Page 34 - Hello Philippines March 2016 'A' issue

34 www.hello-philippines.com PHILIPPINE EMBASSY AROUND THE WORLD March 2016 – No. 05 • UK & Europe Edition

EDSA People Power @30 Committee
Holds “Voices of People Power”
IN commemoration of the 30th at a time when social media did not dissidence and discontent. “It was the
anniversary of the EDSA Revolution, exist, concerned Filipino citizens were actions prior to 1986 of these “rebels
the Philippine Consulate General in already mobilizing themselves and with a cause,” bravely and publicly
San Francisco partnered with the questioning institutions and structures challenging the existing institutions
Filipino-American community to during martial law. and structures then, that slowly
form the EDSA People Power @30 awakened Filipinos and gave them
Organizing Committee, which was Cindy Domingo, a long-time strength to find their voice and the
tasked to conceptualize and produce community activist in Seattle, spoke will to stand up for their rights and
a series of events in celebration of this about the successful pursuit of justice freedom.” The message that evening
momentous occasion in Philippine for the 1981 murders of union leaders was clear to everyone who attended
history. and anti-Marcos activists Silme the event – the Filipino people will not
Domingo and Gene Viernes, and how allow the Philippines to experience
The first event, entitled “Voices of the neo-colonial relationship between any form of dictatorship, and the EDSA
People Power,” was held at the Social the U.S. and the Philippines facilitated legacy of pagkakaisa and pagkapit-
Hall of the Philippine Center on the surveillance and harassment of bisig are still practiced by Filipinos
February 12. Filipino activists in the U.S. thirty years later.

The event featured columnist Award-winning filmmaker/video The event was attended by over
and author Benjamin Pimentel, producer Jethro Patalinghug presented 120 people, including Filipino-
who wrote “An Underground Tale: his much-acclaimed documentary American youth, people who were
The Journey of Edgar Jopson and “My Revolutionary Mother,” which in the Philippines and those who
the First Quarter Storm” and “Mga recounts his mother Virginia protested in the Bay Area during the
Gerilya sa Powell Street.” Pimentel Patalinghug’s struggle to balance her martial law years, as well as members
spoke about the fear and silence that community organizing and raising her of the media. The evening culminated
prevailed during martial law and the family during martial law and during in the community singing “Bayan Ko,”
activists who defied the dictatorship the post-Marcos years. which was led by the Bay Area-located
for 14 years before the victorious martial law protesters. n Philippine Embassy
EDSA People Power uprising. Mr. Consul General Henry S. Bensurto,
Pimentel’s main message was that, Jr. stressed that the EDSA Revolution Philippines / February 26, 2016
was the culmination of years of

DFA Repatriates Remains of 13 OFWs who Perished in Erbil Fire
THE Department of Foreign Affairs, the cost of the shipment of the human that only 4 of the 13 victims are active

through the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad, remains from Erbil to Manila. In addition, OWWA members and only the families

repatriated last Saturday, February 13, the the employer offered to shoulder the of these 4 members would consequently

remains of the 13 Filipinas who perished in a funeral costs of 12 of the victims while the be entitled to OWWA benefits. All the

fire which struck the Capitol Hotel in Erbil, family of the remaining victim opted to use victims were deployed to Erbil through

Kurdistan Region, Iraq. a funeral insurance policy of a family friend irregular recruitment channels.

The remains were received at NAIA by to cover their interment cost. The Filipina victims worked as

officials from the Department of Foreign The Philippine Embassy in Baghdad massage therapists in a spa located

Affairs (DFA) and the Overseas Workers is currently working on the repatriation at the basement of Capitol Hotel.

Welfare Administration (OWWA). Six of of 2 Filipinas who worked in the same Investigators are looking at faulty

the human remains were transferred to establishment but were on their day off on electrical wiring as the likely cause

the domestic terminal station for onward the day of the fire. of the blaze. All the victims died of

shipment to their families who were The Department has requested the suffocation. The Kurdistan Regional

residing the Mindanao. The formalities Philippine Embassy in Baghdad to continue Government gave assurance that a

covering the shipment of remains of the its negotiation with the employer in order thorough investigation of the fire will

victims to Mindanao were completed in to obtain further financial assistance for be conducted and its result shared with

the early morning of Sunday, February 14. the benefit of the families left behind. the Philippine Government. n Philippine

The employer of the victims shouldered It was discovered by the Department Embassy Philippines / February 16, 2016

Filipino Community in Madrid Commemorates the
30th Anniversary of EDSA People Power Revolution
THE Filipino Community in Madrid EDSA People Power Revolution was heroes by being the change we want
commemorated the 30th Anniversary brought about by one man’s decision to see in this world. With utmost The program began by the singing of “Bayan Ko.”
of the EDSA People Power Revolution “to do what is right.” He added, “Ninoy gratitude, let us say,“Pagbabago,
at the Parroquia de Nuestra Senora del knew in his heart that the chance to ipinaglaban nyo, itutuloy ko!”
Espino on February 21. help change the Philippines for the
better would not come around often. The event ended with the
Filipino youth, singing “Bayan Ko,” And he took that chance, eventually community singing of “Handog ng
led the community’s entrance to the sparking an unprecedented show of Pilipino sa Mundo.” n Philippine Embassy
church.
Philippines / February 26, 2016

A Filipino boy named Elizer Lubis humanity that astounded the rest

then read the children’s book “EDSA,” of the world: the 1986 EDSA People

which was written by Palanca finalist Power Revolution - a glorious moment

Russell Molina and illustrated by Peter in the recent history of the Filipino

Pan Prize winner Sergio Bumatay people.”

III. The book captures details of the Addressing the Filipino community, Left photo: Elizer Lubis reading the text of the children’s book “EDSA.” Right photo: Philippine Ambassador to Spain C. Salinas delivers his message on the EDSA 30 Commemoration.
revolution, seen through the eyes of he continued, “And so to you, young
a child. It was published by Adarna men and women of the Filipino
House in partnership with the EDSA community, we pass on that torch of
People Power Commission hope. Change is your legacy, lay claim
to that entitlement and safeguard it
Ambassador Carlos C. Salinas, in with all you’ve got. Let us honor our
his message, reminded everyone that