Eman Vilanueva, UNIFIL’s secretary general, facilitated the event.

First Salvo*

PPT2 Book launched in Hong Kong

The United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL-MIGRANTE-HK) led last Sunday, November 4, the book-cd launching of the “Repression and Resistance: The Filipino People vs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, George W. Bush, et. al.”

Containing the proceedings and the final verdict of the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal second session on the Philippines (PPT2), the book-cd was warmly welcomed by the audience, all of whom were migrant workers leading and representing various organizations and alliances in Hong Kong.

Words of solidarity, of strength

Jackie Hung of the Justice and Peace Commission of the HK Catholic Diocese shared her experiences during the PPT2 which was held in The Hague, The Netherlands on March 21-25, 2007. She relayed how it has influenced her greatly and encouraged to support the Philippine movement even more.

She expressed the importance of giving solidarity and the need for struggle. She cited Jesus Christ as a “revolutionist” who openly criticized and fought an oppressive regime during his time and encouraged many others to be like him.

Ramon Bultron of the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants and spokesperson of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle Hong Kong highlighted the significance of the book and the need to support it.

He read the final verdict as well as some excerpts from the PPT2 book which moved many in the audience to tears.

Moving, progressive performances

Performances were likewise held by various migrant organizations.

The Likha Filipino Migrant Cultural Organization staged their dance interpretation of the progressive song “Pahayagan” which talked about the spate of political killings in the Philippines and how it is relayed in the media.

The Philippine Independent Church choir beautifully sang “Kalayaan” (Freedom) while Rima Cunanan, chairperson of the United Pangasinan Hong Kong, rendered so impressively the poem “Paghahanda” (Preparation), a poem written by Tagaytay 5 detainee Axel Pinpin.

Eman Vilanueva, UNIFIL’s secretary general, facilitated the event.

* A second launching of the book-cd will happen in mid-November and will be sponsored by the Hong Kong Campaign for the Advancement of Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines, a coalition of organizations and individuals campaigning for the resolution of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and other human rights violations in the country.

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Rima Cunanan, chairperson of the United Pangasinan Hong Kong, rendered so impressively the poem “Paghahanda” (Preparation), a poem written by Tagaytay 5 detainee Axel Pinpin.

(l-r)Father Dwight dela Torre of Philippine Independent Church in HK,, Jackie Hung of the Justice and Peace Commission of the HK Catholic Diocese and Ramon Bultron of the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants

The Likha Filipino Migrant Cultural Organization staged their dance interpretation of the progressive song “Pahayagan” which talked about the spate of political killings in the Philippines and how it is relayed in the media.

The Philippine Independent Church choir beautifully sang “Kalayaan” (Freedom)

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