THE MAKABAYAN COALITION trooped to the Commission of Elections (Comelec) in Intramuros, Manila last July 5 to protest the poll body’s refusal to recognize Gabriela Women’s Party’s (GWP) third seat after the May 9 national and local elections.
GWP said the Comelec still has to decide on their May 20 petition for the proclamation of Bai Ali Indayla as its third representative to the incoming 17th Congress. Read more
At a huge rally at the center of this capital city, the country’s biggest women’s organization Gabriela narrates how Filipino women suffered the most under the Benigno Aquino government. It’s secretary general Joms Salvador says that one woman is victimized by violence in the Philippines every 40 minutes. Peasant woman Celia Veloso laments the sad fate that befell her daughter who is a victim of human trafficking while woman worker Myrna Pisao cries for justice for 73 co-workers who died in a factory fire last year.
Listen as Filipino women commemorate International Working Women’s Day 2016 in Manila, Philippines.
Senator Grace Poe announced her victory at the Supreme Court over several disqualification petitions against her candidacy for the presidency at a huge rally at Liwasang Bonifacio last March 8.
Before thousands of women and supporters gathered for the celebration of International Working Women’s Day (IWWD), Poe said that being allowed to stand for the highest office of the land is a victory for women like her.
Gabriela led the IWWD commemoration with a rally at the venue before marching to Mendiola to denounce the Benigno Aquino presidency’s “crimes” against women and children.
On the 30th anniversary of the EDSA People Power, demonstrators led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) and affiliates of the Philippines chapter of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS-Phils) broke through layers of police and army phalanx to assert national freedom and democracy and say no to another Marcos.
Students, faculty and staff of the University of the Philippines in Diliman held its One Billion Rising 2016 event last February 12.
Themed “Escalating Revolution” this year’s commemoration marks the fourth straight year the university held its own program as its contribution to the global campaign against violence against women.
One Billion Rising was started by playwright Eve Ensler (Vagina Monologues) to call attention to reports that one billion women have been victimized by rape and other forms of abuse worldwide.
Women’s group Gabriela said that one woman or child is raped every 53 minutes and one woman is battered every 20 minutes in the Philippines.
The country is also one of the origins of trafficked women, Gabriela said.
The main One Billion Rising 2016 event will be held at Rizal Park in Manila on Sunday, February 14.
Commemorating the Philippine-American War on February 4, 2016, protesters against the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) marched to the US embassy in Manila carrying cut-outs of Heneral Luna as portrayed in a much-acclaimed historical film. The groups are affiliated with the Philippines chapter of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS-Phils) and the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN).
US Embassy, Manila
February 4, 2016
Human Rights Day 2015 in the Philippines with street protests on violations under a neocolonial regime. Speakers include torture victim Fr. Ben Alforque and KARAPATAN secretary-general Tinay Palabay. The International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS) also demanded the release of Palestinian leader Khalida Jarrar and all political prisoners.
The International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS) Philippines chapter takes part in commemorating Bonifacio Day 2015 in the streets of Manila amid jeepneys, SUVs and dilapidated buildings. This is not Bonifacio High Street of the high-end botique districts of global cities but a protest march of wage-workers, private and public, saying “there can be no development without independence”.
