ALL SET FOR NOVEMBER 11 12th JFAV PROTEST MARCH/RALLY IN HOLLYWOOD (tags)
They Served, they Deserved Benefits.” The Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) and its allied organizations announced that they are all set for the biggest demonstration, the 12th JFAV Protest March/Rally in the entertainment capital of the world-Hollywood on Sunday, November 11, 2012 at 12;00 noo at Holywood and Vine intersection. For the first time, the JFAV march and rally in Hollywood and not in front of the Federal building in Downtown LA. as it usually does since 1997. Arturo Garcia, JFAV National coordinator explained the rationale for the change in venue : “ The Federal Building in downtown LA is usually closed for the November 11 holiday so all the rallies there are symbolical. Now we will bring it to the eyes entire world an not an empty edifice.” After the post-election victory of re-elected President, the JFAV wrote an appeal and demand letter asking the president to issue an executive order for full recognition of 43,000 Filipino World War II Veterans and their survivors who for more than 66 years were still unrecognized American veterans. Post Obama Election Protest Rally The JFAV stopped the lobby on the US Congress for HR 210 after the GOP controlled House of Representatives refused JFAV a hearing on HR 210 at the House Veterans Affairs Committee last August 2012 even with 96 co-sponsors for the bill.
Fil-Am groups call for boycott as PAL refuses to fly PALEA member and family (tags)
Representatives from Partido ng Manggagawa-USA (Labor Party) and Filipino-American groups BANTAY Pilipinas-Los Angeles, Alliance Philippines and Echo Park Community Coalition called on the public especially Filipino-Americans to boycott Philippine Airlines (PAL) as the groups condemned the harassment tactics of the company against members of the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA). Last November 6 (US time), PAL refused to board a PALEA member and her family despite holding tickets for the Los Angeles-Manila flight because she was supposedly on “blacklist of PALEA members.”
Inaanyahan ang lahat sa Isang Gabi ni Rizal" dito sa LA, Tayo na at manood!" (tags)
"Inaanyahan ang lahat sa Isang Gabi ni Rizal" dito sa LA, Tayo na at manood!" Bantay Pilipinas- USA will. again venture into another ground breaking event - a multi media celebration of the heroism and artistry of the Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal on October 16, 2010 This will be held at the East West Players in the heart of Los Angeles' Little Tokyo -at the East West Players (EWP) Theater, 120 Judge Aiso St. Los Angeles, CA, 90012 "Isang Gabi ni Rizal" will feature a full reception replete with chamber music, wine table, verses from Rizal's work, exhibition of paintings by U.S. based Filipino artists, books and Rizal inspired publications and a sumptuous Filipino style light buffet.
Night with Jose Rizal, October 16 in LA (tags)
"Isang Gabi ni Rizal". Bantay Pilipinas- USA will. again venture into another ground breaking event - a multi media celebration of the heroism and artistry of the Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal on October 16, 2010 This will be held at the East West Players in the heart of Los Angeles' Little Tokyo -at the East West Players (EWP) Theater, 120 Judge Aiso St. Los Angeles, CA, 90012 "Isang Gabi ni Rizal" will feature a full reception replete with chamber music, wine table, verses from Rizal's work, exhibition of paintings by U.S. based Filipino artists, books and Rizal inspired publications and a sumptuous Filipino style light buffet.
BANTAY PILIPINAS FORMED IN CALIFORNIA (tags)
The Manila based BANTAY PILIPINAS, a cybernet group that advocated for free, clean and honest elections in the Philippines last May 10 presidential elections - formed the Steering Committee of its LA project last August 29, 2010. In a collective decision to continue the tasks of BANTAY PILIPINAS not only as an election watch dog but also as the premier advocate of good governance and anti graft and corruption campaign in the Philippines - individuals and groups banded together and formed a steering committee in Los Angeles
BANTAY PILIPINAS FORMED IN CALIFORNIA (tags)
The Manila based BANTAY PILIPINAS, a cybernet group that advocated for free, clean and honest elections in the Philippines last May 10 presidential elections - formed the Steering Committee of its LA project last August 15, 2010. In a collective decision to continue the tasks of BANTAY PILIPINAS not only as an election watch dog but also as the premier advocate of good governance and anti graft and corruption campaign in the Philippines - individuals and groups banded together and formed a steering committee in Los Angeles.
AWAY WITH UNJUST, RACIST ANTI IMMIGRANT LAWS! (tags)
Media Advisory Echo Park Community Coalition(EPCC0 Contact; Jerry Esguerra (818) 7490272 Epccla02@yahoo.com April 24, 2010 New Anti-Immigrant Arizona law, Racist and Unjust Los Angeles- While the spin doctors are saying we are in a post-racial society and racism is dead, the racist administration in Arizona are proving them wrong. The Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC) vehemently condemns Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer who signed the toughest law against illegal immigration in the country. The Arizona law makes it a crime to be in the state illegally and requires police to check suspects for immigration paperwork. The EPCC commends the thousands of Arizona high school students who left their classes this week in protest, pouring into the plaza outside the state Capitol and urging a veto to no to no avail. The law creates the new misdemeanor and requires police to enforce it. The law's supporters argue that fears of widespread racial profiling are overblown and that the measure will instead be used sparingly by police to augment investigations into crimes. Provocation and an Invitation to Racism The tough Arizona law that many observers are smack of legal Nazism in the United States opened all immigrants to racial profiling and police dirty tactics. People should remember that Hitler’s Germany in 1933 started the anti Jewish pogroms and later a much bigger genocide with these legal edicts. The law is a provocation and if Obama and the democrats will again pay lip-service to the abrogation of such law, they are laying the grounds for greater disasters and bigger confrontation. It is a provocation for the legal advocates of immigration reform to act drastically and commit mistakes to derail genuine immigration reform. But we say, the people united will never be defeated. The immigrant rights movement will not be provoked and will act with restraint and fight on just grounds. We will turn this despicable act to our advantage. We say: ALL OUT FOR MAY 1 March /Rally in LA! AWAY WITH UNJUST, RACIST ANTI IMMIGRANT LAWS! VENCEREMOS, FULL RIGHTS FOR ALL MIIGRANTS NOW!
DEBATE SA PTOWN TAGUMPAY! (tags)
Kung may napatunayan ang BANTAY PILIPINAS: ito ay ang pagkakaisa ng Filipino American community sa paghahangad ng tunay at makabuluhang pagabago sa ating bansa. Noong gabi ng Abril 21, sa KAPISTAHAN Grill sa Historic Filipinotown sa pusod ng Los Angeles, nagtipon ang maraming tao para dingin at saksihan ang DEBATE sa PTOWN at sa loob ng halos dalawang oras, natigib ng sigla, palakpakan at masigabong talakayan ang KAPISTAHAN. Nagsagutan at magalang na nagtunggali sina, Jay Valencia at Linda Cross ng Villanueva camp, Terry Herrera ng Aquino campaign (na pumalit kay Manny Lopez na hindi nakarating sa debate) , Bobby Reyes ng Villar-Legarda at Eliseo Art Silva ng Teodoro at Errol Santos ng Binay for vice president groups sa loob ng isa at kalahating oras na palitang kuro at plataporma kung bakit karapatdapat ang kanilang kandidatong maihalal sa Mayo 10.
BANTAY PILIPINAS PRESIDENTIAL FORUM IN KAPISTAHAN GRILL IN LA, APRIL 21 (tags)
The EPCC NEWS received a media advisory dated April 12 from a non-partisan group election watch dog called BANTAY PILIPINAS that they will be holding a presidential candidates from on April 21 at 7;00 PM in Los Angeles. The election debate among spokespersons of presidential candidates will be held at Kapistahan Grill, 1925 W. Temple St. Los Angeles in the heart of Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles. According to Jerry Esguerra, BANTAY PILIPINAS convenor , the groups that signified to come are the Aquino-Roxas groups represented by Manny Lopez, , the Villar Camp by Eric Villar and Bobby Reyes,, the Teodoro Group by Eliseo Art Silva and Eddie Villanueva by Jay Valencia.
The cop out of Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 84 Judge Luisito Cortez from the multiple murder case against suspected massacre artist Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. mirrors the desperate state of the justice system in which arbiters of law on whom the people rely for justice, are either cowed by criminals or syndicates or are easily bought off. The courts have been embroiled in many other situations that cast a cloud on the reputations of most judges in the country, including the recent tussle about big business bribery where, as opposed to the Ampatuan case, judges are on each other’s neck to have the case assigned to them. The judiciary, nevertheless, is rich with stories of exemplary judges, and there are many who would defy all odds just to uphold the rule of law. A handful has been killed in recent years by those whom the judges had passed their verdict.
STP/PEOPLES CORE THANKS EVERYONE ON ITS SUCCESSFUL COLLECTION DAY, Oct. 3 (tags)
MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG LAHAT! Congratulations to STP/Oplan Metro Manila for the good job! More than 150 volunteers from People”s CORE ,Alliance(AJLPP), GABNET-LA, KmB, JFAV, Samahang Pilipino, CSULB and SIPA collected and packed more than 2 tons or 300 bags ( equivalent to 200 Balikbayan boxes ) for Ondoy victims last Saturday, Oct. 3 in Historic Filipinotown SIPA compound. The donations will be shipped to Manila by the TEAM Pacquaio Foundation through the Alas Cargo and People’s CORE with the REN International.
CALIFORNIA WIDE WALK OUT, THOUSANDS JOINED PROTESTS AGAINST CUT BACKS/ HIGHER TUITION FEES (tags)
housands of youths, students, workers and academic personnel joined the California wide UC protests against state budget cuts, education cuts, new tuition fees in ten UC campus all over California, Thursday, September 24. More than 5,000 joined the protest in the biggest rally in years in UC Berkeley in San Francisco, California up north. The protestors marched down the streets, disrupted traffic and boycott their classes. In Los Angeles, UCLA, CSULB, CSULA and Los Angeles Community College became the center of protests. Thousands of professors and lectures together with workers and students joined hand and rallied in front of the Bruin Plaza in UCLA and at the Free Speech Zone at LACC in Vermont Ave.
GENTRIFICATION: IS IT URBAN RENEWAL OR URBAN REMOVAL (tags)
et city leaders, banks, and big developers know that we will not be forced out of our neighborhoods! With massive tax breaks and generous loans granted by big banks and the city administration, big developers are pushing forward in their attempt to remove poor and working families from the vibrant and colorful neighborhoods around Los Angeles. Signs of gentrification are everywhere. Rents are increased to drive families out of their homes, to be replaced with luxury apartments. Big national mega-stores are replacing local mom and papa businesses. As residents are forced out, stable communities are torn apart. Immigrant working families, who have lived and worked here for generations, are being pushed out by a profit-driven campaign of racist gentrification
FILIPINO -AMERICANS HOLDS MEMORIAL MASSES/PRAYERS FOR PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT CORY (tags)
The Filipino American community held prayer meetings and memorial masses for President Cory Aquino on August 4 and 6 in Los Angeles. On Thursday, August 6, the memorial mass was held at the St.Columban Filipino Church in Historic Filipinotwn Los Angeles. It was led by the Echo Park Community Coalition. Veterans of the anti-martial law movement in the United States and in the Philippines were present at the mass. Fr, john Brannnigan, a friend of the Aquino family and Fr, Frisco Entines, a veteran rights advocate officiated the mass. The solemn mass songs in Filipino was sung by the Parish Generation Choir.
FILAM COMMUNITY HOLDS MEMORIAL MASS FOR PRESIDENT CORY AQUINO, AUG 6 (tags)
The Filipino American community led by the Parish Community of St. Columban Church will hold a memorial mass for President Cory Aquino on the feast of transfiguration on Thursday, 7:00PM - August 6, 2009 at the St. Columban Filipino Church at 125 S. Loma Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90026 in Historic Filipinotown. The endorsing organizations for the memorial mass are the Bangon Pilipino,Bangon Pilipinas, Confederation of Filipino American Organizations (CONFAA)-Carson, Council of Fil-Am Leaders of Southern California, Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC), Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA), Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV), Parish Generation Choir of St. Columban and Search to Involve the Pilipino Americans (SIPA).
Mrs. Corazon C, Aquino, 76-11th President of the Philippines (tags)
The Filipino American community in the United States and the Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC) in Los Angeles is united with our compatriots in our motherland in their grief and their celebration of the life the 11th President of our republic, Mrs. Corazon “Tita Cory” Aquino. Mrs. Aquino, a simple housewife, was reluctantly thrust into the center-stage of history with the assassination of her husband, Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. in August 21, 1983 and made her mark as an opposition leader and then as a president of the Republic after the dictator was deposed in a people’s power uprising in 1986. Before that, for three significant years, from 1980-83 the Filipino American community was lucky enough to have the Aquino family in exile in Boston, in the east coast until Senator Aquino decided to come home to his martyrdom at the hands of the much hated dictatorship. Then rest is history.
EPCC letter of Solidarity with Alex Sanchez and Homies Unidos (tags)
The Echo Park Community Coalition expresses its militant indignation upon learning of the arrest of Alex Sanchez, executive director of Homies Unidos in Los Angeles, by the FBI on June 24. The EPCC based in central Los Angeles among the Latino, Filipino and API community, have known and worked with Alex , a longtime fighter for justice in the immigrant community and has worked tirelessly to support the rights of youth in the US and El Salvador for the past nine years.
JUNE 11 INDEPENDENCE DAY COMMUNITY FORUM HELD IN LA (tags)
Two poles apart. As thousands of well heeled, best dressed Filipinos gathered in a plush hotel for a gala Independence Day night on June 13 for the Philippine consulate, scores of angry Filipino American and their allies voiced out their protests against fake independence in the Philippines. “ Fight for real independence and sovereignty!” —this was the call of the Alliance-Philippines (AJLPP), GABNET-LA and ANSWER-LA as they held their community forum last June 11 at ANSWER office at 137 Virgil St. Los Angeles, CA. 90004.
FILAM ACTIVISTS RALLIED VS CHACHA IN LA (tags)
NO US INSPIRED CHARTER CHANGE, US OUT OF THE PHILIPPINES! Scores of Filipino American activist with their solidarity comrades militantly picketed and rallied in front of the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles in solidarity with the mass protests in the Philippines yesterday, June 9 ( June 10 in the Philippines) Activists from the Alliance –Philippines (AJLPP) , the Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC), GABNET-LA and ANSWER-LA added their voices with the Filipino people in stopping and exposing the US-inspired charter change that seeks to perpetuate GMA in power.
KALAYAAN (FREEDOM) PHILIPPINES SERIES (tags)
3 Events This Week: Thursday-Saturday, June 11-13 Public Forum, Film Screening & Benefit Concert Presented by AJLPP, GABNet-LA, JFAV and ANSWER Coalition Filipino revolutionaries declared their independence from colonial Spain on June 12, 1898, 119 years ago. Two months later, the United States occupied Manila and declared war on the Philippines, crushing the young republic. Today, Filipinos are still in struggle for true independence and sovereignty. With continued U.S. occupation and intervention, and a culture of impunity of human rights violations forced on the people of the Philippines, the Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines (AJLPP), the GABRIELA Network (GABNet), Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) and the ANSWER Coalition commemorate Philippine Independence with fierce struggle in the United States. Join us at the following exciting events this week:
FILAM ACTIVISTS RALLIED VS CHACHA (tags)
NO US INSPIRED CHARTER CHANGE, US OUT OF THE PHILIPPINES! Scores of Filipino American activist with their solidarity comrades militantly picketed and rallied in front of the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles in solidarity with the mass protests in the Philippines yesterday, June 9 ( June 10 in the Philippines) Activists from the Alliance –Philippines (AJLPP) , the Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC), GABNET-LA and ANSWER-LA added their voices with the Filipino people in stopping and exposing the US-inspired charter change that seeks to perpetuate GMA in power.
ALL OUT TO THE STREETS TO PROTEST BIGOTRY AND HATE! (tags)
Acting in unison people in more than 100 cities all over the United States went out to the streets to protest the conservative California Supreme Court decision that upheld the bigoted Prop. 8 in an overwhelming vote of 6-1 last May 26. In Los Angeles, the epicenter of the right to marriage movement in the nation, more than 10,000 people marched from Westwood to Hollywood/Highland intersection and held a peaceful but boisterous rally there until 11:00 in the evening.
EPCC COMMENDS CALIFORNIA VOTERS FOR REJECTING ANTI-PEOPLE BUDGET MEASUREs (tags)
The Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC) highly commends and congratulates the California voters for rejecting a package of budget-balancing measures that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said were needed to keep a $15 billion deficit from widening to $21 billion. Only the proposal to limit lawmaker pay passed. Five of the propositions failed with 64 percent of the votes counted, according to California’s elections office. Despite threats from lawmakers and fear mongering that the crisis would aggravate because of the a record $42 billion budget gap, the people voted against the measures. The losing proposals would have capped spending and
EPCC CONDEMNS LA COURT /LAUSD SCHOOL BOARD FOR INTIMIDATION AND UNION-BUSTING (tags)
The Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC) condemns the recent Los Angeles Court order against the teachers strike today, May 13. The LA School Board and Superintendent Ramon Cortines succeeded to impose an injunction if the teachers continue with their planned strike. The UTLA has ordered the strike to be set aside. On April 30th, over 73% of the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) union members voted for a one-day strike on May 15th to protest the budget cuts that would lay-off over 5,000 teachers and leave students in overcrowded classrooms. LA Superior Court Judge James Chalfant ordered the court injunction that favored the School Board that has been preparing to stop the teacher strike and any simultaneous student protest on May 15th.
CBC'S MOTHERS DAY IN FACLA ON MAY 10 (tags)
The Coalition for a Better Community (CBC) 31 will hold a community party in honor of Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 10 at 4:00 PM at the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA), 1740 W. Temple St. Los Angeles, CA 90026.
Unity in diversity. Five major coalitions for immigrant rights marched in different parts of the city of Los Angeles, mirrored the differences that united them in 2006. In almost every major city of the United States, workers and immigrants took to the streets to demand legalization and immigration reform. Hundreds of thousands marched and rallied US-wide for May 1 in a militant and defiant show of unity for a call for immigration reforms to the Obama administration. The Labor Front in Turmoil This year, several labor federations banded together to form a single unified union of all unions. Like the old AFL-CIO they want to strengthen the labor front that has been greatly weakened by the division between the AFL-CIO and the Change to Win Coalition.
MORE THAN 60,000 WORKERS/IMMIGRANTS MARCHES FOR MAY 1 IN LA (tags)
Los Angeles-- “ Que Queremos-Legalicacion, Cuando: AHORA! ( What do we want, Legalization, When do we want it; NOW!) This was the slogan that reverberated with more than 60,000 workers and immigrants turned out and marched all over Los Angeles . Meanwhile in major cities and towns hundreds of thousands marched and rallied US-wide for May 1 in a militant and defiant show of unity for a call for immigration reforms to the Obama administration. In the biggest rally for the day, more than 30,000 marchers led by the Full Rights For immigrant coalition turned out and marched from Broadway and Olympic intersection around 1;00 PM. Composed mostly of Latino workers who filled the streets, the militant march overflowed the main streets of LA. At the end of the march they held a rally at Temple and Broadway where a battery of labor leaders, immigrant rights advocates spoke. Among them were AJLPP West Coast Coordinator Arturo Garcia, HERMANIDAD Mexicana laders Raul Murillo and Angelica Corona, ANSWER-LA Preston Wood, Jim Lafferty of the NLG, UTLA President AJ Duffy and Latino Movement USA's Juan Jose Gutierrez gave their speeches at their end program.
Brother Eddie for President Movement launched in the USA (tags)
Chanting “BROTHER EDDIE” a rowdy crowd of more than 150 supporters, friends and relatives that packed the fundraiser of Brother Eddie Villanueva formally launched the “Brother Eddie for President Movement “ in the United States, in a fundraiser dinner in Los Angeles, California last Sunday, April 26. Bro. Eddie Villanueva is the founder of the Jesus is Lord Church. The JIL has more than three million members and 26 churches in the Philippines and all over the world. This was the follow up of Bro. Eddie Villanueva’s formal acceptance of the challenge of different sectors in the Philippines to run as a presidential aspirant in the 2010 Presidential elections last March 23, 2009 at the Araneta Center. The launching was held in Casa Prinsesa Coffee Shop at 4527 New York, Eagle Rock, --a predominantly Filipino residential and business area in the city of Los Angeles.
It is tempting to describe the decision of the Court of Appeals acquitting Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith of the crime of rape, promulgated by the all-female 11th special division, as the revenge of the “manangs”. The decision certainly seems to have been written by a conspiracy of spinsters, in vigorous denial of reality, and sustained by fantasies of chivalry (in favor of the American serviceman) and chastity (against the woman we all call “Nicole”). “This court finds [as] deceptively posturing Nicole’s portrayal of herself as a demure provinciana lass,” the CA ruled, contrary to the unflattering characterization, sometimes using colors supplied by the victim herself, that the trial painted of flirty, hard-drinking Nicole. “On hindsight, we see this protestation of decency as a protective shield against her own indecorous behavior.”
EPCC STATEMENT OPPOSING AND CONDEMNING HR 737 (tags)
The Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC) composed of different community and people’s organization in Los Angeles vehemently condemns and opposes the HR 737 or the Nograles Resolution seeks to amend the 1987 Constitution’s economic provisions. The EPCC stands with the Filipino people and the Filipino American community that militantly oppose the treasonous bill only seeks favorable and one-sided benefits to foreign corporations and business and is virtually giving away the Philippines to foreigners.
BANGON PILIPINAS FUNDRAISER FOR BROTHER EDDIE (tags)
THE BANGON PILIPINAS-USA, A GROUP ADVOCATING FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE IN THE PHILIPPINES COMES MAY 2010, THE DATE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES HOLDS A FUNDRAISER FOR BROTHER EDDIE VILLANUEVA IN LOS ANGELES. THE FUNDRAISER WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 26, 2009 AT 6:00 PM AT THE CASA PRINSESA ON 4527 NEW YORK BLVD. LOS ANGELES, CA 90041. THIS WAS ANNOUNCED BY BANGON PILIPINAS-USA HEAD JAY VALENCIA, PRESIDENT OF THE CIRCULO PAMPANGUENO OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA U.S.A.
LA COURT SETS NEW FACLA ELECTIONS MAY 31 (tags)
The Superior Court Department 85 for the County of Los Angeles under Judge James Chalfant ordered a new elections for the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles on May 31, 2009. This was the decision of the superior court on the Cynthia Gatus, Et Al, plaintiff vs Jose Baldonado, Et Al ,defendant on Case No. 400 293 last April 9, 2009. It was embodied in a 15 page transcript of proceedings issued by Jennie Campbell, court’s official reporter. Appearing for the defendants was Atty. Lorenzo Miranda Jr., official FACLA lawyer and for the plaintiff Atty. Martin Rodoy.
LA COURT SETS NEW FACLA ELECTIONS MAY 31 (tags)
The Superior Court Department 85 for the County of Los Angeles under Judge James Chalfant ordered a new elections for the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles on May 31, 2009. This was the decision of the superior court on the Cynthia Gatus, Et Al, plaintiff vs Jose Baldonado, Et Al ,defendant on Case No. 400 293 last April 9, 2009. It was embodied in a 15 page transcript of proceedings issued by Jennie Campbell, court’s official reporter. Appearing for the defendants was Atty. Lorenzo Miranda Jr., official FACLA lawyer and for the plaintiff Atty. Martin Rodoy.
The Association of Widows, Relatives and Advocates for Equality (AWARE) (tags)
AWARE was formed after the passage of S. 1315 which excludes Filipinos veterans in the enhanced American veterans law of the 110th US Congress. This is the 2nd Recession Act of our time that discriminates against the Filipino World War II veterans. In its place, on February 17, 2009- the 111th US Congress passed the Stimulus Bill or the American Recovery and Reinvestments Act (ARRA) that includes a one time-lump sum benefits for Filipino veterans. But the lump sum has quit claim, no recognition to the veterans and no benefits for Filipino World War II widows. Thus on December 8, 2008, the widows and relatives of veterans banded together and formed this organization-AWARE in Los Angeles and San Francisco to fight and advocate for equal rights. The widows started to get organized at first to support he veterans struggle but later to fight for themselves. They held their protests in July 25, 2008, September 22, 2008, February 18, 2009, March 9, 2009 and March 21, 2009 in Los Angeles, San Francisco and other areas of the country.
Bakit Hindi Dapat Ipagdiwang ang Marso 22 bilang AFP Day? (tags)
Bakit hindi dapat ipagdiwang ang Marso 22 bilang araw ng hukbong sandatahan ng Pilipinas o ng AFP? Una, ang araw na ito ay kaarawan ni Heneral Emilio Aguinaldo, Itinalaga ng araw na ito na anibersaryo ng AFP para parangalan ang heneral ng Cavite. Ito ay simbolo ng partiarkalismo at eletismo para sa iisang tao. Ito rin ang nagaganap ngayon dahilang AFP ay sumusumpa lamang ng katapatan nito sa iisang tao-kay Presidente Gloria Arroyo na simbolo ng tiraniya at pangungurakot sa modernong panahon. Ikalawa, bagamat ito ay simbolo ng pagtatagumpay ng grupong Magdalo noong 1897, ang sumunod ay ang pagkatalo ng hukbong rebolusyonaryo sa mga Kastila sa Kabite at lahat ng dako. Ito ay nang matapos nilang paslangin si Andres Bonifacio. Pagkatapos nito sila ay nagpatapon sa Hongkong sa halagang P 100,000 piso. Ayon ito sa kasunduan sa Biak na Bato.
FQS 39th Anniversary, Jan 30-31, 1970 (tags)
We the activist from the Kilusang Dekada 70 (KD70) remembers that thirty-nine years ago, on January 30-31, 1970, from the night of January 30 to the early morning of January 31, 1970 fought the Philippine police and army forces who attacked the progressive forces in what is now known in history as the Battle of Mendiola. Four activist were killed and more than 150 were wounded by gunfire and at least 600 others were arrested and jailed in the Camp Crame. Manila became a virtual military camp but the activist were not cowed and the series of mass actions were launched now collectively known as the First Quarter Storm of 1970.
EPCC SUPPORTS UTLA JANUARY 29 MASS ACTION AGAINST LAUSD AND STATE BUDGET CUTS (tags)
"No to Budget Cuts! Cuts Hurts Kids!" Downtown Los Angeles became a sea of red and multi-colored banners,t-shirts and caps in the afternoon of January 29.. Led by the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA),more than 5,0000 militant teachers and their allies in red t-shirts marched thorugh downtown LA and filled the Pershing Square to protest budget cuts by the California state Governor and the legislature as well as the excessive and lavish spending spree of Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)at the expense of teachers as well as the public.
EPCC SUPPORTS UTLA PROTEST JAN. 29 IN LA (tags)
"No to Budget Cuts! Cuts Hurts Kids!" Downtown Los Angeles became a sea of red and multi-colored banners,t-shirts and caps in the afternoon of January 29.. Led by the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA),more than 5,0000 militant teachers and their allies in red t-shirts marched thorugh downtown LA and filled the Pershing Square to protest budget cuts by the California state Governor and the legislature as well as the excessive and lavish spending spree of Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)at the expense of teachers as well as the public.
Federal prosecutors are investigating a Kuwaiti company with heavy ties to Halliburton International, probing allegations that foreign employees were brought to work on the massive Bagdhad US Embassy project against their will and prevented from leaving war ravaged Iraq. The United States Department of Justice launched the investigation of First Kuwaiti General Trading & Contracting Co. (FKTC) when former employees, mostly third world nationals charged that workers at the company were misled by recruiters. They were hired for civilian jobs in Kuwait and Dubai, only to wind up in Iraq instead. A group of Filipino workers attempted a mutiny when they learned of the company's real intention but was subdued by machine gun toting security personnels. According to the allegations, FKTC even confiscated the workers' passports to avert the possibility of escape from Iraq.
REMEMBERING MENDIOLA, Jan 22, 2009 at FACLA (tags)
Los Angeles-- REMEMBER MENDIOLA! FIGHT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS! GABNET of the Mariposa Alliance,PESANTE and the Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines (AJLPP) in Los Angeles,marked the 22nd Year of the January 22,1987 Mendiola Massacre, where thirteen (13)protesters were killed and over 150 others were wounded in an educational forum in FACLA, community hall on Jan 22, 2009 in Historic Filipinotown Los Angeles. Speaking before scores of FilAm activists, Arturo Garcia of Pesante and AJLPP explained that the AFP was after the NDF negotiating panel who were in Manila in 1987 during the 60 day ceasefire. Unable to liquidate their targets they pounced on the defend less peasants in Mendiola that day.
We, the organizations and groups of youth, women, community, seniors and veterans of different ethnicities comprising the Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC) based in Central Los Angeles are united as one in the following points of unity. As the new president assumes power on January 20, 2009 and will embark on a new direction for our nation, we in the EPCC unite with the rest of the nation in doing the best we can to improve our conditions and livelihood for the next four years..
ANTI WAR PEACE ADVOCATES MARCH A MLK DAY in LA (tags)
Marching at the largest Martin Luther King Jr Day-the 24th year commemoration last January 19, 2009 from Western to Leimert Park, hundreds of peace activist and anti-war advocates marched with thousands of people chanting: “ MONEY FOR JOBS AND EDUCATION. NOT FOR WAR AND OCCUPATION!” The more than 200 protestors marched under the lead banner of the Topanga Peace Alliance and Veterans for Peace and led by the Cuahtemoc Azteca Dancers banging their drums. They marched together with more than 400 different delegations, floats and marching bands representing all shades and political color all over Southern California marched past the mains stage located at Crenshaw Blvd.
Immigration Reform Possible-CDIR (tags)
The Coalition in Defense of Immigrant Rights (CDIR) based in Los Angeles learned through immigrat rights sources that immigration reform can happen during the Obama adminstration. After two failed attempts in 2006 and 2007, immigration reform could finally be pushed through both houses of the US Congress starting in September, civil rights activists said. "We are confident and very optimistic that there’s likely to be a big window of opportunity between September 2009 and March 2010,” America’s Voice pro-reform group director Frank Sharry said in a telephone conference. As he spoke another immigrant rights conference is being planned in February in Chicago, Illinois. Immigrant Rights This was confirmed by the CDIR-USA Coordinator Arturo P. Garcia from People's CORE.
OUR HOPES AND DREAMS; FIGHT RACISM AND STRUGGLE AGAINST RACIAL DISCRIMINATION! (tags)
On January 20,2009 a new President- An African American named Barack Obama will be inaugurated in Washington DC. To many, the dream that racism is no more is reality and the dreams of equality for all will be achieved. But not for the Filipino American community who still feel the fangs of racism at the hands the US Congress. On September 22, the US Congress House of Representatives passed the SB 1315 or the American Veterans Benefits Enhancement Bill, But they removed the whole section that pertains to Filipino World War II veterans. They excluded again the Filipinos, in a blatant act of racism in the law.
MORE than 10,000 MARCH IN WESTWOOD FOR PALESTINE (tags)
More than 10,000 Protestors marched on Westwood, Los Angeles in a big show of solidarity and support for Palestine and the besieged people of Gaza. At the van of the march were Palestinian flag draped coffins symbolizes the death and destruction in Gaza wrought by Us-Israel war machine terrorists.
Jan 1 Westwood march/Rally for Palestine (tags)
More than 10,000 protestors marched on Westwood, Los Angeles in a big show of solidarity and support for Palestine and the besieged people of Gaza. At the van of the march were Palestinian flag draped coffins symbolizes the death and destruction in Gaza wrought by US-Israel war machine. They were followed by a sea of Palestinian red and green flags that symbolizes resistance and defiance of the US-israel war machine.
Pesante-EFJP Los Angeles Remembers Mendiola Massacre (tags)
Filipinos and their solidarity allies militantly remembered the 20th year of the Mendiola Massacre of January 22, 1987, solemnly paid tribute to the 820 victims of political killings in the Philippines and reaffirmed their solidarity to the people’s struggle in the Philippines last night, January 22, 2007 at Remy’s on Temple Art Gallery in Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles.
Pesante-EFJP Los Angeles Remembers Mendiola Massacre 20th Year and Political Killing Vict (tags)
Filipinos and their solidarity allies militantly remembered the 20th year of the Mendiola Massacre of January 22, 1987, solemnly paid tribute to the 820 victims of political killings in the Philippines and reaffirmed their solidarity to the people’s struggle in the Philippines last night, January 22, 2001 at Remy’s on Temple Art Gallery in Historic Filipino town, Los Angeles. Scores of Filipino Americans and their solidarity allies held a 20-minute ecumenical service led by Rev. Frs. Joe Tronco, Dennis and Rene De Guzman. A 12-minute short film “ The Golf War” explaining the situation of the Philippine peasantry was also shown.