SiGAw! | SISTERS OF GABRIELA, AWAKEN!

Filipina caregiver wins settlement

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:13:41 -0700

NEWS RELEASE

May 15, 2013

Reference: Joanna Concepcion, FMC, email: joanna@filipinomigrantcenter.org

FILIPINA CAREGIVER WINS SETTLEMENT AGAINST AGENCY AND ENCOURAGES OTHER CAREGIVERS TO SPEAK OUT

Los Angeles— Elydia Sarmiento, a 75 yr. old Filipina caregiver, won a significant amount of wages owed to her by the employment agency who hired her to work as a private caregiver for an elderly woman who had severe health problems. Sarmiento filed a wage claim with the Division of Labor Standards and Enforcement office in Van Nuys against the agency for minimum wage violations. In California, Sarmiento’s occupation as a caregiver qualifies her to receive $8 per hour; however, Sarmiento, who worked for a minimum of 17 hours a day, 7 days a week for 4 years was only paid $100/day. “I rarely had time to sleep because my patient has breathing problems and I have to watch her closely so I would have to wake up many times in the middle of the night.” Sarmiento expressed.

It is not uncommon for caregivers who work in private homes, especially those who are live-in, to be paid a fixed amount per day. $100/day is the usual rate paid to them by employment agencies, sometimes even lower. This low daily rate however, does not recognize the complex nature of their responsibilities which requires them to provide care any time of the day. It also reflects the culture of undervaluing work that is performed at home. Many Filipino caregivers have shared with FMC that these employment or “third-party” agencies take a substantial percentage of the patient fees, which they feel is unfair since they are the ones who are doing all of the work. Additionally, the inadequate state of legal rights for caregivers and other domestic workers consequently make them more susceptible to being overworked and underpaid as they are not entitled to basic workplace benefits such overtime pay and meal/rest breaks.

Sarmiento has worked as a caregiver since 1994, first working for a filmmaker in Hollywood for 3 years where she was not allowed to cook her own food in the kitchen, to taking care of elderly people in retirement homes and private homes. “I was only allowed to use the microwave but I did not know how to use it at first. I also had to teach myself different things so I can do better at my job to make the person I am caring for happy and comfortable.” Sarmiento describes. Throughout the years, Sarmiento made it her life’s purpose to give quality care, extend friendship and love to her patients who are sick and growing old alone. Sarmiento is also a devoted mother and grandmother as she continues to support her grandchildren and other relatives back in the Philippines with school, medical and other daily expenses.

FMC assisted Sarmiento in preparing for her labor conference and hearing in February and May of this year respectively to help advocate for her case. FMC recognizes that workers who file complaints with the Dept. of Labor will have to face their employer and their lawyer in person and therefore may feel afraid or intimidated. These workers have found that FMC’s presence at these venues made them feel supported knowing there is a group who will fight side by side with them. Sarmiento’s message to her fellow caregivers, ”If you have a problem at your work, you should voice out your concerns and not be silent because you are not alone. You deserve to know your rights and fight for it. Do not be afraid. We are here for you.”

FMC believes that caregivers need stronger protections under the law. It is currently involved in a state-wide campaign, along with many organizations to pass Assembly Bill 241 (AB 241) that would grant domestic workers in California long-deserved rights to overtime pay, meal/rest breaks, worker’s compensation, uninterrupted sleep for live-in workers, use of kitchen facilities and paid days of rest. FMC calls on all Filipino caregivers and the whole Filipino community to join us in this campaigns and stand for the rights and welfare of all domestic workers.

(Photo: Elydia Sarmiento (left) with Joy Prim (right), FMC’s United Methodist Global Ministries Advocate)

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The Filipino Migrant Center aims to educate, organize and mobilize the low-income and working class families of the Filipino community in Southern California. We will work for an empowered Filipino community actively engaged in the movement for local and global justice. For more information, visit filipinomigrantcenter.org. If you would like to get involved with our organization, please contact us at info@filipinomigrantcenter.org, call us at (562) 438-9515 or LIKE Filipino Migrant Center on Facebook!

Only Strong Immig Rights Mvmt Can Win Pro-Ppl Immigration Reform

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 05:41:00 -0700

For Immediate Release

April 25, 2013

Reference: Berna Ellorin, BAYAN USA, chair@bayanusa.org

Only a Strong Immigrant Rights Movement Can Win Pro-People Immigration Reform— BAYAN-USA

All around the US, Filipinos along with other groups who comprise the massive immigrant population in the US, are fighting to change this country’s immigration policy, which currently facilitates the systemic exploitation, abuse, and repression of migrant workers. BAYAN-USA joins the May 1st marches across the country to stand up for migrant, immigrant and workers rights. We also endorse the principles and demands of the National Alliance of Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) for genuine comprehensive immigration reform to end deportations, unify and protect families, and end the modern day slavery of workers.

“The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act introduced by Washington’s Gang of 8 beefs up the stick of border control for the enforcement hawks while dangling the carrot of a steady flow of flexible labor for business—without recognizing migrant workers as human beings deserving of respect, dignity and full human rights,” said Jessica Antonio, Secretary General of BAYAN-USA. “This pro-business deal affirms that only a strong, unified immigrant rights movement in the US will be able to achieve truly pro-people immigration reform; it won’t come from policymakers whose only concerns are increasing the bottom-line for business and racking up votes from the growing immigrant population.”

“Four Pillars” Framework

The Senate immigration reform bill revolves around a so-called framework of four pillars purported by the Gang of 8 and endorsed by the Commander-in-Chief himself. It proceeds from the belief that migrants are a cheap source of exploitable labor on the one hand, and on the other hand a threat to the domestic security of the US and therefore must be heavily monitored, regulated, and subject to harsh law enforcement. The illegalization of migrants is aligned with the US’s military and prison industrial complexes, which push the US economy to rely more and more on militarization and private prisons—including the growing immigrant prison industry— for sustenance. Despite President Obama’s outspoken push for comprehensive immigration reform, he has deported over 1.4 million immigrants in his first 42 months as president, much more than former President Bush and all previous American presidents, according to numbers provided by the Department of Homeland Security.

The Senate bill also answers the demands of big business for flexibilization of the global labor market under the current economic crisis. This framework has resuscitated legal slavery and human trafficking in the US in order to reap the super-profits needed for US corporations to survive the current crisis. At present, this is already a function of the US guestworker program; the bill introduced by the Gang of 8 would expand guestworker programs even more, without strengthening worker protections. Instead, guestworker programs must be over-hauled to protect workers from discrimination and exploitation, provide for equal pay such as the prevailing wage in the industry, protect the right to unionize, and uphold the right to change employers and seek permanent residency or citizenship.

Divide-and-Conquer

The Senate bill also seeks to pit migrant workers against each other by stratifying immigrant categories based on education-level, skill-level, whether or not they are “well-meaning”, and how and when they arrived in the US. It is under such conditions that a draconian reform bill with racist underpinnings can be passed so swiftly and easily. We demand true immigration reform to provide real pathways to legalization for all current undocumented migrants living and working in the US, free of restrictions based on country of origin, economic status, education, or length of residency.

Unite and Build the Immigrant Rights Movement

In this era of neoliberalism, migration is not a choice, but a means to survive. US foreign economic policy is the biggest proponent of neoliberalism and forced migration one of its adverse social impacts. The U.S. government policies of war and exploitation – in the service of the 1% - fuel economic and social instability worldwide. Immigrants and migrants should not be blamed and scapegoated for our national security issues.

Any just and pro-people legislation that is passed in the US can only be the result of a peoples struggle. The same applies to the immigration reform and the immigrant rights struggle in the US. Our demands for genuine immigration reform are linked to our struggle for a world where all people can thrive, families are not separated by the urgent need for survival, and our homelands have the conditions in which all people can live a decent and humane life.

What was introduced by the Gang of 8 proves that genuine, fundamental change to the immigration system will not be won by relying on the goodwill of elected officials in Washington. As the Gang of 8’s bill gets debated and the House crafts its immigration reform bill, let us continue to build, strengthen, and unite the movement for immigrant rights to challenge repressive provisions and demand immigration reform that has the rights of immigrant families and workers at its heart. Our movement is the principal means of ensuring dignity, respect, and human rights for all immigrants in the US!

BAYAN USA joins NAFCON and all migrants, immigrants, and workers on International Workers Day-May 1st rallies across the nation listed below! Join us in raising our voices against deportations and to call for workers rights across the board!

Los Angeles, CA

Southern California Immigration Coalition May Day March

4pm @ Olympic Blvd and Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles

New York, NY

May 1st Coalition Action

12pm rally in Union Square

Meet @ Southeast Corner of the Park

5:30pm March

Oakland, CA

3pm @ Fruitvale BART Plaza

Opening rally at Fruitvale BART

March to Mi Pueblo & rally

March to Josie de la Cruz Park & closing rally

Portland, OR

Portland I.W.W. Jobs with Justice, and VOZ

2PM @ O’Bryant Square- 9th and Stark

3PM Rally & March

San Diego, CA

2pm Opening Rally at the Civic Center, 3rd & B St.

3:30 March

5:00 Closing Rally at Chicano Park, 1981 Logan Ave.

San Francisco, CA

3pm @ 24 & Mission st March to Civic Center

San Jose, CA

3pm @ 2020 East San Antonio

Marching to San Jose City Hall

Seattle, WA

Rally with Faith and Community Leaders

1pm @ Judkins Park

API United and Youth Contingent

2:00PM @ 20th Ave. S and S. Jackson St.

3pm @ Downtown Seattle May 1st Rally

March to Jackson Federal Building (915 2nd Avenue Seattle, WA 98174)

END DEPORTATIONS NOW!

WORKERS RIGHTS FOR ALL!

UNITE & PROTECT FAMILIES!

LEGALIZATION FOR ALL!

Filipinos Say Senate Immigration Bill Falls Short

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 05:35:41 -0700

For Immediate Release

April 22, 2013

Contact: Terrence Valen

NAFCON President: 415.333.6267, info@nafconusa.org

Filipinos across the U.S. Say Senate Immigration Bill Falls Short

Throughout the Country Filipinos Gear Up for Week of Advocacy and Action Starting May 1st to Tell Congress Prioritize Protecting Workers and Keeping Families Together Not Big Business and Profits

In the wake of the “Gang of Eight” release of the U.S. Senate Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill, Filipinos throughout the country respond to the proposed legislation.

Bernadette Herrera, a representative of Migrante Northern California and Vice-President of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) says, “The bill ignores the reality for many Filipino families, where siblings go abroad to earn money to support their siblings. If this bill were to become law, many Filipino families would never be able to be together.”

The Senate current proposal eliminates the sibling category (18 months after the bill becomes law), which means U.S. citizens could no longer petition their siblings in the Philippines and other countries to immigrate to the U.S.

“In a lot of Filipino families, older siblings are the main wage earners and they take care of the rest of their siblings and cousins. Many send money back home to support their younger brothers and sisters and then petition to bring them to the U.S. so they can be together. This bill would deny them the chance to unite their family,” continues Herrera.

Even though the bill allows siblings to apply for a “merit based visa,” many Filipinos along with Herrera are concerned in situations such as if the sibling were disabled or not skilled in a category that allows them to be eligible for this visa.

Another concern with the Senate proposal is related to the December 31st, 2011 deadline to be eligible for a pathway to legalization. All current and future undocumented that arrive after the deadline will not be eligible.

Anne Beryl Corotan, a NAFCON campaigns coordinator in New York highlighted human trafficking as one example why the current senate bills falls short.

“There are workers who are still being recruited from the Philippines, promised decent jobs, brought to the U.S., and then forced to work in slave like conditions by threat of deportation. Based on this 2011 deadline, recent and future victims will continue to be left in the shadows without the options afforded by the proposed law,” says Corotan.

The proposed legislation entitled “Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013” restructures the U.S. immigration policy more toward meeting the labor demands of big businesses in America along with plans to increase border enforcement, deal with the large visa backlog, and provide a path to legalization for the over eleven million undocumented in the U.S.

NAFCON who has been waging several campaigns protecting and advancing the rights and welfare of immigrants in the U.S. has just released its own proposal entitled “Our Principles and Demands for Genuine Comprehensive Immigration Reform,” that prioritizes protecting workers and keeping families together not big businesses and their profits.

Terrence Valen, NAFCON President, explains, “Our demands for genuine immigration reform are linked to our struggle for a world where all people can thrive, families are NOT separated by the urgent need for survival, and our homelands have the conditions in which all people can live a decent and humane life.”

Ultimately, NAFCON encourages the public to look beyond the current frame of the CIR debate and consider how U.S. economic relations with countries such as the Philippines play into contributing to the poverty that pushes so many to flee to the U.S. in search of opportunity.

As a part of its effort to influence the debate, NAFCON, with its 30 member organizations nationwide, is organizing a week of advocacy and action starting May 1st International Workers Day taking place in New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Chicago, Oakland, San Jose, Daly City, and San Francisco.

The week of action includes rallies and marches on May 1st, educational forums, release of art work and a newsletter launching a new cartoon strip series focused on the a fictional caregiver named Andrea Bonifacio.

In addition, the alliance will also lobby Senators Schumer (NY), Durbin (IL), Feinstein (CA) and others to utilize NAFCON’s Principles and Demands as a guide informing their decisions regarding CIR.

NAFCON will be joined by several other Filipino alliances including Migrante International U.S. chapters, Gabriela-USA, and BAYAN-USA.

For more information on NAFCON, its Principles and Demands on Genuine Comprehensive Reform, and participating in its week of action go to www.nafconusa.org or contact Terrence Valen at 415.333.6267.###

To view NAFCON’s Principles and Demands: Click here.

API womens stories featured at LA AP Filmfest

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 01:58:06 -0700

API Women’s stories featured at LA Asian Pacific Filmfest

Taking us into the back stories of the often neglected painful lives and struggles of our Filipino migrant workers, Bells Ring, Mr. King brings caregivers out of the shadows and into our hearts. It is a wake up call reminding us of the need to take a stand with the backbone of our society - the workers who are taking care of our young and elderly and the immigrants who have sacrificed it all while providing us with much needed services. Bells Ring, Mr. King is a part of this year’s LA Asian Pacific Filmfest shorts program “Her Love,” and SiGAw is a proud community partner! Join us for the “Her Love” program on Saturday, May 4, 4:45pm at the Directors Guild of America 2, which will also feature Arrival, Doll, My Mother’s Jade, Voices, Deliver Her and Advantageous.

“It is truly a gift to know the love and care from a strong woman. She can be your aunt, your daughter or even your caretaker. The diverse points of view in this program show the breadth and depth of a woman’s love, resilience and heart.” — Eseel Borlasa

For a full program of the Filmfest, visit the LAAPFF website at: laapff.festpro.com/films

Make sure to get in on LAAPFF’s Instagram contest where participants have a chance to win 2 free tickets!

Just tell why you’re looking forward to the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival through Instagram and tag @asianfilmfestla001 #laapff and Facebook for a chance to win a pair of free movie tickets! Even if you’ve never been to the film fest, you can share why you love films! Feel free to get creative! Three winners will be chosen every Wednesday at 12 noon until May 1, 2013. Non-instagramers, you have a chance too.

How to play:

1) Take a picture with of a written statement, answering what about LAAPFF/films inspires you?

2) Make sure to tag the Filmfest on Instagram @asianfilmfestla001 & #laapff so they see your submission.

3) Share your picture on Facebook!

Non-instagramers, just follow rules 1&3!

2,000 Pablo survivors protested and launched a barricade

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 23:12:00 -0700

Typhoon Pablo survivors scored major victories in Compostella Valley (in Mindanao) after putting up a 2,000 person barricade which paralyzed the Apex Mining firm operations and brought the company to its knees!

What Did They Win? (Masara Barricade Update)

The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been signed by representatives of Apex Mining Co., Inc., Indug Kautawan (Mansaka term for People Stand Up) and witnessed by Panalipdan Southern Mindanao and local government units.

The following are the salient points of the MOA:

1. The houses of 42 families of artisanal small-scale miners will not be demolished and their livelihood has been recognized in St. Francis, Brgy. Teresa;
2. Suspension of mining operation in the ancestral domain of Mansaka tribe in Sagaysagay since there was no tribal consent. This starts the process for reclaiming the land for the Mansaka tribe. Open-pit mining is not allowed;
3. Rehabilitation of Masara river by desiltation, building riprap and planting bamboo along river banks;
4. Rehabilitation of damaged bridge in Brgy. Elizalde and municipal roads;
5. Reparation payment of PhP 3 million for damaged houses;
6. P600,000.oo worth of rice as immediate food assistance for 3 months;
7. Goodwill of 450 food packs of 5 kilos, noodles, sardines, corned beef, and coffee.

The provincial and municipal government intervened and committed to help in the reconstruction of shelters.

Immigrant Working Women take to the streets

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 01:38:45 -0800

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 8, 2013
Reference: Valerie Francisco, Chairperson, GABRIELA-USA, gabrielawomen@gmail.com

Immigrant Working Women Take to the Streets to Fight Against Imperialist Exploitation

On March 8th, International Working Women’s Day, GABRIELA USA will join with multi-ethnic women and from im/migrant and working class communities across the US to demand an end to the suffering and violence afflicting Filipina women and children amidst heightening contradictions of a global imperialist system. From coast to coast, member organizations from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, New York and Washington D.C. will take their demands to the streets and call for living wage jobs, access to health care and education, protections from violence against migrant communities and as basic human rights.

After two years under the Aquino administration, conditions for the Filipino people continue to worsen. Neoliberal policies of both the US-Obama administration and the Philippine-Aquino administration aggravates conditions for Filipino women. The Philippines has a staggering 10.5% unemployment rate (IBON Foundation, 2013), while women make up the largest portion of government-tallied unemployed citizens in the Philippines.

Under Aquino’s Oplan Bayanihan program, which seeks to suppress the people’s resistance to intensifying poverty, an increasing number of women and children are becoming victims of severe human rights violations. In 2012 alone, there have been 7 reported cases of rape of women and children by military personnel, attempted murder, kidnapping, enforced disappearances, political killings and other violations of the rights against women and children.

Barug Katawhan leader and typhoon Pablo survivor, Cristina Morales Jose was gunned down by an unidentified motorcycle riding assassin in Baganga, Davao Oriental on March 4 around 6pm, just 4 days into Women’s History month. Cristina Morales Jose earlier exposed the food blockade and militarization of relief operations conducted by 67th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, under the U.S.-backed Aquino administration. They were found hoarding supplies for typhoon survivors. If it were not for the large-scale logging and mining being done by multi-national corporations in the first place, Typhoon Pablo victims would not have experienced the level of devastation it reached. This neglect by the government before and after the typhoon is deplorable. GABRIELA USA is appalled at the continued attacks by the Aquino regime continuing in the legacy of his predecessors, who have done nothing but capitulate to US imperialist interests and multinational corporations at the expense of the rights and livelihood of the Filipino people.

Worsening poverty has forced the migration of Filipinas to work overseas and often find themselves working jobs where they are vulnerable to violence and exploitation. In the US, government policies and free trade laws, like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the soon-to-be Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), fail to protect Filipino overseas workers. Many Filipina migrant workers in the US, such as domestic helpers, caregivers and airport workers, are subjugated to low-wage contract work often without health benefits, worker protections, living wages or become victim to illegal labor practices and human trafficking.

Like Filipinos, Latinos also experience similar patterns of forced migration. Just last February 14, the day that women and communities joined the One Billion Rising campaign to end violence against women by dancing in the streets, a 66-year-old mother and Latina ally of Mujeres Unidas y Activas (MUA) in San Francisco was detained for speaking out against deportations at a Senate hearing on immigration reform where no Latino immigrant was given a chance to speak.

“This situation is a reminder that the struggles and root causes perpetuated by U.S. imperialist policies has forced migrants out of their own countries and have contributed greatly to the U.S. economy, yet are still treated as though they are criminal and less than human. We must put an end to this kind of economic violence afflicting our immigrant communities,” states Valerie Francisco, GABRIELA-USA Chairperson. Furthermore, despite the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) which gives protections to survivors of domestic violence, it is still short of providing protections for immigrant and undocumented women.

As low-income and migrant women are facing a backlash of budget cuts geared towards health care and services to victims of domestic violence, it is clear now more than ever that both the U.S. and Philippine governments are failing to protect the safety and well-being of Filipinas and their families. GABRIELA-USA calls on Filipinas and allies everywhere to join the struggle to stop the economic violence of Filipina women and children perpetuated by U.S. imperialism. We must continue to fight for more living-wage jobs and quality healthcare for families in the Philippines and abroad. We must address cuts to education, healthcare, and social services that support our families through these worsening economic times. We must be steadfast in demanding justice for all victims of state-sponsored violence and resist U.S. military intervention and Aquino’s puppetry.

Stop the imperialist exploitation and oppression of women and children!
No to U.S. Military occupation over our land and our bodies!

In celebration of International Working Women’s Day, please join GABRIELA-USA at any of the following actions:

Los Angeles:
Bangon, Sulong Kababaihan!
Songs, Poems, and Dances of Courage, Inspiration and Hope
Wednesday, March 6 (event already concluded - thank you for your support!)
@ Echo Park United Methodist Church

We invite you to also support the National Domestic Workers Alliance, IDEPSCA (Instituto de Educacion Popular del Sur de California) and UCLA Labor Center as they celebrate working women!

Sat, March 9, 2013
10am - 2pm
UCLA Labor Center
675 S. Park View St
Los Angeles, CA 90057

Celebrate women leaders who make history, still standing to fight for their rights & those of their families. We will celebrate w/ workshops, food and music!

Event will be in Spanish. Please RSVP w/ Guadalupe Garcia 213-252-2952 x.12 lupitagarcia@idepsca.org or Natalia Garcia 213-480-4155 x.208 ng121585@ucla.edu & request translation if needed.

San Francisco:
Women Speak Out for Justice Mobilization
Friday, March 8 at 5 p.m.
SF Federal Building on Mission St. and 7th St.

Celebrating Women’s Resistance and Strength Cultural Solidarity Night
Friday, March 8 at 7 p.m.
Bayanihan Community Center
1010 Mission St. at 6th St.

Seattle:
API Chaya Annual Candlelight Vigil
Thursday, March 7 at 4-6 p.m.
King County Courthouse
516 3rd Ave.

Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA) 17th Annual International Women’s Day Celebration
Friday, March 8 at 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
ReWA Main Office
4008 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S.

Women Who Rock Conference and Film Festival
Saturday, March 9 at 12 p.m. - midnight
Washington Hall
153 14th Ave.

New York:
Speak Out & Vigil on the theme “Every issue is a woman’s issue” at the Triangle Shirtwaist Memorial, where in 1911 women workers died in a factory fire.
Saturday, March 9 at 11:30 a.m. in Manhattan
23-29 Washington Place

1 p.m. March & Rally — our contingent will join a rally called by Women Organized to Resist and Defend (WORD) in Washington Square Park

Washington DC:
March 9, Saturday 12-2pm
Washington DC International Women’s Day Rally & Speak-Out
Tivoli Square at 14th St NW between Park and Monroe
Sponsored by Women Organized to Resist and Defend (WORD)

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GAB stmt on killing of Christina Jose

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:17:08 -0800

GABRIELA STATEMENT ON THE KILLING OF A WOMAN LEADER IN DAVAO ORIENTAL ON WOMEN’S MONTH

GABRIELA Alliance of Filipino Women condemns the murder of Barug Katawhan leader and typhoon Pablo survivor Christina Morales Jose by an unidentified motorcycle riding assassin in Baganga, Davao Oriental around 6:00 PM on Monday, the 4^th day of Women’s Month.

“We condemn the persistence of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines which claimed Jose as latest victim. The circumstances surrounding her murder is suggestive of the ways gunmen kill citizens who have been branded as enemies of the state for criticizing corrupt, unjust and inhumane government programs and policies. We reiterate our condemnation of the government’s counter-insurgency program Oplan Bayanihan which has made extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations against Filipino women, children and men a despicable pattern under the Aquino administration.”

Jose, the slain woman leader, was also kagawad of Bgy. Binondo in Baganga town. She earlier exposed the food blockade and militarization of relief operations conducted by 67^th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.

Barug Katawhan, an organization of survivors of the typhoon Pablo disaster, figured in national news when more than 4,000 members of the organization came all the way from typhoon devastated areas of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental to Davao City to stage a barricade in front of the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in February 25-27. They confiscated sacks of rice and boxes of noodles as they protested DSWD Sec. Dinky Soliman’s apparent hoarding of 10,000 sacks of rice to typhoon survivors that she promised to the group in January. ###

photo credits: Romeo Hebron

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:12:00 -0800

photo credits: Romeo Hebron

photo credits: Romeo Hebron & Apollo Victoria

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:11:00 -0800

photo credits: Romeo Hebron & Apollo Victoria

SiGAw - GAB USA joins forces w/ our sisters and brothers to...

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:09:00 -0800

SiGAw - GAB USA joins forces w/ our sisters and brothers to celebrate Int’l Women’s Day!

photo credits: Apollo Victoria

etmm: “We urge Governor Brown to sign the AB 241 Domestic...

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:07:27 -0800

etmm:

“We urge Governor Brown to sign the AB 241 Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. And we will win!” -Joanna Concepcion, Filipino Migrant Center

Int'l Women's Day Event

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 08:26:00 -0800

SiGAw - GABRIELA USA invites you to join us on Wednesday, March 6th to celebrate the 102nd anniversary of International Women’s Day and highlight the courageous determination of women around the world and their contributions to the struggle for social justice. Celebrate with us the resilient, fighting spirit of Filipinas and all women organizing for genuine liberation!

Bangon, sulong kababaihan!

Poems, songs, and dances of courage, inspiration and hope

Date: Wednesday, March 6th, 2013

Time: 7:00-9:00pm

Venue: Echo Park United Methodist Church

1226 Alvarado St, Los Angeles, CA 90026

In the US, an increasing number of caregivers and domestic workers (many of whom are Filipina migrant women) are organizing themselves, fighting exploitative work conditions and exposing the Philippine government’s failure to create national industries and jobs as the root cause of their forced migration. Filipina students have joined the fight for workers’ rights and against ever-rising tuition hikes. Filipina women continue to organize themselves and valiantly assert their rights in the Philippines and abroad, amidst intensifying exploitation and oppression. Despite Philippine President Aquino’s implementation of anti-people policies, women in the country continue to join with other sectors in national actions to oppose worsening poverty and attacks on livelihood. Women regularly take to the streets in collective action and call for wage increases, lowering of prices of basic commodities, and oppose privatization of public services. Indigenous and peasant women in the Philippines, alongside with men, fight forced evacuation and the plunder of their ancestral lands by multinational corporations.

Women around the world swelled the streets recently on February 14 for One Billion Rising, to call for an end to violence against women. By the thousands, women demanded an end to US military occupation of the Philippines, as well as rape, harassment and other human rights violations caused by militarization. Let’s keep the momentum building as we build a brighter future together!

We invite you to share stories of women’s resistance through poems, songs, dances, or other cultural art forms. Please contact us at sigaw.la@gmail.com or (213) 537-8278 if you’d like to be on the program or would like to display a visual piece! You can also visit SiGAw-GABRIELA USA’s facebook here for more updates about the event.

Organized by SiGAw-GABRIELA USA, in collaboration with BAYAN-USA, NAFCON, Panaghiusa for Mindanao, Migrante, Habi Arts, AnakBayan Los Angeles, Filipino Migrant Center, Filipino American Health Worker’s Association, and Int’l League of People’s Struggles.

Justice for Grand Isle Shipyard Filipino Workers!

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 15:52:07 -0800

Justice for Grand Isle Shipyard Filipino Workers!

Families of Filipino Workers Killed in Explosion Speak

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 22:50:00 -0800

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10 January 2013

Reference: Yancy Gandionco, Philippine Forum New York, info@philippineforum.org

Kin of Filipino Workers Killed in Louisiana Oil Rig Explosion Speak Up

NEW YORK — On January 16, family members of the Filipinos killed in the explosion at the Black Elk Energy oil platform last November 16, 2012 in Louisiana will be coming to New York. Along with some of the other workers who filed a class action lawsuit against the Grand Isle Shipyard (GIS) — the company for which the workers who died worked — they will speak about their experiences, raise awareness about the case and encourage other victims and survivors to join the campaign for justice for the GIS Filipino workers.

“The explosion in Louisiana claimed lives of 3 Filipino workers and injured 3 others, also Filipinos. Families of the victims have joined in calling for justice for the workers and they will join the Filipino community in a series of actions and a press conference here in New York starting January 16,” said Anne Beryl Corotan-Naguit of Philippine Forum, the community-based organization in New York leading the campaign, Justice for Grand Isle Shipyard Filipino Workers (J4GIS-Fil-Workers).

Crimes by GIS against Filipino Workers

Grand Isle Shipyard (GIS) is an oil company based in Louisiana, USA, which recruited Filipino workers — mostly welders, pipefitters and scaffolders. Since 2005, GIS have been hiring and providing Filipino workers to oil companies in the Gulf of Mexico, through the DNR Offshore Crewing Services.

The Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who worked for GIS said that they were required by the company to work 6 to 7 days a week, 12 to 14 hours a day, without overtime pay. Some Filipino workers even worked for 4 straight months offshore, as compared to the American workers who work only two weeks then return onshore to rest.

They were also restricted in their movement, isolated and were not allowed visitors. They stayed at a bunkhouse where there is a 10pm curfew and heavily guarded and monitored with cameras. While American workers can freely move around, Filipinos are not allowed to leave. They are only allowed to buy groceries for an hour a week accompanied by company driver. Filipino workers are also not allowed to get state identification cards and drivers’ license.

Millions of dollars were also stolen from the Filipino workers. They were charged from $1000 to $3000 per month for a bunk bed in a 10 x 10 feet room. Most of the salary of Filipino workers went to unlawful deductions including deceptions and tax fraud.

One worker was still even required to work while on treatment for temporary blindness because of welding for long hours. Another was burned inside a tank but was hidden in a house without medical treatment.

Filipino workers are also sent to platforms that are severely unsafe, such as the Black Elk Energy, which resulted to the death of three and injury of another three.

Those who dared complain were threatened to be deported. Filipino workers suffered all these and more in the hands of Grand Isle Shipyard.

Over 70 Filipino Workers Fight Back with Class Action Lawsuit

Prior to the explosion, over 70 workers have already filed class action lawsuit against GIS on grounds of violation of Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), discrimination, trafficking, slavery and fraud.

Within the next few weeks, more Filipino workers are expected to join the class action lawsuit as there are up to 500 who have been most likely affected by these abuses and injustices perpetrated by the GIS.

Unknown to many, however, the 70 Filipino workers called the Philippine Embassy even before the Black Elk explosion and requested for Philippine Ambassador to the United States, Jose L Cuisia, Jr. to address their concerns and have a dialogue with them. But they never heard back from the ambassador.

After the explosion in November last year, Ambassador Cuisia even stated after his visit that the Filipino workers in Louisiana are fine, despite 3 Filipinos being killed in the explosion, and that the Philippines is “looking forward to bringing more Filipinos to work for GIS”. The ambassador, when asked about the class action lawsuit filed by the 70 Filipino workers, claimed that he had no information on it.

“The Philippine government turning a blind eye towards the cases of abused Filipino workers working hard despite being under drastic conditions is totally unacceptable. Community actions are already being planned in different parts of the United States within the next few days, starting with New York, to demand that the Philippine government genuinely address the issues and concerns of the Filipino workers of Grand Isle Shipyard,” said Jonna Baldres, Community Action Coordinator at Philippine Forum and current Deputy General Secretary of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON).

Justice for Grand Isle Shipyard Filipino Workers!

The “Justice for Grand Isle Shipyard Filipino Workers” (J4GIS-Fil-Workers) Campaign is led by Philippine Forum, a community organization based in New York, in collaboration with other local organizations — Anakbayan New York, Anakbayan New Jersey, New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (NYCHRP) and Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE).

“Philippine Forum has experienced and witnessed countless cases of abused migrants in United States and continues to stand firm on all grounds to protect the rights and welfare of migrants, to uphold the truth, justice and dignity for all workers. We denounce the inhumane capitalist extraction of super profit by companies such as Grand Isle Shipyard that intentionally rob Filipino workers of their dignity through severe forms of exploitation and oppression,” Corotan-Naguit expressed.

National organizations and alliances, such as US-based National Alliance for FIlipino Concerns (NAFCON) and the Ecumenical Forum for Filipino Concerns (EFFCON), have also signified to join the campaign. Philippine-based organizations such as Migrante International, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN-Philippines) and the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) will also be helping out on the Philippine part of the campaign. The International Migrants Alliance (IMA) and the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS), international alliances with hundreds of member grassroots organizations around the world, have also expressed support.

A press conference will be held on January 16, Wed, 11am at the Bayanihan Community Center (40-21 69th St. Woodside NY 11377). More plans for the campaign will also be announced. On January 18, Fri, 2pm, there will be a community action in front of the Philippine Consulate in New York (556 Fifth Avenue, between 45th and 46th Streets) to air grievances of the Filipino workers and families to the Philippine government. A community reception for the families and memorial for the workers killed in the Black Elk explosion will then follow on January 19, Sat, 7pm also at the Bayanihan Community Center.

The families and workers are also slated to meet with elected city officials during their stay in New York to share their experiences and gather support as they pursue the class action lawsuit.

For more information on the Justice for Grand Isle Shipyard Filipino Workers Campaign, please contact us at 5169011832 or email us at info@philippineforum.org. ###

Happy New Year from SiGAw & GABRIELA USA!

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 19:59:00 -0800

You came to our events.

You went to our educational discussions.

You marched with us in the streets.

You sang, laughed, hung out, ate out and chilled with us.

For this, GABRIELA USA is so thankful for you, your support and your presence in our ever-growing community. Members from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC and New York City applaud you!

Look at what you contributed to: GABRIELA USA 2012 Year In Review

In 2013, GABRIELA USA has a lot of great things planned:

On February 14, we will dance with women globally in “1 Billion Rising” to end violence against women. Check out this chilling but powerful video from GAB Philippines

On March 8, we will be celebrating International Women’s Day in all of these cities

Stay tuned!

If you’ve got extra in your holiday budget, consider giving the gift that keeps on giving, an online donation to GABRIELA USA!

Yours, in militant struggle and movement building,

SiGAw & GABRIELA USA

Filipinas ramp up relief efforts

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Filipina Women Ramp Up Relief Efforts to Help Kababayans Stateside and in the Philippines

The women of GABRIELA-USA, a national Filipino women’s alliance consisting of organizations across the United States, have been ramping up relief efforts again for Typhoon Pablo (International name: Bopha), at a time when Kababayans (fellow Filipinos) also need help to recover from calamities hitting the Northeastern United States from Hurricane Sandy. Recent news since Typhoon Pablo ravaged communities in Mindanao reports more than 1,000 persons dead, 900 missing and 500,000 displaced and more than 5 million affected. 114,000 residential homes are damaged and 43,000 homes were completely wiped out. “We are not just answering a call to help Kababayans in the aftermath of a major natural disaster, we are also demanding justice for them. We understand that the level of devastation reaching the indigenous communities in Mindanao are far worse because of large-scale multi-national corporate mining and logging,” says Raquel Redondiez, Spokesperson of GABRIELA-USA.

The Mining Act of 1995 takes away rights from indigenous people to their own ancestral lands, leaving them no choice but to fight for their basic rights and livelihood. Typhoons do not typically hit Mindanao as hard as Typhoon Pablo did, but due to large-scale mining and logging, the growing storm charged through from Northern Philippines with no natural terrain to break down its enormity. “Indigenous people have been organizing against large-scale mining negatively affecting their water, food sources and essentially the overall livelihood of their communities. Consequently, they are being criminalized and targeted for human rights violations by the Philippine government, which is protecting multi-national corporate interests instead of the rights of Filipinos in their own land,” says Valerie Francisco, Chairperson of GABRIELA-USA.

With Hurricane Sandy hitting the Northeastern part of the United States, the GABRIELA-USA women in New York City have actively organized and participated in Operation Kaligtasan (O.K.), an emergency effort that aims to serve as a quick response team in times of calamity, responding to the Filipino community at-large.
“While participating in O.K., we’ve found that the Philippines government, the City, State and Federal government’s response was minimal and have been inefficiently and slowly addressing the immediate economic and employment needs of the people affected within the medical field,” said GABRIELA-USA Vice Chair of International Relations, Irma Bajar. O.K volunteers surveyed residents in the Brighton Beach area in Brooklyn and results indicated that more than 40 Filipino nurses from Coney Island Hospital have been out of work for weeks and were forced to take their leave and vacations due to the hospital closing and over 150 Filipino health workers from Shore View Nursing Home are out of work indefinitely. “Despite the fact that 4,500 Filipinos leave the Philippines everyday and the largest concentration of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) migrate to the United States, the Philippine government has never established a system to protect their rights and welfare,” said Bajar.

GABRIELA-USA understands the importance of responding to the needs, rights and welfare of Filipinos no matter where they are, stateside, back in our homeland, or anywhere else Filipinos have migrated.

If you are in New York City or New Jersey and are interested in being involved or supporting Operation Kaligtasan you can email operation.kaligtasan@gmail.com or call 347.709.9391.

GABRIELA-USA is reaching out to the community to support relief efforts that National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) has put forth. Donations can be made through PayPal at http://tinyurl.com/nafconrelief3 or by sending checks to “Tulong Sa Bayan (TSB)” at 519 S. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013. TSB has been NAFCON’s established partner in coursing relief donations to the Philippines. On memo please write: Typhoon Pablo relief and your city of residence. Please include return address with donations.

For more information on regional collection centers, fundraising and relief activities in your area, please contact NAFCON regional coordinators nearest you or go to our website.

Northeast: Michelle Saulon ne@nafconusa.org (347) 867 - 1550
Midwest: Lorena Buni mw@nafconusa.org (224) 678 - 1897
Norcal: Ryan Leano nc@nafconusa.org (626) 534 - 4971
Socal: Alex Montances sc@nafconusa.org (253) 381 - 7444

Reference: Valerie Francisco, Chairperson, GABRIELA-USA, gabrielawomen@gmail.com

GAB USA Commemorates IDEVAW

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Reference: Valerie Francisco, Chairperson, GABRIELA-USA
Email: chair@gabusa.org

GABRIELA-USA Commemorates November 25th, the International Day of the Elimination of Violence Against Women

GABRIELA-USA, an alliance of organizations representing Filipino women across the U.S. commemorate November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW) by denouncing the attacks on Gaza by Israel that continues to kill women and children, and opposing the ongoing human rights violations and killings of our women in the Philippines.

GABRIELA-USA stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people to demand Israel to stop this ongoing massacre on the people of Gaza and to end the U.S.-backed occupations of both Gaza and the West Bank. For absolute peace, the U.S. must not interfere and keep out of the affairs of the Palestinian people and the Israeli state must give up its murderous Zionist path and respect the human rights and sovereignty of the Palestinian people.

During this time of a global economic crisis caused by U.S. imperialism, multi-national corporations are vultures competing for and hoarding natural resources throughout the globe, imposing their power through militarization. Air strikes and massacres happening thousands of miles apart between Gaza and Mindanao yet have something in common: U.S. military power and funding for the corrupt puppet regime of the Philippines and the U.S.’s closest ally in the middle east and #1 recipient of U.S. military aid, Israel; in turn, victimizing people all over the world in order to protect the interests of the global 1%.

GABRIELA-USA continues to support ManiLakbayan, a caravan and march that aims to raise the national consciousness around the deteriorating human rights situation in relation to large-scale mining, thus far raising over $1,100 in the last 2 weeks to help community delegates from Mindanao to launch this campaign in Manila. The October 18 massacre in the Philippines of two-months pregnant Juvy Capion and her young sons, Jorge and Janjan, aged 13 and 8 reflects the reality of daily violence faced by the B’laan tribe and other indigenous peoples throughout the Philippines for actively opposing large scale mining by foreign multinational corporations encroaching on ancestral lands. GABRIELA-USA condemns the killings of indigenous leaders and anti-mining activists in Mindanao, and we are continuing to reach out to our communities in the U.S. to support efforts in raising awareness of the recent events in Mindanao. GABRIELA-USA acknowledges that the system massacring women and children in Gaza is the same brutal system victimizing Filipina women globally.

“As Filipino women we hold people like President Benigno Aquino III and President Barrack Obama accountable for the culture and system of violence they perpetrate on women around the world. Hunger and poverty, joblessness and exploitation, evictions, forced migration, lack of housing and healthcare are all part of imperialist plunder and war on women and children” said Valerie Francisco, Chairperson for GABRIELA-USA, “We must rise up and fight for our basic human rights and demand to end violence against women.”

As these current atrocities continue to happen to our women, we are launching a petition letter to demand action from the Philippine government to stop these heinous acts of violence and stop the use of rape as a tool of war against the people. We call upon women across the globe to help us in our fight to end violence against women.

GABRIELA-USA supports people’s right to fight for their own self-determination against aggressive exploitation and oppression. From the U.S. to Palestine to the Philippines, on this day, we honor and support the fighting spirit of women throughout the world against violence towards women and children.

Women’s activists have marked November 25 as a day to fight violence against women since 1981. On December 17, 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated November 25th as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women by Resolution 54/134. The date came from the brutal assassination in 1960 of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, on orders of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo.

###

Victory for abused Filipino caregiver

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:04:09 -0800

ABUSED FILIPINO CAREGIVER SETTLES WITH EMPLOYER FOR $100,000

By Henni Espinosa, ABS-CBN North America Bureau

Nov. 9, 2012

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Nelly Gonzales, 58, still gets emotional when she talks about her ordeal as a caregiver in the U.S.

For 15 years, Gonzales was abused by her Filipino employer, paying her as low as $150 a month, to care for six developmentally-delayed adults 24/7.

She said, “All I wanted was respect. No matter your stature in life, you deserve some respect.”

It took her 15 long, agonizing years but Gonzales finally found the courage to fight back, after she saw Filipino caregiver Victoria Aquino on Balitang America talk about filing a case against her abusive employer.

She pointed out, “If she could do it, I thought, I could do it too. I could fight for my rights.”

Through the help of the Pilipino Association of Workers and Immigrants or PAWIS, Gonzales filed a claim for back wages against her employer in 2010.

Click here to read full article

If you are an abused caregiver and want to know how you can fight for your rights, call PAWIS at (408) 657-8947.

Domestic workers in Southern California can also reach the Filipino Migrant Center at (310) 421-8362 or info@filipinomigrantcenter.org. Click here for the FMC website.

National Day of Action vs Cybercrime Law & Political Killings

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 07:38:55 -0800

National Day of Action Against the Cybercrime Law & Political Killings in the Philippines
Wednesday, November 7, 2012 | 5:30PM
Philippine Consulate | 3600 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
Sponsored by: Anakbayan-USA, Gabriela-USA, Bayan USA, ILPS, NAFCON, Filipino Migrant Center

Join us as we protest the Noynoy Aquino administration’s signing of the Cybercrime Prevention Law and the escalating political killings across the Philippines under his regime. The Cybercrime Prevention Law violates people’s freedom of speech, internet freedom, and the right to privacy. It is being used as a way to censor and silence any dissent or criticism of the government. An anti-mining leader in Cagayan has already been arrested for a Facebook post, even though the law’s implementation has been temporarily suspended by the Supreme Court to review its unconstitutionality.

We especially condemn the brutal massacre of an indigenous B’laan family by the Philippine military in Tampakan, South Cotabato, Mindanao. The soldiers shot up the home of indigenous leader Daguil Capion, killing and desecrating the bodies of his pregnant wife, Juvy (27), and her two sons, Jordan (13) and Janjan (8). He and the B’laan tribe have been fighting against the foreign mining operations of Xstrata Sagittarius Mining Inc., which would destroy the environment to steal the rich gold and copper deposits in their area.

For more about the Cybercrime Law:
https://www.facebook.com/events/125448997605955/

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/292664/cagayan-anti-mining-leader-arrested-over-facebook-post

To read more about the Tampakan Massacre:
http://asiancorrespondent.com/91082/capion-massacre-survivors-hijacked/

http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/10/30/politicians-military-blamed-for-tampakan-massacre/

Filipinos cannot expect real change from US elections

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0800

News Release

November 6, 2012

Filipinos cannot expect real change from US elections

Don’t expect any radical change in US foreign policy, whoever wins in the United States Presidential Elections, says the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Patriotic Alliance).

The Philippine umbrella group said that both US President Barack Obama and his rival Governor Mitt Romney share basically “the same oppressive foreign policy that has been rejected by the oppressed people’s of the world”.

“Whoever wins tomorrow, we can be assured that the US troops permanently stationed in the Philippines, in violation of our Constitution, will remain in the Philippines. We can be assured that the US will continue the lopsided Visiting Forces Agreement. We can be assured that the US military pivot towards Asia will push through,” said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr.

“Whoever wins in the polls, the Filipino people must continue to assert their sovereignty against US economic and military impositions. At the same time, Filipinos also extend their solidarity with the American people who are struggling for genuine change,” Reyes said.

Bayan said that both Obama and Romney favor “destructive free-trade” through the Trans Pacific Partnership, with Romney committed to pursuing more aggressive means to conclude the economic pact. Bayan said that the TPP will further open up the domestic economies of countries that choose to join the trade bloc. The Philippines, while not formally a part of the TPP, has expressed interest in joining. The US however views certain economic provisions in the PH constitution has problematic in relation to the TPP.

There are moves now in the Philippines to revise the economic provisions in the Constitution.

Bayan also pointed out that both Obama and Romney favor the US rebalancing or pivot towards Asia, with Romney seemingly inclined to take more overt and aggressive measures to contain China. The pivot has been perceived as a means by the US to maintain its military and economic supremacy in the region. The US plans to move 60% of its warships towards Asia in the next decade.

The US has also sought more access to its former bases in the Philippines. Frequent port calls by US warships and submarines have been reported in Subic and Manila. The pivot towards Asia has also increased tensions between Beijing and Washington.

“Obama’s change rhetoric has fallen flat over the past four years, with the US economic crisis still raging and with the US still intent on imposing its global military hegemony amid a worsening fiscal crisis. Both Obama and Romney are promising the American public that the US will reclaim its dominant position in the world. The approaches may be different, but the end goal is the same,” Reyes said.

“The only way the US can achieve this is to heighten its exploitation of lesser developed countries like the Philippines,” he added.

Bayan said it is keenly monitoring the events in the US, through its overseas chapter Bayan USA.

“Let there be no illusion that tomorrow’s polls will be the harbinger of real change, “ Reyes said. ###