Self-defense practice at UP Diliman

Contingent of workers and peasants from

Southern Tagalog at UP Diliman

TV reporters interview Ka Bel via cellphone. He is on the 4th floor of the Philippine Heart Centre while the reporters are on the side street at the back of the building.

While Ka Bel was being interviewed, his associates and supporters were attending a solidarity mass in front of the PHC building.

May 1

Ka Bel at the Philippine Heart Centre

Mayo Uno Message of Ka Bel

News release: First May1 rally

without Ka Bel

Taped message of Ka Bel played at the Liwasang Bonifacio May 1 rally

Photos of Ka Bel at PHC courtesy of Anakpawis staff

April 30

Workers and Peasants from Southern Tagalog at UP Diliman

Some members of KMP and affiliated organizxations held a 3-day fast at the UP.

The UP administration officials allowed them the  use of the premises and the grounds for

their activities and overnigth stays.

From the Office of Anakpawis Representative Crispin B. Beltran
Lisa C. Ito, Public Information Officer (+63)927.796.7006
Tel. # (+632) 431-6615 Email: crispinbeltran@gmail.com
URL: http:// www.geocities.com/ap_news

NEWS RELEASE
May 1, 2006

Ka Bel's message to the toiling masses on May 1:
Struggle against poverty, hunger, and GMA's Cha-Cha!

Poverty, hunger, and President Gloria Arroyo's (GMA) Charter Change are the main threats to the welfare of the Filipino toiling masses, Anakpawis Congressman Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran said today.

In his message to the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Beltran said he was looking forward to the "continuous struggle of Filipino workers for higher wages" and "the struggle against poverty, hunger, and GMA's Cha-Cha, as these are the main clamor of the Filipino masses today".

"It is imperative that we continue to struggle until we attain victory for higher workers' wages of P125 across-the-board for our private workers, and a P3,000 across-the-board salary increase for public sector workers," Beltran said. Beltran is the principal author of Congressional bills seeking to legislate the said across-the-board wage hikes.

A wage increase, Beltran said, would be a major way to alleviate the sufferings experienced by Filipino workers under the Arroyo administration.

Beltran added that Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas should not flaunt the DOLE Memorandum Circular No. 1 mandating extra pay for workers who report for work today, as extra pay on Labor Day was nothing compared to the six-year nationwide clamor for a significant daily wage increase of P125 since 1999.

"We workers are not able to eat three times a day, workers no longer have a roof to stay at night as 108,000 families of our fellow poverty-stricken workers are about to lose their homes in demolitions along the railways," Beltran said.

"Our loved ones do have not enough to feed their families. Workers' wages, if they receive any wages at all, are well below the P675.00 needed per day for a family to live on a day," he said.

"If our loved ones get sick, we suffer even more. We cannot afford to buy medicine because these cost 25 times more, when compared to other countries such as India," Beltran added.

As for GMA, Beltran said that "poverty will worsen in our country for as long as she stays in power".  

Beltran will be spending May 1 at the Room 427 of the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) in Quezon City. The 73-year old solon was temporarily transferred to the PHC from Camp Crame last April 26.

This is the first time since 1986 that Filipino workers won't be hearing Beltran's fiery speeches as a key speaker during Labor Day rallies. ###

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Representative Crispin B. Beltran
Lisa C. Ito, Public Information Officer (+63)927.796.7006
Tel. # (+632) 431-6615 Email: crispinbeltran@gmail.com
URL: http:// www.geocities.com/ap_news