International Women's Day in Davao City

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“The breads and roses are symbols of the women's protest against poverty and discrimination. Indeed, women are so much overburdened with both household chores and jobs to make ends meet. And yet, women are the most underpaid among workers and, to this day, still unrecognized in various fields and mileus in our society ,” said Nisa Opalla Regional Spokesperson of Gabriela Women’s partylist in Southern Mindanao In 1912, Opalla cited, that “breads and roses” became a popular slogan of a strike led and won by women in a textile factory in Lawrence Massachusets, USA. The said strike which started from January 12 until March 1912, was also monumental in the celebration of the women’s month every March. Opalla said “our present times reveal the situation of our women who suffer from low wage, hunger, discrimination, and violence. It is high time for us to fight for our rights to decent wage, food security and equality”. - From the statement of Gabriela Women's Partylist SMR

"Bread and Roses"

Song Lyrics

As we go marching, marching, in the beauty of the day,
A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray,
Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses,
For the people hear us singing: Bread and Roses! Bread and Roses!

As we go marching, marching, we battle too for men,
For they are women's children, and we mother them again.
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses.

As we go marching, marching, unnumbered women dead
Go crying through our singing their ancient call for bread.
Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew.
Yes, it is bread we fight for, but we fight for roses too.

As we go marching, marching, we bring the greater days,
The rising of the women means the rising of the race.
No more the drudge and idler, ten that toil where one reposes,
But a sharing of life's glories: Bread and roses, bread and roses.
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
Hearts starve as well as bodies; bread and roses, bread and roses.

Photos courtesy of Gabriela Women's Party Southern Mindanao Region

March 8, 2010 100 breads and roses symbolize 100 years of women's 'overburdened & underpaid' life in women's day celeb Davao City- On the centennial celebration of the International Women’s Day, Gabriela Women’s Partylist offered today 100 breads and roses that signified the struggles of women against poverty and discrimination. Members of Gabriela gave roses to women in the streets as a way to pay tribute to the women’s significant role to the family and the society. For the militant women’s group, the 100 years of commemorating the International Women’s Day calls for a continuing fight for women’s rights and emancipation. “The breads and roses are symbols of the women's protest against poverty and discrimination. Indeed, women are so much overburdened with both household chores and jobs to make ends meet. And yet, women are the most underpaid among workers and, to this day, still unrecognized in various fields and mileus in our society ,” said Nisa Opalla Regional Spokesperson of Gabriela Women’s partylist in Southern Mindanao In 1912, Opalla cited, that “breads and roses” became a popular slogan of a strike led and won by women in a textile factory in Lawrence Massachusets, USA. The said strike which started from January 12 until March 1912, was also monumental in the celebration of the women’s month every March. Opalla said “our present times reveal the situation of our women who suffer from low wage, hunger, discrimination, and violence. It is high time for us to fight for our rights to decent wage, food security and equality”. "Women remain in the forefronts of the calls for the legislation of the P125 wage increase across the board nationwide, a bill which the Rep. Liza Maza, and the Gabriela Women's Party have been fighting for in Congress" she added. Opalla also slammed Gloria Arroyo who for 9 years of sham presidency became a “thorn to the lives of the women due to corruption, poverty and repression." For Jeng, a prostituted woman who was organized in Lawig Bubai, one of the affiliate organizations of Gabriela who joined in March 8 rally, “breads and roses symbolize also decent living and love, or happy relationship”. She also said that “let not the bread and roses be offered by men just to silence the women who are victims of abuse and violence because we need to be heard and we deserve to be treated with love and respect”. Rep. Liza Maza of Gabriela Women's partylist, and a Nacionalista-Makabayan senatorial candidate likewise expressed solidarity to all women of Davao City, in the country, and in the whole world to the 100 years International Women's Day. In a program held at Rizal Park, which was attended by thousands of women from various organizations and sectors, Gabriela Women’s Party reiterated the need for a militant struggle and unity of women versus oppression and discrimination. Gabriela also highlighted women agenda for the 2010 which include food sovereignty and security, more economic opportunity to women, more social services to women, more protection of women including gays,Lesbians,bisexuals and transgender against abuse and respect of human rights. For reference: Nisa Opalla, Gabriela Women’s Partylist Regional Spokesperson Mobile number: 0939-4035519
		Members of GABRIELA bring bread and roses during the centennial International Day to symbolize the continuing struggle for equality and respect. The militant group also slammed retired General Palparan whom they called as butcher of activists.




	Justice for Women victims of massacre is one of the demands rallied by thousands of GABRIELA members during the centennial International Women’s Day commemoration in Davao City		Members of Gabriela staged a tableaux along Kapitan Tomas Monteverde St., depicting the role of women during the Spanish era. The street play was in line with the Centennial commemoration of International Women’s Day (March 8)

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		"GMA behind attacks on rights of progressives" - GWP Press Release Posted on February 8th, 2010. For Reference: Shiela Ferrer, GABRIELA NCR Chair and Gabriela Women's Party Nominee 0926-6446402 Gabriela Women's Party is enraged at the heightening political repression and harassment in the country at the eve of the start of official campaign period for the May elections. The group said that the current administration under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in undoubtedly behind the recent arrests and harassment of leaders and members of legitimate organizations.Last Saturday, 43 health workers, 26 of whom are women, were illegally arrested in Morong, Rizal and continues to be detained and denied their civil rights for visitation and legal counsel. Earlier, Ira Pamat, executive director of Women's Development Center (WDC) based in Tagbilaran, Bohol was threatened and harassed when the 2nd SF Battalion maliciously reported in a local newspaper that Pamar is a part of a certain District White Area Committee (DWAC), supposedly a structure of the underground CPP-NPA. The military cited intelligence report that it has “monitored the meeting of the Women’s Development Center in the afternoon of Jan. 9, at Sitio Taytay, in Brgy. Montesuerte, Carmen”. The meeting they referred to was actually a voters education on the automated election system being conducted by WDC. “Pamat and WDC, like the health workers arrested in Tanay, render direct services to the people which the Arroyo government completely fail to deliver. It is simply enraging that they should be subjected to such violations,” said Shiela Ferrer, GABRIELA NCR chairperson and Gabriela Women's Party nominee. GWP noted that prior to the 2007 elections, Liezl Cunado, a staff of WDC and member of GABRIELA, was brutally killed at the height of extra-judicial killings linked to the current administration's Oplan Bantay Laya counter-insurgency campaign. “We see here a grand design by the state with the help of the AFP to harass into silence the progressive organizations, especially members of party lists critical to the Arroyo administration,” said Ferrer. Ferrer added that leaders and members of local chapters of GABRIELA and Gabriela Women's Party in NCR are also being harassed by soldiers deployed in communities under the Civil Military Operations of the AFP. “Our leaders and members suffer, like Ira, are being harassed in their own commuties as well,” said Ferrer. “This renewed and intensified political repression and harassments is nothing new but we believe this time, the attacks against the people's rights will be more severe Arroyo grows more desperate to cling to power. These moves are the government's rapacious way of sending thinly veiled threat to the people not to support progressive groups which the administration considers a major threat to Arroyo's clear plan to remain in power beyond June 30.” In the first day of the campaign period today, Gabriela Women's Party launched Purple Change, a women's campaign for livelihood, social justice and change. ““We will not be daunted. We will advance our legitimate and valid cause to address the interests and welfare of women and the people whether in the streets or in the parliament,” concluded Ferrer. GABRIELA and GWP is set to hold a protest action against political harassment at the Department of National Defense tomorrow. #
Women youth perform a cultural dance to depict women’s militant struggle.


BONUS TRACKS Bread and Roses

		JOAN BAEZ & MIMI FARINA: "Bread and Roses" Song Lyrics As we go marching, marching, in the beauty of the day, A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray, Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses, For the people hear us singing: Bread and Roses! Bread and Roses! As we go marching, marching, we battle too for men, For they are women's children, and we mother them again. Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes; Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses. As we go marching, marching, unnumbered women dead Go crying through our singing their ancient call for bread. Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew. Yes, it is bread we fight for, but we fight for roses too. As we go marching, marching, we bring the greater days, The rising of the women means the rising of the race. No more the drudge and idler, ten that toil where one reposes, But a sharing of life's glories: Bread and roses, bread and roses. Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes; Hearts starve as well as bodies; bread and roses, bread and roses.

ELECTIONS 2010











Songs and campaign jingles

■ Satur Ocampo - Liza Maza Campaign Jingle	■ Satur Ocampo Jingle		■ Liza Maza Jingle

■ JIngle in Cebuano	■ Jingle in Ilongo		■ JIngle in Tagalog

■ Sasaturn na tayo	Pagbabago sa Senado: A Song for Makabayan Senatoriable Ka Satur Ocampo

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JOAN BAEZ & MIMI FARINA:

"Bread and Roses"