Filipino Groups March at 2012 Philippine Independence Day Celebration in NY; Demand an End to Human Trafficking, June 7, 2012

Filipino Groups March at 2012 Philippine Independence Day
Celebration in NY; Demand an End to Human Trafficking

New York

June 7, 2012

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STOP Trafficking Our People Banner (by Jonna Baldres)

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Photos courtesy of Jonna Baldres and Dominique Liwanag


x FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 07 June 2012 References: Zarah Vinola, NAFCON USA North East Coordinating Committee, Publicity, nafcon.ne@gmail.com Hanalei Ramos, BAYAN USA North East Coordinator, hanalei@gmail.com Filipino Groups March at 2012 Philippine Independence Day Celebration in NY; Demand an End to Human Trafficking NEW YORK -- Last Sunday, June 3, the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), BAYAN USA and GABRIELA USA -- progressive Filipino alliances with member organizations around the United States -- marched at the annual Philippine Independence Day Celebration (PIDC) Parade along Madison Avenue in Manhattan. Stop Trafficking Our People (STOP) Campaign Since 2002, when the Stop Trafficking Our People (STOP) Campaign was launched by one of NAFCON's member organizations, Philippine Forum, taking up the case of Elma Manliguez, a domestic worker trafficked by her employers, the issue has been carried by progressive community organizations in PIDC march throughout the years. There were the Sentosa 27++ in 2007; Leticia Moratal, Jacqueline Aguirre, Florida 15 and Arizona 34 in 2011; and many more groups have come out during the past year, not only in the US North East but also from other regions, with some cases still ongoing. "We march for the thousands of our 'kababayans' (fellow Filipinos) who have been victims of human trafficking. In the past years, it has been heart-wrenching to hear that these inhumane acts happen even in the United States. We cannot truly say that we are free as a country if these things happen. That's why we are marching to make the Filipino community more aware of these issues and to urge them to take part, and eventually, to make the Philippine government address the needs of the victims and all migrant workers who bring in more than half of the nation's budget through remittances," said Michelle Saulon, NAFCON US North East Coordinator. This year, 2012, to symbolize resistance against human trafficking, the contingent carried giant clenched fists resisting the white fabric wrapped around them. The white fabric symbolized chains with some of the main causes on why 4,500 Filipinos leave the country everyday written on it, such as "Labor Export Policy", "Unemployment" and "Landlessness". The red-clad contingent also had giant yellow price tags with bar codes dangling around their necks saying "Stop Human Trafficking", "Our People Are Not For $ale", "End Deportations Now", "Legalization for All", "Justice for All Victims of Human Trafficking and All Migrant Workers", "No to Labor Export Policy" and "Create Jobs at Home". While marching, participants chanted "STOP, STOP TRAFFICKING OUR PEOPLE!" and other chants related to social issues being faced by the motherland and Filipino migrants all over the world. "We demand for the Philippine government to assist and facilitate the immediate processing of the trafficked workers' legal immigration status. The workers live in fear everyday of being deported or detained, when in fact, it was not their fault that they became undocumented," continued Saulon. Organizations who marched with the contingent were Philippine Forum New York and New Jersey, Anakbayan USA, New York, New Jersey and Chicago, New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (NYCHRP), Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE), Kalusugan Coalition, Kabalikat Domestic Workers' Support Network, SanDiwa National Alliance of Fil-Am Youth, Igniting Leadership and Action with Women (ILAW, "light" in Filipino) from Washington DC, and joined by some of the trafficked workers and allies from International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS), International Migrants' Alliance (IMA), International Women's Alliance (IWA), Revolutionary Student Coordinating Committee (RSCC). No to Labor Export Policy At the end of the march, the contingent held a mini-program while lining up on both sides of the street, also welcoming the other Filipino groups as they passed by. "We must tell the Philippine government to immediately put an end to Labor Export Policy which brought 11 million Filipinos out of the country, 4 million of which are in the United States. Our people are not commodities to be sold to the U.S. Imperialist and other capitalist countries. The Philippine government must stop engaging in Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) that only intensifies the migration and export of Filipinos to other countries, making them susceptible to abuses and separating them from their families back home, and which does not really address the root causes of why Filipinos leave," said Jackelyn Mariano, BAYAN USA Deputy Secretary General. Yes to National Industrialization and More Jobs in the Philippines At the fair in Madison Park, the groups led by the comprehensive youth organization Anakbayan, prompted a street chalk art with slogans written such as "Justice for All Immigrants", "Stop Trafficking Our People" and "Struggle for National Democracy". "We must demand for the Philippine government to create more jobs at home and build national industries to stop Filipinos from leaving the homeland and to genuinely end poverty. When that happens, only then can we truly say that we are 'independent' and free from the clasp of imperialists such as the United States, which currently dictates all aspects of our socio-economic, political and military concerns," said Yves Nibungco, Anakbayan USA Chairperson. How the community can contribute to STOP On June 16, Saturday, 5-8pm, the STOP Campaign Task Force led by NAFCON, will be holding a forum to educate and raise awareness among the Filipino community and non-Filipino allies on human trafficking. The victories of the workers and the community achieved throughout the years through the STOP Campaign will also be celebrated. Next steps for the campaign will also be discussed. The forum will be held at NYU Langone Medical Center, 550 1st Avenue (at 32nd St.), New York, NY 10016. The campaign also aims to raise funds and resources for the victims of human trafficking. In line with that, donations of $5-$10 are encouraged but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. For more information on STOP Campaign, please contact ne@nafconusa.org or 3478671550. ###
			Jackelyn Mariano, BAYAN USA Deputy Secretary General speaks at mini-program (by Jonna Baldres)

			"Justice for All Immigrants" Chalk Art by Anakbayan (by Jonna Baldres)




Filipino Organizations, National and International Alliances say "STOP Trafficking Our People" and "Legalization for All" (by Jonna Baldres)


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			x For Immediate Release June 7, 2012 Reference: Jackelyn Mariano, Deputy Secretary General, BAYAN-USA, bayandepsec@gmail.com, 347.669.0661 “THE PHILIPPINES IS NOT FOR SALE!”-- BAYAN USA Filipino Americans Decry Aquino and Binay U.S. Visits as Business Deals to Further Trample on Philippine Sovereignty, Increase US Military Presence in Country BAYAN-USA, a national alliance of progressive Filipino organizations, commenced the month of June by mobilizing the Filipino community to voice their outrage and concern to the Philippine President Benigno “NoyNoy” Aquino III and Vice President Jejomar Binay on their respective visits to the United States. BAYAN-USA condemns the Aquino administration for pushing policies that have prioritized opening up the Philippine economy to mainly cater to foreign economic and U.S. military interests, as well as the interests of the ruling classes in the Philippines at the expense of the rights and dignity of the majority of poor Filipinos. Binay visited Los Angeles this past June 2nd, while Aquino is slated to meet with US President Obama this Friday, June 8. Binay declared his visit to the U.S. was to meet with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden to ask for help in defending the rights of trafficked Filipino teachers in Maryland. However, protesters from BAYAN-USA doubt Binay’s interest in workers’ rights due to the very fact that he was staying at the Hilton LA Airport, a boycotted hotel by a hotel workers union, which includes Filipino members. The union called for a boycott to ensure that the workers’ rights to unionize be upheld as well as the fair treatment of workers across the board. President Aquino, on the other hand, will be meeting Obama at the White House to discuss increasing U.S. military presence in the Philippines. Aquino may discuss the Philippines signing onto Obama’s Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), a U.S.-led neoliberal free-trade agreement - often referred to as the NAFTA of Asia - which will further liberalize Philippine markets to deregulate foreign business ownership, clearly violating Philippine sovereignty and self-determination. Many economists have pointed to the TPPA’s design to secure US economic dominance in the Asia-Pacific region, while isolating super rival China’s emerging economic influence. With every US military shift dictated by a US economic agenda, BAYAN-USA recognizes these meetings as Aquino’s subservience to U.S. economic and military interests, as he allows the increase of U.S. military presence in the Philippines in exchange for the tripling of U.S. military aid to the Philippines. His visit is in line with the Pentagon’s recent announcement of a 60% strategic shift to the Asia Pacific region set to be completed by 2020. As the Obama administration uses military bullying to dictate and project its economic power in the Asia-Pacific region, it continues to justify its actions by sowing an anti-China scare campaign reminiscent of Cold War-era messaging. Filipinos in the U.S. and in the Philippines declare, “The Philippines is NOT for sale!” and will conduct protest actions in both countries to condemn the U.S.-Philippine military alliance, which will only perpetuate more human rights violations against the Filipino people and aggravate the threat of war, putting the Philippine nation in direct danger of unwarranted military action. Join BAYAN-USA in nationally-coordinated protest actions to demand that President Aquino uphold Philippine sovereignty and protect the rights and welfare of the Filipino people! Friday, June 8, 2:00PM EST 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest Sidewalks between East & West Executive Avenues Washington, D.C. Contact: Jackelyn Mariano, Deputy Secretary General, BAYAN-USA, 347.669.0661 Friday, June 8, 5:30PM PST Hilton LAX Los Angeles, California Contact: Theresa Jaranilla, Southwest Coordinator, BAYAN-USA, 213.373.5154 Sat, June 9 & Sun, June 10, 12pm-5pm PST Seattle Center, Pagdiriwang Festival commemorating Philippine Independence Seattle, Washington Contact: Chel Cendana, Pacific Northwest Coordinator, BAYAN-USA, 360.990.9424 UPHOLD PHILIPPINE SOVEREIGNTY! THE PHILIPPINES IS NOT FOR SALE! U.S. TROOPS OUT OF THE PHILIPPINES! U.S. TROOPS OUT OF THE ASIA PACIFIC! NO TO THE TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT! DOWN WITH U.S. IMPERIALISM! ### -- 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. We are women of Philippine descent, including those who are migrants, immigrants and US-born. We recognize Filipino women of mixed heritage and adoptees. FiRE is a LGBTIQ-(Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer/Questioning) friendly organization that is inclusive of transgender people of Philippine descent. 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, Pinay Sa Seattle in Seattle, WA, and SiGAw in Los Angeles, CA. http://www.gabusa.org 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/ -- 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. We are women of Philippine descent, including those who are migrants, immigrants and US-born. We recognize Filipino women of mixed heritage and adoptees. FiRE is a LGBTIQ-(Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer/Questioning) friendly organization that is inclusive of transgender people of Philippine descent. For more information, please visit http://www.firenyc.org. We are a proud member organization of GABRIELA-USA that is the first overseas chapter of GABRIELA Philippines. To learn more, please go to http://www.gabusa.org 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/
Giant Yellow Price Tags with Bar Codes say "No to Labor Export Policy" (by Dominique Liwanag)

Some Community Organizations participating in the NAFCON Contingent at PIDC 2012 (by Jonna Baldres)
NAFCON Primer on Human Trafficking (by Jonna Baldres)




Giant Fists Resisting Labor Export Policy, Unemployment and Landlessness (by Jonna Baldres)

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