batingaw10

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ISSUE 10: November-December 2007

In this Edition ISSUE 10 November-December‘07

News, Views and Analysis from Migrante Melbourne

BATINGAW; BELL; HERALD; The Voice of Progressive Filipino Migrants in Australia

ISSUE 10

Lafayette link to Rapu-Rapu fish killsOFWs in Perth form unionOpen letter to the Australian Labour UnionsILPS: On the Emergency Rule in PakistanHelpful Tips for a Debt Free Christmas

A tribute to a beloved comrade and friend Danny

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Editorial

A Time for Every SeasonThis is also the year when we finally saw the end of 11 yearconservative era of the Liberal government in Australia un-der rule of John Howard. The Australian people have clearlyspoken - they want to institute genuine CHANGE. We inMigrante Melbourne are optimistic yet vigilant of the elec-tion promises made by the Australian Labor Party to abolishthe unjust policy of WorkChoices, the signing of Kyoto Pro-tocol, the withdrawal of Australian troops in Iraq and finallytheir pledge to recognise and reverse the injustices inflictedupon the aboriginal people - the most oppressed people ofthis land.

There’s a time for every season –a time to dance and a timeto mourn, a time to reap and a time to sow. Patience is thekey to a fruitful harvest.

We look forward to more meaningful changes in the comingyear - we will continue on with our fight for a just and lastingpeace for oppressed people all over the world.

We mourn the passing of our dear friend andcomrade Danny Fernandez. Throughout thehistory of Migrante Melbourne, Danny has been

instrumental and a key player in building and strengthen-ing the group as its Deputy Chairperson. We will trulymiss Danny - his memory will remain with us and we pledgein our hearts to continue on with his work in bringing abetter and just life for humankind.

This issue of Batingaw is our tribute to our beloved com-rade Danny. See more about his life and our joys of beingwith him at Migrante Melbourne on page 10.

December is the month when we commemorate the In-ternational Human Rights day. Year after year, we havebeen reminding ourselves of the sanctity of human lifeand rights on every tenth day of the month. We do thisalongside with our joint gathering with fraternal and soli-darity groups, Gabriela Australia and the Philippines Aus-tralia Solidarity Association (PASA). We also welcome thenewly formed chapter of International League of People’sStruggle-Australia (ILPS Australia); an alliance of anti-imperialist organisations in Australia. Migrante Melbourneis one of the founding organisations of the alliance.

During these celebratory times, we also herald the com-ing holidays and share the blessings and the joy of thefestive seasons.

End of year is also the time to reflect on the happeningsof the past and look forward to the future of what hasbecome one of the most challenging years in the life ofour political history in Australia and in the Philippines.

On the sanctity of human rights, one of the most strikingdevelopment that have occurred recently is about theformal report of Philip Alston - the United Nations SpecialRapporteur on extra judicial killings in the Philippines -clearly pinpointing the bloody role of state apparatus andthe Philippine military as the primary masterminds be-hind the many political killings and murders that occurredin the country. More than 800 lives taken and 200 disap-peared - every one of them counts, every single one ofthem we mourn in our hearts and we clamour for justice- just how we know the feeling of losing a beloved friendand comrade Danny.

This barbaric regime will sooner or later have to pay - thetime for reckoning is getting near - as the surge andstrength of Filipino people’s resistance is gathering inpace and momentum.

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Issues

Defend Patrimony, an alliance against miningliberalization in the Phil ippines, urgedgovernment officials and independent groups alike

to examine if Australian-owned mining firm Lafayettewas the cause of cyanide found by the Bureau ofFisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in watersaffected by fish kills in Rapu-Rapu island, Albay lastOctober 26 to 28.

“An independent and credible probe tracing the path waysof the fish kills must be conducted. All angles as to thecauses of the fish kill must be pursued, including the pos-sibility that the fish kills may be related to Lafayette’smining operations in Rapu-Rapu,” said Trixie Concepcion,Spokesperson for Defend Patrimony alliance.

Lafayette Spokesperson Bayani H. Agabin yesterdayclaimed that cyanide could not have come from them sincetheir plant is 10 kilometers away from where the fish killstook place. Agabin was quoted in media reports as sayingthere were no dead fish in the shoreline close to Lafayette’smine.

However, Lafayette’s claim is inconsistent with earlier re-ports of fish kills in the villages of Pagcolbon, which islocated within a one kilometer radius of the mining site,said Concepcion.

Officials of Sagip Isla Sagip Kapwa (SISK) and the SaveRapu-Rapu Alliance (SARA) received field reports of fishkills from villages directly affected by the mining opera-tions, such as Pagcolbon and Malobago, on October 28.Fish kills were later on sighted in other farther barangayssuch as Poblacion.

Antonio Casitas, Spokesperson of SISK noted that the heavywaves hitting Poblacion’s shores during the time of thefish kills came from the direction of Pagcolbon. “Mula Brgy.Pagcolbon ang malalakas na alon na papuntang Brgy.Poblacion (The heavy waves moving towards Brgy. Poblacioncome from Brgy. Pagcolbon),” Casitas said.

As for the presence of cyanide observed by the BFAR,Lafayette’s Agabin denied that the mine was the cyanidesource, saying that naturally occurring cyanide can alsohappen.

“It’s very improbable that naturally-occurring cyanide couldcause the fish kills of these proportions. A look at Rapu-Rapu island’s geophysical profile and ecological historyhas never noted any particular build-up of naturally-oc-curring cyanide that caused fish kills,” Concepcion said.

“The probability that cyanide naturally occurs in the areais almost nil, so most likely the cyanide would have tocome from outside sources. This includes nearby miningoperations. Take note that the Lafayette mine has alsoincurred cyanide spills that caused fish kills, it’s the onlyentity with a recent history of cyanide use that we areaware of. On October 11, 2005, about 20 tons of tailingsthat overflowed from Lafayette’s processing plant weredischarged, contaminating the Alma and Pagcolbon creekswith cyanide and probably other heavy metals,”Concepcion said.

The US$42-million (P2.2. billion) Rapu- Rapu PolymetallicMining Project owned by Lafayette is intended to producegold, silver, copper and zinc. Its operation will last six toseven years, from 2005 to 2011/2012.

Lafayette link to Rapu-Rapu fish kills,cyanide presence should be probed

By Trixie Concepcion

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ISSUE 10: November-December 2007 LocalNews

The establishment of the FilipinoMetalworkers within the AustralianManufacturing Workers Unions(AMWU) in WA which is giving a voiceto workers on temporary visas withinthe union is the first of its kind inAustralian unionism.

OFW members of the AMWU in the Fili-pino Metalworkers intend to run forpositions in the union’s State Counciland State Conference which givesOFWs a temporary visa holder voicein the union’s decision-making bodies.

Of 700 OFW metal tradesmen in Perth,the AMWU (WA) has recruited 218 inonly 10 months in 31 enterprises in-cluding those within fabrication, heavyengineering, plastic manufacturing,shipbuilding and factory maintenance.

“Instead of a workplace approach during which we visitworksites to address workers’ grievances, we’ve taken amore community-oriented approach, literally living with thecommunity – visiting houses and their social events, evenplaying basketball with them,” AMWU organizer Joel Aspharsays.

“We’ve been agitating around one issue only which hasbeen the deportation threats against the S457s/OFWs andbecause we’ve been able to stop these deportations andthe guys now know what their rights are, our campaignfocus has now changed to the issue of residency for ourOFW members.”

On investigation of complaints received from their Aus-tralian members and from some Filipino workers, the AMWUfound out that OFWs thought they had no rights at all,could not question their working conditions nor join a union

MORE NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM MIGRANTE

Visit us on the web at www.migrante.org.au

OFWs in Perth form union By Anibeth Disierto

and believed employers could deport S457 visa workerswhenever they wished to.

The US State Department has said the Australian govern-ment’s S457 visa scheme has led to sex trafficking, debtbondage and slavery of migrants in Australia – in its ‘2007Trafficking in Person Report’.

Many of the OFWs ‘ grievances have been successfullyresolved by the AMWU, winning disputes with employersand finding jobs for sacked OFWs.

“Australia has a proud tradition of migration and it isonly this generation that has had to go through this tem-porary visa arrangement but despite this, our memberswill continue in their campaign to obtain permanent resi-dency and continue this proud Australian tradition of mi-gration,” Ashpar says. #

Filipino metal workers in Perth with Australian Manufacturing Workers Union

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Dear Comrades,

The last 11 years has seen the massive erosion of not onlythe working rights of average Australians but also the fright-ening loss of the most basic of our human rights tradition-ally entrenched in the Constitution and our judicial systemwith the almost unobstructed passage of new laws in aCoalition-dominated Senate.

This demise of civil society and democracy has been ac-companied with the squeezing of average workers fromWorkchoices, inflation and the GST. It has become diffi-cult for many to afford reasonable housing, education andhealth care.

The costs to the economy, the environment and society ofthe war in Iraq, global warming and in future, Australia’sparticipation in the WTO pro-multinational provisions –arguably mostly ignored by government – are only now be-ginning to be felt and acknowledged.

The lack of avenue for the real public and workers to ex-press what they truly feel on these issues have hardly beenheard via a media generally sympathetic to governmentand big business views.

The landslide electoral swing against the Liberal-NationalCoalition which has overseen these 11 years of regime asabove confirms that the democratic and social justice heartof Australians still beats, and that workers know the realityon the ground against the government and media rhetoric.

$65billion of electoral pledges for example by the Coali-tion and its usual fear campaign of scapegoating either

refugees, migrants, those of Middle Eastern origins, orunions as in this year’s elections– a tactic which many sayhelped it to win in previous elections – have failed to foolthe workers of Australia.

Labour’s decisive and historic win in these elections rodeon the back of the massive effort of Australian unions toinform the public and confirm to them what they are al-ready experiencing on the ground – the true effects of thegovernment’s draconian Workchoices laws. The unionshave also assisted many guest workers suffering abusesby employers and agents under the S457 visa scheme.

We thank you for this great effort and the efforts of thosewho work with us in solidarity– which have given Austral-ians and all of us a measure of democratic space to con-tinue to fight for an Australia that is ruled on principles ofjustice, fairness and true democracy.

We continue to campaign for the abolition of Workchoices,the abusive practices under the S457 visa scheme andcontinue to join with you in your struggle for the workersof Australia.

From all of us at Migrante Australia, the warmest con-gratulations!

Long live all fighters for justice and democracy!Long live unions of Australia!Long live workers of Australia!

Migrante PerthMigrante MelbourneMigrante Sydney

Open letter to the Australian Labour Unions

Name:Address:

Tel:Email:

become a member of Migrante Melbourne be updated with information from Migrante Melbourne donate to Migrante Melbourne

Migrante Melbourne is a voluntary community organisation ofFilipino and Filipino-Australian migrants and workers promotingand upholding their welfare, human rights and workers’ rights. Italso deepens members’ awareness of the root reasons of theFilipino hegira to over 180 countries and settlement issues in theiradopted homelands.

Visit us on the web at www.migrante.org.au

I would like to:

SEND TO PO BOX 606, LAVERTON VIC 3028 or

CALL US on 1300 3666 74

Get Involved!

Solidarity

Migrante Melbourne, Eastern Ricky Salamanes – 0401 315305Migrante Melbourne, Western Reyvi Marinas - 0421 119776Migrante Perth: Mel Baltazar 0414 247154 Anibeth Desierto 0402 941935Lingap Migrante, Sydney: Edwin Subijano – 0409 461600 Bong Andres – 0410 632707

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Analysis

Pakistan’s 610,000-member military is the eighth largestin the world. It has an annual expenditure of $2.435billion, nearly 3% of Pakistan’s GDP. In the three years

after 9/11, US military aid to Pakistan soared to $4.2 billion,compared to $9.1 million in the three years before theattacks. The total value of all American aid, includingmilitary, economic, and development assistance, to Pakistansince 9/11 is estimated at more than $10 billion. Pakistannow ranks third after Israel and Egypt among the biggestrecipients of US aid.

The Bush-Musharraf tandem has meant the malicious useof the anti-terrorism slogan in order to justify the worstkinds of terrorism: the US-NATO war of aggression inAfghanistan and substantial parts of Pakistan and the stateterrorism of the Musharraf regime against the Pakistanipeople.

Gen. Musharraf has allowed the U.S. to use Pakistan’s basesin anti-terrorism operations and to attack Pakistanicommunities, shared intelligence, helped identify andarrest suspected terrorists, and tightened the borderbetween Pakistan and Afghanistan by deploying up to 80,000Pakistani troops.

Among the broad masses of the people, there is widespreadsentiment against and opposition to Musharraf’s puppetryto US imperialism particularly in connection with the US“war on terror”. This has served to stimulate the rise of abroad range of opposition forces, including the Islamic,the bourgeois democratic and the revolutionary.

Since the 1999 coup that put him in power, Musharraf hasruled with an iron fist. He has constantly tormented thebourgeois opposition. He has put many of them behindbars without charges where they are maltreated andtortured. Journalists critical of the government have beenharassed, threatened, arrested and detained. Thegovernment has banned and disrupted anti-governmentrallies and demonstrations since October 2000.

ILPS condemnsMusharraf’s declaration

of emergency ruleand supports the just

struggle of the peopleof Pakistan

By Prof. Jose Maria SisonChairperson, International Coordinating Committee

International League of Peoples’Struggle 20 November 2007

The International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS)condemns the declaration of emergency rule byPakistan’s military ruler Gen. Pervez Musharraf andthe further entrenchment of barefaced fascistdictatorship on the people of Pakistan. We supportthe just struggle of the people of Pakistan fornational and social liberation against the Musharraffascist regime and its US imperialist master.

Gen. Musharraf has faced strong opposition the pastmonths with a broad array of forces ranged againsthim. He has been able to weather past challenges tohis rule only because of his control over the militaryand because of US support.George W. Bush considersMusharraf a key ally in the USglobal “war on terror” and contin-ues to praise him as his partner inspreading “freedom”.

Thousands Protest in Pakistan

ON PAKISTAN

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Analysis

More than one-third of the Pakistani population of 160 mil-lion live below the poverty line —13 percent survive on lessthan $1 a day. Many people in the rural areas are impover-ished peasants living in mud houses. Because of their direeconomic situation and the political repression, the masseshave grown very restive. The social unrest has emboldenedthe broad range of opposition to challenge his authoritarianrule.

In March 2007, Musharraf removed chief justice Iftakar Mo-hammed Chaudhry from office. He took punitive actionagainst Chaudhry for deciding to hear cases involving disap-pearances of people detained by the notorious intelligenceagencies, as well as constitutional challenges to Musharraf’srule. Street demonstrations protesting Chaudry’s ouster ledto Chaudhry’s reinstatement in July.

Wishing to reverse the ever worsening internal political tur-moil in the whole of Pakistan, coincident with the resurgenceof the Taliban and the anti-imperialist forces in the Afghan-Pakistani border areas, the US has pushed the formula ofkeeping Musharraf as “civilian” president, making him re-sign from the position of chief of staff of the armed forces,holding parliamentary elections in January next year andmaking Benazir Bhutto his prime minister.

But like any puppet Musharraf has relative autonomy fromhis imperialist master and wants to secure his autocraticpower against his actual and potential rivals and uses to hisadvantage the increasingly difficult position of the US inIraq and Afghanistan and its desperate need for a brutal

puppet like him. It is all a matter of hypocrisy for the USgovernment to pretend being for a democratic Pakistan whilein fact the US needs state terrorism in Pakistan to supportthe US war of aggression, especially in Afghanistan and partsof Pakistan.

The declaration of emergency rule shows Musharraf’s deter-mination to keep his despotic power at all costs. The illusionof democracy that the US wishes to conjure in Pakistan isdispelled by continuing martial rule, the suspension of theconstitution and the replacement of the Supreme Court by aset of Musharaff appointees. These aggravate the politicaloppression and economic exploitation of the broad massesof the people. But these also result in favorable conditionsfor the people’s struggle for national and social revolutionand the rise of revolutionary forces against US imperialismand the local reactionary forces.

All freedom-loving peoples of the world must condemn theunbridled state terrorism and barefaced fascist dictatorshipof Musharraf as well as the continuing policy of the US toprop up the widely detested Musharraf regime and condoneall its fascist crimes in line with the overriding US policy ofaggression and plunder in South Asia, Central Asia and theMiddle East.

The people of Pakistan deserve all possible moral and politi-cal support for their just revolutionary resistance for nationalliberation and democracy against US imperialism and theMusharraf fascist regime.###

ILPS condemns Musharraf’s declaration of emergency rule... (continued...)

STOP THE KILLINGSIN THE PHILIPPINESST P

From 2001 when Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed the Philippine presidency, Karapatan (Alliance for theAdvancement of People’s Rights) has documented more than 858 political killings and 198 disappeared.

Join Us in Demanding Justice for the victims and the end of killings, abduction and harassment of

human rights and community activists in the Philippines

ON PAKISTAN

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Community

Christmas Carols to raise fund for Shelter

Migrante Cultural Group will hold its Christmas Carolling 2007 in December. The carolling is a fund raising project ofMigrante Melbourne for the maintenance of Migrante Shelter for distressed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) andtheir families in the Philippines and also aims to share the spirit of yuletide season.

The group will sing Filipino and non-Filipino Christmas songs to the household of family members, friends and supportersof the organisations. This will provide a good opportunity for the families to enjoy the long-held Filipino tradition.

Migrante International, the peak body of Migrante organisation, acknowledged on its letter to Migrante Melbourne on29 August 2007, the group’s “continuous financial support and its growing commitment in arousing, organising andmobilising their compatriots in Melbourne towards national democratic struggle”.

The maintenance of Migrante Shelter gives hope to distressed migrant workers and their families as it provides crisisintervention, awareness building, legal support, temporary accommodation and advocacy for migrant worker’s and wellbeing.

Migrante Melbourne can share and discuss many issues and cases of abuses met by the OFW’s. These unsung andmodern day heroes received poor assistance from the Philippine government to address the various abuses and difficultiesthey have encountered overseas despite of their contribution to keep the Philippine economy afloat.

There are an estimated ten 10 million Filipinos working and living in more than 180 countries around the world. Almost3,000 Filipinos are leaving the country each day to seek greener pasture due to lack of job opportunities in the country,unemployment and underemployment, lack of basic social services, and so on that would sustain the basic needs of thefamily. This condition shows that Philippine government itself forces Filipino people to leave the country to be itsmilking cow for the ailing economy of the country.

Migrante Melbourne will continuously run fundraising events to support the maintenance of Migrante Shelter in thePhilippines for the distressed OFWs.

Migrante Melbourne will continuously run fundraisingevents to support the maintenance of Migrante Shelterin the Philippines for the distressed OFWs.

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Community

Christmas is right around the corner and everyone isitching to get to the malls and spend every pennyearned this year plus more. Most people even if they

are not compulsive buyers will fall into this trap.

Here are some helpful tips to stay away from extravagantChristmas spendings that remove us from the real essenceof “Christmas spirit”:

1. “Give love on Christmas day”. I know this may soundcorny, but it will keep you from having to seek debt relief in2008. Most people make mistake by trying to please every-one they know. Christmas is not about how expensive thegifts you give are.

Christmas is about spending time with family members youhave not seen or talked to in quite some time. Why not givethe best gift of all, give everyone you care about your love orsimply give Christmas card. It is the thought that counts.

2. Think of ways to give inexpensive, but meaningfulgifts. If you are good with your hands and have a skill, whynot put it to good use, like create your own Christmas card orprepare nice Filipino delicacies (eg puto, biko or leche flan)?Trust me, you will be remembered for your efforts.

3. Create a budget. Your children (or your friends’ childor children if you do not have one yet) do not need toys orgames that are going to end up in the closet as soon as theholidays are over. Better yet, why not invest in their futureand buy some savings bonds for them or children’s books atthe simplest. In this way, you get a head-on start on their

education. Think of the children’s future, education is a farbetter cause to spend your money on.

4. Keep the credit cards under lock and key this holi-day season. Going back to the budget, if you must use yourcredit cards, stick within your financial plans. Many peoplefall behind on their credit card payments not because theyare bad people, but usually an event in their life changes theway they pay.

Save your money, in case something happens you always havesomething to fall back on.

5. In the event you overspend this year and somethingdoes happen to change your life, what’s next? Debt relief -that is next. Many Australians overspend every holiday sea-son without giving it a single thought. If you believe you fallon this situation, seek immediate help.

There are financial counsellors and agencies that are avail-able in Melbourne that provides legal and financial advicesuch as Financial and Consumer Rights Council, VictoriaLegal Aid, Federation of Community Legal Centres.

Remember this holiday season could be a reason to celebrate.Celebrate a debt-free Christmas by starting-out not spend-ing the money you do not have. Do not fall into the trap. Yourfamily will still love you and, most of all, you do not have togo out of your way to get yourself into credit debt simplybecause you want to save face.

Have a wonderful and safe Christmas!

Helpful Tips for a Debt Free Christmas by Reyvi Mariñas

Migrante Melbourne IncPublisher ofABN: 77 394 429 368

About BatingawBatingaw is a bi-monthly newsletter expressing views, news and analysis from Migrante Melbourne. An important aspect of developingthis newsletter is an intimate knowledge of and close involvement in all aspects of the Philippine and Australian struggles for justice,democracy and fair-go.

Contributing to Batingaw:Articles, photographs, cartoons, clippings, comments or a few lines are all very welcome. All material should be sentelectronically to: [email protected]. Readers are encouraged to contribute whatever they can by sendingdonations to the above address.

Editorial Team: George Kotsakis, Labrador Cojuanco, Dinggin Dalisay, Reyvi Marinas Contributors: Charo Pompa

Stephanie Rabusa, Shiela Galacio, Katrina Kotsakis, Dinggin Dalisay, Malen Ang, Malou Logan, Gino Lopez, Fe NinaReyes, Anibeth Disierto, Caesar Barona, A. ReyesCirculation and Advertising: Jun Cabanos and Ricky Salamanes. For membership, advertising and subscriptionplease call Migrante Melbourne on 1300 3666 74

A member of Migrante InternationalPO Box 606, Laverton, VIC 3028Local Call: 1300 3666 74Email: [email protected]: www.migrante.org.au

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Community

Danilo Fernandez is one of the founding members ofMigrante Melbourne. From its inception, Danny as wefondly call him has been involved with Migrante and

he never resiled from the nitty-gritty of interminablediscussions, plans and actions for the organisation.

Danny had many incisive questions then, questions like whatwill happen if the US relinquished its control over thePhilippines? Or, why does the government of the Philippineswillingly allow itself to be a puppet? Or how do manyFilipinos live with income far less than half the cost todecently sustain their families? Then he would be so amazedto learn that there are 3,000 Filipinos leaving daily to workoverseas. Or that there are 35 overseas Filipino workers(OFW) in death row and over 2,000 OFW’s languishing injails in other countries.

Danny would crinkle his nose and more creases wouldappear on his forehead as the enormity of such injusticesdawned on him. We sometimes would tease him and saidthat we can no longer see our reflection on his shinyforehead as his worry wrinkles have taken over.

But in time, after many fulfilling discussions and educationsessions and with Danny’s enthusiasm to learn, Danny beganto fully comprehend the situation in the Philippines and inAustralia.

Danny, along with other members of Migrante Melbourne,vigorously acted on his growing understanding of why manyFilipinos are poor and suffering; why many Filipinos opt towork overseas despite numerous tales of abuses andhardships OFW’s met and bearing the painful separationfrom their family and friends.

This understanding boosted Danny’s resolve to dosomething, to help raise the many issues affecting the livesof our kababayans, to help in our campaigns and advocacywork. He did this while ignoring the pains of his debilitatingillness and the daily inconvenience of sessions with hisdiabetic tests and dialysis.

Danny would sigh in frustration when he missed a meetingor an activity because he was in the hospital or he has tosee the doctor. For as long as his health permits, he wouldalways be there. If he cannot drive especially at the timethat his eyesight was affected by his illness, he would askedto be picked-up just to be present and participate in thelively deliberations during Migrante meetings and activities.

We will always remember Danny. I will miss his calls followingup the details for a flyer or a ticket that he would be designingfor Migrante, Gabriela or PASA’s activity. I will miss him callingme “bosschief” every time he answered the phone andrecognized my voice. We will miss him arguing on the format

A tribute to a beloved comrade and friendof an activity. He would suggest that we include a karaokesession in “Tipanan” and when nobody had the courage tostart the singing, Danny would start the fun with his beautifulhusky voice. We will remember his creativity, always pickingup the popular trend of the day, like designing the flyer forMigrante’s Tipanan with his picture wearing a Guy Sebastianwig. This was just after the very first Australian Idol declaredGuy Sebastian the winner. Or, a flyer with dancing penguin,he labeled “Migrante’s happy feet – come and join us havefun, bring your happy feet and dancing shoes”. His initiativeto join the lantern contest at the Philippine Fiesta and helpedconstruct the lanterns was a winner. This enthusiasticinitiative of Danny won the hearts of the members of Gabrielaand delighted them because the lantern won first prize.

Danny would always offer to be the documentor of ouractivities, be it a rally, a march, a forum, a party, a fun

night or an education session. He would always have hiscamera with him and capture many happy moments. Onetime we were studying the history of the Philippine economyand politics. It happened to be the birthday of Migrante’ssecretary, Reyvi so we organized a small cake and during thebreak, we had some fun. We were mocking around and Butchwas teasing Reyvi and trying to beat him in blowing the candlefirst. Danny captured that very moment with his camera whenButch and Reyvi were like children with their mouth pointedtowards the cake and pushing each other. Danny circulatedthis picture of 2 big boys and a small cake to Migrantemembers with a caption saying “me first” and made everyonelaugh.

Many of our solidarity friends will also remember Danny.When we celebrated the International Human Rights dayin Dec 2003 Danny entertained the participants by singingand impersonating Elvis Presley. That surprised some ofour Australian friends. They question us for singing an ElvisPresley song in a political event, missing the logic of Filipinohumor then personified by Danny and our capacity to stillhave fun in the midst of hardship and poverty. After thatthough they would always invite Migrante and Gabriela toperform at their activities and one of the regular activitiesis the yearly Mayday multi-cultural event and they wouldtease us “not Elvis song please”. Danny was always one ofour main performers on these activities.

At the assessment meetings after each event, Danny wouldsometimes be so frustrated that none of the people heinvited turned up. Especially on our forums, he wouldcomplain and say, how will they understand, if they do notattend this kind of activity? Why can’t Filipinos here inMelbourne spare even just 2 to 3 hours to discuss and raiseissues affecting their families and friends in the Philippinesor affecting them here in Australia? Then his forehead willbe pale again with the wrinkles we lovingly called Danny’spleats.

By May Kotsakis

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By

Kasamang Danny…Kasamang Danny…Kasamang Danny…Kasamang Danny…Kasamang Danny…

Patuloy ka sa aming diwa.Patuloy ka sa aming diwa.Patuloy ka sa aming diwa.Patuloy ka sa aming diwa.Patuloy ka sa aming diwa.

Kasamang Danny… Patuloyka sa aming diwa.

Maaga at maliwanagsa dako pa duon

Sa mga sanga at dahonmay malayang ibon.

Paghanga at tiwalaTatag ng loob at diwa

Kasama ….Ikaw ay bihira.

Paglilingkod sa bayanIyong ginampanan

Ito ay pamamarisanLalagi sa isipan.

Isang mainit at mayamang pagdakila mula sa mga kaibigan at kasama sa Perth

Mahal at yakapMga ngiti mo at yapak

Kasama sa pilingLiban ka man sa amin.

At sa mundong sinilangan atsa kilos – bayan na tinampukan

Kung saan ang pakikibakasa kalayaan at katarungan

ay walang humpay!‘kamtin ang tagumpay!

Kasamang Danny…

Dakilang Danny….

Patuloy ka sa aming diwa.

A tribute to a beloved comrade and friend (continued...)Danny’s life and contribution to the community, his cheerful spirit in serving the masses of Filipino migrants and workers,his selfless sacrifices in advancing the cause of our hapless kababayans overseas and the people of the world will alwaysbe valued and emulated by many Filipinos and Australians whose lives he touched and enriched. Just like the song “Awitkay Bambi” that was read last Thursday at his tribute, let me just read to you a few lines of that song.

Memories of Danny will inspire many to thread the path he took – that of selflessly devoting one’s self to the service ofexploited and oppressed Filipinos and the global communities and of tirelessly working to realize a genuinely free anddemocratic Philippines and to create a society where families are not torn apart and needlessly thrown to the fourcorners of the world by the need to survive.

We love you Danny, a loving husband, father, brother and uncle, a true friend, and a committed comrade, and we willnever forget you. #####

Huwag mag-alala mahal na kasamaSa iyong pagkawala makakaasa ka

Hindi masasayang alay naming bulaklakHindi masasayang mga luhang pumatakHindi masasayang aming awit at tula

Ng paghanga at pagdakilaPagka’t bakas na iyong naiwan

Ay aming susundanBuong tatag kaming babangon

Sa iyong kinabuwalanPagka’t bakas na iyong naiwan

Ay aming susundanLibo-libo kaming susulong

Para sa kinabukasan ng bayan ”“

Community

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Events Calendar - Mark your Diary9 December 2007, Sunday – International Human Rights Day Commemoration & Christmas Party

10 December – International Human Rights Day

26 January 2008, Saturday – Migrante Melbourne’s Tipanan

08 March – International Women’s Day

6.00 p.m., Laverton Civic Centre, Cor Railway Ave & Crown St, LavertonA celebration and a venue for the whole family to dance, eat, perform, watch and enjoy together.A fundraising activity for Migrante Shelter Philippines.For further information and tickets contact Danny at 93693158, Reyvi at 0421119776or Migrante Melbourne at 1300366674.

Gabriela Australia’s International Women’s Day and Anniversary CelebrationDetails will be announced later

Migrante Melbourne : : PO Box 606, Laverton, VIC 3028

To:

Affix Stamp

The Church Hall, Hyde Street, Footscray (beside the Maribyrnong Council Building)Organised by Philippines Australia Solidarity Association (PASA); Migrante Melbourne & Gabriela AustraliaFor more information contact May at 0411 406700; Reyvi at 0421 119776 or Malou at 0433 216548

18 December – International Migrants Day

Documents

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