Philippines: PALEA holds motorcade on the 30th day of its protest vs. outsourcing (tags)
Also in commemoration of PALEA’s 30th day of protest against contractualization, solidarity actions were held in San Francisco and Los Angeles by US unions and the Filipino-American community. In San Francisco, the groups picketed the Philippine consulate and PAL ticketing office, and submitted a letter of concern to Deputy Consul General Alfonso Ver.
This Sunday, May 1: March for Immigrant & Workers' Rights (tags)
May 1: International Workers' Day Join Marches & Rallies for Immigrant and Workers' Rights in Los Angeles & Around the Country
People's CORE Successfully Ends Relief and Fund Drive (tags)
People’s Community Organization for Reform and Empowerment with co-organizer Alliance Philippines, Los Angeles, ended its relief and fund drive to help the victims of the back to back floods that deluged the Philippines in October-November, 2009. Final Report The campaign which was launched on September 21, 2009 ended on December 31, 2009. The Relief and Fund Drive in Southern California and the Bay Area received a total donation of $6,469.43. The financial aid and 174 “Balikbayan” boxes of used and brand new clothing, shoes, canned goods and medicines were sent to the Philippine-based non-profit organization, AKAP (Ang Kalusugan para sa Pinoy) for assistance to the flood victims.
AJLPP Wraps Up STP Relief Drive, 2009, Gains $12, 649.43 (tags)
The Alliance-Philippines (AJLPP) wrapped up its successful relief and fund drive to help the victims of the successive floods in the Philippines. The relief drive commenced on September 27, 2009 and ended in December 31, 2009. According to the AJLPP national secretariat based in Los Angeles the fund drive netted a total amount of $ 12, 649. 43 from voluntary contributions and 234 Balikbayan boxes send to two non-profit agencies in the Philippines. .
Carson Filipino-American Community Honored Cory Aquino, Sept. 9. (tags)
The 40th day of the death of Philippine president Cory Aquino was commemorated with a memorial mass in St. Philomena Parish in Carson city in Los Angeles county last September 9, 2009 The memorial mass led by the parish community of St. Philomena Church at 21900 S. Main St. Los Angeles, CA 90745. More than 250 people attended the memorial mass celebrated by Fr. Thomas Asia, Filipino associate pastor at St. Philomena Church.
Statement of Solidarity for Filipino Workers of Hanjin Subic bay (tags)
We, the Filipino American community in the United States and their allies express our militant solidarity with Hanjin Shipyard workers in their struggle to unionize and thus end their deplorable working conditions which has led to at least 24 deaths. In January of this year, two more were killed while just as February began, 24 were hurt when a bus carrying workers to the shipyard overturned. We are appalled at the slow response of the Philippine Senate and the Executive branch and their failure to act on the continuing fatal accidents and deaths of workers at Hanjin Shipbuilding.
LETTER OF SOLIDARITY TO HANJIN WORKERS IN THE PHILIPPINES (tags)
We, the Filipino American community in the United States and their allies express our militant solidarity with Hanjin Shipyard workers in their struggle to unionize and thus end their deplorable working conditions which has led to at least 24 deaths. In January of this year, two more were killed while just as February began, 24 were hurt when a bus carrying workers to the shipyard overturned. We are appalled at the slow response of the Philippine Senate and the Executive branch and their failure to act on the continuing fatal accidents and deaths of workers at Hanjin Shipbuilding. While we hold Hanjin, a South Korean transnational corporation employing 15,000 workers in the Philippines, directly accountable for the extremely unacceptable living and working conditions of Filipino workers, we equally hold the Philippine government complicit for acting against the country's national interests and against Filipino workers interests. We demand that the Philippine Government compel the Hanjin Shipyard company to clean up the docks and work areas, ensure worker safety, enforce environmental laws and provide just wages and benefits to Filipino workers.
STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY FOR HANJIN WORKERS (tags)
We, the Filipino American community in the United States and their allies express our militant solidarity with Hanjin Shipyard workers in their struggle to unionize and thus end their deplorable working conditions which has led to at least 24 deaths. In January of this year, two more were killed while just as February began, 24 were hurt when a bus carrying workers to the shipyard overturned. We are appalled at the slow response of the Philippine Senate and the Executive branch and their failure to act on the continuing fatal accidents and deaths of workers at Hanjin Shipbuilding.
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.
VETERANS DAY COMMEMORATIONS TO BE HELD NATIONWIDE FROM NOV. 6-11, 2008 (tags)
“Despite delays in passing the Filipino Veterans benefits and equity bill in the US Congress this year, the Filipino American community is highly hopeful the reconciled bill will pass this year. This will be the focus of the Veterans Day commemoration nationwide from Hawaii to Washington DC ” JFAV National Coordinator Arturo P. Garcia boldly announced this optimistic prediction.
ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR THE 8th ANNUAL VETERANS DAY PARADE IN HISTORIC FILIPINOTOWN LA NOV.8 (tags)
It’s all systems go for the 8th Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) 8th VETERANS DAY PARADE and Community Fair NOVEMBER 8, 2008, in Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles. “Despite delays in passing the Filipino Veterans equity bill in the US Congress this year, the Filipino American community is highly hopeful the reconciled bill will pass this year. This will be the focus of the 8th Veterans Day parade.” JFAV National Coordinator Arturo P. Garcia boldly announced this optimistic prediction. The march and Community Fair will be held at LAKE STREET PARK,227 N. Lake St. Los Angeles, CA 90026. The Veterans Day festivities had three parts: The first part is the commemorative rites that starts at 10;30 AM at the veterans memorial with an ecumenical mass and wreath laying ceremonies.
AJLPP CONDEMNS US INTERVENTION IN MINDANAO (tags)
“We want peace now, stop the Philippine military offensives in Mindanao.” The Alliance-Philippines strongly demanded that the US-Arroyo regime stop all military offensives in Mindanao and return to negotiations. The AJLPP also condemned the US armed intervention in Mindanao. This as the number of war refugees swelled up to 300,000 from 210,000 in two weeks as the conflict escalates. The AJLPP also supports the stand of Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo that “arming civilians would not help the government’s efforts to restore peace in southern Philippines. He said, “We are against it, because violence can never be a solution. It will not solve the problem,”
UHW-West Rally Against Moves to Divide The Union (tags)
" They Say Divide US, We Say Unite Us" More than 6,000 health care workers from the United Health Workers (UHW) -West and their community supportrs all-over the west coast rallied infront of the Marriot Manhattan Beach Hotel last Monday, July 14, 2008 fro 6:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon.
Statement opposing anti-China campaign (tags)
We are opposed to the campaign of disinformation and demonization that is targeting the People’s Republic of China (PRC.) The timing of the campaign is linked to China’s hosting of the 2008 Summer Olympics. That the Olympics are taking place in China is of historic significance and great pride to all the country’s people. It was less than six decades ago that China emerged from a century of colonialist humiliation at the hands of the same big powers that are spearheading the China-bashing campaign today. Washington is providing financial, political, diplomatic and propaganda support to the racist demonization effort, supposedly because of concern for “human rights.” This is the same government that is directly responsible for the death of one million Iraqis since 2003. While one out of every three Iraqis have been killed, wounded or displaced since 2003 the US government is eager to have people in the US., especially students, protest any government other than their own. One pretext for the anti-China campaign is the fact that the PRC has trade relations with Sudan. The US wants to overthrow the government of oil-rich Sudan and replace it with a puppet. It has supported “rebel groups” who are prolonging the civil war. The people of the Sudan, who are suffering greatly, are cynically used as a fund raising vehicle by organizations that have raised tens of millions of dollars but have never spent a penny actually helping the people of Sudan, including those who live in the Darfur region.
Faith Based Groups Add Their Support to Prominent Union’s Platform for Change (tags)
Faith based organizations from across the country have lent their support to a California union’s fight to keep the labor movement democratic. United Healthcare Workers–West (UHW–West) is involved in a major dispute with its international union, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) over member involvement and democracy. The UHW–West Executive Board, led by President Sal Rosselli, recently ratified a Platform for Change that outlines a strategy to build a democratic, member-run union with the mission of truly improving workers’ lives. The faith based groups supporting this effort believe that UHW-West’s platform is the best way to ensure that workers have a real voice in running their unions. “The absence of individual voice leads to a dictatorship, said Archbishop Eric Tan Ong Veloso. “That is the reason we support UHW-West leaders Sal Rosselli and Administrative Vice President Jay Valencia’s principled stand for the union and its members.”
March 15: 10,000 Protest Iraq War in Los Angeles (tags)
People in Los Angeles Join Global Day of Action to Stop the War
ALL OUT: March 15 Mass Protest in LA (tags)
Join Thousands to Protest the War on its 5th Anniversary - Stop the War NOW!
California People’s Organizations Supports SEIU-UHW West Platform For Change (tags)
A number of community organizations and key Asian Pacific Islander leaders in California unanimously thrown their unequivocal support for SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West (UHW-West) and its Platform for Change The UHW-West Executive Board representing 150,000 health care workers in California and led by its president Sal Roselli, recently ratified its Platform for Change to express its avowed principles for building a successful international union.
WELCOME HOME, ANNALISA AND THE GABNET3! (tags)
The Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines (AJLPP) welcomes the release of the GABNet 3--Dr. Annalisa Enrile (Chairperson), Ninotchka Rosca (Founding Chair, writer) and Judith Mirkinson (International Relations Officer, founding member)--who've been placed by the Philippine Department of Justice in a "watch" list and barred from returning home to the US.
AJLPP JOINS U.S.-WIDE VIGIL FOR GABNET 3, NOW FROM RETURNING HOME (tags)
The Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines (AJLPP) forces joined the women's group GABRIELA Network USA (GABNet) last night that held a US-wide vigil to demand the immediate release of the GABNet 3--Dr. Annalisa Enrile (Chairperson), Ninotchka Rosca (Founding Chair, writer) and Judith Mirkinson (International Relations Officer, founding member)--who've been placed by the Philippine Department of Justice in a "watch" list and barred from returning home to the US. The mass actions in Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco were held in front of four Philippine Consular offices in the United States on August 13, 2007.
AJLPP JOINS U.S.-WIDE VIGIL FOR GABNET 3, BARRED FROM RETURNING HOME (tags)
The Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines (AJLPP) forces joined the women's group GABRIELA Network USA (GABNet) last night that held a US-wide vigil to demand the immediate release of the GABNet 3--Dr. Annalisa Enrile (Chairperson), Ninotchka Rosca (Founding Chair, writer) and Judith Mirkinson (International Relations Officer, founding member)--who've been placed by the Philippine Department of Justice in a "watch" list and barred from returning home to the US. The mass actions in Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco were held in front of four Philippine Consular offices in the United States on August 13, 2007.
Former Catholic Nun Talks of War and Immigration at Seattle Baptist Church (tags)
guest speaker, Sister Florchita Bautista discussed her reflections at the University Baptist Church before an audience of fifty people last Sunday, August 5. Bautista cited the cases of human rights violations in the Philippines, specifically, stories of the grade three pupil Grecil who was shot by military men and was even accused of being a member of the rebel group New People’s Army, and that of Alice, the wife of Dr. Chandu Claver whose family is in Canada now seeking political asylum. Alice got eight bullets from the military operatives in Kalinga, northern part of the Philippines. Like many activists, Alice before her death was very active with progressive organizations that are fighting for the rights of the indigenous people over their ancestral lands and was critical of the corrupt policies of the government.
AJLPP Mass Actions Against PGMA SONA Held in U.S Major Cities (tags)
Progressive forces in the United States demonstrated their militant solidarity with the Filipino people by conducting coordinated mass actions against Philippine President Macapagal-Arroyo’s state of the nation address in three major cities of the United States from July 22- 30, 2007. - July 23 from 6;30 to 8;00 PM, scores of Filipino Americans and their allies led by the Alliance-Philippines (AJLPP)-USA held a vigil rally in front of the Philippine Consulate located in 3600 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles. The rally ended with a solemn candle lighting ceremony as a tribute to more than 890 victims of fascism.. During the in one and half hour mass action against US –GMA, AJLPP activists and allies shouted slogans, OUST GMA, RESUME PEACE TALKS, the group displayed banners and signs and lined-up the streets in front of the consulate. AJLPP groups like KmB (Pro People Youth) and Pesante-USA with allies like the ANSWER-LA PWC, YOUTH UNITE and AFW participated AJLPP Mass Actions Against PGMA SONA Held in U.S Major Cities
TAGUMPAY ANG MARTSA-RALI PARA SA MGA MIGRANTE SA LA! (tags)
Tagumpay ang martsa at demonstrasyon nitong Linggo, Hunyo 24, 2007 sa Hollywood and Vine sa Los Angeles. May 15,000 imigrante at kanilang gma tagapgtaguyod ang aktibong lumahok sa martsa-rali na tinawag ng April 7 Coalition.Hermanidad at ANSWER-LA. Bingo nila ang nais ng mga naghaharing uri na sila ang magdesisyon kung ano ang kapalaran ng 12 millyong migrante at manggagawang walang papeles na tinatwag nilang “ilegal’ dito sa Amerika.
SUMAMA SA MARTSA-RALI SA HUNYO 24 (tags)
GANAP NA KARAPATAN PARA SA MGA MIGRANTE! Nanawagan ang lahat ng mga grupong nagtataguyod para sa ganap na karapatan para sa lahat ng migrante lalo na sa lahat ng mga Pilipino na aktibong lumahok sa demosntrasyon sa Linggo, Hunyo 24, 2007 sa Hollywood and Vine sa Los Angeles. Gusto ng mga naghaharing uri na sila ang magdesisyon kung ano ang kapalaran ng 12 millyong migrante at manggagawang walang papeles na tinatwag nilang “ilegal’ dito sa Amerika. Ang sabi natin at HINDI! HINDI tayo papayag na alisin nila ang petisyon para sa mga pamilya at ibawal ang pagpepetisyon ng mga magulang at mga kapatid. Hindi rin tayo payag na ipalit nila sa batas sa family reunification ang “ guest worker program” na nakabatay sa mga puntos na masyadong magulo at hindi maintindihan at pabor sa mga kapitalis
AJLPP-USA Mobilizes for June 24 Full Rights for All Immigrants March and Rally in Los Ange (tags)
The Alliance-Philippines(AJLPP)-USA and the Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC) will mobilize upcoming June 24 Immigrant Rights March-Rally in Hollywood and Vine, Los Angeles. The June 24th Hollywood march-rally will also demand a stop to the increase on exorbitant fees on citizenship and other documents for immigrants to be implemented by the DHS this July 30, 2007. As the hopes for the proposed compromise bill on “Border Protection and Immigration Bill” also known as the “grand bargain” flickered, mass actions should be the order of the day.. The racist conservatives in the Lower House has just filed the “Border Protection First “ bill that elucidates their racist- anti immigrant bias
Filipino Ambassador to US besieged by questions on ‘human rights’ during talk In Seattle (tags)
The Honorable Willie Gaa, Philippine Ambassador to the US wrestled with claims of illegal arrest and detention of Congressman and labor leader Crispin Beltran and United Church of Christ Berlin Guerrero, the unabated political killings of unarmed social activists—at least 850 since Pres. Arroyo took power, and the involvement of the death squads affiliated with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, during an open discussion at the Filipino Community Center last Saturday, June 16th. A member of the Ecumenical Fellowship for Justice and Peace, a church-based human rights group, presented the full page advertisement of the ‘statement of concern’ of the church and labor community, demanding among other things an immediate end to state sponsored political violence and the release of all political prisoners in the Philippines.
Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC) Mobilizes for June 24 Full Rights for All Immigrants (tags)
The AJLPP and the Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC) Council will mobilize upcoming June 24 Immigrant Rights March-Rally in Hollywood and Vine, Los Angeles. The June 24th Hollywood march-rally will also demand a stop to the increase on exorbitant fees on citizenship and other documents for immigrants to be implemented by the DHS this July 30, 2007. The proposed compromise bill on “Border Protection and Immigration Bill” also known as the “grand bargain” supported by the White House fell flat last week and was rejected by the conservatives in the Senate. The debate on the bill was not stopped by a narrow margin during the senate voting.
Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC) Mobilizes for June 24 Full Rights for All Immigrants (tags)
he Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC) Council will mobilize upcoming June 24 Immigrant Rights March-Rally in Hollywood and Vine, Los Angeles. The June 24th Hollywood march-rally will also demand a stop to the increase on exorbitant fees on citizenship and other documents for immigrants to be implemented by the DHS this July 30, 2007. The proposed compromise bill on “Border Protection and Immigration Bill” also known as the “grand bargain” supported by the White House fell flat last week and was rejected by the conservatives in the Senate. The debate on the bill was not stopped by a narrow margin during the senate voting.
US Church and Labor Leaders to Pres. Arroyo: “Stop the Killings and Release Ka. Bel (tags)
The Philippines News Today, a local newspaper in the cities of San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver, Canada will release a full page Ad of American and Filipino progressive organizations and individuals calling among other things, an end to political killings in the Philippine and the immediate release of detained Congressman and labor leader Crispin Beltran and all political prisoners. The Supreme Court of the Philippines recently dismissed trumped up case against six Congress leaders including Beltran. Another local newspaper, Diaryo Pilipino, based in Southern California issued the same statement a month ago. Both newspapers have combined circulation of 60,000 that target to reach the majority of Filipinos living in the West Coast of North America.
Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC) Supports Immigrant Rights Campaign (tags)
The Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC) Council held its annual meeting last May 30 held at the Manila Terrace Social Hall, 2328 W. Temple St, Los Angeles and unanimously passed a resolution that will commit the EPCC to support the current immigrant rights campaign of the Alliance for a Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines (AJLPP) and the April 7th Coalition, The EPCC decided to mobilize for the upcoming June 24 March and Rally in Los Angeles to demand for full rights for all immigrants. The April 7 Coalition including Latino Movement USA, Herman dad Mexican National, the ANSWER Coalition is leading this march rally on Sunday, June 24 at 12:00 noon at Hollywood and Vine in Hollywood.
Two Washington Meetings, One Goal: Stop Political Killings in the Philippines (tags)
Leaders and members of Baptist, United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church, ANSWER Seattle, Veterans for Peace and the Alliance for a Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines (AJLPP) will fund-raise on Mar 16, Friday at 6 PM at the University Baptist Church in Seattle, Washington to publish a full page ad in the leading newspaper in the Philippines demanding among others an immediate end to political killings that to date have claimed 840 lives of social activists.
AJLPP-USA Nationwide Mobilization for March 17 -18 Protests in Four Major US Cities (tags)
The Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines (AJLPP), an alliance of Filipino American and allied solidarity organizations working for peace and justice, anti-war and racism in the United States and a member of the ANSWER Coalition will mobilize for the nationwide mass protests against the 4th year of the U.S Invasion and Occupation of Iraq and the 40th anniversary of the people’s march in Pentagon. March 1967 at the height of the US War in Vietnam. Los Angeles and Washington DC will be the focus of the anti-war mobilizations on March 17 while Seattle and San Francisco will mobilize tens of thousands of the anti-war protestors on March 18. AJLPP will be present on the four major cities mobilization against the war and racism both in the east and the west coast.
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.
Gunitain ang Ika –20 taon ng Mendiola Masaker ng 1987 (tags)
Sa Ika-22 ng Enero, 2007, gugunitain ng komunidad ng Pilipino sa Amerika ng Los Angeles, California sa ilalim ng Pesante-USA at ng Ecumenical Fellowship for Justice and Peace (EFJP) ang ika-20 taon ng masaker sa Mendiola noong Enero 22, 1987. Noong 1987, matapos magdeklara ng 60 araw na tigil-putukan ang NDFP at ang gobyerno noon ni Corazon Aquino, mabilis na pinutol ng AFP ang tigil putukan at usapang pangkapayapapaan ng NDFP at GRP sa pagsupil sa militanteng rali ng mga magsasaka sa daan patungo sa palasyo ng Malacanang kung saan napatay ang 13 magsasaka at nasugatan ang may 150 iba pa.
Philippines Cultural Solidarity Night (tags)
The Philippine Peasant Support Network-USA (Pesante) and the Ecumenical Fellowship for Justice and Peace (EFJP) invite you to attend a cultural solidarity night to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Mediola Massacre in the Philippines. On Jan. 22, 1987, 13 peasants were massacred and more than 150 were wounded by members of the repressive Armed Forces of the Philippines while demanding genuine land reform in a peaceful protest. The commemoration and solidarity night will be an evening of art, culture and politics.
AJLPP-USA Sept.21-13 Events- A Success! (tags)
The Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace In the Philippines (AJLPP)-USA commemorative activities for the 34th year of martial law and solidarity against political killings in the Philippines that was held in four cities of the United States was a tremendous success.
Alliance Philippines (AJLPP-USA) September 22 (tags)
The Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace In the Philippines (AJLPP)-USA Community Forum: PHILIPPINE UPDATE AND THE EVILS OF MARTIAL LAW last Friday, September 22 at 7;00 PM on September 22, 2006 in Los Angeles was a success. Scores of participants in the forum mostly survivors, victims and those who witnessed and experienced martial law in the Philippines and who now are living in the U.S shared their experiences and the lessons they learned during martial law.
AJLPP-USA Mobilize for the Martial Law Commemoration and International Global Days of Acti (tags)
The Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines (AJLPP)-USA in solidarity with the people of the Philippines in their militant protest against political killings, call to resume peace negotiations and in commemoration of the 34th year of the declaration of martial rule in the Philippines launches different types of activities from September 21-23 in four major cities in the United States.
AJLPP-USA MOBILIZES FOR MARTIAL LAW COMMEMORATION (tags)
The Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines (AJLPP)-USA in solidarity with the people of the Philippines in their militant protest against political killings, call to resume peace negotiations and in commemoration of the 34th year of the declaration of martial rule in the Philippines launches different types of activities from September 21-23 in four major cities in the United States. The following cities will ho
December 17 Anti-War Protest Vigil (tags)
Join us for a Protest Vigil to "Stop the War & Bring the Troops Home in Time for the Holidays!"