Progressive Filipinos in U.S. organize

Nearly 200 delegates and observers from five U.S. cities packed the UCLA Labor Center on March 29 for the third congress of BAYAN-USA and the founding congress of GABRIELA-USA.

Photo : Bev Tang/Anakbayan Los Angeles

BAYAN-USA, which unites several mass organizations, is the first overseas chapter of the New Patriotic Alliance of the Philippines. GABRIELA-USA will be the U.S. chapter of the eponymous Philippine women’s organization.

The theme of the BAYAN event was: “Strengthen our alliance and intensify our political struggle against the U.S.-Arroyo clique and for the rights and welfare of Filipinos in the U.S.” Those present were addressed by Skype internet phone connection from the Netherlands by exiled Filipino revolutionary leader Jose Maria Sison, who also chairs the International League of Peoples’ Struggle.

Secretary General Emmi De Jesus of GABRIELA-Philippines opened and keynoted GABRIELA-USA’s founding congress.

Most of the delegates were under 30, which was reflected in the spirit and energy of the political and organizational discussion and the March 28 cultural night. Over half the delegates were women, as were a majority of the BAYAN chapter’s newly elected leadership. This leadership includes Chairperson Bernadette Ellorin, Secretary-General Rhonda Ramiro, Vice-chair Kuusela Hilo and Deputy Secretary-General Jack De Jesus. Raquel Redondez will be General Secretary of the new GABRIELA chapter.

Delegates discussed how to confront issues facing the Filipino community, from rising unemployment, home foreclosures and racist immigration policy in the U.S. to U.S. intervention and death-squad terror in the Philippines. The BAYAN congress opened with a rally at the Philippine consulate protesting the Arroyo regime’s terror against the Filipino people.

The GABRIELA congress closed with a march to nearby MacArthur Park, where marchers draped a statue of murderous U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur with a banner demanding “Junk VFA,” referring to the Visiting Forces Agreement that allows the U.S. military to operate with impunity on Philippine soil.