Notes from the Vancouver Trip:
Elmer "Ka Bong" Labog Receives Standing Ovation at the BC Fed Convention
by the Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights
Dec. 6, 2008

Elmer "Ka Bong" Labog, the esteemed chair of the largest and most militant labour centre in the Philippines, the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU or the May First Movement), made a side trip from his U.S. speaking tour to visit Vancouver and meet several trade unions. While he is able to visit Canada, Elmer Labog is the first leader of the KMU to be allowed to enter the United States since the Philippines was under martial law, a feat not even shared by the late KMU Chair Emeritus Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran. Elmer Labog, elected in 2003 and re-elected in 2007 by the KMU National Congress, is the youngest chair to be elected in the history of KMU and is well known for his persistent work and firm stand for workers' interests and anti-globalization policies. He is also the Vice-President of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN or New patriotric Alliance of the Philippines) and the Second Deputy General Secretary of the International League of People's Struggle (ILPS).

On November 28, the last day of the 52nd Convention of the British Columbia Federation of Labour at the Vancouver & Exhibition Centre, Elmer Labog was introduced to the convention delegates by Jim Sinclair, President of the BC Fed (as it is commonly known) and his biographical profile read out. At the end of this introduction, the delegates welcomed their trade union brother from the Philippines with a strong round of applause and a standing ovation. The BC Fed represents more than half a million workers through affiliated unions in more than 800 locals, working in every aspect of the BC economy.

"Ka Bong" as Elmer Labog is called was able to connect with trade unionists from the Health Employees Union, the Canadian Auto Workers Union and the Vancouver Labour District Council. He had a breakfast meeting with George Doubt, President of the Telecommunications Workers Union and was later introduced to the other TWU delegates. "I am hoping that a lot of unions can come to the KMU's 25th International Solidarity Affair in the Philippines around May 1st," says Labog. "The ISA is a yearly solidarity gathering of trade unions, unionists and solidarity groups which started in 1984 when the trade repression under the Marcos dictatorship was at its worst. The present state of trade union repression under the governemnt of Gloria Arroyo only makes it more imperative that we get the support and solidarity from the trade unions everywhere in the world."

Members of Migrante B.C.and the Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights, two local organizations that supported his coming to Vancouver, were able to have informal sessions with Labog. At the Migrante B.C. Basketball League, Labog took the time to know the team players and their families and even delivered a short speech in between the elimination games. He also met with trade union and community activist Mable Elmore, a second-generation Filipino-Canadian who is seeking a nomination in the New Democratic Party (NDP) for the Vancouver-Kensington area. Migrante B.C. is a strong supporter of Elmore's campaign for NDP nomination. Labog also visited with Gail Davidson, Founder and one of the Directors of Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada, who was thrilled to meet Labog and discuss strategies for case of detained KMU lawyer Remegio Saladero, Jr.. The LRWC is a committee of Canadian lawyers who campaign for lawyers around the world who are in danger.

Friends, supporters and guests at the farewell dinner hosted by Migrante B.C. listened to a trade union update from Labog. "The Philippines is second only to Columbia in terms of trade union repression," he told the crowd. He said that while international pressure has caused a slight drop in the extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances, Philippine state authorities now resort to a new strategy of "legal offensives" against political activists. The KMU itself has been under consistent attack by the Arroyo administration since 2001. A total of 23 KMU members have been killed and 3 are still missing. Atty. Remegio Saladero, Jr., KMU's chief legal counsel and a founding member of the National Union of People's Lawyers, is currently in detention in Mindororo with six other men, all activists of peasant and people's organizations in Southern Tagalog. "They are all alleged to have committed arson, destroyed property, and conspired to commit rebellion in connection with ambushes and the attack on a mobile phone tower." Labog threw this question to his audience, "How can they do this when Atty. Saladero is arthritic, hypertensive and busy with his workload, one of the accused is diabetic and insulin-dependent, another has polio and a hearing problem, the eldest of the group who is 60 years old is suffering from gall stones and arthritis and another is recovering from tuberculosis?" He then told of the story of how Atty. Saladero, in spite of his detention, continued to give legal advice and even wrote pleadings for three other prisoners and subsequently secured their release.
While Filipino migrants live and work here in Canada, it is necessary to know that only by organizing as migrants will make us stronger to fight for our rights and welfare as a community. Filipino migrants, be they permanent residents, citizens, temporary foreign workers and caregivers, must not lose sight of the importance of working towards one of the most basic rights which we in Canada share with those who remain in the Philippines: the right to have decent work at home.

Migrante B.C., the Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights and the Migrante Basketball League wish "Ka Bong" a productive conference in Tijuana, Mexico and a safe trip home to the Philippines."Ingat kayo, Ka Bong!"

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