabataang Makabayan (Patriotic Youth) organized in thousands against the Marcos dictatorship."


As BAYAN USA's show of confidence on the youth, the congress placed its votes unanimously on Kuusela Hilo of Anakbayan Los Angeles, Rhonda Ramiro of Anakbayan East Bay, and Jeff Rice of Anakbayan Seattle as they were elected into the Executive Committee as Vice Chairperson, Secretary General and Finance Officer respectively.

Ivan Penetrante, Chairperson of the newly-formed Anakbayan San Diego said, "Our chapter, being in the midst of one of the highly-militarized areas in the US, is a product of the painstaking organizing of member organizations of BAYAN USA. Now that we've met more of our ates (older sister) and kuyas (older brother) from different parts of the US, we are more inspired to continue the fight and organize more youth to join our ranks."

Ending the youth caucus, Yves Nibungco, Deputy Secretary General of Anakbayan NY/NJ, led the chant popularized by the youth and students movement in the Philippines: "Kabataang Makabayan, Lumalaban! Kabataang Lumalaban, Makabayan!" (Patriotic Youth, Fighting Back! Youth Fighting Back, Patriotic!). ###

http://bayanusa.org/