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Category Archives: League of Filipino Students
LFS
Nothing to Lose But Our Chains: How Andrea Rosal Changed My Life by Jordan Ilagan
(WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES BELOW)
Camp Bagong Diwa. The last place I expected to visit on a church trip to the Philippines. Though the visit was over a year ago, and was only about an hour in length, I will never forget Camp Bagong Diwa.
In the concrete walls I learned about liberation. The hallwayscrowded and overflowing told a story better than any workshop could teach. In the concrete walls is where I, along with the rest of my group, met the fierce political prisoners of Camp Bagong Diwa.
Before the prison visit, we were briefed about the Human Rights violations in the Philippines. Through KARAPATAN, the human rights investigators in the Philippines, our group heard stories from mothers that lost their children to kidnapping and murder by the military, the ongoing statistics about human rights violations in the Philippines, and ab
out the political prisoners that are currently imprisoned. One story above all stood out to me, the story of Andrea Rosal.
Andrea Rosal is the daughter of the late Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal, a spokesperson of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Because of that association, she ended up being arrested on false trumped up charges. She was seven months pregnant at the time, and she ended up giving birth to the child in the under-equipped hospital that the prison had. Two days after her birth, baby Diona Rosal died from the stressful conditions.
When we met the political prisoners, they welcomed us like we were guests in their house. We did quick introductions, name, where we were from, and for the prisoners, they told us how long they were in prison and what their trumped up charges were. They joked and laughed about being charged with murder, kidnapping, arson, and some even joked that they forgot all the charges that they were accused of.
The prisoners told us to keep fighting for them, to always share their stories with others. That even in prison they refused to give up fighting. It was only when we were about to leave when I realized that one of the political prisoners did not introduce herself. She was sitting quietly when someone said “This is Andrea, even though she lost her child, she still keeps fighting.”
I will never forget the look in her eyes.
Over one year later, I learn that Andrea was getting a re-trial. I hold onto hope as I see update after update, with the words “The charges against Andrea Rosal have been dropped.” On the morning of September 7, I read an article with the words “Andrea Rosal freed.”
After over a week from discovering the news, I still struggle to find the words to describe my emotions. I see her freedom as a great victory in the movement to free all political prisoners, but one that came at a great cost. She ended up losing her child as a direct result of negligence and corruption and her freedom from years of prison will never erase that. The cell mates that she served time with are still imprisoned in Camp Bagong Diwa, awaiting their trials and to this day there are over 500 political prisoners in the Philippines.
I dream of returning to the Philippines every day. Hopefully the next time I go, I will be reunite with the freed political prisoners. Until then I will never stop fighting, we will never stop fighting, until they are all free, until the Philippines is free.
SONA Ng Bayan – BS Aquino found Guilty in SF
1- We are the People!
The planning team meets up at the Filipino Community Center, between Bayan Congress and International People’s Tribunal in Washington D.C. we were stretched pretty thin, but thanks to those that stepped up, we were able to pull through. Props, speakers, security, past assessments, were among the agenda topics that were placed. So many questions and concerns, and we had to answer them all in one week. Paint, cardboard, and the clever use of an overhead projector makes sure that banners and placards are ready to go. I sit in my room the day before, reflecting on the important issues that I was going to speak about, representing the Youth and Students of the Northern California region.
2- A Little Bit Louder!
The program starts. I’m up to bat first in the line of speakers. Microphone in hand, I list off the numerous crimes against youth and students in the Philippines perpetuated by the Aquino-US regime. For the Indigenous schools being forcefully evicted, for the student organizers being illegally detained, for SFSU alumni Brandon Lee (who is facing threats of death for working in the Cordillera region), my words echoed throughout Union Square. The rest of the speakers listed off the crimes against their sector as well, from the murder of Jennifer Laude by Scott Pemberton, to the continued forced migration under the Labor Export Policy, the students, the women, and the workers made sure that their voices were heard. Our fearless command team and the folks that make up our security for the evening lead us through a never-before-seen marching route along the length of Downtown San Francisco, with our cardboard headed BS Aquino and Uncle Sam in the front lines for everyone to see.
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Drumlines, flags, and megaphones rallied our voices together. Gavel in hand, we delivered the guilty verdict. For his crimes against the Filipino people, for failing to protect the rights of the Filipino people, for exploiting the Filipino people, for failing the tortures and disappearances that were inflicted on the Filipino people, President Aquino was found guilty on all charges. With his last SONA in the books, the fight still continues, the struggle for liberation continues, and the cry remains the same.
We Want Justice for the Philippines!
Kilusan: Mary Jane Lives! The People Live!
By Pat Racela
The case of Mary Jane Veloso is one that stirs at the fabric of our beings as children of migrants. We can ask our parents, grandparents, and other family members for reasons they left the Philippines and the essence of every response is always tied to finding a better life for their children so we wouldn’t have to face the same conditions they did growing up. While us as Filipino-American youth enjoy a more privileged life than our counterparts in the Motherland, it is imperative that we do not divorce ourselves from the struggle of our people and that we seek to understand and uproot the forces and institutions which fuel forced migration and rampant poverty in the country.
According to Migrante, an international federation of Filipino migrant workers, at least 6,000 Filipinos leave the Philippines each day in search of work with more than half the percentage of migrant workers being women. The culture of forced migration is facilitated by the education system, which recently enacted K-12, and institutionalized by the labor export policy. The current curriculum set up for students in the Philippines does nothing more than prepare them to be semi-skilled laborers to work abroad; because of K-12, students will now be of age (18 years-old) to work abroad instead of pursuing higher education. With people being the number one export for the country, we must being to question the commodification of bodies and why profits reign over the interests of the people.
Mary Jane Veloso is one of millions moved to search for work abroad because of the worsening poverty in the country. Hailing from Nueva Ecija, the Veloso’s are no stranger to the backwards agricultural practices in the countryside fueled by feudalism; her father was a seasonal worker in Hacienda Luisita, one of the largest sugarcane plantations in the country owned by the Cojuangco family. To sustain themselves, the family resorts to picking plastics and recyclables for a living.
Dropping out after her freshman year of high school, Veloso eventually decided to work abroad in an attempt to improve the living conditions of her family. She left for Dubai in 2009 as a contracted household service worker, but immediately returned to the Philippines after her employer attempted to rape her. About a year later, Veloso was approached by her friend Ma. Cristina Serio who informed her of a Malaysian friend looking to hire a domestic worker. The two immediately left for Malaysia on April 22nd, 2010. Shortly after their arrival, Serio informed Veloso that the job opening had closed but that she could guarantee her another job. Three days later, Serio told Veloso to pack her things to head for Indonesia.
Upon her arrival at Jogiakarta Airport, she was stopped for suspicious items in her luggage. Unbeknownst to Veloso, 2.6 kilos of heroin were neatly packed and hidden in the insides of her luggage; she was promptly detained and was not provided with adequate legal counsel or a certified translator. She has since been imprisoned on death row on charges of and faced execution on April 28th, 2015, but was reprieved by Indonesian President Joko Widodo after surges of international outcry from various groups and organizations claimed that Veloso was a victim of human trafficking; her recruiter, Serio, was pressured and eventually turned herself in to Philippine authorities hours before Veloso’s scheduled execution. Her case is still pending and is dependent on the outcome of Serio’s trial.
For us as observers of history, it’s imperative that we not just study the trends of our past, but also take action to prevent further injustices from occurring. The call to save the life of Mary Jane Veloso moved people from all over the world to take action. This precisely exemplifies the power of the people and how it can turn the tides of oppression into a people’s surge for justice. Let this be a reminder and an inspiration for what collective action and heightened struggle can be at the very best. For now, Mary Jane lives, but let us continue to struggle until the very day she will be free and when we will all be free.
We Stand on Their Shoulders
By Eleazar Malabanan
For twelve years the Filipino community here at State has claimed an important victory in the form of art: a mural dedicated to the struggle of the entire community worldwide is displayed. With the recent collaboration of all the Filipino organizations of Mula Sa Ugat, we see how our roots became grew to become the shoulders we stand on. We see the bonds and the community that we all talk about finally form here at state. For at least once a year, we see the whole San Francsico State Filipino community come together to show how much we love our culture, our history, and our ancestors whose shoulders we stand on now.
This year’s celebration was full of many events both old and new. One day dedicated to the education of the public, to ensure we not only celebrate but remember exactly where and why we have the mural. Workshops provided by all the organizations instating the different parts of the mural and how each of the individuals impacted the world today. The next day included many different events as well full of displays of dance, music, and food. Timothy Balilo, Jeannel Poyoaon, and Erin Cruz hosted the event giving life throughout the night and introducing speakers and musicians left and right. Jordan Ilagan, Secretary General of the SF State branch of the League of Filipino Students (LFS-SFSU) and current PCN co-scriptwriter, spoke with passion about his endeavors in the Filipino community and how he strongly believes about the situations that many of us still rather sleep on. Along with the president of NAFCON (National Alliance of Filipino Concerns), Terry Valen who gave a moving speech about the involvement in the community as well as the current battle against racism now with excerpts of the San Francisco Police Department, stating their extremely racist and fascist comments of African Americans and Filipino Americans alike. Not only were these speakers great but the musicians and performs as well. One of the sisters of Alpha Kappa Omicron (AKO) brought her dance team into the celebration to perform an entertaining routine. We also had the opportunity to see LFS and PACE head Coordinator Patrick Racela and IV Kapwa Member Aaron Agudelo rap as well. Finally we ended the night with Hopie, A Law student by day, and Rapper by every other time of the day. These performers allowed us to see their talents as well as just to celebrate the mural that represents who we are as a community.
The Mural Celebration this year shows our growing communities that we still have much work to do. It shows the power of all the organizations combining and the force we can bring to even more events, and more places. We stand on their shoulders, yet pretty soon we will be lifting the people in our community even higher on ours.
Commemorating the Herstory of Women’s Cultural Activism
By Jeannel Poyaoan
Around three hundred community members from all over the Bay Area came together on Sunday, March 8th of 2015 for a march and celebration of the 105th anniversary of International Working Women’s Day.
The event took place at the Lake Merritt Amphitheater in Oakland, California and began in the afternoon with a rally to speak out for justice and to stand up against the oppressions that women face on an international level women constantly resist against violence and imperialism as well as fight for basic rights such as affordable education, quality health care and housing, and well paying jobs. After the rally, all participants congregated and marched around Lake Merritt and nearby gentrified neighborhoods. Throughout the march, participants chanted with one another and held up banners as a form of resistance against gentrification, state violence, and militarization.
The event then ended with a cultural celebration consisted of speeches, poetry, music, and dances to remember and uplift all the women and trans-women who have come before us in the struggle. Youth, working individuals, allies and more were able to build with each other to create this empowering space to uphold the legacy and power of women’s resistance here and abroad as well as celebrate the resilience of women and trans women. Overall, the International Working Women’s Day celebration in Oakland established that we are bound in each other’s and women’s struggles and that we all hold the responsibility to come together as a collective and fight for our self-determination, freedom, liberation as each individual plays an integral role in the movement.
PREVIEW – We Stand On Their Shoulders: The 12th Annual SFSU Fil-Am Community Mural Celebration
By Patrick Racela
Join Mula Sa Ugat (MSU) for We Stand On Their Shoulders: The 12th Annual SFSU Filipino-American Community Mural Celebration on April 8th and 9th at Jack Adams Hall from 6:30PM to 9:30PM. Wednesday April 8th will consist of an educational component covering the history and meaning of the mural. Thursday April 9th will consist of the celebration with free food, giveaways, and performances. We hope to see you there! You may RSVP at our FB event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/791850370869313/
The vibrant history of the Filipino people has long left its mark in the city of San Francisco. From the manongs and manangs who found refuge in Manilatown after completing seasonal work along the west coast, to the young Pinoys and Pinays who found a cause in organizing the Philippine American Collegiate Endeavor to link with other third world students and communities to fight for relevant education and other burning issues of the time, to those of us today who are part of a community that has upheld a rich tradition of resistance in the face of social, economic, and political issues. We are people who carry the Bayanihan spirit moved to uplift one another, to empower and build our community; it is the same spirit found in those who have come before us.
A mural at San Francisco State University reminds us of whose shoulders we stand on. Finished in 2003, the Filipino-American community mural is the only piece of its kind at any college campus in the US. It is centered on the peoples’ movement in the Philippines and its relation to our experiences as Filipino-Americans. The mural is divided into four sections: solidarity, community, struggle in the Philippines, and struggle in the US.
Solidarity is expressed by Andres Bonifacio’s rising sun, representing the revolutionary tradition of the Filipino people who resisted Spanish colonization for over 400 years. The rays of the sun span across all parts of the Philippines and any place you can find a Filipino. It is derived from his personal Katipunan flag. To the front of the sun are people of color with arms linked together signifying our unity with all people of color.
At the center of the mural is Lorena Barros, an activist from the martial law era who founded the militant women’s organization, MAKIBAKA, representative of youth and students. She is flanked by Purmassuri on the left, a Moro leader who was key in preventing the Spanish from gaining a foothold in Mindanao, representative of indigenous people. To the right of Lorena Barros is Al Robles, a poet and local San Franciscan who pioneered as a prominent leader during the housing movement, representative of the elders in our community. To the bottom left is Philip Veracruz, a farmworker and key organizer of the Delano Grape Strike, representative of the workers. To his right is Violeta “Bullet X” Marasigan, a participant in the Third World strike and founder of the women’s organization, GABRIELA, representative of women. These figures uphold our community; we embody who they are.
The struggle in the Philippines is captured so that we as Filipino-Americans will always have a grasp of our Motherland. At the very bottom of the mural is the Philippine national animal, the carabao. It embodies industriousness and the strength of the Filipino people. Peasants, one of the most oppressed sectors of Philippine society, are depicted planting rice, signifying their ongoing struggle for the right to their land. A woman playing the indigenous instrument, a kulintang, represents the importance of music in indigenous culture. Lastly, students and workers are depicted fighting for a dignified way of life amidst the issues of militarization and poverty engendered to the basic problems of the Philippines.
The Filipino-American struggle is envisioned on the right. At the very top are the organizers and protestors who fought for the I-Hotel, highlighting the issue of gentrification in San Francisco. Below are WWII veteranos and nurses who fight for recognition, equality, and a better way of life. The students of SFSU are depicted to capture the trials and tribulations of our community today.. A DJ is also present to signify our musical experiences, namely in Hip-Hop culture. Finally, farmworkers are shown planting seeds to represent the roots of our community.
We stand on the shoulders of those who come before us. We are at a time where we must be makers of our own history. We must heed the call of movement just as our ancestors have done to fight for a better future.
Activism is NOT a Crime! Defend the Defenders of Human Rights and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in the Cordilleras!
For Immediate Release
Press Statement
March 24, 2015
Reference: Patrick Racela, Head Coordinator, Pilipino American Collegiate Endeavor
Activism is NOT a Crime! Defend the Defenders of Human Rights and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in the Cordilleras!
We, the Pilipino American Collegiate Endeavor express great support and solidarity for the human rights activists and indigenous rights advocates facing political vilification and harassment in the Cordilleras. As cultural advocates who support the cultures and practices of indigenous peoples, we condemn the elements that threaten the lives of peace loving people working towards building a more just society.
The increased political vilification is a prelude to instances of human rights violations, such as illegal arrests on bogus, trumped-up charges, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings, as observed historically. Such was the case for human rights activist, William Buggati, who was extrajudicially killed on March 25th, 2014. The targeted individuals and peoples’ organizations have since been enlisted as enemies of the state, subversives and rebels who sow chaos amongst communities.
Brandon Lee, a Chinese-American and alum of the League of Filipino Students – San Francisco State University is among the targeted individuals. A former student at SFSU, Lee’s activism ingrained him in service to the people, so much so that he moved to the Philippines to work as a defender of indigenous peoples’ rights in the Cordilleras with his wife and daughter.
These individuals and peoples’ organizations play key roles in empowering marginalized, poor, and oppressed communities that have been neglected by the Philippine government. It is not these individuals or peoples’ organizations that sow chaos, rather it is the working of the Philippine government’s impunity that has perpetuated the violence of poverty amongst these communities; it is the militarization and the foreign large-scale mining and logging companies that threaten the lives of the people.
As Filipino-Americans, we have a duty to stand in solidarity with the Filipino people to demand truth, accountability, and justice from the Philippine government. As American tax payers, we must also call on our own government to cut all military aid to the Philippines, which encourages violence in communities all over the Motherland. End impunity! Long live the Filipino people! Long live international solidarity!
For those of us looking to take immediate action, we encourage you to write letters of support for the individuals and organizations facing political vilification and harassment. You may send letters here:
Cordillera Peoples Alliance
Email: cpa@cpaphils.org
Webpage: http://www.cpaphils.org
Cordillera Human Rights Alliance
Facebook: Cordillera Peoples Alliance
E-mail: chra.karapatan@gmail.com
Road to 43: Our Story from Then to Now
By Jordan Ilagan
The road to PCN 43 goes through Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, all the way to San Francisco. Every single cast member has been working hard for this showcase of beautiful dancing and compelling storytelling. The road to PCN is one that is paved with pushing comfort zones, meticulous practice, and constant refining up until showtime; a performance by the Filipino community for the community. “Kapit Kamay”: link hands with each other and fight against injustice.
As I stated in my previous post, Kapit Kamay is heavily based on a true story. Mainly the current issues surrounding the Philippines in regards to Lumad land, as well as corruption in the government and the stories of community organizing efforts in SF. Rampant destruction that I was able to see first hand during my exposure trip to the Philippines as well as organizing once I touched down in San Francisco. As 1/2 of the script writing tag team, being able to share my passion for community organizing and using PCN as a platform to highlight these issues has been nothing short of amazing.
But that’s only half the story. In order to truly bring Kapit Kamay to life, my script writing partner Jerico De Guzman took my experiences and knowledge and weaved them into a creative, true-to-life, story. Kapit Kamay not only covers political themes, but also features compelling characters as well. Throughout the play, characters struggle with the ramifications of the decisions that they make, their own insecurities, and how their personal baggage clashes with others.
Kapit Kamay promises to entertain. The script was nearly a year in the making and was continuously refined every step of the way. A show by the student community paying tribute to the efforts of the community. A PCN that embodies what it means to take pride in Pilipino Culture and pays tribute to Pilipino Culture. Link hands and defend the culture of our ancestors.
KILUSAN: DEFEND EDUCATION!
By Pat Racela
The hot Philippine sun dawns its rays over the mountainous terrain. The warmth dissipates the fog, revealing shining drops of dew on the crops that Lumad scholars tend to alongside the dirt path leading to the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (ALCADEV) in Brgy. Han-Ayan, located in Mindanao. The same sun filters through the dense Manila smog which chokes up the national capital region (NCR) with lines of jeepneys, tricycles, and buses transporting the toiling masses; one particular route leads to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), situated in Santa Mesa, Manila. Across the Pacific Ocean, I sit inside a classroom at San Francisco State University to start a meeting as the dusk swallows the sun, painting the sky with splashes of yellow, orange, pink, purple, and indigo.
With the many experiences we come across in our youth, we are familiarized with the idea that education is the key to success. We in particular who may be children of immigrants are taught to value the privileges that are afforded to us. However, we as students must recognize that education is not a privilege, nor a commodity, but a fundamental human right. For those of us attending SFSU, a $3 million budget cut is to be implemented on top of a mandatory student success fee. We cannot deny that education will better shape our individual and collective futures, but the ever-worsening student debt crisis, numerous budget cuts to education, tuition hikes, implementation of redundant and exorbitant fees, and privatization of public universities will prevent us from reaching the success we wish to seek.
For students at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), their emphasis on the value they have for their education is expressed in the actions they take to defend their fundamental human right. Youth and student organizations such as Anakbayan, League of Filipino Students (LFS), Kabataan Partylist (KPL), College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), and more, play an active role launching campaigns, conducting educational discussions, and hosting other events to fight for their education and ultimately, a better society.
Aries Gupit, a national officer of LFS, explained the conditions of youth and students asserting, “We must fight off these high tuition rates and redundant and exorbitant fees if we are to realize a nationalist, scientific, mass-oriented, form of education.”
During the first leg of my exposure trip in the NCR, I witnessed students claim their education by fighting off an 800% tuition fee increase. PUP, hailed as the cheapest public university in the Philippines, charges PHP12 (about 25 cents) per unit, attracting many students from working class and peasant class backgrounds.
On the last leg of the trip, I had the opportunity to integrate with a Lumad (Indigenous People native to Mindanao) community. A Datu from the community broke down the local history, highlighting the government neglect and harassment which forced the community to set up its own educational institution through ALCADEV.
“They do not respect us so we have no choice but to do it ourselves. It is our responsibility to educate our children now since the government refuses to,” he said.
ALCADEV is one of many networks of Lumad schools in Mindanao which emphasizes education, agricultural sustainability, and the preservation of cultural practices and customs.
Despite these positive developments, the looming threat of harassment and displacement due to militarization are present realities for these communities. The Lumad community I visited was attacked and harassed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) this past winter, forcing the community to evacuate en masse. A long-standing history of military harassment has been present. Foreign, large-scale mining corporations working in tandem with the Philippine government and AFP wish to drive drive the Lumads off their ancestral domain to extract natural resources.
We must be reminded of what’s at stake. Our fundamental human right to an education is under threat by corporations hellbent on collecting super profits off of us and our families. Our future is bleak if we fail to recognize the conditions that are fostering in the US and around the world. Let us struggle for a relevant, quality, mass based, pro-people education because it is our fundamental human right.
Kaisahan Balita - Pilipino American Collegiate Endeavor 
