Over at Global Voices Online, I submitted a web and blog roundup on news and reactions to the […]
Category: Events
Here’s a slideshow of some photos sent to this blogger/journalist by the Gloria Step Down Movement-Hong Kong chapter and the Hong Kong Campaign for the Advancement of Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines (HKCAHRPP), the groups spearheading the protests during President Arroyo’s visit to HK:
More photos below, this time by Reuters and Associated Press lensmen and as published by Yahoo! News:
Lee Owen Cortes, a friend and one of my colleagues at UPLB Perspective over a decade ago, also […]
By REGINA BENGCO
Malaya
March 31, 2008
PRESIDENT Arroyo yesterday left for Hong Kong to attend the 11th Credit Suisse Asia Investment Conference and meet with the Filipino community and foreign investors.
Arroyo boarded PAL flight 306 at around 2:45 p.m. at the NAIA Centennial Terminal, accompanied by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., and deputy presidential spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo.
Bunye, in an ambush interview, dismissed the plan of a militant Filipino workers group to greet the President with a rally.
“It comes with the territory and we have to learn to live with it,” he said.
About 2,000 of members of the Gloria Step Down Movement, which is leading the OFW protesters in Hong Kong, welcomed Arroyo with a demonstration in Wanchai district.
The HK Campaign for the Advancement of Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines said demonstrations will also be held tomorrow at the HK Central Government Office and the Shangri-La and Conrad Hilton International Hotel.
Three activists passed the 2007 bar examinations, according to results released by the Supreme Court today. They are: […]
March 29 is one of several red-letter days for Filipino communists and their supporters, as it marks the […]
Thousands of households, offices and businesses — including the Australian embassy and all Starbucks stores — are expected […]
Holy Week has ended but the Pinoy’s passion continues. Here’s my recap of big events that have happened recently.
A rice shortage is about to foment street riots. but the Arroyo government is solving it by lying about the problem. Prophets of neoliberalism and globalization should be made to explain why this happened, because it was they who have refused to abide by a policy of self-reliance and it was they who wished to make us hostages of the so-called world market and global supply and demand. Among these pricks, of course, is Mrs. Arroyo herself. In the meantime, prepare for the time when rice prices reach P40 a kilo.
President Arroyo also won the Supreme Court battle royale over Romulo Neri’s claim to executive privilege. But at what cost? By destroying the independence of the tribunal? Ain’t the court the only sensible government institution left — and like some Midas From Hell, Gloria Arroyo touched it and turned it into shit. House Speaker Prospero Nograles admits the SC ruling has “defanged” Congress and seems not to care about the powers of Congress in the supposed system of checks and balances.
We will finally be en route to Baguio City for a much-needed and well-deserved break. We should have […]
Here are photos from wire agencies as posted on Yahoo! News.
All rights belong to these photographers and/or the news outlets they belong to Romeo Ranoco (Reuters) and Bullit Marquez (Associated Press).
I’m posting below my “twits” of today’s rally (from here to here), sent to Twitter via the phTwitters gateway, and some links to online news about the youth’s demonstration of outrage.
About six hours ago
Channels 2, 5 and 7 appear to be preparing for live telecasts. Program starts 330pm, according to organizers
About five hours ago
Rallies and traffic: http://tonyocruz.com/?p=796
About four hours ago
Mayor Lim welcomes the rallyists to Manila; Fr Joe Dizon announces start of interfaith prayers
Crowd easily packs Lawton near Bonifacio statue. Delegations include Bayan Muna, KMLG, Health Alliance for Democracy, Edsa3 Coalition…
Everyone’s invited to the youth-led communal action today, March 14, 2:00 pm at the Liwasang Bonifacio.
The Youth Act Now alliance said in a statement:
All systems go. Pep squads are all set with their routines and performances. Student leaders are all geared to meet up with their counterparts from other schools. We will have representatives from the most conservative to the most progressive schools.
By ANTHONY IAN CRUZ
Malaya
March 8, 2008
FILIPINAS are among the growing number of women who are working but are mostly in low-productivity, low-paid and vulnerable jobs, with no social protection, basic rights nor voice at work, according to a new International Labor Organization report issued for International Women’s Day.
The report “Global Employment Trends for Women – March 2008” said the number of employed women grew by almost 200 million over the last decade, reaching 1.2 billion in 2007 compared to 1.8 billion men.
However, the ILO said the number of unemployed women also grew to 81.6 million from 70.2 million over the same period.
Citing results of the October 2007 Labor Force Survey, the ILO said labor force participation for Filipinas was only 36.5 percent compared to men at 63.5 percent.
“Although there are more unemployed men, many Filipino women remain in low-paid jobs at 26.25 percent with only 10.94 percent for men. In addition, women in the Philippines tend to get jobs which are low in productivity,” said ILO.
According to Linda Wirth, director of the ILO subregional office in Manila, “creating more and decent work and promoting gender equality at the workplace in the Philippines can help reduce the necessity for women to migrate and face risks entailed in overseas jobs as well as mitigate the critical skills losses in health and educational services.”
March 8 is International Women’s Day.
Gabriela, the country’s largest and most influential women’s group, said this year’s Women’s Day will banner the theme “Kababaihan, Magkaisa! Labanan ang Pambubusabos, Pangungurakot at Panunupil ng Gobyernong Arroyo!” to echo the call for united women’s actionagainst the “evils” of the Arroyo administration.
Gabriela has set a women’s march on March 8 and the group estimates a turnout of at least 10,000 — and more if you care to join. Men are welcome to attend. Assembly starts at 9:00 am at Welcome Rotonda while the march to Plaza Miranda begins at 10:oo am.
Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño took these photos from some floors way up the BPI building. The rally indeed was a sight to behold, which explains why the government made the central business district a “no fly zone” so the nation will be deprived of the inspiring view.
By ANTHONY IAN CRUZ
Malaya
March 1, 2008
DEFYING last-ditch scare tactics, a broad movement of groups seeking President Arroyo’s resignation yesterday mobilized tens of thousands of protesters at the interfaith rally at the Ninoy Aquino Monument in Makati City.
Organizers placed the crowd at 75,000 to 80,000. The police figure was 15,000.
Makati City Mayor and United Opposition president Jejomar Binay unleashed a minor political earthquake when he ended his opening remarks by calling on stage former Presidents Corazon Aquino, in her trademark yellow dress, and Joseph Estrada, in a red windbreaker.
Aquino and Estrada gave brief remarks before the crowd, in an apparent effort not to violate the agreed rally protocol that no politician would be allowed on stage, except for Binay who was tasked to deliver a welcome speech.
Aquino and Estrada sat beside each other on the makeshift stage.
Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said rally organizers saw the crowd peak at around 5 p.m., soon after marchers from various points in the country’s financial capital converged at Paseo de Roxas and Ayala avenue.
Reyes said the huge turnout represented “the strongest rejection yet of Mrs. Arroyo.”
Thanks to Yahoo News!, we can see photos taken by wire agencies Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France Presse and which they dispatched to newspapers and other media outlets across the world.
Full credit goes to the following photographers: Bullit Marquez, Pat Roque, Cheryl Ravelo, Darren Whiteside, John Javellana and Romeo Ranoco, and their respective wire agencies.
Enjoy!
I am writing this while sitting here at one corner of Glorietta, after running away from the crowd to file my story for the day.
This is it. It can no longer be stamped out. The broad movement to seek President Arroyo’s removal is on a roll. Imagine, 80,000 people marching and shouting “We want the truth!” and “Gloria resign!”
Just some small things that may have escaped media attention:
1. Two busloads of De La Salle-Dasmarinas students, faculty and administrators were blocked at Daang Hari along Coastal Road sometime past noon today by a certain Col. Quilinguen in a transparent effort to delay their trip to Makati City. Jhay Rocas texted me to say that they committed no traffic violation whatsoever and it appeared that they were just being harassed. They were let go after an hour.
2. Kudos to the thousands of Catholic students who came out in full force! Rivals Ateneo and La Salle were together in the streets! The Catholic schools easily mobilized what I estimate was a contingent of no less than 10,000 judgingby the long and seemingly endless queue of students in their uniforms, guided by nuns and priests and administrators.
3. Congratulations, too, to the Youth Act Now! student coalition which led its own contingents from UP, PUP, UST, FEU, TIP and other universities, colleges and even high schools.
Although forced by circumstances to seek political asylum, Prof. Jose Maria Sison continues to offer his advice and analyses both as chief political consultant of the National Democratic Front negotiating panel, and as chair of the International League of Peoples Struggle (ILPS).
In this statement, Sison not only says that Arroyo and her troops are terrified by the prospect of a huge turnout, but that the magnitude of the crowds that will gather at Ayala will offer us a preview of the end of the mafia.
Sison also says that the communists will be joining the rally, as a matter of right and of principle. But he slaps the hysterical duo of the PNP and AFP with this statement: Contrary to claims of the Arroyo regime, there will be no armed units of the New People’s Army in the the mass protest mass actions. It is the long-held principle of the CPP, NPA and NDFP to uphold the right of the people to speak and assemble peacefully as well as to respect the legal and defensive character of protest mass actions in urban areas.
Below is Sison’s full statement:
Press Statement
29 February 2008THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROTEST MASS ACTIONS TODAY
WILL INDICATE HOW CLOSE IS THE END OF THE ARROYO REGIME
By Prof. Jose Maria Sison
NDFP Chief Political Consultant
Chairperson, International League of Peoples’ StruggleThe magnitude of the protest mass actions today will indicate how close is the end of the Arroyo regime. If the level of 50,000 to 100,000 protest demonstrators is reached at the focal point in the national capital region, then we can hope that in the near future we can reach the level of hundreds of thousands or a million demonstrators that will certainly persuade the bureaucracy and the military to withdraw support from the Arroyo regime.
The fake and corrupt president and her retinue of spin doctors and bloodthirsty ruffians in the military and police are terrified that a great number of people will rise up today. Thus, they are trying hard to dissuade the people from joining the protest mass actions through deceptive statements, scare tactics, intimidation and actual plans to prevent or disrupt the assembly, marches and convergence of the outraged masses of the people.
On Feb. 25, Monday, we’re all being asked to do something patriotic. Everyone’s invited to: The peaceful and […]
Arrived at the Senate at around 9:00 am, way before the start of the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the abduction of Rodolfo Noel “Jun” Lozada.
Almost everything was seen through the live broadcasts. I say “almost” because there were some side stories that need to be told. Here are some of them:
Heath Ledger is dead due to what appears to be drug overdose. Ledger essayed the role of “Ennis […]