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For Immediate Release
March 9, 2009
Reference: Valerie Francisco, Chairperson, Filipinas for Rights and
Empowerment, fire.nyc@gmail.com
FILIPINAS IN NEW YORK CITY MARCH FOR INTERNATIONAL WORKING WOMEN'S DAY
Filipinas March in Remembrance of Rebelyn Pitao and the Continuation of
the Legacy of Militant Women's Struggle
New York, New York- This past Sunday in Union Square Park, more than a
hundred women and men gathered to commemorate the 99th anniversary of
International Women's Day with the theme of Bail Out Women and Our
Communities to raise awareness of the economic crisis. Over 30 Filipino
Americans from Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE) and BAYAN USA
marched with other groups from New York City including Al-Awda NY
(Palestine Right to Return Coalition), Stella D'Oro Workers who are on
strike, and the Women's Fightback Network, among others. Filipinas from
FiRE emphasized crucial issues facing Filipina women here and in the
Philippines, including the recent death of Rebelyn Pitao, the Visiting
Forces Agreement, and the ongoing economic crisis.
"We are marching today because we are feeling the slow choke of the
financial crisis whether it be the loss of our mother's jobs in healthcare
or the steep tuition hikes in our schools making education less and less
accessible. We want to make sure American people know that our tax dollars
go to the deployment of US troops in the Philippines when there is a need
right here in our communities,"stated Jackelyn Mariano, External Education
Discussion Director of FiRE. The budget cuts running rampant in New York
city institutions have been hammering down on the Filipino community here
from the closing of hospitals in Queens, lack of employment and increase
in education costs. Disproportionately Filipino women are bearing the
brunt as breadwinners and their families are suffering the consequences.
In a speech made during the rally program, Christina Hilo, Vice Chair of
FiRE voiced the rich history of Filipino women's struggle, "We celebrate
the women who have paved the way for women, and those women who have
defended their communities and who have fought for our independence
including Gabriela Silang in the 1700s and Lorena Barros who organized
during times of Martial Law. Today, we dedicate this International Women's
Day to Rebelyn Pitao who was abducted, raped, and killed by the military
because her father was a leader of the New People's Army. She did not
deserve to die, she was a 20-year old substitute elementary school
teacher. Her brutal murder will only add more fuel to our fire to continue
to organize our communities for genuine democracy." Hilo, along with the
group of Filipino women from FiRE, marched in solidarity with the
thousands of women who marched in the Philippines just the day
commemorating the life of Pitao.
After a program in Union Square, the crowd marched to the symbolic
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory where 146 garment workers, mostly women, died
in 1911. FiRE members chanted and rallied with placards and huge banners
that said "JUNK VFA!" and "END MILITARIZED VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN".
Filipino women in the US have renewed their vigor in speaking out against
US military troops in the Philippines since the debates over the detention
of Lance Corporal Daniel Smith, convicted of raping a Filipina in 2006,
emerged.
Although there are no "formal" bases in the Philippines, the Visiting
Forces Agreement (VFA) allows the US military various privileges like
coming to the Philippines without visas, unlike Filipino migrants to the
US, and immunity from particular crimes. The increase of U.S. troops leads
to an increase in danger and harm to Filipino women and children who are
rendered as "collateral damage" or "rest and recreation" objects.
Currently, the VFA is the protective sheet that keeps Lcpl. Smith under
the protection of the U.S. Embassy. The VFA is a looming example of the
unequal character of the US-RP relations and threatens not only Philippine
national sovereignty but the welfare of women and children.
FiRE is a Filipino women's grassroots organization located in New York
City that upholds the rights of women, and connects the Filipina diaspora
to the ongoing women's movement in the Philippines with GABRIELA. FiRE, a
member of GABRIELA USA, is a chapter under GABRIELA Philippines.
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http://www.firenyc.org
Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE) is a mass-based women's
organization serving New York City and its surrounding areas. We connect
the Filipino diaspora to the women's struggle in the Philippines. By
bringing woman-born and woman-identified people together, we challenge
pervading stereotypes and create self-defined Filipina identities. For
more information, please visit http://www.firenyc.org .
We are a proud member organization of GABRIELA-USA, the first overseas
chapter of GABRIELA Philippines, with babae in San Francisco and Pinay Sa
Seattle in Seattle, WA.
FiRE is a member of BAYAN-USA, an alliance of progressive Filipino groups
in the U.S. representing organizations of students, scholars, women,
workers, and youth. To learn more about BAYAN, please visit
http://bayanusa.org/ |
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