Blog Archive

Thursday, March 27, 2014

UMANGAT joins anti-imperialist rally in Rome, Italy



Posted by Belarmino Dabalos Saguing
Rome, Italy 27032014


Pahayag ng Migrante photo


Rome, in flurry of activities, Italy organized to honor the visit of US President Barrack Obama. Blinded streets and 700 law officers to make ‘Emperor’ Obama’s sojourn in the city secure.

Protests and manifestations were not lacking. A menagerie of left and social groups made a march towards the US embassy at the swank Via Veneto which was blocked by the police in anti-riot gear about seventy meters from the gates of the embassy.

The manifestation was peaceful, with slogan slinging and speeches lambasting US as interventionist and imperialist for her interventions in Syria, Libya, Egypt, Ukaraine and the Far East.


One speaker paragoned the event to Ancient Rome receiving the emperor on their knees- the emperor has arrtived and the vassals (Italian political figures) genuflected.

The Filipino group was seen among the manifestors with a handprinted poster that reads "DOWN WITH US IMPERIALISM.


Pahayag ng Migrante photo



Contributed by Edgar Galiano (CII)




Friday, March 21, 2014

Nationalism and People’s Empowerment

Posted by
Pahayag ng Migrante
21032014





About a week ago, I read in a post on facebook about nationalism being the cure for corruption.

 But it, too has its shortcoming. Nationalism as the ideology of governance  point to the overwhelming subjective force of reactionary politicians under the patronage system as the cornerstone of  our malformed state culture that we inherited from colonial politics of our conquerors that provided a fertile soil for pervasive corruption to thrive. There are some doubt if the nationalism of our “nationalist” politicians, if any of them has the chance to become Chief Executive, could empower the people to pursue societal change as a sustainable program to shoulder their own social reform agenda.

If in case any of them would have become president, It would be doubtful if he could outwit and outlive the politically  dominant  reactionary politicians. And above all, could US imperialism be benign enough as to allow him to proceed  thorough agrarian reform and nationalist industrialization. The president’s position in power would have been very tenuous and shaky.  Only the support of a highly politicized  and empowered masses of the population could  provide the impetus for a successful social transformation.  In any  undertaking for societal reconstruction, it will always be the organized and empowered masses who will constitute the motive forces.

But have no misconceptions! The reactionary politicians have always been mouthing empty rhetorics on people empowerment.  They introduce projects such as hog-raising or scholarship programs  and call them programs of  people empowerment that ensued from the absurdity of the reactionary politicians’ logic of deception and cajolery. of  genuine people’s empowerment does not consist in one or two—or at most, a few—individuals  having been raised into  a well-to-do standing in the community. This only engenders selfish individualism which is anathema to Nationalism.  

There can only be genuine people empowerment when the people consciously engage  in participatory and/or collective endeavor as an integral part of the over-all long-term goal of emancipating the entire  nation from the scourges of  poverty and underdevelopment. .The nationalist standpoint should always be the basis of the banner call in crystallizing the concerns and issues  necessitating collective actions. 





Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Migrante Press release | OFWs slam solon for resurrecting Marcos decree on “forced remittance”


Posted by Pahayag ng Migrante
Rome, Italy 19032014




Migrante Sectoral Party
PRESS RELEASE


Overseas Filipino workers (OFWS) are up in arms against a proposed bill in Congress resurrecting a notorious Marcos-imposed “forced remittance” decree and reinforcing punitive provisions on remittances in the Labor Code.
The partylist OFW Family recently passed House Bill No. 3576, or “An Act Authorizing Ambassadors, Consul Generals, Chiefs of Missions or Charge d’ Affairs to order and direct an overseas Filipino workers (OFW) to send support to his or her legal dependents as required by existing laws”.
HB 3576  likewise, private recruitment agencies are authorized to facilitate and “assist OFWs in the remittance of theirequires all land-based and sea-based OFWs to send in regular remittances through the “Philippine banking system or any authorized credit unions, money transfer operators or through the postal mail” or else suffer penalties.r foreign exchange earnings”.
Section 5 of the HB 3576 further directs PH authorities abroad“to withhold the renewal or approval of the passport of an erring OFW unless proof of compliance of the remittance requirement” is submitted.
According to Connie Bragas-Regalado, chairperson of Migrante Sectoral Party, HB 3576 is a resurrection of Marcos’ draconian Executive Order 857 which was protested widely by OFWs around the world. “Nag-aala-Marcos itong si Rep. Seneres, shame on him for once again shoving this down our throats. It is a blast from the past and a slap in the face of OFWs around the world who are already knee-deep in debt and barely coping with the global economic crisis.”
Marcos’ EO 857 compelled OFWs to remit 50-70% of their total monthly earnings. The decree also prohibited the use of non-banking channels such as the “padala” system, and restricted OFWs to remit “only through government-authorized channels”. Those who failed to do so faced punitive acts such as losing their rights to renew their contracts and passports, thus effectively banning OFWs from eligibly working overseas.
EO 857 effectively superceded and fortified Article 22 of the Labor Code stipulating a mandatory remittance of foreign exchange earnings for OFWs.
Double-faced Seneres
Bragas-Regalado further criticized Seneres for his “double-faced posturing”, recalling that Seneres was one of those opposed to the same punitive measures when he was commissioner of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC).
“We were in the same meeting, in the same congressional hearing years ago, asking for the review of the mandatory remittance and its punitive provisions in the Labor Code. Why the change of heart now? Is his partylist connected to big remittance centers or recruitment agencies? These agencies will solely stand to benefit from this forced remittance bill, not OFWs and their families,” she said.
In 1985, the punitive provisions in the Labor Code were repealed following widespread protests from OFWs and their families worldwide. On May 1, 1985, Marcos was forced to issue EO 1021, abolishing the punitive provisions of EO 857 and declaring the “padala” system legal. The OFW movement against forced remittances gave birth to the formation of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (UNIFIL) from its precursor United Filipino Against Forced Remittance (UNFARE).
Money-making scheme
Bragas-Regalado said that Seneres’ house bill clearly manifests “how he and his partylist are obviously not in tune with the interests of OFWs”. “It is stupid, unnecessary and obviously just another money-making scheme. It was precisely the previous forced remittance law that further drove OFWs in deeper debt. It gave rise to the proliferation of loansharks and lending institutions that fed on the desperation of OFWs. Sagad-sa-buto ang pangungutang ng mga OFW nang ipatupad ang batas na iyonLaluna na ngayong ang sitwasyon ng mga OFW ay baon na nga sa utang bago pa man makarating sa ibang bansa.
She said that Seneres should stop portraying himself as a “representative” of OFWs. “Clearly and certainly, he and his partylist do not have OFWs’ interests and welfare at heart. It is more evident now that Seneres is toeing the line of the BS Aquino regime in institutionalizing state exactions and more taxes on OFWs to salvage the ailing economy. Like Marcos, BS Aquino is now banking on revenue from OFW remittances to cope with alarming fiscal deficits and huge external debt, alongside the government’s incapacitiy to generate much-needed income due to massive corruption and misgovernance.”
Bragas-Regalado said that they are prepared to oppose HB 3576 in Congress and in the streets. “We were able to scrap the law before. We can do it again. Let this serve as a warning to all proponents and masterminds of this bill.”





Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Government exactions became legalized extortion under BS Aquino

Posted by Pahayag ng Migrante
Rome, Italy 18032014


Plain robbery (caricature by Bill Saguing)

During the Marcos’ regime, labor exportation (LEP) was systemized thru the creation of POEA and its trident. The late Cory Aquino formalized LEP in her economic recovery  program as source of government income. Ex-president Ramos has officially made the Philippine migrant workers an export commodity and labor exportation became an industry and tool for economic development under ex-presidents Estrada and Arroyo.

Not to be left behind, in October 1, 2012, BS Aquino, signed the Administrative Order #31 (AO31) ordering all government heads and agencies to “rationalize the rates of their fees and charges, increasing their rates and impose new fees and charges. ” BS Aquino practically leagalized the state exactions.
According to Sol Pillas, spokesperson for Migrante International AO 31 practically institutionalized more state exactions and fees imposed on OFWs when existing onerouse fees remain under protest by the sector since BS Aquino took office and had legalized “kotong” and state exactions on OFWs, particularly through the implementation of Admnistrative Order 31.
A study by Migrante International estimates that since 2010 the BS Aquino government has been collecting an average of at least P26,267 from every OFW processed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). This amount is higher than the average P18,000 the government collected before 2010.              
                                                                        
With the recent increases in Philhealth premium, NBI clearance fees, e-passport fees, barangay clearance fees, and the mandatory contributions to Pag-Ibig, OWWA and mandatory insurance,  among other requirements, the average cost for every OFW for the processing of their Overseas Employment Certificates (OECs) has reached an estimated P30,000,” Pillas said. If 4,884 OFWs leave daily to work abroad, the government earns an average of P146.5 million a day from processing fees and other costs shouldered by OFWs
Aside from the hike in costs of requirements for the OEC, other fees and tax schemes being imposed on OFWs include the affidavit of support (AOS) in UAE, Macau and some parts of Europe and the discriminatory P75 Comelec certificate of registration, other onerous fees specifically charged to seafarers and entertainers, and House Bill 3576 dubbed as the “forced remittance bill”.
 Migrante has recently filed a petition at the Supreme Court for a temporary restraining order on the recent 160% Philhealth premium hike
According to Migrante International,  “OFWs are plagued with an assortment of issues and problems throughout the entire migration cycle yet the BS Aquino government has barely done any decisive action to support and protect its migrant workers and their families. The BS Aquino government’s ability to uphold Filipino migrants’ rights and promote their welfare has lagged behind its apparent success in pursuing a more aggressive labor export policy,”

STOP THE LEGALIZED EXTORTIONS!
BS AQUINO – PAHIRAP SA OFW!
EXORCISE THE PHILIPPINES FROM THE EVIL STATE EXTORTION, OUST AQUINO!



Read more at http://migranteinternational.org/?p=3470




Sunday, March 16, 2014

Repost | No more BS!

Posted by
Pahayag ng Migrante

Repost of Migrante Int'l


Sa Marso17, anibersaryo ng kamatayan ni Flor Contemplacion, migrante at pamilya, kumilos at magpakilos! Labanan at tutulan ang forced remittance bill, Philhealth premium hike at iba pang legalized kotong ng gobyernong BS Aquino sa mga OFW! Sigaw ng migranteng Pilipino: No More BS! (Photo: Migrante Int'l)






Friday, March 14, 2014

A new Bureau of Immigration guideline to filter Filipinos travelling abroad

Posted by 
Pahayag ng Migrante 1403/2014




The Bureau of Immigration (BI) chief Siegfred Mison on Friday issued strict guidelines designed to deter the exodus of undocumented Overseas Foreign Workers (OFWs) by making the said blanket requirement for all who travel as tourists. From now on, no tourist will be allowed to leave the country unless he can show proof of financial capability to travel, proof of work and financial support from benefactors.
Mison appealed to Filipino travelers for understanding as they would be inconvenienced by the new procedure aimed at protecting Filipinos from being victims of human traffickers.
Presently, more than 40 suspected illegal workers disguised as tourists are offloaded daily at the Ninoy Aquino Internal Airport (NAIA).
He said the bureau adopted the policy to fight the nefarious activities of human trafficking syndicates.

Behind the seemingly anti trafficking aims claimed, this new directive surely will affect real tourists and Filipino pensioners with permanent residency status abroad. This may be another ploy by the Philippine government to ensure that more remittances will be collected.

No, BI Chief Mison! our patience is running thinner and thinner by now. It is you who should understand the people.


Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/bi-requires-all-tourists-proof-of-financial-capability-to-travel/




Thursday, March 13, 2014

HB3576; what is it all about

Posted by 
Pahayag ng Migrante
Rome, Italy 13/03/2014




House Bill 3576 also known as forced remittance bill and mandating all embassies to enforce the  obligatory remittance is all about raising funds for the government and makes one feel nothing but contempt for its proponents. House Bill 3576 authored by former ambassador Roy Señeres from the party-list group OFW Family Club seeks to penalize overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who fail to remit money through formal banking channels to the Philippines, as if it is a magnanimous gesture for our family.

For this reason, Ofws around the world immediately raised their voices and fists in protest against this utterly absurd bill with reactions ranging from outright indignation to sarcastic ones like inquiring Señeres’ account number so they can remit to him directly.

The unpopular bill that is rightly considered by Ofws as another burden for Filipino migrants. : labour export is a multibillion dollar industry for the Philippine government. OFW remittance comprised 10% of the country’s GDP in 2012 and by the first half of 2013, already registered a 5.8 percent increase as compared to the level of the same period in 2012. Remittance is the crux to the neoliberal globalization model of migration for development and HB3576, advertently or inadvertently, trails along such line that treats overseas workers as commodities and mere dollar-earners.

To migrant workers, the bill is an attempt to revive the draconian EO857 of the Marcos regime in 1982 with similar provisions. Opposition to EO857 was like a wildfire that mobilized thousands of OFWs around the world and in Hong Kong, it triggered the formation of the United Filipinos Against Forced Remittance or UNFARE later renamed United Filipinos in Hongkong (UNIFIL-HK) and spread to other countries and later bonded together to form the alliance  Mingrante International.

For someone that claims to champion OFW rights and wellbeing, Señeres is way off touch with the real condition and sentiments of Filipinos abroad.

Let OFWs face it squarely, from Facebook to the streets, with a collective strength that will be a present-day horror for the author and this BS government.


HB 3576? It is all about collecting money from the Ofws.







Wednesday, March 12, 2014

TALAKAYANG MIGRANTE by Migrante Southern Tagalog/UCCP san Pablo city



Repost of Migrante Southern Tagalog release
by Pahayag ng Migrante
Rome, Italy 13/03/2014

Poster by Migrante ST

Nineteen years after her death, we are reviving the memory of an OFW who was executed in Singapore for a crime unwittingly committed. She became the symbol of Filipino migrant workers who sacrificed to be separated from her loved ones to find a chance for her family to survive the daily life. She was none other than Flor Contemplcion.


Migrante Southern Tagalog firmly believe that hers was only one of million cases of Filipino migrants who experienced abuses, maltreatments and injustices abroad. The stark truth of lack or absence of job opportunity and livelihood in our country is the cause of our workers’ exudos to foreign countries. They have to suffer contract swapping, illegal arrest and imprisonment, low salaries or at times, receiving no salaries and other forms of abuses. Many Ofws dared to remain in their jobs inspite of human rights violations which are widely prevalent against them.


With this in mind, Migrante Southern Tagalog in collaboration with the Councils of Churches of San Pablo city is launching TALAKAYANG MIGRANTE on the coming March 17 2014. This discussion will herald the commencement of the International campaign against Human Tafficking and recognize the day of Flor Contemplacions’s sacrificial death at the UCCP-First Evangelical Church at C. Penaloza St. San Pablo City 1400 (2PM). There will be a mass, honoring Flor, followed by a program and a forum afterwards.



TALAKAYANG MIGRANTE
17 Marso 2014 | 2:00PM | Lunes
UCCP-First Evangelical Church San Pablo City, Laguna

Sigaw ng Pilipinong Migrante: 
Isalba ang Buhay ng mga OFWs! 
Itigil ang Human Trafficking!




Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Umangat-Migrante celebrates Women's Day, 16th founding anniversary and 15th year of Ugnayan sa Himpapawid

Posted by
Belarmino Dabalos Saguing
Rome, Italy 11/03/20145


Umangat-Migrante celebrated on the 9th March the International Women's, the 16th founding anniversary of Umangat and the 15th year of the radio program Ugnayan sa Himpapawid at the Associazione Articolo 3 conference in Via Dancalia, Rome, Italy. It was highlighted with testimonials from a former woman professional now working in Rome as Domestic help, a young woman raised in Italy, and others. The affair was attended by members of Task Force OFWs (T OFW), Makabayang Atas ng Supremo Andres Bonifacio (MASA), Gran Madre di Dio Filipino Community, Sta. Catalina Filcom, Kaibigan Group, Mabini Town Assn., and others. There was also a cultural show by members of Filipino communities.The gathering was also graced by the participation of Luz Miriam Jaramillo (CII, IMAEur) andf Edgar Galliano of Comitato Immigrati in Italia (CII).


Photos contributed by Umangat-Migrante
























  

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Pinoy Weekly | Tula | Hibik Namin (isang kolektibong tula)

Rome, Italy 08/03/2014

Halaw sa 'Mga Babaeng Palaban
    Pinoy Weekly online http://pinoyweekly.org/new/2014/03/mga-babaeng-palaban/


Isang tulang lumabas noong Pebrero 17, 1899 sa underground paper na El Heraldo Filipino. Isang manipesto ang tula laban sa panggagahasa ng mga sundalong Amerikano sa kababaihang Pilipino.




Ito ay isang kolektibong tula nina Victoria Lactaw, Feliza Kahatol, Patricia Himagsik, Dolores Katindig, Felipa Kapuloan, at Victoria Mausig. Tinatayang alyas lang ang mga pangalan.




Hibik Namin


Halina at tayo’y
Manandatang lahat
itanghal ang dangal
nitong Filipinas.
Sa alinmang nacion
at huag ipayag
na mapagharian
tayong manga anak.


Ang pagsasarili’y
ating ipaglaban
hanggang may isa
pang sa ati’y may buhay
At dito’y wala na
silang pagharian
kung hindi ang
ating manga dugo’t bangkay.
Masakop man tayo
ng kanilang Yankis
ay mamatay rin sa mga pasakit
Mahalaga.y mamatay
sa pagtangkilik
Nang dapat igalang
na ating matowid.


Dahil sa ating
Santong Katowiran
ay atin ang lubos
na pagtatagumpay.
Ang awa nang langit
ay pagkaasahang
tutulong sa ating
nang pakikilaban.





8 Marzo..Sono 103 anni dell ‘anno delle donne. Sia lunga le vita della lotta delle donne!

Roma, Italia
08/03/2014

Dichiarazzione da
Unganayan ng Manggagawang Migrante
Tungo sa Pag-unlad (UMANGAT)


Cento anni fa migliaia di donne inarciarono per le stade di New York in seguito alla tragica morte di donne lavoratrici in una fabbrica di abbigliamento che fu incindiate.  Poco e’ cambiato da allora, le donne continuano a marciare e invocare una genuina liberazione delle donne in  particolare nelle Filippine.

Il peggioramento della condizione socio-economico del popolo Filippino, aggrevato dall’ alto costo

Per vivere,  salari bassi, scercite’ di servizi sociali di basi di programmi concreti sulla casa, salute, educazione, aumento del prezzo dell’ olio e comodite’  di base. Costi per la scuola, il  recente aumento ingiustificato  del Meralco. Le donne e i bambini sono quelli che ne hanno sofferto di piu’.

Recentamente, Carina Apparel e’ estato chiusa, con il licenziamento illegale di 3,600 lavoratori per la maggioranza donne.  La privatizzazione dei servizi pubblici quali gli ospèedali e’ una  mossa concreta del governi  contro il popolo e le donne e pro i capitalisti. La privatizzazione del Centro Fabello ha privato le meno priviligiate donne incinte dell’ uso di cure mediche gratuita,  pertanto la salute dei bambini ancora non nati e’ a rischio.

Questo situazione ha spinto un gran numero di donne  a lasciare casa, imigrare e cercare un modo migliore di vivere indipendentemente dalla difficolta e dai lavori pericolosi all’ estero. Forze,   per molte, l’ emigrazione e’ la realizzazione del loro sogno di vita, ma disgraziatamente, questa e’ una falsa esperanza per molto donne. Alcuni furono anche soggette e umiliazioni, crudelta’  e  ancora peggio, stupri.

Contro la volante’ di una donna di essere divisa dalla famiglia, molte donne sopportano con coraggio la solitudine, le lunge ore di lavoro e, a volte, dolori fisici e malattia, solo per avviare denaro a casa.  E’ indubbiamente doloroso fare del baby sitting e allevare bambini, all’ estero piuttosto dei propri bambini.

Inoltre noi curiamo gli anziani in paesi stranieri e tuttavia non possiamo nemmeno offrire le nostra braccio e spalle ai parenti che invechiano o si ammalano, parenti che ci hanno dato la vite.

E’ un gran delitto essere privati dei nostri bambini e famiglie perche’ il nostro governo non puo’ garantire una vite migliore al suo popolo.

E’ da condonnare per un governo, mentre il suo popolo emigra, ancora usi lavoratori e donne imigranti come mucche da spremere con salari e regolamenti ingiustificabili.

Fintanto che i capitalisti stranieri, i proprietari   di terra e le dinastie  politiche dominano il modo di governare verso le radici della poverta’, i poveri diventeranno piu’ poveri e le donne e il bambini resteranno emarginati e sfruttati.

ALZIAMOCI, UNIAMOCI E ALZIAMO LA VOCE, BASTA SFRUTTAMENTO, VIOLENZA E 
DESCRIMINAZIONE! 

LUNGA VITA AL GIORNO DELLA DONNE!

PER LA VITTORIA E UNA VERA LIBERAZIONE!
                                                                                           
                                                  UMANGAT –MIGRANTE.. Roma.. 8 Marzo 2014


Friday, March 7, 2014

Migrante | News Release | More women OFWs face hardships under BS Aquino regime

Migrante International

News Release 08/03/2014  http://migranteinternational.org/?p=3463                                                                                                                        

Forced migration in the Philippines has become one of the worst causes and manifestation of all forms of abuse, oppression and exploitation of Filipina migrant workers all over the world.
Under the administration of Pres. BS Aquino, more women overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been forced to migrate and leave their families. Since 2010, 4,884 Filipinos leave the country daily – among them, mothers, sisters, aunts, nieces, grandparents who were forced to face dire straits and uncertain conditions abroad due to widespread joblessness, landlessness and dismal social services here in the country. To date, women OFWs make up more than half (55%) of the stock estimate of OFWs, outnumbering male OFWs especially in the service sector (Center for Filipinos Overseas, 2012).
On International Women’s Day, Migrante International and Migrante Sectoral Party give tribute to all Filipina migrant workers who continue to fight against abuses and exploitation, and stand in solidarity with them in the struggle against forced migration and modern-day slavery being espoused by the BS Aquino administration’s more aggressive labor export policy.
Women OFWs face very specific vulnerabilities because they are women – sexual discrimination and other gender-specific abuses, exploitation and violence in the sorts of work they tend to predominante. This is especially the case when women OFWs migrate for work that is in line with their traditionally-defined reproductive roles in society (i.e. domestic workers, nurses, caregivers, etc.).
The current onslaught of the global economic crisis further intensifies abuses and violations faced by women OFWs. The worsening crisis makes them more vulnerable to trafficking, criminalization of irregular or undocumented migrants, and drives them to tolerate more abuses in the workplace. The worsening crisis under the BS Aquino regime conceives for them more desperate conditions, locally and abroad.
The devastation of supertyphoon Yolanda that has exposed Pres. BS Aquino’s criminal failure and incompetence to deliver relief, rescue and rehabilitation to victims and survivors, has brought forth another circumstance that thrives on the desperation and massive poverty of the people, especially women and children.
There had been reports of rape incidents in Leyte in the aftermath of Yolanda. The slow pace of reconstruction and rehabilitation and the failure to provide immediate relief to survivors in affected areas have pushed women and children to trafficking for sex and work abroad.
Under the BS Aquino administration, the number of trafficked OFWs, mostly women, has reached a staggering 1.3 million, according to 2012 data by the CFO. Many of them migrated to work through legal and illegal means but were later coerced into exploitative conditions, drug trade or white slavery.
In 2013, Pres. BS Aquino pursued cosmetic reforms, among them signing the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act. However, government efforts have hardly scratched the surface of the anti-trafficking campaign, however much it lauds itself in the media.  The resolution of cases of human trafficking/illegal recruitment is close to nil, with most of perpetrators or recruitment agencies being given mere administrative sanctions only to be able to operate again. And so the vicious cycle continues.
Unfortunately, the BS Aquino government lacks the political will to fully address these cases. There are also reports of immigration and police officers who are coddlers of trafficking syndicates but, so far, no public or government officials in any level has been prosecuted. Likewise, many abused, exploited and maltreated women OFWs are yet to attain justice, with government support and assistance generally lacking.
Today, marching with us are brave women OFWs from different parts of the world, and their families, who braved their plight and survived. They continue to call for justice. They realize that forced migration and modern-day slavery can only ever be stopped on a day when our citizens will no longer be forced to face dire and dangerous conditions overseas out of desperation, poverty and hopelessness. Migrante marches with them in solidarity with the women’s struggle for freedom and national democracy. This International Women’s Day, we salute and honor them and other women OFWs around the world. ###

March 8…Marked the 103rd year of Women’s Day! Long live Women Struggle!

Statement

Ugnayan ng Manggagawang Migrante
Tungo sa Pag-unlad (UMANGAT)
07/03/2014
 Reference Wennie Flores  +39 3291757805




Hundred years past when thousands of working women marched the streets in New York, following the tragic death of women workers in a garment factory that was burned down…little has been changed, women continue to march and call for genuine women liberation particularly in Philippines.

The worsening socio-economic condition of the Filipino people, aggravated by high cost of living, low wages, scarcity of basic social services and concrete programs on housing, health, education, unregulated price increase of oil and basic commodities school tuition fees hike, the recent unjustifiable increase of Meralco bill …women and children suffered most. 

Recently, Carina Apparel was closed and caused to illegal layoff of 3,600 worker mostly women. The privatization of public utilities and services like hospitalization is a concrete move on government anti-people and anti-women and pro-capitalists. The privatization of Fabella Center deprived the less privileges pregnant women to avail free medical care, hence unborn babies health are at risk.

This situation forced the broadest number of women to live home, to migrate and seek a better source of living regardless of the hardships and hazardous jobs abroad.
Perhaps for many, migration is the realization of their dream life, but unfortunately, it is a false hope for a great number of women. Some were even subjected to humiliation, cruelty and worse even rape.  

Against a women’s will, to be separated from love ones and families, many of them, courageously bear the loneliness, long hours of work and at times physical pains and illnesses just to send money home.

It is Indeed painful to women who are forced to babysit and rear other children abroad rather than their own. Much more, we take good care the olds in foreign lands for a living, and yet we cannot even offer our arms and shoulders to lean on by getting older or ailing parents who gave their life to us.

It is a great crime being deprived of our very own children and families because our government cannot guarantee a better living for his people.

It is condemnable for a government that unsatisfied with his people being exported daily, still uses overseas worker and migrant women as milking cows by unjustifiable and exuberant fees and regulations.

As long as greedy foreign capitalists, landlords and political dynasties dominates the government ruling as the root of poverty, the poor will become more poorer, and the women and children will remain as marginalized and exploited.  Let us rise, unite and raise up our voice…..enough exploitation….end violence and discrimination!

Long live Women of March 8!

Forward women to victory and genuine liberation!